he Battle of Trafalgar: it had
been taken from the place where it hung up in his cabin, and was laid ready
on his table; but it is supposed he forgot to call for it. This was the
only action in which he ever appeared without a sword.

[5] It has been since recollected that on the 21st of October 1757, His
LORDSHIP'S maternal uncle, Captain SUCKLING, in the Dreadnought, in company
with two other line of battle ships, attacked and beat off a French
squadron of four sail of the line and three frigates, off Cape Francois.
The French Commodore was towed into Cape Francois; and the English ships,
being too much disabled to follow up their success, bore away to Jamaica to
refit.

[6] This phrase has been subjected to misconstruction; to the Writer of
these pages, however, both the purport and expression of it seem very
clear, thus; "_might have been_ offered" (though it _was not_).

[7] The Victory's sick-report for this day numbered only ten convalescents,
who all attended their respective quarters during the battle; and the whole
Fleet was in a high state of health. Indeed the excellent health enjoyed by
the crew of the Victory from December 1804 up to this period, is perhaps
unprecedented: and is attributable solely to Captain HARDY'S attention to
their subordination, temperance, warm clothing, and cleanliness; together
with the means daily adopted to obviate the effects of moisture, and to
accomplish the thorough ventilation of every part of the ship.

The Victory arrived at Spithead from the memorable and arduous chace of the
Enemies' Fleets to Egypt and the West Indies, in August 1805: and
notwithstanding the operation of the unfavourable circumstances of rapid
change of climate, and the privation of refreshments experienced in that
chace, as well as frequent increase of numbers (as in the West Indies there
were at one time embarked in her above 990 souls), there was not now a
single hospital-patient on board, nor did any occur during the several
weeks of her stay in England; with which Lord NELSON expressed himself
highly pleased when he joined the ship again, on the 14th of September, at
St. Helen's. The Victory's casualties from the 29th of December 1804 to the
20th of October following, were only five fatal cases (one of these by
accidental injury), and two patients sent to a naval hospital.

[8] It has been reported, but erroneously, that His LORDSHIP was actually
requested by his Officers to change his dress, or