aboard of, and became entangled with, a
Spanish two-decker, that was her second. Thus doubled on each
other, the Excellent gave the two ships her fire; and then moved
forwards to assist the headmost ships in their attack on the
Spanish admiral, and the other ships of the enemy's centre.

"Meanwhile, Sir John Jervis, disappointed in his plan of raking the
enemy's rear ships, and having directed, as before observed, the
Excellent to bear up, ordered the Victory to be placed on the
lee-quarter of the rearmost ship of the enemy, a three-decker; and
having, by signal, ordered the Irresistible and Diadem to suspend
their firing, threw into the three-decker so powerful a discharge,
that her commander, seeing the Barfleur, carrying Vice-Admiral the
Honourable William Waldegrave's flag, ready to second the Victory,
thought proper to strike to the British commander in chief. Two of
the enemy's ships had now surrendered; and the Lively frigate, and
Diadem, had orders to secure the prizes. The next that fell, were
the two with which Commodore Nelson was engaged.

"While Captain Collingwood so nobly stepped in to his assistance,
as already mentioned. Captain Ralph Willet Miller, the commodore's
captain, was enabled to replenish his lockers with shot, and
prepare for a renewal of the fight. No sooner, therefore, had the
Excellent passed on, than the gallant commodore renewed the battle.

"The three-decker with which he was before engaged having fallen
aboard her second, that ship, of eighty-four guns, became now the
commodore's opponent. To her, therefore, he directed a vigorous
fire; nor was it feebly returned, as the loss on board the Captain
evinced, nearly twenty men being killed and wounded in a very few
minutes. It was now that the various damages already sustained by
that ship, through the long and arduous conflict which she had
maintained, appearing to render a continuance of the contest in the
usual way precarious, or perhaps impossible, that Commodore Nelson,
unable to bear the idea of parting with an enemy of whom he had so
thoroughly assured himself, instantly resolved on a bold and
decisive measure; and determined, whatever might be the event, to
attempt his opponent sword in hand. The boarders were accordingly
summoned, and orders given to lay his