[2] Cf. Boscawen's Nos. 15 and 16.
[3] According to Sir Chas. H. Knowles the regular sailing formation at this time for a large fleet was in three squadrons abreast, each formed in bow and quarter line to starboard and port of its flag. He says it was his father's treatise on Tactics which induced Howe to revert to Hoste's method, and adopt the formation of squadrons abreast in line ahead. This, he adds, Howe used for the first time when sailing to relieve Gibraltar in 1782. Thenceforth it became the rule of the service, and the subsequent signal books contain signals for forming line of battle from two, three, and six columns of sailing respectively. This Knowles regards as the great reform on which modern tactics were founded. See his Observations on Tactics, 1830.
[4] Cf. Boscawen's No. 4.
[5] This may be an Additional Sailing Instruction, the various sets of Additional Instructions not being distinguished in the signal book.
[6] This article may well have been the outcome of Hawke's defeat of L'Etenduère in 1747, when he chased and engaged practically as the instruction directs, and with complete success.
[7] Cf. Boscawen's Nos. 9 and 10.
[8] This appears to correspond to Article XXI. of the Additional Fighting Instructions in use in 1780, to which Rodney referred in his report on the action of April 17 in that year.
[9] Cf. Boscawen's No. 3.
[10] Cf. Boscawen's No. 2.
[11] Cf. Boscawen's No. 17.