At 6 h. 40 m. A.M. the Victory made the signals (Nos. 72 and 13), to form the order of sailing in two columns, and to prepare for battle ; and in 10 minutes afterwards, the signal No. 76, to bear up. The two columns of the British fleet accordingly bore up to the eastward under all sail. This prompt mode of attack was that which Lord Nelson had previously directed, † in order to avoid the inconvenience and delay forming a line of battle in the usual manner.

The near approach of the British fleet rendering an action unavoidable, the French admiral, at 8 h. 30 m. A.M., made the signal for his ships to wear together, and form the line in close order upon the larboard tack ; thereby to bring Cadiz on his lee bow, and to facilitate, if necessary, his escape to that port. It was near 10 A.M. before the manoeuvre was completed ; and then, owing to the lightness of the wind, the partial flaws from off the land, the heavy ground swell, and the incapacity or inexperience of some of the captains, the Franco-Spanish line was very irregularly formed : so much so that, instead of being straight, it was curved or crescent-like ; and, instead of the ships being in line ahead, some were to leeward, others to windward, of their proper stations. For the most part, indeed, the ships were two, and in a few cases three, deep ; thus accidentally presenting more obstacles to the success of the plan of attack decided upon by the British admiral, than if each French and Spanish ship had been in the wake of her leader. The ships, generally, were under topsails and topgallantsails, with the main topsail shivering, and lay a point, or rather more, off the wind.

Owing to the lightness of the breeze, the British fleet, after bearing up, made very slow progress, scarcely going, with studding-sails set, three knots an hour. While thus gradually nearing the enemy's line, Lord Nelson, dressed in the same threadbare frock uniform-coat which was his constant wear, having for its appendages, sewed amidst the folds of the left breast, the same four weather-tarnished and lack-lustre stars always to be seen there, visited the different decks of the Victory ; and, addressing the men at their quarters, cautioned them not to fire a single shot without being sure of their object.

Considering that the Victory, both as being the van-ship of a column and as bearing the flag of the commander-in-chief, would draw upon herself the whole weight of the enemy's fire, and thereby doubly endanger the life of him to whom all looked up for the success of the day, the principal officers present expressed among themselves a hope that Lord Nelson might be persuaded to allow the Temeraire, then close astern, to go ahead. Captain Blackwood undertook the delicate task of broaching the matter to the admiral. He did so ; and Lord Nelson, smiling significantly

†  See p. 23.

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