The mode of attack having been long determined on by Lord Nelson, and recently communicated, as has been seen, on the 10th instant, to the flag officers and captains, few signals were necessary. On first discovering the combined fleet, his lordship had immediately made the signal to bear up in two columns, as formed in the order of sailing, to avoid the inconvenience and delay of forming a line of battle in the usual manner. Lord Nelson, as commander in chief, led the weather column, in the Victory; and Vice-Admiral Collingwood, as second in command, that of the lee, in the Royal Sovereign. The following are the respective ships of which the two British lines were composed—
BRITISH VAN, OR WEATHER COLUMN.
Ships. Guns. Commanders.
1. Victory 110 Admiral Lord Nelson, and Capt Hardy.
2. Temeraire 98 Capt. Harvey.
3. Neptune 98 Capt. Freemantle.
4. Conqueror 74 Capt. Pellew.
5. Leviathan 74 Capt. Bayntun.
6. Ajax 74 Lieut. Pilfold.
7. Orion 74 Capt. Codrington.
8. Agamemnon 64 Capt. Sir Edward Berry.
9. Minotaur 74 Capt. Mansfield.
10. Spartiate 74 Capt. Sir Francis Laforey.
11. Britannia 100 Rear-Admiral Northesk, and Capt. Bullen.
12. Africa 64 Capt. Digby.
REAR, OR LEE COLUMN.
13. Royal Sovereign 100 Admiral Collingwood, and Capt. Rotheran. 14. Mars 74 Capt. Duff. 15. Belleisle 74 Capt. Hargood. 16. Tonnant 80 Capt. Tyler. 17. Bellerophon 74 Capt. Cooke. 18. Colossus 74 Capt. Morris. 19. Achille 74 Capt. King. 20. Polyphemus 64 Capt. Redmill. 21. Revenge 74 Capt. Moorson. 22. Swiftsure 74 Capt. Rutherford. 23. Defence 74 Capt. Hope. 24. Thunderer 74 Lieut. Stockham. 25. Defiance 74 Capt. Durham. 26. Prince 74 Capt. Grindall. 27. Dreadnought 98 Capt. Conn.
Senior Lieutenants Pilfold and Stockham commanded for Captains
Brown and Lechmere, who were called home to give evidence
on the enquiry into the conduct of Sir Robert Calder.
FRIGATES, &c.
Ships. Guns. Commanders.
1. Euryalus 36 The Honourable Capt. Blackwood.
2. Sirius 36 Capt. Prowse.
3. Phoebe 36 Capt. Capel.
4. Naiad 36 Capt. Parker.
5. Pickle schooner 10 Lieut. Lapenotiere.
6. Entreprenante cutter 10 Lieut. Puyer.
While they were approaching the enemy's line, Lord Nelson repeatedly declared, that it was the happiest day of his life; and that, from the plan of his intended attack, he entertained not the smallest doubt that, before night, he should gain possession of at least twenty of their ships. The last signal which preceded the battle, was an emanation from his great mind which will long be remembered; this was a private signal to the fleet, communicating by telegraph the following most emphatic sentiment—
"England expects every man to do his duty."