must equally take part in the action : * no signals to that effect will be necessary ; they must proceed to the point where their co-operation may be most advantageous, whether to hasten the surrender of an enemy's ship, or to cover a French ship too closely pressed, and to take her in tow or otherwise assist her." † No shyness betrays itself here ; an additional proof that, in his apparent disinclination to close with an inferior force, Vice-admiral Villeneuve was acting a compulsory part.

On the 23d of July the parties, in point of relative force, stood nearly the same. The combined fleet had been reduced from 20 to 18 ships, and the British from 15 to 14. But the one had its seven frigates ready to act upon any service ; while the other had its two frigates employed in towing the prizes of the preceding day ; and which prizes, in the attention they otherwise claimed, impeded the British fleet in its progress, and prevented it from attempting any manoeuvre whereby an advantage might be gained. Considering the little value of the vessels, the San-Rafaël, a ship of 34, and the Firme, a ship of 51 years old, and both battered to pieces, their destruction would have been not only a justifiable measure, but, under circumstances, the most eligible that could have been devised.

With respect to the power of commencing the action, a continuance of the same wind kept it where it had been on the day previous ; yet, with the exception of an hour's demonstration, or show-off, as it may be termed, the party possessing that power declined to use it. On the 24th a change of wind, to nearly an opposite point of the compass, produced a corresponding change in the position of the two fleets ; but still they did not approach nearer each other. The truth is, that since the close of the first day's proceedings, Sir Robert Calder, unless some unlooked-for advantage should offer itself, did not intend to be a second time the assailant : he would neither attack nor retreat ; nor would he deviate one point from the course necessary to convoy his crippled ship and his two worthless prizes beyond the reach of danger. Each fleet, therefore on the afternoon of the 24th, pursued its route, as if the other were not present, or that no hostility existed between them.

"Notre intention est que vous fassiez votre jonction en évitant le combat," says Napoléon, in his instructions to M. Villeneuve; and, in another place, "Si vous prenez le parti de faire votre réunion avec l'escadre de Brest, vous devez tenter de le faire sans combat." Buonaparte, also, when writing to M. Decrès, asks, "A quoi aboutissait une bataille?" and immediately answers the questions himself,-"A rien." ‡ If one admiral,

*  See p. 10.

†  For the original of this curious production, see Appendix No 3

‡  Précis des Evènemens, tome xi, pp. 248, 252 and 276

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