Page "Battle of the Nile" Paragraph 10

On 7 June, following hasty repairs to his flagship, Nelson was joined off Toulon by a fleet of ten ships of the line and a fourth rate ship.

The fleet was under the command of Captain Thomas Troubridge, and had been sent by Earl St. Vincent to reinforce Nelson with orders that he was to pursue and intercept the Toulon convoy.

Although he now had enough ships to challenge the French fleet, Nelson suffered two great disadvantages: he had no intelligence regarding the destination of the French, and no frigates to scout ahead of his force.

Striking southwards in the hope of collecting information about French movements, Nelson's ships stopped at Elba and Naples, where the British ambassador Sir William Hamilton reported that the French fleet had passed Sicily in the direction of Malta.

Despite pleas from Nelson and Hamilton, King Ferdinand of Naples refused to lend his frigates to the British fleet, fearing French reprisals.

On 22 June, Nelson encountered a brig sailing from Ragusa and was told that the French had sailed eastwards from Malta on 16 June.

After conferring with his captains, the admiral decided that the French target must be Egypt and set off in pursuit.

Incorrectly believing the French to be five days ahead rather than two, Nelson insisted on a direct route to Alexandria without deviation.