, at half past three, heard
several guns fired in that quarter, which was evidently the situation of
the Spanish fleet. At half past eight, Commodore Nelson saw the English
fleet; and made the private signal, which was answered by the commander
in chief.

On joining the fleet, Commodore Nelson communicated to Sir John Jervis
what he had remarked respecting the situation of the Spanish fleet; and
which, with other intelligence, induced the commander in chief to send
off dispatches to England, expressive of his hopes soon to come up with
the enemy; whom it was his determination to engage the first moment
possible.

Commodore Nelson having been made acquainted, by Sir John Jervis, with
the particulars of his plan for the intended order of battle, which had
several days before been imparted to the other commanders of the
respective ships, shifted his broad pendant, at half past six in the
morning, from La Minerve to his former ship, the Captain, of
seventy-four guns, Ralph Willet Miller, Esq. commander: shortly after
which, the signal was thrown out, for every ship to prepare for action.

Though, on joining the British fleet, the Lively frigate, commanded by
the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Garlies, was appointed to proceed
with Sir Gilbert Elliot, and the gentlemen accompanying him, to England;
there being reason to expect an approaching general engagement with the
Spanish fleet, the Lively, at the joint solicitations of Sir Gilbert
Elliot and Lord Garlies, who were desirous of waiting and observing the
issue, was detained with the squadron, and acted as a repeating frigate
during the action.

This circumstance enabled Colonel Drinkwater, who was on board the
Lively, to view that interesting scene with a precision and leisure
which could never have occurred to any person actually engaged in the
conflict.

To the elegant pen of this gentleman, the world is indebted for one of
the most accurate and masterly descriptions of a naval engagement which
has ever been given; and his correct and elegant pencil has also
illustrated his "Narrative of the Proceedings of the British Fleet,
commanded by Admiral Sir John Jervis, K.B. on the 14th of February
1797," with engraved plans of the relative positions of the two fleets,
at the various most momentous periods of the celebrated battle off Cape
St. Vincent's.

From this ingenious pamphlet, now become exceedingly scarce, there will,
perhaps, be no impropriety in extracting th