distance he hoped to decoy the enemy out, while he guarded against the danger of being caught with a westerly wind near Cadiz, and driven within the Straits. The blockade of the port was rigorously enforced, in hopes that the combined fleet might be forced to sea by want. The Danish vessels, therefore, which were carrying provisions from the French ports in the bay, under the name of Danish property, to all the little ports from Ayamonte to Algeziras, from whence they were conveyed in coasting boats to Cadiz, were seized. Without this proper exertion of power, the blockade would have been rendered nugatory, by the advantage thus taken of the neutral flag. The supplies from France were thus effectually cut off. There was now every indication that the enemy would speedily venture out: officers and men were in the highest spirits at the prospect of giving them a decisive blow: such, indeed, as would put an end to all further contest upon the seas. Theatrical amusements were performed every evening

in most of the ships and God Save the King was the hymn with which the sports concluded. "I very believe," said Nelson, (writing on the 6th of October), “that "the country will soon be put to some ex66 pence on my account; either a monu❝ment, or a new pension and honours; for "I have not the smallest doubt but that a 66 very few days, almost hours, will put us ❝in battle. The success no man can in"sure; but for the fighting them, if they 66 can be got at, I pledge myself. The 66 sooner the better: I don't like to have "these things upon my mind."

At this time he was not without some cause of anxiety; he was in want of frigates, the eyes of the fleet as he always called them:-to the want of which, the enemy before were indebted for their escape, and Buonaparte for his arrival in Egypt. He had only twenty-three ships,—others were on the way,--but they might come too late; and, though Nelson never doubted of victory, mere victory was not what he looked to, he wanted to annihilate the ene

my's fleet. The Carthagena squadron might effect a junction with this fleet on the one side; and, on the other, it was to be expected that a similar attempt would be made by the French from Brest; in either case a formidable contingency to be apprehended by the blockading force. The Rochefort squadron did push out, and had nearly caught the Agamemnon and l'Aimable, in their way to reinforce the British admiral. Yet Nelson at this time weakened his own fleet. He had the unpleasant task to perform of sending home Sir Robert Calder, whose conduct was to be made the subject of a court-martial, in consequence of the general dissatisfaction which had been felt and expressed at his imperfect victory. Sir Robert Calder, and Sir John Orde, Nelson believed to be the only two enemies whom he had ever had in his profession; and, from that sensitive delicacy which distinguished him, this made him the more scrupulously anxious to shew every possible mark of respect and kindness to Sir Robert. He wished to detain him till VOL. II.

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after the expected action; when the services which he might perform, and the triumphant joy which would be excited, would leave nothing to be apprehended from an inquiry into the previous engagement. Sir Robert, however, whose situation was very painful, did not choose to delay a trial, from the result of which he confidently expected a complete justification and Nelson, instead of sending him home in a frigate, insisted on his returning in his own ninety gun ship; ill`as such a ship could at that time be spared. Nothing could be more honourable than the feeling by which Nelson was influenced; but, at such a crisis, it ought not to have been indulged.

On the 9th Nelson sent Collingwood what he called, in his diary, the Nelsontouch. "I send you," said he, "my plan "of attack, as far as a man dare venture "to guess at the very uncertain position "the enemy may be found in: but it is to "place you perfectly at ease respecting 86 my intentions, and to give full scope to

your judgment for carrying them into "effect. We can, my dear Coll, have no "little jealousies. We have only one great "object in view, that of annihilating our "enemies, and getting a glorious peace for

our country. No man has more confi"dence in another than I have in you; "and no man will render your services "more justice than your very old friend "Nelson and Bronte." The order of sailing was to be the order of battle: the fleet in two lines, with an advanced squadron of eight of the fastest sailing two-deckers. The second in command, having the entire direction of his line, was to break through the enemy, about the twelfth ship from their rear: he would lead through the centre, and the advanced squadron was to cut off three or four ahead of the centre. This plan was to be adapted to the strength of the enemy, so that they should always be one fourth superior to those whom they cut off. Nelson said, "That his admirals and "captains, knowing his precise object to "be that of a close and decisive action,