He considered victory to be a thing that was impossible, and even with a victory, what would have become of the expedition?
"God send," he said, with a sigh, "that we may pass the English without meeting them!" He appeared to foresee what did afterwards happen to him, not in the open sea, but in a situation which he considered much more favourable to his defence.
On the morning of the 1st of July the expedition arrived off the coast of Africa, and the column of Septimus-Severus pointed out to us the city of Alexandria.

Our situation and frame of mind hardly permitted us to reflect that in the distant point we beheld the city of the Ptolemies and Caesars, with its double port, its pharos, and the gigantic monuments of its ancient grandeur.

Our imaginations did not rise to this pitch.
Admiral Brueys had sent on before the frigate Juno to fetch M.Magallon, the French Consul.

It was near four o'clock when he arrived, and the sea was very rough.

He informed the General-in-Chief that Nelson had been off Alexandria on the 28th--that he immediately dispatched a brig to obtain intelligence from the English agent.