P.S. I do not complain of the want of attention in individuals, for all classes of people are remarkably attentive to us.
Sent on shore, to the charge of the Governor of Syracuse.
V.
Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile,
August 8th, 1798.
MY DEAR SIR,
Almighty God has made me the happy instrument in destroying the enemy's fleet; which, I hope, will be a blessing to Europe.
You will have the goodness to communicate this happy event to all the courts in Italy; for my head is so indifferent, that I can scarcely scrawl this letter.
Captain Capel, who is charged with my dispatches for England, will give you every information. Pray, put him in the quickest mode of getting home.
You will not send, by post, any particulars of this action, as I should be sorry to have any accounts get home before my dispatches.
I hope there will be no difficulty in our getting refitted at Naples. Culloden must be instantly hove down, and Vanguard all new masts and bowsprit. Not more than four or five sail of the line will probably come to Naples; the rest will go with the prizes to Gibraltar.