Calder, in his Majesty's ship the Prince of Wales, parted company with the Fleet, on his return to England. His departure Lord Nelson had some days before evinced an anxious wish to procrastinate, and was heard that very day to declare his firm belief that the Combined Fleets would be at sea in the course of ten days or a fortnight.<ref>captain Hardy left England in a bad state of health, with which he had been afflicted during the last twelve months; but was now in a progressive state of amendment. Lord Nelson asked the Surgeon this day, "how long he thought it might be before Captain Hardy's perfect recovery;" and on the Surgeon's answering that "he hoped not more than a fortnight,"—"Ah!" replied His Lordship, "before a fortnight the Enemy will be at sea, the business will be done, and we shall be looking out for England."</ref>
On the 18th the Donegal, Captain Malcolm, left the Fleet for Gibraltar. On the 19th his Majesty's ships the Colossus, Mars, Defence, and Agamemnon, formed the cordon of communication with the frigates in shore: the Fleet was lying to.
