“The French having possessed themselves of Malta, on Friday the 15th of this month, the next day the whole fleet, consisting of sixteen sail of the line, frigates, bomb vessels, &c. and near three hundred transports, left the island.  I only heard this unpleasant news on the 22d, off Cape Passaro.  As Sicily was not their object, and the wind blew fresh from the westward; from the time they sailed, it was clear that their destination was to the eastward:  and, I think, their object is, to possess themselves of some port in Egypt, to fix themselves at the head of the Red Sea, in order to get a formidable army into India; and, in concert with Tippoo Saib, to drive us, if possible, from India.  But, I have reason to believe, from not seeing a vessel, that they have heard of my coming up the Mediterranean, and are got safe into Corfu.  Still, I am most exceedingly anxious to know, from you, if any reports or preparations have been made in Egypt for them; or any vessels prepared in the Red Sea, to carry them to India:  or for any other information you would be good enough to give me, I shall hold myself much obliged.  I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

     “Horatio Nelson.”

The officer charged with this letter, brought back information that Mr. Baldwin had left Alexandria nearly three months.  There were, it appeared, in the old port, one Turkish ship of the line, four frigates, and about twelve other Turkish vessels; and, in the Franks port, about fifty sail of vessels belonging to different nations.  The line of battle ship was observed to be landing it’s guns, and the place filling with troops.

What the brave admiral felt, at being thus disappointed, it would be less difficult to conceive than to describe:  certain it is, that the anxiety which he suffered in consequence of this so long baffled pursuit, brought on such violent spasms in the regions of his heroic heart as continued occasionally to afflict him during the remainder of his days.

In a letter which he wrote to his commander in chief, the Earl of St. Vincent, immediately on discovering that the French were not at Alexandria, after relating the particulars of his unfortunate progress, he pours forth the effusions of his honourable bosom, in a strain so affecting, that his biographer has been incapable of transcribing the passage without tears.

“To do nothing,” says this incomparable man, was, I felt, disgraceful; therefore, I made use of my understanding:  and, by it, I ought to stand or fall.  I am before your lordship’s judgment—­which, in the present case, I feel, is the tribunal of my country—­and if, under all circumstances, it is decided I am wrong, I ought, for the sake of our country, to be superseded:  for, at this moment, when I know the French are not in Alexandria, I hold the same opinion as off Cape Passaro; viz. that, under all circumstances, I was right in steering for Alexandria; and, by that