says his lordship, “very odd!  I was hardly ever better, than yesterday.  Freemantle staid with me till eight o’clock; and I slept uncommonly well, but was awoke by this disorder.  My opinion of it’s effect, some one day, has never altered!  However, it is entirely gone off, and I am only quite weak.  The good people of England will not believe, that rest of body and mind is necessary for me!  But, perhaps, this spasm may not come again these six months.  I had been writing seven hours yesterday; perhaps, that had some hand in bringing it upon me.”  Thus lightly does he speak of his own sufferings, thus good-humouredly notice the little consideration of the country for his individual ease.

The Euryalus had been immediately stationed close off the harbour of Cadiz, for the purpose of watching every motion of the enemy, and instantly communicating whatever intelligence might be obtained; a service for which, Lord Nelson was persuaded, there could not possibly be a better officer than his friend the Honourable Captain Blackwood.  At a more remote distance, but still within sight of the port, a detachment of a few ships of the line was placed in constant readiness to act against any single ships, or small squadrons, which might attempt to push out for sea; between which, and the main body of the fleet, remaining off Cape St. Mary’s, was posted a line of frigates, sufficiently close for the whole to communicate by signal:  so that his lordship could always, in a few minutes, be informed of every movement of the enemy.  There were now thirty-six sail of the line visible in Cadiz, and they bore every appearance of being nearly ready for sea.

The following excellent letter, developing the intended arrangements of his lordship; his full confidence of success; and the characteristic chearfulness of his friendly attachment to the Honourable Captain Black wood, originally founded on admiration of that active able officer’s professional abilities in assisting the capture of Le Guillaume Tell at Malta; cannot fail to gratify every intelligent reader.

     Victory, Oct. 4, 1805.

     “MY DEAR SIR,

I have received, from Rear-Admiral Louis, your information respecting the intended movements of the enemy.  I am momentarily expecting the Phoebe, Sirius, Naiad, and Niger, from Gibraltar; two of them shall be with you, directly as I can get hold of them:  and, if you meet them, and there is any way of sending information, and their dispatches from Gibraltar, keep Naiad and Phoebe.  Juno is a fixture between Capes Trafalgar and Spartel.  Mars, Colossus, and Defence, will be stationed four leagues east from the fleet; and one of them advanced to the east, towards Cadiz, and as near as possible in the latitude.  The fleet will be from sixteen to eighteen leagues west of Cadiz; therefore, if you throw a frigate west from you, most probably, in fine weather, we shall daily communicate.  In fresh breezes easterly,