l at ease
lest the enemy might escape undetected. He never had frigates enough
to make the result as sure as it ought to be, where such vast issues
were at stake. While eight at least were needed to be always with the
fleet before Cadiz, he had but five; and to maintain even so many it
was necessary to cut short other services and essential stations. This
deficiency he urged upon the Government still more than he did the
inadequacy of the line-of-battle force; for his fear of the enemy
eluding him was greater than that of a conflict with superior numbers.
As regards the latter contingency, he wrote to Lord Barham that, if
the enemy came out, he would immediately bring them to battle; "but,
although I should not doubt of spoiling any voyage they might attempt,
yet I hope for the arrival of the ships from England, that as an
enemy's fleet they may be annihilated." On the other hand, "the last
fleet was lost to me for want of frigates." Besides his own direct
representations, he pressed Rose to obtain an intimation to the
Admiralty from the Prime Minister, that the latter was personally
solicitous that more small cruisers should be supplied. Both
Collingwood and Nelson believed the allies bound to the Mediterranean;
but in this they might be mistaken, and as the real object might be
again the West Indies, lookouts should be placed off Cape Blanco on
the coast of Africa, and off the Salvages,[129] both which he knew had
been sighted by Villeneuve, in the outward voyage of the previous
spring.

To his concern about the immediate situation before Cadiz were added
the universal cares of the Mediterranean, with all parts of which he
renewed his correspondence, occupying his active mind with provisions
for forwarding the cause of Great Britain and her allies. Under his
many anxieties, however, he preserved his buoyant, resolute temper,
not worrying over possible happenings against which he was unable to
provide. "The force is at present not so large as might be wished," he
writes to Ball, "but I will do my best with it; they will give me more
when they can, and I am not come forth to find difficulties, but to
remove them." "Your Lordship may depend upon my exertions," he tells
Barham. The possibility that he himself might fall was, as always,
present to his thoughts, and never did life mean more to him than it
now did; yet, as the twilight deepened, and the realization of danger
passed gradually into a presentiment of death, he