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and of Nelson in their pursuit； was known in England； had taken his station off Cadiz。 He thought that Ireland was the enemy's ultimate object； that they would now liberate the Ferrol squadron； which was blocked up by Sir Robert Calder； call for the Rochefort ships；and then appear off Ushant with 33 or 34 sail； there to be joined： by the Brest fleet。 With this great force he supposed they would make for Ireland the real mark and bent of all their operations； and their flight to the West Indies； he thought； had been merely undertaken to take off Nelson's force； which was the great impediment to their undertaking。
Collingwood was gifted with great political penetration。 As yet； however； all was conjecture concerning the enemy； and Nelson； having victualled and watered at Tetuan； stood for Ceuta on the 24th； still without information of their course。 Next day intelligence arrived that the CURIEUX brig had seen them on the 19th； standing to the northward。 He proceeded off Cape St。 Vincent； rather cruising for intelligence than knowing whither to betake himself； and here a case occurred that more than any other event in real history resembles those whimsical proofs of sagacity which Voltaire； in his Zadig； has borrowed from the Orientals。 One of our frigates spoke an American； who； a little to the westward of the Azores； had fallen in with an armed vessel； appearing to be a dismasted privateer； deserted by her crew； which had been run on board by another ship； and had been set fire to； but the fire had gone out。 A log…book and a few seamen's jackets were found in the cabin； and these were brought to Nelson。 The log…book closed with these words： 〃Two large vessels in the W。N。W。：〃 and this led him to conclude that the vessel had been an English privateer； cruising off the Western Islands。 But there was in this book a scrap of dirty paper； filled with figures。 Nelson； immediately upon seeing it； observed that the figures were written by a Frenchman； and after studying this for a while； said； 〃I can explain the whole。 The jackets are of French manufacture； and prove that the privateer was in possession of the enemy。 She had been chased and taken by the two ships that were seen in the W。N。W。 The prizemaster； going on board in a hurry； forgot to take with him his reckoning： there is none in the log…book； and the dirty paper contains her work for the number of days since the privateer last left Corvo； with an unaccounted…for run； which I take to have been the chase； in his endeavour to find out her situation by back reckonings。 By some mismanagement； I conclude she was run on board of by one of the enemy's ships； and dismasted。 Not liking delay （for I am satisfied that those two ships were the advanced ones of the French squadron）； and fancying we were close at their heels； they set fire to the vessel； and abandoned her in a hurry。 If this explanation be correct； I infer from it that they are gone more to the northward； and more to the northward I will look for them。〃 This course accordingly he held； but still without success。 Still persevering； and still disappointed； he returned near enough to Cadiz to ascertain that they were not there； traversed the Bay of Biscay； and then； as a last hope； stood over for the north…west coast of Ireland against adverse winds； till； on the evening of the 12th of August； he learned that they had not been heard of there。 Frustrated thus in all his hopes； after a pursuit； to which； for its extent； rapidity； and perseverance； no parallel can he produced； he judged it best to reinforce the Channel fleet with his squadron； lest the enemy； as Collingwood apprehended； should bear down upon Brest with their whole collected force。 On the 15th he joined Admiral Cornwallis off Ushant。 No news had yet been obtained of the enemy； and on the same evening he received orders to proceed； with the VICTORY and SUPERB； to Portsmouth。
CHAPTER IX
1805
Sir Robert Calder falls in with the combined FleetsThey form a Junction with the Ferrol Squadron； and get into CadizNelson is reappointed to the CommandBattle of TrafalgarVictory； and Death of Nelson。
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At Portsmouth； Nelson at length found news of the combined fleet。 Sir Robert Calder； who had been sent out to intercept their return； had fallen in with them on the 22nd of July； sixty leagues off Cape Finisterre。 Their force consisted of twenty sail of the line； three fifty…gun ships； five frigates； and two brigs： his； of fifteen line…of… battle ships； two frigates； a cutter； and a lugger。 After an action of four hours he had captured an eighty…four and a seventy…four； and then thought it necessary to bring…to the squadron； for the purpose of securing their prizes。 The hostile fleets remained in sight of each other till the 26th； when the enemy bore away。 The capture of two ships from so superior a force would have been considered as no inconsider… able victory； a few years earlier； but Nelson had introduced a new era in our naval history； and the nation felt respecting this action as he had felt on a somewhat similar occasion。 They regretted that Nelson； with his eleven ships； had not been in Sir Robert Calder's place； and their disappointment was generally and loudly expressed。
Frustrated as his own hopes had been； Nelson had yet the high satisfaction of knowing that his judgment had never been more conspicuously approved； and that he had rendered essential service to his country； by driving the enemy from those Islands where they expected there could be no force capable of opposing them。 The West India merchants in London； as men whose interests were more immediately benefited； appointed a deputation to express their thanks for his great and judicious exertions。 It was now his intention to rest awhile from his labours； and recruit himself； after all his fatigues and cares； in the society of those whom he loved。 All his stores were brought up from the VICTORY； and he found in his house at Merton the enjoyment which he had anticipated。 Many days had not elapsed before Captain Blackwood； on his way to London with despatches； called on him at five in the morning。 Nelson； who was already dressed； exclaimed； the moment he saw him： 〃I am sure you bring me news of the French and Spanish fleets！ I think I shall yet have to beat them！〃 They had refitted at Vigo； after the indecisive action with Sir Robert Calder； then proceeded to Ferrol； brought out the squadron from thence； and with it entered Cadiz in safety。 〃Depend on it； Blackwood：〃 he repeatedly said； 〃I shall yet give M。 Villeneuve a drubbing。〃 But when Blackwood had left him； he wanted resolution to declare his wishes to Lady Hamilton and his sisters； and endeavoured to drive away the thought。 He had done enough； he said： 〃Let the man trudge it who has lost his budget！〃 His countenance belied his lips； and as he was pacing one of the walks in the garden； which he used to call the quarter…deck； Lady Hamilton came up to him； and told him she saw he was uneasy。 He smiled； and said： 〃No； he was as happy as possible； he was surrounded by his family； his health was better since he had been an shore； and he would not give sixpence to call the king his uncle。〃 She replied； that she did not believe him； that