ROBERT SOUTHEY 219 



swell was setting into the Bay of Cadiz : our ships, 

 crowding all sail, moved majestically before it, 

 with light winds from the south-west. The sun 

 shone on the sails of the enemy ; and their well- 

 formed line, with their numerous three-deckers, 

 made an appearance which any other assailants 

 would have thought formidable ; but the British 

 sailors only admired the beauty and the splendour 

 of the spectacle ; and, in full confulence of win- 

 ning what they saw, remarked to each other, what 

 a fine sight yonder ships would make at Spithead ! 

 The French admiral from the Hucentaure, beheld 

 the new manner in which his enemy was advan- 

 cing. Nelson and Collingwood each leading his 

 line ; and pointing them out to his officers, he is 

 said to have exclaimed, that such conduct could 

 not fail to be successful. Yet Villeneuve had made 

 his own dispositions with the utmost skill, and 

 the fleets under his command waited for the attack 

 with perfect coolness. Ten minutes before twelve 

 they opened their fire. Eight or nine of the ships 

 immediately ahead of the Victory^ and across her 

 bows, fired single guns at her, to ascertain whether 

 she was yet within their range. As soon as Nelson 

 perceived that their shot passed over him, he 

 desired Blackwood, and Captain Browse, of the 

 Sin'ttSy to repair to their respective frigates ; 

 and, on their way, to tell all the captains of the 

 line-of-baltle ships that he depended on their 



