 Although Bonaparte had not expected British interference in his operations against Egypt , the Royal Navy had responded to the reports of French mobilisation on the south coast by despatching a small squadron to the Ligurian Sea under Rear @-@ Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson . Arriving on 21 May , Nelson 's squadron was struck by a severe storm and was forced to make hasty repairs off Sardinia . The storm had also dispersed the squadron 's frigates , leaving Nelson with only three ships of the line . Although he was reinforced by another ten ships of the line and a fourth rate on 7 June , he still lacked any scouts and was thus severely hampered in his ability to search for information on French operations . The detached frigates had been scattered across the Western Mediterranean , and were unable to locate either the British or the French fleets . Reinforcements sent by Vice @-@ Admiral Earl St Vincent at the Tagus River suffered from the same problem , the frigates spreading out widely in their search but failing to discover either of the main British or French forces , which were rapidly sailing southeastwards towards Alexandria . 
