apart, reckoning from their respective centres; but, owing to the hazy state of the morning, neither fleet had of the other more than a partial view. The ships of each were lying to, or making very little way, with the wind as on the preceding day, a moderate breeze from north-west by west. The British fleet had just come to the wind on the larboard tack, but the combined fleet still remained on the starboard. The British advanced squadron, consisting of the Barfleur, Hero, Triumph, and Agamemnon, lay about five miles to windward of the main body; and, at the distance of about six miles to windward of the former, lay M. Villeneuve's advanced squadron, consisting also of four sail of the line, besides a few frigates. To windward of these again, at the distance of other five or six miles, lay the body of the Franco-Spanish fleet. To leeward of the British main body, about five miles, lay the crippled Windsor-Castle, with the Dragon approaching to take her in tow ; and still further to leeward, at about an equal distance, lay the Malta, Thunderer, two frigates, and prizes, all of whom were out of sight of the admiral.

At 6 h. 30 m. A.M. the Prince-of-Wales, and the ships with her, filled their main topsails; and at 8 A.M. the van-division, by signal, bore up to close the former, which had then wore, and, under their topsails were running to leeward, to join the prizes and the ships with them. At 9 A.M. having concentrated his fleet, the British admiral hauled up on the larboard tack, and steered about north-east ; keeping between the Franco-Spanish fleet and his three disabled ships. Of these the Windsor-Castle was in tow by the Dragon, the Firme, by the Sirius, and the San-Rafaël, at present by the Egyptienne, who had recently taken charge of her from the Malta.

No sooner had the weathermost British ship bore up to join the prizes, than, imagining that the former, although under topsails only, were flying in disorder, "fuyant en désordre," the French admiral went with his staff on board the Hortense frigate, and calling to him all the other frigates, except the Didon, which latter had been sent ahead to reconnoitre, ordered them to inform his captains, that he meant to bring on a decisive action, and that they were to lay their ships as close as possible alongside of the enemy.* While the five frigates were hailing the line-of-battle ships successively, to acquaint them, "au porte-voix," with their chief's intention, the Didon, confiding in superior sailing, had approached very near to the British fleet ; so near that the Triumph, at 11 A.M., for the want of a frigate to perform the office, tacked and chased her away.

Towards noon the wind veered more to the northward and got very light, and a heavy swell came on from the same quarter. At a few minutes past noon the combined fleet, formed in order of battle, bore up towards the British fleet, then about four

* Victoires et Conquetes, tome xvi., p. 142.

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