British fleet, or succour their own ships: which, indeed, would be
impossible, without mixing with the ships engaged. The enemy's
fleet is supposed to consist of forty-six sail of the line, British
forty: if either is less, only a proportion of the enemy to be cut
off. British to to be one-fourth superior to the enemy cut off.
Something must be left to chance. Nothing is sure in a sea-fight,
beyond all others; shots will carry away masts and yards of friends
as well as foes. But I look with confidence to a victory, before
the van of the enemy could succour the rear: and, then, that the
British fleet would be ready to receive the twenty sail of the
line; or to pursue them, should they endeavour to make off. If the
van of the enemy tacks, the captured ships must run to leeward of
the British fleet. If the enemy wear, the British fleet must place
themselves between the enemy and the captured, and the disabled
British ships; and, should the enemy close, I have no fear as to
the result. The second in command will, in all possible things,
direct the movements of his line, by keeping them as compact as the
nature of the circumstances will admit. Captains are to look to
their particular line as their rallying point; but, in case signals
cannot be seen, or clearly understood, _no captain can do wrong, if
he places his ship alongside that of an enemy_.

/Advanced Squadron 8\
British Divisions { Weather Line ... 16 } 40.
\Lee Line ... 16/

Enemy ... 46.

The Divisions of the British fleet will be brought nearly within
gunshot of the enemy's centre. The signal will, most probably, then
be made for the lee line to bear up together; to set all their
sails, even the steering sails, in order to get as quickly as
possible to the enemy's line; and to cut through, begining at the
twelfth ship from the enemy's rear. Some ships may not get through
their expected place, but they will always be at hand to assist
their friends. If any are thrown in the rear of the enemy, they
will compleat the business of twelve sail of the enemy. Should the
enemy wear together, or bear up and sail large, still the twelve
ships composing in the first position the enemy's rear, are to be
the object of attack of the