Two-decked Ships, which
will always make, if wanted, a Line of twenty-four Sail, on
whichever Line the Commander-in-Chief may direct.

[Sidenote: Powers of Second in Command.] The Second in Command
will, after my intentions are made known to him, have the entire
direction of his Line to make the attack upon the Enemy, and to
follow up the blow until they are captured or destroyed.

[Sidenote: The Attack from to Leeward.] If the Enemy's Fleet
should be seen to windward in Line of Battle, and that the two
Lines and the Advanced Squadron can fetch them, they will
probably be so extended that their Van could not succour their
Rear.

I should therefore probably make the Second in Command's signal
to lead through, about their twelfth Ship from their Rear, (or
wherever he could fetch, if not able to get so far advanced); my
Line would lead through about their Centre, and the Advanced
Squadron to cut two or three or four Ships a-head of their
Centre, so as to ensure getting at their Commander-in-Chief, on
whom every effort must be made to capture.

[Sidenote: The General Controlling Idea, under all Conditions.]
The whole impression of the British Fleet must be to overpower
from two or three Ships a-head of their Commander-in-Chief
supposed to be in the Centre, to the Rear of their Fleet. I will
suppose twenty Sail of the Enemy's Line to be untouched, it must
be some time before they could perform a manoeuvre to bring
their force compact to attack any part of the British Fleet
engaged, or to succour their own Ships, which indeed would be
impossible without mixing with the Ships engaged.

Something must be left to chance; nothing is sure in a Sea Fight
beyond all others. Shot will carry away the 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 their Rear, and then
that the British Fleet would most of them be ready to receive
their 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 wears, the British
must place themselves between the Enemy and the Captured, and
disabled British Ships; and should the Enemy close, I have no
fears as to the result.

[Sidenote: