Alg�siras, Pluton, Monarca, Fougueux, Santa-Ana, Indomptable, San-Justo, Redoutable, San-Leandro, Neptune, Bucentaure, Santisima-Trinidad, H�ros, San-Augustin, San-Francisco-de-Asis, Mont-Blanc, Duguay-Trouin, Formidable, Rayo, Intr�pide, Scipion, Neptuno; extending over a space, admitting a cable's length, or 200 yards, to be betwixt each ship, of nearly five miles.

This manoeuvre executed, daylight found the two hostile fleets at the distance apart of not more than 10 or 12 miles, and therefore fairly in each other's sight. The centre of the Franco-Spanish fleet at this time bore about east by south of the centre of the British fleet, and the wind was a light breeze from west-north-west, accompanied by a heavy westerly swell.

It was on the 19th, at 9 h. 30 m. A.M., while the British fleet was lying to about 16 leagues west-south-west from Cadiz, that the Mars, who, with the Defence and Agamemnon, then formed the cordon of communication between the Euryalus and Victory, repeated the signal, that the enemy was coming out of port. Lord Nelson immediately made sail in chase to the south-east, with light and partial breezes, mostly from the south-south-west. At 3 P.M. the Colossus repeated the signal, that the enemy was at sea. Towards evening Lord Nelson directed that the fleet should observe the motions of the Victory during the night ; that the Britannia, Dreadnought, and Prince, being heavy sailers, should take their stations as most convenient to them ; and that the Mars, Orion, Belleisle, Leviathan, Bellerophon, and Polyphemus, should proceed ahead, carry a light, and steer for the Straits' mouth.

On the 20th, at daybreak, the British found themselves near the entrance of the Straits, but saw nothing of the enemy. The fleet thereupon wore, and made sail to the north-west, with a fresh breeze at south-south-west. At 7 A.M. the Phoebe made the signal that the enemy bore north; and by noon the Victory and fleet were to the south-west of Cadiz, and within eight or nine leagues of it, standing to the west-north-west on the larboard tack. At 2 P.M. the fleet was taken aback by a breeze from the west-north-west, and at 4 P.M. wore and again came to on the larboard tack, steering north. At 5 P.M., just after the Euryalus had telegraphed that the enemy appeared determined to go to the westward, the Victory telegraphed that Lord Nelson relied upon Captain Blackwood's keeping sight of the enemy during the night ; and the Naiad, shortly afterwards, made the signal of 31 sail of the enemy, bearing north-north-east. At 8 h. 40 m. P.M. the British fleet wore and stood to the southwest ; and at 4 A.M. on the 21st the fleet wore again, and steered under easy sail, north by east. At 6 A.M., Cape Trafalgar bearing east by south distant about seven leagues, the Victory and ships with her obtained a sight of the combined fleet, also bearing about east by south, and distant, as already mentioned, 10 or 12 miles.

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