on Naval Tactics, 169 



taken of the culpable negligence of the French officers in omit- 

 ting to close their line. 



In Appendix II., Letter I., Sir Charles Dash wood says, — 



" I shall simply relate facts to which I was an eye-witness, and can vouch 

 for their truth. Being one of the aide- de-camps to the commander-in-chief 

 on that memorable day, it was my duty to attend both on him and the Cap- 

 tain of the fleet, as occasion might require. It so happened, that some time 

 a ter the battle had commenced, and whilst we were warmly engaged, I was 

 standing near Sir Charles Douglas, who was leaning on the hammocks (which 

 in those days were stowed across the fore part of the quarter-deck), his head 

 resting on one hand, and his eye occasionally glancing on the enemy's line, 

 and apparently in deep meditation, as if some great event was passing his 

 mind, suddenly raising his head, and turning quickly round, said, * Dash ! 

 Where's Sir George ?' ' In the after-cabin, Sir,' i replied. He immediately 

 went aft ; I followed ; and on meeting Sir George coming from the cabin, close 

 to the wheel, he took oflT his cocked-hat with his right hand, holding his long 

 spy-glass in his left, making a low and profound bow, said, ' Sir George, I 

 give you joy of the victory.' ' Poh !' said the chief, as if half angry, ' the day 

 is not half won yet.' ' Break the line. Sir George,' said your father, * the day 

 is your own, and I will insure you the victory.' ' No,' said the Admiral, ' I 

 will not break my line.' After another request, and another refusal, Sir 

 Charles desired the helm to be put a-port ; Sir George ordered it to starboard. 

 On your father ordering it again to port, the Admiral sternly said, * Remem- 

 ber, Sir Charles, I am commander-in-chief. Starboard, Sir,' addressing the 

 master, who, during this controversy, had placed the helm amidships. Both 

 the admii-al and captain then separated, the former going aft, the latter for- 

 ward. In the course of a couple of minutes or so, each turned and again met 

 nearly on the same spot, when Sir Charles quietly and coolly again addressed 

 the chief: ' Only break the line. Sir George, and the day is your own.' The 

 Admiral then said, in a quick and hurried way, ' Well, well, do as you like ;* 

 and immediately turned round and walked into the after cabin. The words, 

 * Port the helm !' were scarcely uttered, when Sir Charles ordered me down, 

 with directions to commence firing on the larboard side. On my return to 

 the quarter-deck, I found the Formidable passing between two French ships, 

 nearly touching us. We were followed by the Namur and the rest of the 

 ships astern ; and from that moment the victory was decided in our favour. 

 I am most clearly convinced, and my mind is most thoroughly satisfied, that 

 the idea of breaking the line never entered into the imagination even of your 

 gallant father, till the moment of his leaning on the hammocks, and looking 

 towards the enemy's ships." 



The testimony of the late Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke com- 

 pletely corroborates that of Sir Charles Dash wood ; and Sir 

 David Milne, not then in the same ship, testifies that the gene- 

 ral l)elief in the fleet was, that the idea of breaking the cnenriy's 

 line was attributed to Sir Charles Douglas. 



