tion of a ship of such force might perhaps
have prevented. In writing to the Honourable Captain Blackwood a second
letter, dated the, 14th, soon after Sir Robert Calder's departure, his
lordship feelingly says--"Sir Robert is gone. Poor fellow! I hope he
will get well over the enquiry." What a lesson is here of Christian
virtue, left by our incomparable hero for the contemplation and
admiration of mankind. It is asserted, on no light authority, that Sir.
Robert Calder had formerly, rather rashly, advised a court-martial on
our hero, for his departure from his commander in chief's orders on the
memorable 14th of February; when the great Earl of St. Vincent, with a
generous, noble, and dignified disdain, instantly replied--"You would,
then, try a man for knowing better how to act than yourself."

Lord Nelson, in the foregoing letter to the Honourable Captain
Blackwood, thanks him for some observations on the Salvages, which he
will get inserted in the charts; and tells him, that the Defence and
Agamemnon will be this day placed seven to ten leagues distant from
Cadiz, and two or three ships between the fleet and them: "therefore,"
says his lordship, "you will be speedily supported, in case of an
attempt to drive you off." Characteristically adding--"_I should like,
most amazingly, to see them try it_!"

It has been said, that Lord Nelson, who was in hourly expectation of
being reinforced by seven ships of the line from England, and impatient
to encounter the enemy, purposely detached Rear-Admiral Louis, with that
number of ships, in the most public manner, by way of encouraging them
to risk an action with his apparently so diminished force; and, that
this stratagem actually induced Admiral Villeneuve immediately to sail
from Cadiz. That the expected reinforcement had arrived, and Admiral
Louis had been thus detached to Tetuan, for fresh provisions and water,
is most certain; and it is equally certain that the combined fleet,
greatly to our hero's wish, however it might be to his expectation, he
had the pleasure to learn, next morning; Sunday, October the 20th, on
communicating with the Phoebe, Defence, and Colossus, were the evening
before seen by them outside of Cadiz; but, the wind being southerly, the
enemy, consisting of nearly forty sail, could not get to the mouth of
the Straits. "We were," writes his lordship, for this is transcribed
from his own private memorandum of that day, "between Trafalgar and Cape
Spartel.