the life of horatio lord nelson-µÚ44ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
d¡¡have¡¡put¡¡him¡¡back¡¡in¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡storms¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡weathered£»¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡consoling¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡British¡¡superiority¡£¡¡¡¨These¡¡gentlemen£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨are¡¡not¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡Gulf¡¡of¡¡Lyons¡¡gale£º¡¡we¡¡have¡¡buffeted¡¡them¡¡for¡¡one¡and¡twenty¡¡months£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡carried¡¡away¡¡a¡¡spar¡£¡¨¡¡He£»¡¡however£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡so¡¡often¡¡braved¡¡these¡¡gales£»¡¡was¡¡now£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡mastered¡¡by¡¡them£»¡¡vexatiously¡¡thwarted¡¡and¡¡impeded£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡February¡¡27th¡¡he¡¡was¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡anchor¡¡in¡¡Pula¡¡Bay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡¡of¡¡Cagliari¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡21st¡¡of¡¡January¡¡the¡¡fleet¡¡had¡¡remained¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡battle£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡bulk¡head¡¡up¡¡night¡¡or¡¡day¡£¡¡He¡¡anchored¡¡here¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡not¡¡be¡¡driven¡¡to¡¡leeward¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡moderated¡¡he¡¡put¡¡to¡¡sea¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡again¡¡beating¡¡about¡¡against¡¡contrary¡¡winds£»¡¡another¡¡gale¡¡drove¡¡him¡¡to¡¡anchor¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡¡of¡¡Palma¡¡on¡¡the¡¡8th¡¡of¡¡March¡£¡¡This¡¡he¡¡made¡¡his¡¡rendezvous£º¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡French¡¡troops¡¡still¡¡remained¡¡embarked£»¡¡and¡¡wishing¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡them¡¡into¡¡a¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡stationed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Spanish¡¡coast£»¡¡he¡¡made¡¡his¡¡appearance¡¡off¡¡Barcelona¡¡with¡¡that¡¡intent¡£¡¡About¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡month¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡the¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡was¡¡abandoned£»¡¡and¡¡sailing¡¡once¡¡more¡¡towards¡¡his¡¡old¡¡station¡¡off¡¡Toulon¡¡on¡¡the¡¡4th¡¡of¡¡April£»¡¡he¡¡met¡¡the¡¡PHOEBE£»¡¡with¡¡news¡¡that¡¡Villeneuve¡¡had¡¡put¡¡to¡¡sea¡¡on¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡March£»¡¡with¡¡eleven¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line£»¡¡seven¡¡frigates£»¡¡and¡¡two¡¡brigs¡£¡¡When¡¡last¡¡seen¡¡they¡¡were¡¡steering¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡Africa¡£¡¡Nelson¡¡first¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡channel¡¡between¡¡Sardinia¡¡and¡¡Barbary£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡satisfy¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡Villeneuve¡¡was¡¡not¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡same¡¡route¡¡for¡¡Egypt¡¡which¡¡Gantheaume¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡reinforcements¡¡thither¡£¡¡Certain¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡he¡¡bore¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡7th¡¡for¡¡Palermo£»¡¡lest¡¡the¡¡French¡¡should¡¡pass¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡of¡¡Corsica£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡despatched¡¡cruisers¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡11th¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡assured¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡gone¡¡down¡¡the¡¡Mediterranean£»¡¡and¡¡sending¡¡off¡¡frigates¡¡to¡¡Gibraltar£»¡¡to¡¡Lisbon£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡Admiral¡¡Cornwallis£»¡¡who¡¡commanded¡¡the¡¡squadron¡¡off¡¡Brest£»¡¡he¡¡endeavoured¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡the¡¡westward£»¡¡beating¡¡against¡¡westerly¡¡winds¡£¡¡After¡¡five¡¡days¡¡a¡¡neutral¡¡gave¡¡intelligence¡¡that¡¡the¡¡French¡¡had¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡off¡¡Cape¡¡de¡¡Gatte¡¡on¡¡the¡¡7th¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡after¡¡ascertained¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡Straits¡¡of¡¡Gibraltar¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡following£»¡¡and¡¡Nelson£»¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡already¡¡be¡¡half¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Ireland¡¡or¡¡to¡¡Jamaica£»¡¡exclaimed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡miserable¡£¡¡One¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡comfort¡¡only¡¡came¡¡across¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡reflection£»¡¡that¡¡his¡¡vigilance¡¡had¡¡rendered¡¡it¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡undertake¡¡any¡¡expedition¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Mediterranean¡£
Eight¡¡days¡¡after¡¡this¡¡certain¡¡intelligence¡¡had¡¡been¡¡obtained£»¡¡he¡¡described¡¡his¡¡state¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡thus¡¡forcibly¡¡in¡¡writing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡governor¡¡of¡¡Malta£º¡¡¡¨My¡¡good¡¡fortune£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡Ball£»¡¡seems¡¡flown¡¡away¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡get¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡wind£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡a¡¡side¡wind¡£¡¡Dead¡¡foul£¡Dead¡¡foul£¡¡¡But¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡is¡¡fully¡¡made¡¡up¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡when¡¡I¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡supposing¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡certain¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enemy's¡¡destination¡£¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡this¡¡ill¡luck¡¡will¡¡go¡¡near¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡these¡¡are¡¡times¡¡for¡¡exertion£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡cast¡¡down£»¡¡whatever¡¡I¡¡may¡¡feel¡£¡¨¡¡In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡every¡¡exertion¡¡which¡¡could¡¡be¡¡made¡¡by¡¡all¡¡the¡¡zeal¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡skill¡¡of¡¡British¡¡seamen£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡get¡¡in¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Gibraltar¡¡till¡¡the¡¡30th¡¡of¡¡April£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡then¡¡so¡¡adverse¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡Gut¡£¡¡He¡¡anchored¡¡in¡¡Mazari¡¡Bay£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Barbary¡¡shore£»¡¡obtained¡¡supplies¡¡from¡¡Tetuan£»¡¡and¡¡when£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡5th£»¡¡a¡¡breeze¡¡from¡¡the¡¡eastward¡¡sprang¡¡up¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡sailed¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡from¡¡Sir¡¡John¡¡Orde£»¡¡who¡¡commanded¡¡off¡¡Cadiz£»¡¡or¡¡from¡¡Lisbon¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡nothing¡¡is¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Admiralty£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡shall¡¡probably¡¡think¡¡the¡¡rumours¡¡which¡¡have¡¡been¡¡spread¡¡are¡¡true£»¡¡that¡¡their¡¡object¡¡is¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Indies£»¡¡and£»¡¡in¡¡that¡¡case£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡themor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Antipodes£»¡¡should¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡to¡¡be¡¡their¡¡destination¡£¡¨¡¡At¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡this¡¡resolution¡¡was¡¡taken£»¡¡the¡¡physician¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fleet¡¡had¡¡ordered¡¡him¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡England¡¡before¡¡the¡¡hot¡¡months¡£
