Shortly, after he entered, the signal-lieutenant, who had been by his side all the morning, followed him, partly to make an official report, partly to prefer a personal request.  He was the ranking lieutenant on board, but had not been permitted to exercise the duties of first lieutenant, because Nelson some time before, to avoid constant changes in that important station, had ordered that the person then occupying it should so continue, notwithstanding the seniority of any who might afterwards join.  Now that battle was at hand, the oldest in rank wished to claim the position, and to gain the reward that it insured after a victory,—­a request natural and not improper, but more suited for the retirement of the cabin than for the publicity of the deck.

Whatever the original injustice,—­or rather hardship,—­it is scarcely likely, remembering the refusal encountered by Blackwood, that Nelson would have consented now to deprive of his “birthright” the man who so far had been doing the work; but the petition was never preferred.  Entering the cabin, the officer paused at the threshold, for Nelson was on his knees writing.  The words, the last that he ever penned, were written in the private diary he habitually kept, in which were noted observations and reflections upon passing occurrences, mingled with occasional self-communings.  They followed now, without break of space, or paragraph, upon the last incident recorded—­“At seven the enemy wearing in succession”—­and they ran thus:—­

“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 commit 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.”

The officer, Lieutenant Pasco, waited quietly till Nelson rose from his knees, and then made his necessary report; but, although his future prospects hung upon the wish he had to express, he refrained with singular delicacy from intruding it upon the preoccupation of mind evidenced by the attitude in which he had found his commander.  The latter soon afterwards followed him to the poop, where Blackwood was still awaiting his final instructions.  To him Nelson said, “I will now amuse the fleet with a signal;” and he asked if he did not think there was one yet wanting.  Blackwood replied that the whole fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about, and were vying with each other to get as near as possible to the leaders of the columns.  Upon this succeeded the celebrated signal, the development of which to its final wording is a little uncertain.  Comparing the various accounts of witnesses, it seems probably to have been as follows.  Nelson mused for a little