The “Victory,” always a fast ship, had likewise little difficulty in keeping her place at the front.  Blackwood, having failed to get Nelson on board his own frigate, and realizing the exposure inseparable from the position of leader, ventured, at about half-past nine, when still six miles from the enemy, to urge that one or two ships should be permitted to precede the “Victory.”  Nelson gave a conditional assent—­“Let them go,” if they can.  The “Temeraire,” a three-decker, being close behind, was hailed to go ahead, and endeavored to do so; but at the same moment the admiral gave an indication of how little disposed he was to yield either time or position.  The lee lower studding-sail happening to be badly set, the lieutenant of the forecastle had it taken in, meaning to reset it; which Nelson observing, ran forward and rated him severely for delaying the ship’s progress.  Anything much less useful than a lee lower studding-sail is hard to imagine, but by this time the admiral was getting very restive.  “About ten o’clock,” says Blackwood, “Lord Nelson’s anxiety to close with the enemy became very apparent:  he frequently remarked that they put a good face upon it; but always quickly added:  ’I’ll give them such a dressing as they never had before.’”

Seeing that the “Temeraire” could not pass the “Victory” in time to lead into the hostile order, unless the flagship gave way, Blackwood, feeling perhaps that he might wear out his own privilege, told Hardy he ought to say to the admiral that, unless the “Victory” shortened sail, the other ships could not get into place; but Hardy naturally demurred.  In any event, it was not just the sort of proposition that the captain of the ship would wish to make, and it was very doubtful how Nelson might take it.  This the latter soon showed, however; for, as the “Temeraire” painfully crawled up, and her bows doubled on the “Victory’s” quarter, he hailed her, and speaking as he always did with a slight nasal intonation, said:  “I’ll thank you, Captain Harvey, to keep in your proper station, which is astern of the Victory.”  The same concern for the admiral’s personal safety led the assembled officers to comment anxiously upon the conspicuous mark offered by his blaze of decorations, knowing as they did that the enemy’s ships swarmed with soldiers, that among them were many sharpshooters, and that the action would be close.  None, however, liked to approach him with the suggestion that he should take any precaution.  At length the surgeon, whose painful duty it was a few hours later to watch over the sad fulfilment of his apprehensions, said that he would run the risk of his Lordship’s displeasure; but before he could find a fitting opportunity to speak, a shot flew over the “Victory,” and the admiral directed all not stationed on deck to go to their quarters.  No remark therefore was made; but it is more likely that Nelson would have resented the warning than that he would have heeded it.