Nelson remarked, that he must give the fleet something by way of a fillip. After musing awhile, he said, " Suppose we telegraph that ' Nelson expects every man to do his duty '. " The officer, whom he was then addressing, suggested whether it would not be better, " England expects, " &c. Lord Nelson rapturously exclaimed, " Certainly, certainly ; " and, at about 11 h. 40 m. A.M., up went to the Victory's mizen topgallantmast-head, the first flag of the celebrated telegraphic message, "ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY ; " * a signal which, the instant its signification became fully known, was greeted with three cheers on board of every ship in the fleet, and excited among both officers and men the most lively enthusiasm.

The general formation of the Franco-Spanish line, and the manner in which the British fleet, by its two columns, bore down to the attack, will appear with sufficient and, we believe, all attainable accuracy, by the following diagram. As the ships of the combined fleet were constantly varying their positions, we shall not attempt to point out the stations of any others than the

* There is not, that we are aware of, a single publication which gives this message precisely as it was delivered. The following is a minute of the several flags, as noted down on board of more than one ship in the fleet :

253 269 863 261 471 958 220 370 4 21 19 24

"England expects that every man will do his d u t y." The French translation, as given in one or two historical works, is equally short and expressive: "L'Angleterre compte que chacun fera son devoir."

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