p. 296) It appears to the author more probable that it was issued to the fleet when off Toulon, in anticipation of a possible meeting with the French squadron there, when the disparity of force was less—­say, eight to ten.  This impression is confirmed by the “Plan of Attack” speaking of the junior “Admirals”—­in the plural.  There was but one such in the pursuit to the West Indies.  It is quite possible, however, that the same order was re-issued upon the later occasion, re-copied without change of words.  In any event, it confirms other statements and actions of Nelson’s, that an enemy should not be fought ship to ship, but by a concentration on part of his order.

[123] Inserted by author.

[124] Ante, pp. 306, 323.

[125] Ante, p. 82.

[126] The author has introduced an arrow to show the direction of the wind as viewed by Nelson; the arrow flying with the wind.

[127] Formerly Mr. Addington, who was at the head of the Government during the Copenhagen expedition.

[128] This was a mistake on Nelson’s part.  Rodney’s fleet actually, though accidentally, broke through De Grasse’s order in two (if not three) places.

[129] A desert group of small islands between Madeira and the Canaries.

[130] The author is indebted for this reminiscence to Mr. Stuart J. Reid, who received it from Pasco’s son, also an officer in the Navy.

[131] Besides three of the battles associated with Nelson’s name—­St. Vincent, the Nile, and Trafalgar—­Berry as a midshipman had been in the five fleet actions between Suffren and Hughes, in the East Indies, in 1782 and 1783. ("The Nelson Memorial,” by John Knox Laughton, pp. 83, 284.)

CHAPTER XXIII.

TRAFALGAR.—­THE DEATH OF NELSON.

OCTOBER 19-21, 1805.  AGE, 47.

Contrary to the general policy that for many years had governed the naval undertakings of France and Spain, the combined fleets put to sea on the 19th of October, 1805, with the fixed purpose of daring the hazard of battle, which they could scarcely expect to avoid.  They numbered thirty-three ships-of-the-line, eighteen French and fifteen Spanish, and were accompanied by five frigates and two brigs, all of which were French.  This great force in its aggregate was one.  There were not two separate entities, a French fleet and a Spanish fleet, acting in concert, as is often the case in alliances.  Whatever the administrative arrangements, for cruising and for battle the vessels of the two nations were blended in a single mass, at the head of which was the French admiral, just as the general direction of the naval campaign was in the hands of the French Emperor alone.  The commander-in-chief was Vice-Admiral Villeneuve, the same that Nelson recently had pursued to the West Indies and back to Europe.  The commander of the Spanish contingent, Vice-Admiral Gravina, was less his colleague than his subordinate.  There were also flying in the combined fleet the flags of four junior admirals, two French and two Spanish, and the broad pendants of several commodores.