This engraving illustrates Nelson's plan of attack. The thirteen French ships of the line were anchored in a slightly curved formation across Aboukir Bay with the flagship ‘L'Orient’ in the centre. Nelson approached the bay from the north-east and Captain Thomas Foley in the ‘Goliath’ saw there was room to outflank the head of the French line and envelope them from both sides, which he and one or two others did. Nelson and most of the British ships attacked the forward and centre divisions of the French from seaward, working their way down the line as they surrendered.