now that the sea battle was over , nelson trained his guns on the shore garrison at aboukir which swiftly persuaded the commandant to agree to a truce so that all the wounded french sailors could be taken to hospitals ashore accompanied by their own ships surgeons and as the captured french ships were secured the arabs and marmelukes who had lined the shore in their droves during the battle celebrated our victory , and even more significantly the consequent foiling of bonapartes plans to invade their land , with festivities which went on long into the night the following day when he had received reports from all his ships , nelson called me to his cabin and dictated the following messages to the fleet : the admiral intends giving public thanks for this victory at two oclock this day and recommends every ship do the same as soon as convenient .