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细节
BATTLE OF THE NILE. Manuscript log of HMS Swiftsure, off Cadiz, Gibraltar, Mediterranean, 9 February - 27 December 1798, INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF THE NILE ON 1-2 AUGUST, allegorical drawing depicting 'Time' on f.2, 11 topographical watercolours on two further leaves depicting features chiefly on the coasts of southern Italy and Sicily, 37 leaves, folio (ff.1-2 detached, a few others partially detached, even browning fo ff.23v and 24r affecting part of the description of the battle), marbled paper wrappers (detached, crudely rebacked).
AN EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF PERHAPS THE GREATEST OF ALL BRITISH NAVAL VICTORIES. The extensive description of the Battle of the Nile occupies two pages, with a further page occupied by a list of the ships engaged: 'at 15 Minutes past 3 discovered the French Fleet of 13 Sail of the Line and four frigates Laying in a line in the bay of Aboukir ... at 7 minutes past 6 saw the Van of the Enemies Fleet had begun their fire on the Van of our Fleet the Goliath ... at 7 Oclock saw 7 of our Ships in very hot Action ... saw the Culloden aground about 1 Mile from Aboukir Island ... at 3 minutes past 8 let go our anchor in 7 fathoms with a spring[;] at 5 minutes past 8 began our fire upon a two decked Ship Called the Franklin on our Starboard Quarter and a Three Decked Ship Called the L'Orient on our Starboard Bow and a two Decked Ship Called the Soverign [sic] on our beam[;] at 3 minutes past 9 the L'Orient Caught fire[;] at 30 minutes past 9 blew up[;] hove in our Cable and Spring[,] Occasionally picked up one of the Men ... the Franklin hailed us and told us she struck ... at 40 minutes past 2 saw the Alexander and Majestic had left off fireing[;] at 56 minutes past 4 the Theseus joined the Alexander and Majestic and renewed the Action with 4 of the Enemys Line ... saw 8 Sail of the Enemys Ships had struck there [sic] Colours the most of them totally dismasted ...'.
Swiftsure under Captain Benjamin Hallowell had been detached on scouting operations as Nelson's fleet approached Aboukir Bay, and, with Alexander, was some way to the west of the remaining British ships when the French fleet was sighted. When he eventually caught up, approximately two hours into the action, Hallowell aimed his ship directly at the French centre, where, having come within a whisker of firing on the dismasted British Bellerophon, which was drifting out of the action, he engaged three French ships of the line simultaneously -- the Peuple Souverain, the Franklin and the giant 110-gun L'Orient, playing a significant role in the spectacular destruction of the latter. Swiftsure was captured by the French in 1801 and, uniquely, took part in the Battle of Trafalgar on the French side whilst a newly-commissioned replacement Swiftsure opposed her on the British side. The anonymous author of the present log is most likely one of the midshipmen of the Swiftsure: his close attention to precise timings in his log is particularly noteworthy.
AN EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF PERHAPS THE GREATEST OF ALL BRITISH NAVAL VICTORIES. The extensive description of the Battle of the Nile occupies two pages, with a further page occupied by a list of the ships engaged: 'at 15 Minutes past 3 discovered the French Fleet of 13 Sail of the Line and four frigates Laying in a line in the bay of Aboukir ... at 7 minutes past 6 saw the Van of the Enemies Fleet had begun their fire on the Van of our Fleet the Goliath ... at 7 Oclock saw 7 of our Ships in very hot Action ... saw the Culloden aground about 1 Mile from Aboukir Island ... at 3 minutes past 8 let go our anchor in 7 fathoms with a spring[;] at 5 minutes past 8 began our fire upon a two decked Ship Called the Franklin on our Starboard Quarter and a Three Decked Ship Called the L'Orient on our Starboard Bow and a two Decked Ship Called the Soverign [sic] on our beam[;] at 3 minutes past 9 the L'Orient Caught fire[;] at 30 minutes past 9 blew up[;] hove in our Cable and Spring[,] Occasionally picked up one of the Men ... the Franklin hailed us and told us she struck ... at 40 minutes past 2 saw the Alexander and Majestic had left off fireing[;] at 56 minutes past 4 the Theseus joined the Alexander and Majestic and renewed the Action with 4 of the Enemys Line ... saw 8 Sail of the Enemys Ships had struck there [sic] Colours the most of them totally dismasted ...'.
Swiftsure under Captain Benjamin Hallowell had been detached on scouting operations as Nelson's fleet approached Aboukir Bay, and, with Alexander, was some way to the west of the remaining British ships when the French fleet was sighted. When he eventually caught up, approximately two hours into the action, Hallowell aimed his ship directly at the French centre, where, having come within a whisker of firing on the dismasted British Bellerophon, which was drifting out of the action, he engaged three French ships of the line simultaneously -- the Peuple Souverain, the Franklin and the giant 110-gun L'Orient, playing a significant role in the spectacular destruction of the latter. Swiftsure was captured by the French in 1801 and, uniquely, took part in the Battle of Trafalgar on the French side whilst a newly-commissioned replacement Swiftsure opposed her on the British side. The anonymous author of the present log is most likely one of the midshipmen of the Swiftsure: his close attention to precise timings in his log is particularly noteworthy.
荣誉呈献
Eugenio Donadoni