for Ferrol, when, at about 11 A.M., on a sudden clearing up of the weather, the French leading ship, the Indomptable, discovered and signalled 10 sail in the north-north-east, approaching on the starboard tack. The frigates sent ahead to reconnoitre, presently augmented the number to 21 sail ; namely, 17 British ships, the lugger and cutter, and two Danish merchant brigs one brought to by the Dragon, the other by the Egyptienne. In the mean time the Defiance, the British look-out ship, and which then lay about three leagues to windward of her fleet, discovered and signalled a strange fleet in the south-west.

At noon, latitude 43° 54' north, longitude (from Greenwich) 11° 38' west, Ferrol east-south-east distant 49, and Cape Finisterre south-east distant 39 leagues, the Prince-of-Wales made the signal to prepare for battle, and in a few minutes afterwards to form the order of sailing in two columns. This was followed by a signal to form the line ; and at 1 h. 15 m P.M., to keep in close order. At 2 h. 15 m. P.M. the latter signal was repeated ; and at 3 P.M. the Defiance having stood on until within less than two miles of the enemy, joined and took her station in the line, the ships of which, when in their plan, ranked as follows: Hero, Ajax, Triumph, Barfleur, Agamemnon, Windsor-Castle, Defiance, Prince-of-Wales, Repulse, Raisonable, Dragon (then under a press of sail to leeward, as soon as she should join), Glory, Warrior, Thunderer, Malta ; most the ships with their topgallantsails set, and all, except the Dragon, with their courses up, standing, as before, on the starboard tack.

At about the same time the ships of the combined fleet formed themselves in line of battle, in the following order: Argonauta, Terrible, America, Espana, San-Rafaël, Firme, Pluton, Mont-Blanc, Atlas, Berwick, Neptune, Bucentaure, Formidable, Intrépide, Scipion, Swiftsure, Indomptable, Aigle, Achille, Algésiras.* At 3 h. 30 m. P.M., after having hove to, some time, the combined fleet filled, and under topsails, stood on upon the larboard tack, rather off the wind, in a close well-formed line ; one frigate ahead, another, the Sirène, who had just taken the galleon in tow, astern, and the remaining five frigates, in a second line to windward of the centre and rear. The British fleet was at this time nearly abeam, and about seven miles distant; but, owing to the fog, neither fleet was more than partially in sight of the other.

Since 1 P. M, the Egyptienne and Sirius, then a short distance to windward of the Defiance, had been ordered, by signal, to keep sight of the enemy. The frigates accordingly made sail to get nearer to the latter ; and the Sirius, the weathermost frigate, as she passed from van to rear of the combined fleet,

*  For the names of their several commanders see vol. iii, pp. 323,   327,  and 330

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