This aerial view looks approximately east-south-east down the French line from a point above Aboukir fort, out of sight off the left lower corner of the image. Nelson's fleet is sweeping in to attack from seaward with a single ship, probably intended as Foley's 'Goliath' about to round the head of the French line in the left middle distance. In the lower right corner, boats including a local lateen-rigged craft are drawn up on the cluttered Aboukir shoreline, where many of the French were ashore collecting water when the British appeared offshore. The distant south-eastern shoreline of Aboukir Bay is indicated on the far horizon. Exhibited: NMM Pocock exhib. (1975) no 79, as 'The Beginning of the Action'. The paper is stated to be watermarked as 'J. Whatman, 1794'.