"would supply any deficiency of signals, "and act accordingly. In case signals "cannot be seen or clearly understood, no "captain can do wrong if he places his "ship alongside that of an enemy." One of the last orders of this admirable man was, that the name and family of every officer, seaman, and marine, who might be killed or wounded in action, should be, as soon as possible, returned to him, in order to be transmitted to the chairman of the patriotic fund, that the case might be taken into consideration, for the benefit of the sufferer, or his family.

About half past nine in the morning of the 19th, the Mars, being the nearest to the fleet of the ships which formed the line of communication with the frigates in shore, repeated the signal, that the enemy were coming out of port. The wind was at this time very light, with partial breezes, mostly

from the S. S. W. Nelson ordered the signal to be made for a chase in the southeast quarter. About two, the repeating ships announced, that the enemy were at

sea. All night the British fleet continued under all sail, steering to the south-east. At day-break they were in the entrance of the Straits, but the enemy were not in sight. About seven, one of the frigates made signal that the enemy were bearing north. Upon this the Victory hove to; and shortly afterwards Nelson made sail again to the northward. In the afternoon the wind blew fresh from the south-west, and the English began to fear that the foe might be forced to return to port. A little before sunset, however, Blackwood, in the Euryalus, telegraphed, that they appeared determined to go to the westward,-" And "that," said the admiral in his diary, "they shall not do, if it is in the power of "Nelson and Bronte to prevent them." Nelson had signified to Blackwood, that he depended upon him to keep sight of the enemy. They were observed so well, that all their motions were made known to him; and, as they wore twice, he inferred that they were aiming to keep the port of Cadiz open, and would retreat there as soon as

they saw the British fleet: for this reason he was very careful not to approach near enough to be seen by them during the night. At day-break the combined fleets were distinctly seen from the Victory's deck, formed in a close line of battle ahead, on the starboard tack, about twelve miles to leeward, and standing to the south. Our fleet consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line, and four frigates; theirs of thirty-three and seven large frigates. Their superiority was greater in size, and weight of metal, than in numbers. They had four thousand troops on board; and the best riflemen who could be procured, many of them Tyrolese, were dispersed through the ships. Little did the Tyrolese and little did the Spaniards, at that day, imagine what horrors the wicked tyrant whom they served was preparing for their country.

Soon after day-light, Nelson came upon deck. The 21st of October, was a festival in his family, because on that day his uncle, Capt. Suckling in the Dreadnought, with two other line of battle ships, had

beaten off a French squadron of four sail of the line, and three frigates. Nelson, with that sort of superstition from which few persons are entirely exempt, had more than once expressed his persuasion that this was to be the day of his battle also; and he was well pleased at seeing his prediction about to be verified. The wind was now from the west, light breezes, with a long heavy swell. Signal was made to bear down upon the enemy in two lines; and the fleet set all sail. Collingwood in the Royal Sovereign, led the lee line of thir teen ships; the Victory led the weather line of fourteen. Having seen that all was as it should be, Nelson retired to his cabin, and wrote the following prayer :

"May the great God, whom I worship,

grant to my country, and for the benefit "of Europe in general, a great and glorious "victory, and may no misconduct in any "one tarnish it: and may humanity after "victory be the predominant feature in the "British fleet! For myself individually, "I commit my life to Him that made me;

"and may his blessing alight on my en“deavours for serving my country faithful"ly! To Him I resign myself, and the "just cause which is instrusted to me to de"fend. Amen, Amen, Amen."

Having thus discharged his devotional duties, he annexed, in the same diary, the following remarkable writing:

"October 21st, 1805.-Then in sight of the "combined fleets of France and Spain, "distant about ten miles.

"Whereas the eminent services of Emma "Hamilton, widow of the Right Honour"able Sir William Hamilton, have been of "the very greatest service to my king and "country, to my knowledge, without ever "receiving any reward from either our 66 king or country.

"First, that she obtained the king of "Spain's letter, in 1796, to his brother, the 66 King of Naples, acquainting him of his "intention to declare war against England; "from which letter the ministry sent out "orders to the then Sir John Jervis, to ❝strike a stroke, if opportunity offered,