Letter from Napoleon to Admiral Ganteaume immediately following the battle of the Nile, ordering boats to be sent to the main possible areas of attack by the British.

Letter from Napoleon to Admiral Ganteaume immediately following the battle of the Nile, captured by Nelson's ships.

This document (and COP/3B) was intercepted by Nelson’s ships and gave the British valuable information. In Egypt Napoleon was anxious to hear news of events in Europe. He therefore orders boats to be sent to the main possible areas of attack by the British: Corfu, Ancona and Toulon. Captains of the boats are to gather as much information as possible and pass it on to him at pre-arranged points he expected to reach with his army.

Napoleon’s great need of news is shown by the fact that captains who return with news are to be well rewarded. He is also concerned by the possible activities of Villeneuve, who had taken refuge in Malta after the Battle of the Nile. He thinks it possible that Villeneuve might be able to break the English blockade and land newspapers and other intelligence material at Damietta. This is an opportunity not to be missed, and Ganteaume is ordered to intercept any such information lest it fall into English hands. The letter is signed 'Bonaparte' (but written out to his dictation by a secretary, as was his usual practice).