138 
GEORGE II 
of the ill-fated Orient. The battle lasted till midnight, and after 
Jull it was renewed in the morning. Its final issue was the annihila- 
tion of the French #leet. KEight ships of the line surrendered, two 
went on shore, one had been blown to atoms. Two managed to make 
® brief escape, but were captured before they were well out on the 
bosom of the Mediterranean. For this great victory Nelson received 
well-merited rewards. He was created a peer under the title of 
“Baron Nelson of the Nile,” and had bestowed on him an income 
from the public treasury of £2,000 a-year, 
38, After the destruction of his fleet at Aboukir, Buonaparte over- 
ran Syria, but encountered an unexpected repulse at 
Sen Acre. His attempt to storm that important fortress was 
" foiled by the bravery of Sir Sidney Smith, who aided the 
Turkish garrison with a small force of British seamen and marines, 
Buonaparte, after continuing his vain effort to capture Acre for sixty 
days, returned to France, 
39. Thus far the French Republic had been under the control of 
a gupreme council called the Divectory. On his return from Acre, 
Buonaparte overthrew the Legislature and the Directory, 
Don aan and became himself real ruler of the country under the 
Consult. title of First Consul. During the enwuing year (1800) he 
pursued almost unchecked his career of Kuropean con- 
quest, gaining himself the battles of Montebello and Marengo in Italy, 
while another army defeated the Germans at Hohenlinden. On the 
other hand, his troops were compelled in 1801 to evacuate Egypt 
by the successful efforts of the English generals Abercromby and 
Hutchinson. 
40. During this war, England had claimed and exercised the right 
af search. By this it is meant that her eruisers stopped neutral ves- 
sels, and if, after search, these were found to be convey- 
Een ing warlike stores to any of her enemies, both the’ stores 
* and the vessels were confiscated. A combination of 
Northern Powers, embracing Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, was now 
formed to resist the riyht of search. Prussia afterwards joined the 
Armed Neutrality, a8 the combination was called. 
41. England respunded to the Armed Neutrality by sending a fleet 
into the Baltic under the command of Sir Hyde Parker and Lord Nel- 
- gon. "The Danish fleet, which was drawn up in front of 
Battle of Copenhagen, was soon uttacked, and every vessel in it 
the Baltic, z . es 
was lost, either by burning, by sinking, or by capture. 
This victory was really gained by Lord Nelson, though he was only 
second in command. An armistice was at once coneluded with Den- 
mark, and the Armed Neutrality fell to pieces. The Battle of the 
Baitie was fought on April Znd, 1801. Even before this the hostile 
combination of Northern Powers against England had come to an end