The wind was now from the west, light breezes, with a long heavy swell.

Signal was made to bear down upon the enemy in two lines; and the fleet set all sail.

Collingwood, in the ROYAL SOVEREIGN, led the leeline of thirteen ships; the VICTORY led the weather line of fourteen.

Having seen that all was as it should be, Nelson retired to his cabin, and wrote the following prayer:-- "May the great GOD whom I worship, grant to my country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory, and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet! For myself individually, I commit my life to Him that made me; and may His blessing alight on my endeavours for serving my country faithfully! To Him I resign myself, and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend.

Amen! Amen! Amen!" Having thus discharged his devotional duties, he annexed, in the same diary, the following remarkable writing:-- OCTOBER 21, 1805 .-- .