first beheld the
French fleet, a due consideration of his entire character, so powerfully
presses on the mind of his biographer, that he cannot resist the
temptation to tender it as an assumed fact.

In a narrative, formed from the minutes of an officer of rank, reported
to be the present Sir Edward Berry, then captain of the Vanguard, first
published in the Naval Chronicle, it is observed, that the pleasure
which the admiral himself felt was perhaps more heightened than that of
any other man, as he had now a certainty by which he could regulate his
future operations. "The admiral had," continues this narrative, and, as
it subsequently appeared, most justly, "the highest opinion of, and
placed the firmest reliance on, the valour and conduct of every captain
in his squadron. It had been his practice, during the whole of his
cruise, whenever the weather and circumstances would permit, to have his
captains on board the Vanguard: where he would fully develope to them
his own ideas of the different and best modes of attack; and such plans
as he proposed to execute, on falling in with the enemy, whatever their
position or situation might be, by night or by day. There was no
possible position in which they could be found, that he did not take
into his calculation, and for the most advantageous attack of which he
had not digested and arranged the best possible disposition of the force
which he commanded. With the masterly ideas of their admiral, therefore,
on the subject of naval tactics, every one of the captains of his
squadron was most thoroughly acquainted; and, on surveying the situation
of,the enemy, they could precisely ascertain what were the ideas and
intentions of their commander, without the aid of farther instructions.
Thus, signals became almost unnecessary; much time was saved; and the
attention of every captain could almost undistractedly be paid to the
condition of his own particular ship: a circumstance from which, on
this occasion, the advantages to the general service were almost
incalculable. It cannot here be thought irrelevant, to give some idea of
what were the plans which Admiral Nelson had formed, and which he
explained to his captains with such perspicuity as to render his ideas
completely their own. To the naval service, at least, they must not only
prove interesting but useful. Had he fallen in with the French fleet at
sea, that he might make the best impression on any part of it that
should appear t