XVIII.[8] Notwithstanding the general printed Fighting Instructions, if at any time, when engaged with an equal number of the enemy’s ships, and the ship opposed to any of his majesty’s ships is forced out of the line, you are hereby required and directed to pursue her, and endeavour to take and destroy her.

Memorandum.—­When the squadron is in a line of battle ahead, and the signal is made for the headmost and weathermost to tack, the ship that leads on the former tack is to continue to lead after tacking.[9]

XIX.[10] When I would have the ship or ships that chase bring down their chase to me, I will hoist a blue flag pierced with white on the fore topgallant mast, not on the flagstaff.

XX.[10] When I find it necessary to have the state and condition of the ships in the squadron sent on board me, I will make the signal for all lieutenants, and hoist a blue and white flag at the mizen peak and fire a gun.  If for the state and condition of a particular ship, I make the signal for the lieutenant of that ship, with the flag at the mizen peak.

Given under my hand on board his majesty’s ship Namur, in Gibraltar
Bay, this 27 April, 1759. 
                                     E. BOSCAWEN
                                     (autograph). 
To Capt.  Medows,
  of his majesty’s ship Shannon. 
    By command of the admiral
      ALEX.  MACPHERSON
      (autograph).

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] The articles marked with an asterisk are additions subsequent to and not appearing in the earlier Admiralty MS. 252/24, ’Additional Fighting Instructions by Day’ (see p. 108).

[2] In the earlier Admiralty MS. this article is numbered VII. and begins ’If the fleet should happen to be in two divisions and I would have them form,’ &c.

[3] Used by Lord Anson in 1747.  See supra, p. 209.

[4] The earlier Admiralty MS. has simply ’the ship my flag shall be aboard of.’

[5] Article IV, in the earlier Admiralty MS.  It is practically identical except that it has ‘she’ and ‘her’ throughout where ships are spoken of, and a few other verbal differences.

[6] Articles V. and VI. in the earlier Admiralty MS.

[7] The equivalent of Article XIV. in the earlier Admiralty MS. which reads thus, ’When I would have the fireships to prime I will hoist a pennant striped red and white on the flagstaff at the fore topmast-head and fire a gun, but in case we are at any time in chase of the enemy’s fleet, the fireships are to prime as fast as possible whether the signal be made or not.’  The Admiralty MS. ends here with another article relating to fireships (No.  XV.):  ’You are to hold his majesty’s ship under your command in a constant readiness for action, and in case of coming to an engagement with the enemy, if they have the wind of