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I've found this French account of the events at Aboukir which makes interesting reading. The letter is from a French soldier to his wife and the quite lengthy missive breaks off when the English fleet is spied off Alexandria.
Quite an interesting take on the Battle of the Nile.
Has anyone any other references which show the opposing views of any actions? I particularly like this letter as it is an individual writing his own views, from his own heart and not a formulaic battle report or propaganda created for public consumption.
Alexandria (12 Thermidor), July 30th.
To the female Citizen BLANC, Rue Helvetius, No. 667,
at Paris.
My dear Life,
I WROTE to you about the middle of this month. I
was exceedingly uneasy at not hearing from you ; but
now I know the reason : the English have taken the
first advice boats that were dispatched from Toulon ;
they were bringing me the first letters respecting all
that is interesting to me on earth. Yes, your Julien
Francois had but one concern, that for your dear
letters ; and those he is deprived of. ‘Tis a sacrifice
that has cost me dear, - but I add it with pleasure to
all those which I have previously made to procure a
decent competence for my Julia, and my children.
Bonaparte took Cairo on the 22d of this month : I
expected it; and, indeed, nothing less. than this event was
necessary to enable us to support the state of privation,
to which the interception of all communication by the
Nile, had reduced us. We shall now be supplied with
rice and corn ; for the possession of Cairo will procure
us provisions in abundance.
The question now is, what the Grand Seignior will
think of all this. And the English - will they keep
the sea this winter? These are doubts, the solving of
which is of the utmost importance to our existence in
this remote country. Not that we are in want of articles
of the first necessity in Egypt ; but that a free
communication by sea is of the highest consequence,
in the situation in which we shall find ourselves a few
months hence, when the Nile is low - but enough,
when that period arrives, we shall see what the news
from France will say.
I must inform you that I have read the public papers
up to the 23d of June. Louis Bonaparte, who is de-
tained here by sickness, has constantly procured me
the Gazettes brought by our packets. I see with pain ‘
that in this favourable moment for a descent on Ireland,
nothing is thought of it in France ; but there
are still three months proper for the attempt, and it
may yet, perhaps, be made.
I am too much engaged in organizing the admini-
stration of the Lazaretto, and of the positions along
the coast, to be able to compose an historical journal
of what passes here for each of those whom I could
wish to inform, - but I will tell you what has struck
me on the subject. I will draw up this journal as
succinctly as possible; ‘I will then direct it, my love,’
to you ; and you shall send it to the newspaper-writer
Teinier. - This, however, I insist upon your doing,
only when you yourself judge it not improper. It may
sometimes happen that I shall be able to send you only
a rapid sketch in a letter, - this you may report viva
voce to our friends, for the letters of Julien Francois
to his love ought only to be seen by her who inspires
them.
O my Julia! you are now once more on the point
of renewing my title of father, and I am far from you, -
pardon a thousand times, O pardon the absence of your
fond friend, who cannot sooth your agonies in a moment
so painful yet dear to you. - I know the heart of
my Julia : if she suffers, yet she experiences a new
sensation of happiness in giving her husband a new
pledge of her love. Ah! if your prayers are this time
heard, a sweet little Camilla will console you for the
absence of her father. If it shall prove a boy, may the
name of Tell recall the memory of that which we lost !
I long to hear of your safe delivery, but I also long to
hear if you have given me a Camilla. Kiss her a thou-
sand times for her father. - But no more : my eyes suf-
fused with tears of tenderness and delight, compel me
to postpone the completion of my letter.
Noon, August 1st. Fourteen English vessels are this
moment hove in sight. We make them to be twelve
sail of the line, and two frigates : these last came within
cannon shot of Alexandria, but on ascertaining that our
fleet was not in the harbour, they stood off again im-
mediately ; and, with the rest of the ships, are now
making with a press of sail for Aboukir, - a port about
three leagues from this city, where the French fleet is
at anchor, strongly moored, as they say here, and in a
situation .to give the English a good reception.