Nelson¡¡had¡¡formed¡¡his¡¡judgment¡¡of¡¡their¡¡destination£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡up¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡accordingly£»¡¡when¡¡Donald¡¡Campbell£»¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡an¡¡admiral¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Portuguese¡¡service£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡person¡¡who¡¡had¡¡given¡¡important¡¡tidings¡¡to¡¡Earl¡¡St¡£¡¡Vincent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡movements¡¡of¡¡that¡¡fleet¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡won¡¡his¡¡title£»¡¡a¡¡second¡¡time¡¡gave¡¡timely¡¡and¡¡momentous¡¡intelligence¡¡to¡¡the¡¡flag¡¡of¡¡his¡¡country¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡VICTORY£»¡¡and¡¡communicated¡¡to¡¡Nelson¡¡his¡¡certain¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡the¡¡combined¡¡Spanish¡¡and¡¡French¡¡fleets¡¡were¡¡bound¡¡for¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Indies¡£¡¡Hitherto¡¡all¡¡things¡¡had¡¡favoured¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£¡¡While¡¡the¡¡British¡¡commander¡¡was¡¡beating¡¡up¡¡again¡¡strong¡¡southerly¡¡and¡¡westerly¡¡gales£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡wind¡¡to¡¡their¡¡wish¡¡from¡¡the¡¡N¡£E¡££»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡done¡¡in¡¡nine¡¡days¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡month¡¡in¡¡accomplishing¡£¡¡Villeneuve£»¡¡finding¡¡the¡¡Spaniards¡¡at¡¡Carthagena¡¡were¡¡not¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fit¡¡state¡¡of¡¡equipment¡¡to¡¡join¡¡him£»¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡wait£»¡¡but¡¡hastened¡¡on¡¡to¡¡Cadiz¡£¡¡Sir¡¡John¡¡Orde¡¡necessarily¡¡retired¡¡at¡¡his¡¡approach¡£¡¡Admiral¡¡Gravina£»¡¡with¡¡six¡¡Spanish¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line¡¡and¡¡two¡¡French£»¡¡come¡¡out¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡sailed¡¡without¡¡a¡¡moment's¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡time¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡about¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡French¡¡troops¡¡on¡¡board£»¡¡and¡¡fifteen¡¡hundred¡¡Spanish£º¡¡six¡¡hundred¡¡were¡¡under¡¡orders£»¡¡expecting¡¡them¡¡at¡¡Martinique£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡thousand¡¡at¡¡Guadaloupe¡£¡¡General¡¡Lauriston¡¡commanded¡¡the¡¡troops¡£¡¡The¡¡combined¡¡fleet¡¡now¡¡consisted¡¡of¡¡eighteen¡¡sail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line£»¡¡six¡¡forty¡four¡¡gun¡¡frigates£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡twenty¡six¡¡guns£»¡¡three¡¡corvettes£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡brig¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡joined¡¡afterwards¡¡by¡¡two¡¡new¡¡French¡¡line¡of¡battle¡¡ships£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡forty¡four¡£¡¡Nelson¡¡pursued¡¡them¡¡with¡¡ten¡¡sail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line¡¡and¡¡three¡¡frigates¡£¡¡¡¨Take¡¡you¡¡a¡¡Frenchman¡¡apiece£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡¡to¡¡his¡¡captains£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡leave¡¡me¡¡the¡¡Spaniards£º¡¡when¡¡I¡¡haul¡¡down¡¡my¡¡colours£»¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡till¡¡then¡£¡¨
The¡¡enemy¡¡had¡¡five¡and¡thirty¡¡days'¡¡start£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡calculated¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡gain¡¡eight¡¡or¡¡ten¡¡days¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡by¡¡his¡¡exertions¡£¡¡May¡¡15th¡¡he¡¡made¡¡Madeira£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡June¡¡4th¡¡reached¡¡Barbadoes£»¡¡whither¡¡he¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡despatches¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡he¡¡found¡¡Admiral¡¡Cochrane£»¡¡with¡¡two¡¡ships£»¡¡part¡¡of¡¡our¡¡squadron¡¡in¡¡those¡¡seas¡¡being¡¡at¡¡Jamaica¡£¡¡He¡¡found¡¡here¡¡also¡¡accounts¡¡that¡¡the¡¡combined¡¡fleets¡¡had¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡from¡¡St¡£¡¡Lucia¡¡on¡¡the¡¡28th£»¡¡standing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡southward£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡Tobago¡¡and¡¡Trinidad¡¡were¡¡their¡¡objects¡£¡¡This¡¡Nelson¡¡doubted£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡his¡¡opinion£»¡¡and¡¡yielded¡¡it¡¡with¡¡these¡¡foreboding¡¡words£º¡¡¡¨If¡¡your¡¡intelligence¡¡proves¡¡false£»¡¡you¡¡lose¡¡me¡¡the¡¡French¡¡fleet¡£¡¨¡¡Sir¡¡W¡£¡¡Myers¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡embark¡¡here¡¡with¡¡2000¡¡troops£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡taken¡¡on¡¡board£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡he¡¡sailed¡¡for¡¡Tobago¡£¡¡Here¡¡accident¡¡confirmed¡¡the¡¡false¡¡intelligence¡¡which¡¡had£»¡¡whether¡¡from¡¡intention