From the place where Villeneuve was met, Nelson reasoned, again, that the primary intention of the allies, returning from the West Indies, had been to enter the Straits.  “By all accounts I am satisfied their original destination was the Mediterranean, but they heard frequently of our track.”  This persistence in his first view was partly due to the confidence with which he held to his own convictions,—­the defect of a strong quality,—­partly, doubtless, to the fact that Villeneuve had blundered in his homeward course, and fetched unnecessarily to leeward of his port, with reference to winds perfectly understood by seamen of that day.  In fact he had no business to be where he brought up, except on the supposition that he was making for the Straits.

FOOTNOTES: 

[83] At noon, January 20, “Mount Santo bore N.W., distant six leagues.”—­“Victory’s” Log.  Cape Monte Santo is sixty miles north of the southern extremity of Sardinia.

[84] On the east coast of Sicily.

[85] Bulkheads are the light partitions which divide cabins, offices, etc. from the rest of the decks.  For battle they are removed to allow freer communication, and to lessen the risk of fire and splinters.

[86] An island twenty miles west of Sicily.

[87] Author’s italics.

[88] March 9th.

[89] Author’s italics.

[90] Apparently Gulf of Palmas.

[91] From England.

[92] Sir John Orde.

[93] Orde’s squadron never exceeded six ships-of-the-line, while Villeneuve’s numbered eleven without the Spaniards.  It will be seen further on that Nelson blamed Orde for not keeping track of the enemy’s movements, and sending word to him at Gibraltar, and elsewhere, of the direction taken.  As far as the author’s information goes, he agrees with this censure.  To fight eleven ships with six could only be justified by extreme circumstances; but to lose sight of them in spring weather infers even worse judgment than fighting would.  It was of the first importance to learn the destination of so large a body, considering that the interests of Great Britain were threatened in directions so diverse as the Channel, the East Indies, and the West Indies.

[94] Lord Radstock’s son had been transferred before this from the “Victory” to the “Hydra”; but his father did not yet know the fact, and supposed him with Nelson.

[95] First Lord of the Admiralty, who had very lately succeeded Melville.

[96] An east wind.

[97] The signal flag for a vessel about to sail.

[98] Life of the Rev. A.J.  Scott, p. 171.

[99] Ahead, but a little to one side.

[100] Phillimore’s Last of Nelson’s Captains.

[101] The “Northumberland” and the “Spartiate.”

[102] The island immediately north of Martinique.

[103] “The Trench and Spaniards landed 1,000 sick when they arrived at Martinico, and buried full that number during their stay.”  Nicolas, vol. vi. p. 480.