16th August 1798
To Evan Nepean, esq., Admiralty.
Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile, August 16th, 1798.
Sir,
Six of the Prizes sailed yesterday under Sir James Saumarez. Three others, viz., Guerrier, Heureux, and Mercure, are in the act of repairing. In this state I received last evening Earl St. Vincent’s most secret Orders, and most secret and confidential Letters relative to the important operations intended to be pursued in the Mediterranean. Thus situated, it became an important part of my duty to do justice between my King and Country, and the brave Officers and Men who captured those Ships at the Battle of the Nile. It would have taken one month, at least, to have fitted those Ships for a passage to Gibraltar, and not only at a great expense to Government, but with the loss of the services of at least two Sail of the Line. I, therefore, confiding that the Lords Commissioners will, under the present circumstances, direct that a fair value shall be paid for those Ships, ordered them to be burnt, after saving such stores as would not take too much time, out of them; and I have further thought it my duty to tell the Squadron the necessity I am under, for the benefit of the King’s Service, of directing their property to be destroyed; but that I had no doubt but Government would make them a liberal allowance, all which I hope their Lordships will approve of.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
HORATIO NELSON
