This was on the 22nd of July: he re-embarked his men that night, got the ships on the 24th to anchor about two miles north of the town, and made show as if he intended to attack the heights.

At six in the evening signal was made for the boats to prepare to proceed on the service as previously ordered.
When this was done, Nelson addressed a letter to the commander-in-chief--the last which was ever written with his right hand.

"I shall not," said he, "enter on the subject, why we are not in possession of Santa Cruz.

Your partiality will give credit, that all has hitherto been done which was possible, but without effect.

This night I, humble as I am, command the whole destined to land under the batteries of the town; and to-morrow my head will probably be crowned either with laurel or cypress.