ry, October 19th, 1805, Noon. CADIZ, E.S.E., 16 Leagues.

MY DEAREST BELOVED EMMA, the dear friend of my bosom. The signal
has been made that the Enemy's Combined Fleet are coming out of
Port. We have very little wind, so that I have no hopes of
seeing them before to-morrow. May the God of Battles crown my
endeavours with success; at all events, I will take care that my
name shall ever be most dear to you and Horatia, both of whom I
love as much as my own life. And as my last writing before the
Battle will be to you, so I hope in God that I shall live to
finish my letter after the Battle. May Heaven bless you prays
your

NELSON AND BRONTE.

October 20th.

In the morning, we were close to the Mouth of the Straits, but
the wind had not come far enough to the Westward to allow the
Combined Fleets to weather the Shoals off Trafalgar; but they
were counted as far as forty Sail of Ships of War, which I
suppose to be thirty-four of the Line, and six Frigates. A group
of them was seen off the Lighthouse of Cadiz this morning, but
it blows so very fresh and thick weather, that I rather believe
they will go into the Harbour before night. May God Almighty
give us success over these fellows, and enable us to get a
Peace.

He wrote the same day to his daughter, addressing the letter to Miss
Horatia Nelson Thompson,[132] by which name she had hitherto been
known. In the Codicil to his Will, signed on the morning of the 21st,
a few hours before the battle, he called her his adopted daughter, and
desired that she would in future use the name of Nelson only.

Victory, October 19th, 1805.

MY DEAREST ANGEL,--I was made happy by the pleasure of receiving
your letter of September 19th, and I rejoice to hear that you
are so very good a girl, and love my dear Lady Hamilton, who
most dearly loves you. Give her a kiss for me. The Combined
Fleets of the Enemy are now reported to be coming out of Cadiz;
and therefore I answer your letter, my dearest Horatia, to mark
to you that you are ever uppermost in my thoughts. I shall be
sure of your prayers for my safety, conquest, and speedy return
to dear Merton, and our dearest good Lady Hamilton. Be a good
girl, mind what Miss Connor says to you. Receive, my dearest
Horatia, the affectionate parental blessing of your Father,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

T