Battle of the Nile The Glasgow Courier, 9 May 1799, Nelson writes of the first news from the Vanguard, mouth of the River Nile to the Govenor of Bombay and describes of his elimination of the French threat to India "...This glorius battle was fought at the mouth of the Nile, at anchor. It began at sun-set, and was not finished at three the next morning...if my letter is not so correct as might be expected, I trust your excuse, when I tell you my brain is so shook with the wound in my head, that I am sensible I am not always as clear as could be wished; but whilst any reason remains, my heart and hand shall ever be exerted for the benefit of our King and country...", front page, col 3, 68 lines