156 EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 



ing our naval force, by drawing after him a 

 large portion of, if not all, our best ships. Other 

 squadrons of observation would follow, and 

 England might by these manoeuvres be left 

 sufficiently defenceless for his purpose. Admiral 

 Villeneuve was directed, on gaining a certain 

 latitude, to take a baffling course back to Europe, 

 and, having eluded the vigilance of Nelson, to 

 enter the English Channel. The flotilla would 

 then have sailed forth from Ostend, Dunkirk, 

 Boulogne, and the adjoining ports. . . . But 

 Villeneuve was met on his return by Sir Robert 

 Calder, and, having suffered a defeat, took refuge 

 in Ferrol. From that harbour he was peremp- 

 torily ordered to sea, according to his original 

 instructions ; but contrary to their most impera- 

 tive and explicit intent, he steered his course for 

 Cadiz. ' He might as well/ exclaimed Napoleon, 

 raising his voice, and increasing his impetuosity 

 'he might as well have gone to the East 

 Indies.' Two days after Villeneuve had quitted 

 his anchorage before Cadiz a naval officer 

 arrived there to supersede him. The glorious 

 victory of Trafalgar soon followed, and the 

 French admiral died a few days after his arrival 

 in France ; report says by his own hand." 



