leading events of the action itself, but those also which immediately preceded it:
“P.M. wind variable, moderate breezes and hazy; out cutter and barge, and sent them on board the Victory; joined company H.M.S. Bonne Citoyenne. At 2 the cutter returned with Lieutenant Noble, Hoisted Commodore Nelson’s pendant. 4h 30' mustered at quarters; one division exercised great guns. 6h 30' Commodore Nelson came on board from la Minerve. * * * * * * * Midnight, tacked per signal.
“A.M. ditto weather between 2 and 3 o’clock, heard the report of several gnns to the southward. * * * At day-light made the signal for a strange sail to the northward. 5h 30' heard the report of two guns S.W.; at 10 moderate and foggy, 10h 30' saw the Spanish fleet, bearing S.S.E. 4 or 5 miles answered signal to form the line, and chase the enemy. At llh 40' the headmost of our ships began to engage the enemy as they passed us on the other tack; Cape St. Vincent bearing North 10 leagues. A few minutes before noon, we opened our fire on their leading ship, and passed nineteen sail of the line, exchanging broadsides as we passed[1].
“P.M. wind variable, at 18 minutes before one, the Captain having passed, on the starboard tack, the last of the enemy’s line of nineteen sail, which were on the larboard tack, the Spanish Admiral, in the Santissima Trinidada, bore up, evidently with a design to join a division of his fleet, of eight sail of the line, which were on the Captain’s lee-bow. Seeing this the Commodore ordered the ship to be wore; and passing between the Diadem and Excellent, she was immediately engaged by the Santissima Trinidada, a four-decked ship, two three-deckers, and several two-deckers; so that at one time we were engaged by 9 line-of-battle ships, in which we were most nobly supported by Captain Trowbridge, of the Culloden. The Spanish Admiral desisted from his attempt, and hauled to the wind on the larboard tack. About 2, the Culloden having got between us and the enemy, we ceased firing for 10 minutes, till we got a head of her, and became engaged as before. * * * 2h 30' our sails and rigging being almost cut to pieces, the Blenheim passed between us and the enemy. At 3, we engaged several of the enemy’s line, particularly the San Josef and San Nicholas. Saw a Spanish two-decker strike to the Excellent, and soon after we shot away the San Josefs mizen-mast * * * * * * * * * * *.
At 3h 30' the Excellent passed us to windward, engaged the San Josef within pistol shot, and caused her to fall on board the San Nicholas. The Captain, whose fore-top-mast was at this time shot away, immediately luffed alongside the latter ship, prepared for boarding, and, having engaged very sharply for a few minutes, in which we had 15 men killed and wounded, the Commodore ordered her to be laid on board; when himself, Lieutenants Berry, Noble, and Pearson, and Messrs. Samwell,- ↑ Nelson in his account says 17 sail.
