The escape of Villeneuve’s fleet from Toulon begins the series of events in 1805 which led up to the Battle of Trafalgar. Napoleon’s original plan has since become well known.

Villeneuve was to be joined in the West Indies by the combined fleets under Ganteaume from Brest, and Missiessy from Rochefort. The force thus gathered was to cross the Atlantic, gain possession of the narrow seas by overpowering the Channel fleet, and then the long-threatened invasion of England was to be attempted by the Grand Army, embarked in the Boulogne flotilla.

The plan was so far forward that the fleet from Toulon was already at sea, and the Rochefort squadron had reached the West Indies. It only remained to get the Brest fleet out of harbour. This was, however, exactly where the plan failed. The blockading force was not to be moved and could not be eluded. False news of troubles in India and false declarations of intentions were all unavailing; and even the bluff in the French papers that, so far from waiting till the British would let them go, the French fleet could and would sail whenever it was convenient, did not effect the withdrawal of a single British ship from Ushant. At the same time the fact that the Toulon fleet was at large was enough to cause anxiety to Nelson, especially as it was quite impossible to tell what might be Villeneuve’s orders. Nelson supposed him to be making for Egypt, and took up a position accordingly midway between Sardinia and Africa.

The fleet with Nelson at this time is recorded in the log of the Canopus as follows:

100 Victory Rt. Honble. Lord Viscount Nelson, K.B., Vice-Admiral of the White, &c. &c.
Rear-Admiral George Murray, Capt. of the Fleet.
Captain Thomas Hardy.
100 Royal Sovereign Sir Richard Bickerton, Baronet, Rear-Admiral of the Red.
Captain John Stuart.
80 Canopus Thomas Louis, Esq., Rear-Admiral of the Blue.
Captain F. W. Austen.
74 Superb ” Richard G. Keats.
74 Spencer ” Honble. Robert Stopford.
74 Swiftsure ” Mark Robinson.
74 Belleisle ” William Hargood.
74 Conqueror ” Israel Pellew.
74 Tigre ” Benjamin Hallowell.
74 Leviathan ” H. W. Baynton.
74 Donegal ” Pulteney Malcolm.

ORDER OF BATTLE AND OF SAILING

REPEATING FRIGATESNO. SHIPS’ NAMES. CAPTAINS.
VAN SQUADRON 1. Canopus Rear-Admiral Thomas Louis STARBOARD DIVISION
Captain Francis Wm. Austen
2.
3.
4. Superb Richard Goodwin Keats
5.
6. Victory The Commander-in-Chief
Rear-Admiral George Murray
Captain Thomas Hardy
7. Donegal Pulteney Malcolm
8.
9. Spencer Hon. R. Stopford
10.
CENTRE SQUADRON 1.
2.
3. Tigre Benjamin Hallowell
4.
5. Royal Sovereign Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton
Captain John Stuart
6. LARBOARD DIVISION
7. Leviathan Henry Wm. Baynton
8.
9.
10.
REAR SQUADRON 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Excellent Frank Sotheron
8. Belleisle William Hargood
9. Conqueror Israel Pellew
10. Swiftsure Mark Robinson
To FRANCIS AUSTEN, Esq. Dated on board the
Captain of His Majesty’s Ship Canopus Victory, in Palma Bay,
March 26, 1805

(Signed) NELSON AND BRONTE

[Original image can be seen [here]]