y as possible;) and secondly, to continue
them there, without separating, until the business is decided; I
am sensible beyond this object it is not necessary that I should
say a word, being fully assured that the Admirals and Captains
of the Fleet I have the honour to command, will, knowing my
precise object, that of a close and decisive Battle, supply any
deficiency in my not making signals; which may, if extended
beyond these objects, either be misunderstood, or, if waited
for, very probably, from various causes, be impossible for the
Commander-in-Chief to make: therefore, it will only be requisite
for me to state, in as few words as possible, the various modes
in which it may be necessary for me to obtain my object, on
which depends, not only the honour and glory of our Country, but
possibly its safety, and with it that of all Europe, from French
tyranny and oppression.

If the two Fleets are both willing to fight, but little
manoeuvring is necessary; the less the better;--a day is soon
lost in that business: therefore I will only suppose that the
Enemy's Fleet being to leeward, standing close upon a wind on
the starboard tack, and that I am nearly ahead of them, standing
on the larboard tack, of course I should weather them. The
weather must be supposed to be moderate; for if it be a gale of
wind, the manoeuvring of both Fleets is but of little avail, and
probably no decisive Action would take place with the whole
Fleet. Two modes present themselves: one to stand on, just out
of gunshot, until the Van-Ship of my Line would be about the
centre Ship of the Enemy, then make the signal to wear together,
then bear up, engage with all our force the six or five
Van-Ships of the Enemy, passing, certainly, if opportunity
offered, through their Line. This would prevent their bearing
up, and the Action, from the known bravery and conduct of the
Admirals and Captains, would certainly be decisive: the second
or third Rear-Ships of the Enemy would act as they please, and
our Ships would give a good account of them, should they persist
in mixing with our Ships. The other mode would be, to stand
under an easy but commanding sail, directly for their headmost
Ship, so as to prevent the Enemy from knowing whether I should
pass to leeward or windward of him. In that situation, I would