To say that this was a mistake is perhaps to be wise only after the event.  Had Nelson known that the French, when leaving Malta, had but three days’ start of him, instead of six, as the Genoese had reported, he might have suspected the truth; it is not wonderful that he failed to believe that he could have gained six days.  The actual gain was but three; for, departing practically at the same time from points equidistant from Alexandria, Bonaparte’s armament appeared before that place on the third day after Nelson arrived.  The troops were landed immediately, and the transports entered the port, thus making secure their escape from the British pursuit.  The ships of war remained outside.

Meanwhile Nelson, “distressed for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies,” was beating back to the westward against the wind which had carried him rapidly to the coast of Egypt.  Rightly or wrongly, he had not chosen to wait at the point which mature reflection had indicated to him as the enemy’s goal, and the best course that now occurred to him was to do with his fleet the exploring duty that frigates should have done. “No frigates,” he wrote to Sir William Hamilton; “to which has been, and may again, be attributed the loss of the French fleet.”  On his return he kept along the northern shore of the Mediterranean, passing near Candia; but, though several vessels were spoken, he only gathered from them that the French were not west of Sicily, nor at Corfu.  On the 19th of July, he anchored the fleet at Syracuse, having, to use his own words, “gone a round of six hundred leagues with an expedition incredible,” and yet “as ignorant of the situation of the enemy as I was twenty-seven days ago.”

At Syracuse fresh disappointments awaited him, which only the indomitable single-mindedness and perseverance of the man prevented from becoming discouragements.  The minister at Naples had sent despatches to await him at Cape Passaro; when he sent for these, thirsty for news about the French, they had been returned to Naples.  The governor of the port, despite Acton’s assurances to Troubridge, made difficulties about the admission of so many ships, and about supplying water, which they absolutely required.  This Nelson resented, with angry contempt for the halting policy of the weak kingdom.  “I have had so much said about the King of Naples’ orders only to admit three or four of the ships of our fleet into his ports, that I am astonished.  I understood that private orders, at least, would have been given for our free admission.  If we are to be refused supplies, pray send me by many vessels an account, that I may in good time take the King’s fleet to Gibraltar.  Our treatment is scandalous for a great nation to put up with, and the King’s flag is insulted at every friendly port we look at.”  “I wish to know your and Sir William’s plans for going down the Mediterranean,” he wrote to Lady Hamilton, “for, if we are to be kicked in every port of the Sicilian dominions, the sooner we are gone the better.  Good God! how sensibly I feel our treatment.  I have only to pray I may find the French and throw all my vengeance on them.”