placed Defenced Colossus, and Mars, between me and the frigates.  At noon, fresh gales, and heavy rain.  Cadiz north-east nine leagues.  In the afternoon, Captain Blackwood telegraphed, that the enemy seemed determined to go to the westward—­and that they shall not do, if in the power of Nelson and Bronte to prevent them!  At five, telegraphed Captain Blackwood, that I relied on his keeping sight of the enemy.  At five o’clock, Naiad made the signal for thirty-one sail of the enemy north north-east.  The frigates and look-out ships kept sight of the enemy most admirably, all night; and told me, by signals, which tack they were upon.  At eight, we wore, and stood to the south-west; and, at four A.M. wore, and stood to the north-east.”

To what an eventful period is the reader now conducted, by the hand of our immortal hero himself, in the forcible and unaffected language of his own manly and matchless heart; of that heart, which was, at this aweful moment, glowing with all the heroism of patriotic ardour for his king and country, and anxiously waiting the first dawn of light by which he might be enabled to discover the enemy!  It came; and, with it, brought the welcome sight of those whom his whole soul burned to behold.  Few, and simple, are the words which immediately follow in his lordship’s memorandum.

“Monday, October 21, 1805.  At day-light, saw the enemy’s combined fleet, from east to east south-east.  Bore away; made the signal for order of sailing, and to prepare for battle:  the enemy with their heads to the southward.”

But now, at the very crisis when he is hastening into a battle for his king and country, which he feels confident must end in a glorious victory, though he might not himself survive it, with that potent patriotism and never-ceasing loyalty to his king and country, and that constantly tender regard for those who were nearest to his heart in the bonds of private affection, he thus piously invokes Heaven’s protection for his king and country; and the protection of his king and country, should he fall in their service, for those most dear to his heart who would thus be deprived of his own.  To add to the solemnity, though thus introduced in his lordship’s private journal, it has the form, and in some respects the substance, of a codicil of his last will and testament; and is, accordingly, thereto annexed, having been duly proved in Doctors Commons.

“At seven,” continues, and unfortunately concludes, his lordship—­for these seem to have been the last words written by his own hand, which no man who deserves the name of a Briton will ever cease to remember and to regard—­“the enemy wearing in succession—­

“May the great God whom I worship, grant to my country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory! and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it! and may humanity, after victory, be the predominant feature in the British fleet!  For myself, individually, I Commend my life to Him who made me; and may his blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my country faithfully!  To him I resign myself, and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend.

Amen!  Amen!  Amen!