This is a noteworthy passage, for it shows great sagacity of prediction, and, in announcing beforehand his resolve,—­of which this is not the sole previous mention,—­it dispels entirely the idea that he was decoyed to the West Indies.  It explains, also, the remarkable outburst of gratitude that hailed him on his return from a chase which had been wholly unsuccessful as regards his own chief object—­the annihilation of the French fleet.  He had failed to find it, but he had driven the enemy out of the West Indies before they could do any serious injury to the vital interests of the country.  A man cannot be said to be decoyed, because, in pursuance of a judgment deliberately formed beforehand, he does the thing which the moment demands; unless it can be shown that he has thereby uncovered greater interests.  This Nelson did not do.  He saved the West Indies, and returned in time to protect Great Britain and Ireland from invasion.

It is through the perplexities of this momentous period that we have now to follow him, and we shall do so to most advantage by taking as our clue his own avowed primary motive of action, the finding and destroying of the French fleet.  A man dealing with Napoleon was bound to meet perplexities innumerable, to thread a winding and devious track, branching out often into false trails that led nowhere, and confused by cross-lights which glittered only to mislead.  In such a case, as in the doubtful paths of common life, the only sure guide to a man’s feet is principle; and Nelson’s principle was the destruction of the French fleet.  No other interest, his own least of all, could divert him from it.  For it he was willing not only to sacrifice fortune, but to risk renown; and so, amid troubles manifold, he walked steadfastly in the light of the single eye.

While Napoleon’s object remained the same throughout, his methods received various modifications, as all plans must do when circumstances change.  In his original intention the execution of the main effort was intrusted to Latouche Treville, by far and away the best admiral he had.  Upon his death, the Toulon fleet was committed to Villeneuve.  Its sailing was to take place as nearly as possible at the same time as that of the Rochefort division.  They were to go to the West Indies, proceed at once, independently, to offensive operations, then to unite and return together to Rochefort.  Napoleon’s calculation was that the British, impressed by this simultaneous departure, and uncertain about the enemy’s purpose, must send at once thirty ships-of-the-line in pursuit, in order to secure all the different quarters they would think endangered.  This diversion, if realized, would facilitate the operations of the Brest fleet, which was to land an army corps in Ireland, and then to cover the crossing of the main body at Boulogne into England; the precise character of its movements depending necessarily upon conditions of wind at the moment of execution.