ROBERT SOUTH EY 2 1 "J 



for a fair trial of strength, ami the situation of the 

 land, he thought it would be a glorious result if 

 fourteen were captured. He replied : " I shall not 

 be satisfied with less than twenty." Soon after- 

 wards he asked him if he did not think there 

 was a signal wanting. Captain Blackwood made 

 answer that he thought the whole fleet seemed 

 very clearly to understand what they were about. 

 These words were scarcely spoken before that signal 

 was made which will be remembered as long as 

 the lauguage, or even the memory of England, 

 shall endure — Nelson's last signal — "ENGLAND 

 EXPECT.S EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY!" It 

 was received throughout the fleet with a shout 

 of answering acclamation, made sublime by the 

 spirit which it breathed and the feeling which it 

 expressed. "Now," said Lord Nelson, "I can do 

 no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of 

 all events, and the justice of our cause. I thank 

 God for this great opportunity of doing my duty." 



He wore that day, as usual, his admiral's frock 

 coat, bearing on the left breast four stars of the 

 different orders with which he was invested. Orna- 

 ments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark 

 for the enemy, were beheld with ominous appre- 

 hensions by his ofTjcers. It was known that there 

 were riflemen on board the Krcnch ships ; and it 

 could not be doubted but that his life would be 

 particularly aimed at. They communicated their 