Five o’clock. We discern the English fleet very
clearly with our glasses. It seems about to drop
anchor. at Aboukir, for the purpose of attacking us.
Half after five - The cannonade begins, and about
six, Increases. Seven - It is now night, and the fire
still increases. Half after seven - The whole horizon
seems in flames ; this shews that a ship is on fire.
Eight - The cannonade slackens a little. Nine -
The flames augment. A little after nine - The vessel
blows up ! how tremendously beautiful ! a sky covered
with fire !
Half after nine - The cannonade slackens, and a
thousand sailors are dispatched to Aboukir by land.
Ten - The moon rises on the right of the spot where
the explosion took place. The French here arc all
under arms. We are assembled at the house of Ge-
neral Kleber, and on the terraces. Fresh detachments
are hourly dispatched to Aboukir, to reinforce the
crews of our ships.
Midnight - The firing, which has never totally
ceased, recommences with redoubled fury. It is evident
that the English are determined to sink or be
sunk. We burn to know what has happened, but
we shall be kept in suspense’ till nine in the morning.
Three o’clock - The firing, increases in violence.
It has now continued an hour. Six - The firing still
increases, more sailors and cannoneers are sending off”.
It is now eight, and the firing is as brisk as.ever.
Noon - An express is arrived from Aboukir. O
fatal night ! O fatal action for the honour of France !
the fleet is destroyed. Of thirteen sail of the line, and
four frigates, two only of each have made their escape.
They are sailed for France, to, carry you, I imagine,
this dreadful news.
Here, however, I break off, my dear Julia, for the
purpose of calming your apprehensions. The English,
whom the stupidity of our marine contributes to raise
more than their own exertions, have no prospect of
success in attempting any thing against us. The ports
of Alexandria, flanked by batteries, and defended by
nature, offer nothing but disgrace and death to an enemy
who, I must again repeat it, are only formidable
through the ignorance of our marine ! imagine our
fleet in a position which allowed the English to fight
them three or four to one ! a piece of stupidity like
this could not escape an enemy who has made the sea
his peculiar element.
It will appear very surprising to you, that at the
moment of writing this (three days after the fatal af-
fair)
we should still be totally ignorant of the real state
of the English vessels. Some say that four or five
of them are lost, or, at least, incapable of keeping
the sea ; while others insist that they have but five or
six in all, in a state of service, - but I am very ap-
prehensive that they will return with more than they
came, - and, I am sorry to observe, that this idea is
gaining ground.
Such is this unfortunate event : but let us have done
with these melancholy details ; and do you still console
yourself with respect to the fate of our colony. We
are here well intrenched, and have little to complain
of but the want of intelligence from France. O Julia !
how happy would it make me to receive a letter from
you at least once a fortnight !
We are told that Bonaparte has left six thousand men
at Cairo, where he has re-established the ancient go-
vernment, which was subverted by the Mameloucs.
You will allow that this is the way to procure us a
powerful friend in the country.
We expect him here every day, for in consequence
of our defeat, his presence for some time at Alexandria
is indispensable. Many people are already speculating
on the expedition to India ; this appears to me, however,
to be rather a distant object, - at any rate, you
shall know our destination in my next.
The frigate which was going to France with dispatches
from Marmont, in which he had sent for his
wife, was taken, I hear. In that case, the departure of
this charming woman will be delayed ; and, to say the
truth, I do not see much wisdom in sending for one’s
wife, before things are a little better settled. This,
however, is Marmont’s concern. - For you, Julia, be
tranquil ; the first moment your coming can be determined
on with propriety, your husband will summon
you to him with all the ardour of the most impassioned
lover.
I am obliged to fold up my letter, for they tell
me that a vessel is on the point of sailing for France.
May it reach you in safety, Julia, with the kisses
which I have imprinted on every line for you, and
my children !
Ever yours,
B. JULIEN FRANC0IS.
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