British Line of Battle.

and, from the number of three-deckers among them,
they made a most formidable appearance, which,
however, so far from appalling our brave fellows,
merely suggested the observation: "What a fine
sight those ships would make at Spithead !" Nelson
himself, when he felt convinced that the enemy could
not avoid an engagement, displayed the highest de-
gree of animation; and, turning to Captain Hardy
and the other officers around him, he exclaimed:
'They cannot now escape us! I think we shall
make sure of at least twenty of them. I may proba-
bly lose a leg; but that will be purchasing a victory
cheaply."

The relative strength of the hostile fleets was as
follows. The references to the respective ships cor-
respond with those in the annexed engraving, which
represents the situation of the two fleets at the mo-
ment of commencing the action.

*Senior lieutenants Pilfold, of the Ajax, and Stockham, of
the Thunderer, commanded in the place of Captains Brown
and Lechmere, called home to give evidence on the inquiry
into the conduct of Sir R. Calder.

Admiral Villeneuve had sailed from Cadiz with the determination of giving battle to the English fleet, though contrary to the instructions of Bonaparte, whose intention it was that the combined fleet

Motives of Villeneuve for giving battle.

should sail from Cadiz, form a junction with the Carthagena squadron, and proceed to Toulon; so that, in case any reverse of fortune should tempt the Spanish government to throw off his yoke, he might have the greatest part of their navy in his power. The admiral is supposed to have been impelled by motives of personal resentment and wounded honour to act in opposition to this plan. Bonaparte and his official paper had made severe remarks on his conduct in the engagement with Sir R. Calder; and the Spaniards themselves had openly upbraided him with not supporting them on that occasion. He knew, moreover, that Admiral Rosilly was coming to supersede him, and hoped, before he came, to wipe off every supposed stain on his conduct by a victory over an enemy whom he supposed to be far inferior in force to what they really were. Ignorant of the reinforcement which the British fleet had received from England, he was confirmed in his resolution to put to sea by the intelligence that Admiral Louis was then absent with six sail of the line, supposing the fleet off Cadiz to be thus reduced to twenty-one sail. Neither was he certain that the latter was commanded by the dreaded Nelson; for an American had reported that he could not possibly be with the blockading fleet, as he had been seen only a few days before in London. Every precaution was taken to ensure suc cess. Four thousand choice troops under General Contamin in the Bucentaure were distributed throughout the combined fleet; among these were many of the most skilful sharpshooters and Tyrolese riflemen; and the French ships were furnished with all sorts of fire-balls and other combustibles to be thrown into the English ships, in hopes of being able either to burn them, or to produce such confusion as might facilitate the design of boarding where an opportunity offered.