CHAPTER IX.
1805 Sir Robert Calder falls in with the combined Fleets--They form a Junction with the Ferrol Squadron, and get into Cadiz--Nelson is reappointed to the Command--Battle of Trafalgar--Victory, and Death of Nelson.
At Portsmouth, Nelson at length found news of the combined fleet.

Sir Robert Calder, who had been sent out to intercept their return, had fallen in with them on the 22nd of July, sixty leagues off Cape Finisterre.

Their force consisted of twenty sail of the line, three fifty-gun ships, five frigates, and two brigs: his, of fifteen line-of-battle ships, two frigates, a cutter, and a lugger.

After an action of four hours he had captured an eighty-four and a seventy-four, and then thought it necessary to bring-to the squadron, for the purpose of securing their prizes.

The hostile fleets remained in sight of each other till the 26th, when the enemy bore away.