"Moderate breezes & fine W.r Saw Alexandria bearing SE & set Driver and Main sail and haul'd to the wind. Unbent the best bower cable and took it out of the stern port and bent it again At the Pharohs tower bore SSW 4 or 5 leagues Descry'd the French Fleet and bore up for them sounding in 14. 15. 13. 11. 10 fathoms (warped ?) 28 past 6 the French fleet hoisted their colours and commenced firing on our van ships (illegible) came to with the best bower in 8 fathoms veered to a half a cable 31 past 6 opened fire on the La Spartiate which was continued without intermission until half past 8 when our opponent struck to us. Sent lieut. Galway with a party of Marines to take possession of her at 9. Saw 3 others strike to the Zealous, Audacious, Minotaur. 55 past 8 the Orient of 120 guns took fire. The ships ahead still keeping up a heavy fire on the enemy. At 10 the L'Orient blew up with a violent explosion - The enemy ceased firing 10 past 10 perceived another ship on fire which in two minutes was extinguished and a fresh cannonading begun 20 past ten a total cessation of firing for 10 minutes when it was renewed again 16 past 12 lieut. Vasval (?) went with a party of marines to take possession of a ship 15 past 2 am came on board a boat from (illegible) Alexander 55 past 2 a total cease of firing 28 past 3 came on board a boat from the Defence 20 past 3 Lieut. Vasval returned. The ship he went to having got under weigh before he was able to board her 5 past 5 the enemy's ships to the SW began firing 54 past 5 a French Frigate fired a broadside and struck her colours 4' (minutes) after which she took fire at 7 she blew up with a violent explosion at 6 the Goliath got under weigh bore down to the (So.d) to the enemy's ships which had not struck 40 past 6 she began firing at a frigate and continued firing until a quarter before 7. 50 past 6 one of the enemys ships of the line fired some guns struck her colours & was boarded 55 past The Zealous weighed & went ahead 55 past 10 the English ships began firing at a frigate gave her two broadsides then ceased firing half past 11 two line of battle ships & 2 frigates got under weigh and stood out to sea our ships giving them a broadside as they passed.
Line drawn here
Moderate breezes and clear (W^n Emp^d) variously about the yards and rigging 45 past 12 the Zealous gave a broadside to the forementioned ships as they past bent the stream cable to the best bower swung the ship head to wind ship riding with the cable in at the proper hawsehole account of the whole of French ships taken and destroyed 8 ships of 74 guns - 2 of 80 guns and 1 of 120 guns with two frigates of 36 guns each Found the officers killed and wounded on board to be as follows - Killed Wm Taddy Capt. Of marines Thomas Seymour Midn. William Taylor - Wounded Sir Horatio Nelson rear Admiral of the Blue Nathaniel (?) Valsal Lieut. Mr. Campbell Admirals secretary J Weatherstone MMG Antbirn Midn. Michael Austin Boatswain Carpenters employed plugging up the shot holes and making fishes for the Mts. 18 past 10 the enemy set fire to one of their ships of the line 4 pasts 1 she blew up with a violent explosion."