The Second in Command will, after my intentions are made known to him, have the entire direction of his line; to make the attack upon the Enemy, and to follow up the blow until they are captured or destroyed.

If the Enemy’s Fleet should be seen to windward in line of battle, and that the two lines and advanced squadron could fetch them, they will probably be so extended that their van could not succour their rear.  I should therefore probably make the Second in Command’s signal to lead through about their twelfth ship from their rear; or wherever he could fetch, if not able to get so far advanced.  My line would lead through about their centre:  and the advanced squadron to cut three or four ships ahead of their centre, so as to ensure getting at their Commander in Chief, on whom every effort must be made to capture.

The whole impression of the British Fleet must be, to overpower from two or three ships ahead of their Commander in Chief (supposed to be in the centre) to the rear of their Fleet.

I will suppose twenty sail of the Enemy’s line to be untouched:  it must be some time before they could perform a manoeuvre to bring their force compact to attack any part of the British Fleet engaged, or to succour their own ships; which indeed would be impossible, without mixing with the ships engaged.  The Enemy’s Fleet is supposed to consist of forty-six sail of the line; British, forty:[30] if either is less, only a proportional number of Enemy’s ships are to be cut off; British to be one-fourth superior to the Enemy cut off.

Something must be left to chance:  nothing is sure in a sea-fight, beyond all others; shot will carry away masts and yards of friends as well as foes:  but I look with confidence to a victory before the van of the Enemy could succour their rear; and then that the British Fleet would most of them be ready to receive their twenty sail of the line, or to pursue them should they endeavour to make off.

If the van of the Enemy tack, the captured ships must run to leeward of the British Fleet:  if the Enemy wear, the British must place themselves between the Enemy and captured, and disabled British ships:  and should the Enemy close, I have no fear for the result.

The Second in Command will, in all possible things, direct the movements of his line, by keeping them so compact as the nature of the circumstances will admit.  Captains are to look to their particular line as their rallying-point; but in case signals cannot be seen or clearly understood, no Captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of an Enemy.

Plan of the intended attack from to-windward, the Enemy in line of battle ready to receive an attack: 

--------- Advanced squadron.}
------------------ Weather line.     } British.
------------------ Lee line.         }

-------------------------------------------------
Enemy’s line.

The divisions of the British Fleet will be brought