Collingwood has in his journal: 'At 6.30 the commander-in-chief made the signal to form order of sailing in two columns, and at 7.0 to prepare for battle.

At 7.40 to bear up east.' [31] _Life of Codrington_, ii.

59, 60.
[32] _Great Sea Fights_, ii.

278.
[33] A veteran French officer of the old wars took this view of Nelson's threat in a study of the battle which he wrote.

'Nelson,' he says, 'a d'abord feint de vouloir attaquer la tete et la queue de l'armee.