¡¡or¡¡error£»¡¡misled¡¡him¡£¡¡A¡¡merchant¡¡at¡¡Tobago£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡general¡¡alarm£»¡¡not¡¡knowing¡¡whether¡¡this¡¡fleet¡¡was¡¡friend¡¡or¡¡foe£»¡¡sent¡¡out¡¡a¡¡schooner¡¡to¡¡reconnoitre£»¡¡and¡¡acquaint¡¡him¡¡by¡¡signal¡£¡¡The¡¡signal¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡chosen¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡very¡¡one¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡appointed¡¡by¡¡Col¡£¡¡Shipley¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engineers¡¡to¡¡signify¡¡that¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡were¡¡at¡¡Trinidad£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡this¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡opportunity¡¡of¡¡discovering¡¡the¡¡mistake¡£¡¡An¡¡American¡¡brig¡¡was¡¡met¡¡with¡¡about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡the¡¡master¡¡of¡¡which£»¡¡with¡¡that¡¡propensity¡¡to¡¡deceive¡¡the¡¡English¡¡and¡¡assist¡¡the¡¡French¡¡in¡¡any¡¡manner¡¡which¡¡has¡¡been¡¡but¡¡too¡¡common¡¡among¡¡his¡¡countrymen£»¡¡affirmed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡boarded¡¡off¡¡Granada¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡before¡¡by¡¡the¡¡French£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡standing¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Bocas¡¡of¡¡Trinidad¡£¡¡This¡¡fresh¡¡intelligence¡¡removed¡¡all¡¡doubts¡£¡¡The¡¡ships¡¡were¡¡cleared¡¡for¡¡action¡¡before¡¡daylight£»¡¡and¡¡Nelson¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡Bay¡¡of¡¡Paria¡¡on¡¡the¡¡7th£»¡¡hoping¡¡and¡¡expecting¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡mouths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Orinoco¡¡as¡¡famous¡¡in¡¡the¡¡annals¡¡of¡¡the¡¡British¡¡navy¡¡as¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Nile¡£¡¡Not¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡accident¡¡and¡¡artifice¡¡had¡¡combined¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡him¡¡so¡¡far¡¡to¡¡leeward£»¡¡that¡¡there¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡little¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡fetching¡¡to¡¡windward¡¡of¡¡Granada¡¡for¡¡any¡¡other¡¡fleet¡£¡¡Nelson£»¡¡however£»¡¡with¡¡skill¡¡and¡¡exertions¡¡never¡¡exceeded£»¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡unexampled£»¡¡bore¡¡for¡¡that¡¡island¡£
Advices¡¡met¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡combined¡¡fleets£»¡¡having¡¡captured¡¡the¡¡Diamond¡¡Rock£»¡¡were¡¡then¡¡at¡¡Martinique¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fourth£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡that¡¡night¡¡for¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡of¡¡Granada¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡9th¡¡Nelson¡¡arrived¡¡off¡¡that¡¡island£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡to¡¡leeward¡¡of¡¡Antigua¡¡the¡¡preceding¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡homeward¡bound¡¡convoy¡£¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡not¡¡been¡¡for¡¡false¡¡information£»¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡Nelson¡¡had¡¡acted¡¡reluctantly£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡opposition¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡judgment£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡off¡¡Port¡¡Royal¡¡just¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡leaving£»¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡fought¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡Rodney¡¡defeated¡¡De¡¡Grasse¡£¡¡This¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡in¡¡his¡¡vexation£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡saved¡¡the¡¡colonies£»¡¡and¡¡above¡¡200¡¡ships¡¡laden¡¡for¡¡Europe£»¡¡which¡¡would¡¡else¡¡have¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡the¡¡enemy's¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡satisfaction¡¡of¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡terror¡¡of¡¡his¡¡name¡¡had¡¡effected¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡put¡¡to¡¡flight¡¡the¡¡allied¡¡enemies£»¡¡whose¡¡force¡¡nearly¡¡doubled¡¡that¡¡before¡¡which¡¡they¡¡fled¡£¡¡That¡¡they¡¡were¡¡flying¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Europe¡¡he¡¡believed£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡Europe¡¡he¡¡steered¡¡in¡¡pursuit¡¡on¡¡the¡¡13th£»¡¡having¡¡disembarked¡¡the¡¡troops¡¡at¡¡Antigua£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡with¡¡him¡¡the¡¡SPARTIATE£»¡¡seventy¡four£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡the¡¡squadron¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pursuing¡¡so¡¡superior¡¡a¡¡force¡£¡¡Five¡¡days¡¡afterwards¡¡the¡¡AMAZON¡¡brought¡¡intelligence¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡spoke¡¡a¡¡schooner¡¡who¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡them¡¡on¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡15th£»¡¡steering¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡computation£»¡¡eighty¡seven¡¡leagues¡¡off¡£¡¡Nelson's¡¡diary¡¡at¡¡this¡¡time¡¡denotes¡¡his¡¡great¡¡anxiety¡¡and¡¡his¡¡perpetual¡¡and¡¡all¡observing¡¡vigilance¡£¡¡¡¨June¡¡21¡£¡¡Midnight£»¡¡nearly¡¡calm£»¡¡saw¡¡three¡¡planks£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡think¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡French¡¡fleet¡£¡¡Very¡¡miserable£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡very¡¡foolish¡£¡¨¡¡On¡¡the¡¡17th¡¡of¡¡July¡¡he¡¡came¡¡in¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Cape¡¡St¡£¡¡Vincent£»¡¡and¡¡steered¡¡for¡¡Gibraltar¡£¡¡¡¨June¡¡18th£»¡¨¡¡his¡¡diary¡¡says£»¡¨Cape¡¡Spartel¡¡in¡¡sight£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡French¡¡fleet£»¡¡nor¡¡any¡¡information¡¡about¡¡them¡£¡¡How¡¡sorrowful¡¡this¡¡makes¡¡me£¡¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡help¡¡myself¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡next¡¡day¡¡he¡¡anchored¡¡at¡¡Gibraltar£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡20th£»¡¡says¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡went¡¡on¡¡shore¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡since¡¡June¡¡16£»¡¡1803£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡having¡¡my¡¡foot¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡VICTORY¡¡two¡¡years£»¡¡wanting¡¡ten¡¡days¡£¡¨
Here¡¡he¡¡communicated¡¡with¡¡his¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡Collingwood£»¡¡who£»¡¡having¡¡been¡¡detached¡¡with¡¡a¡¡squadron£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡disappearance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡combined¡¡fleets£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Nelson¡¡in¡¡their¡¡pursuit£»¡¡was¡¡known¡¡in¡¡England£»¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡his¡¡station¡¡off¡¡Cadiz¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡Ireland¡¡was¡¡the¡¡enemy's¡¡ultimate¡¡object£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡now¡¡liberate¡¡the¡¡Ferrol¡¡squadron£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡blocked¡¡up¡¡by¡¡Sir¡¡Robert¡¡Calder£»¡¡call¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Rochefort¡¡ships£»and¡¡then¡¡appear¡¡off¡¡Ushant¡¡with¡¡33¡¡or¡¡34¡¡sail£»¡¡there¡¡to¡¡be¡¡joined£º¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Brest¡¡fleet¡£¡¡With¡¡this¡¡great¡¡force¡¡he¡¡supposed¡¡they¡¡would¡¡make¡¡for¡¡Ireland¡¡the¡¡real¡¡mark¡¡and¡¡bent¡¡of¡¡all¡¡their¡¡operations£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡flight¡¡to¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Indies£»¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡merely¡¡undertaken¡¡to¡¡take¡¡off¡¡Nelson's¡¡force£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡the¡¡great¡¡impediment¡¡to¡¡their¡¡undertaking¡£
Collingwood¡¡was¡¡gifted¡¡with¡¡great¡¡political¡¡penetration¡£¡¡As¡¡yet£»¡¡however£»¡¡all¡¡was¡¡conjecture¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡enemy£»¡¡and¡¡Nelson£»¡¡having¡¡victualled¡¡and¡¡watered¡¡at¡¡Tetuan£»¡¡stood¡¡for¡¡Ceuta¡¡on¡¡the¡¡24th£»¡¡still¡¡without¡¡information¡¡of¡¡their¡¡course¡£¡¡Next¡¡day¡¡intelligence¡¡arrived¡¡that¡¡the¡¡CURIEUX¡¡brig¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡them¡¡on¡¡the¡¡19th£»¡¡standing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northward¡£¡¡He¡¡proceeded¡¡off¡¡Cape¡¡St¡£¡¡Vincent£»¡¡rather¡¡cruising¡¡for¡¡intelligence¡¡than¡¡knowing¡¡whither¡¡to¡¡betake¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡here¡¡a¡¡case¡¡occurred¡¡that¡¡more¡¡than¡¡any¡¡ot