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 to windward of him.

In that situation I would make the signal to engage the enemy to leeward, and cut through their fleet about the sixth ship from the van, passing very close.

They being on a wind and you going large could cut their line when you please.

The van ships of the enemy would, by the time our rear came abreast of the van ship, be severely cut up, and our van could not expect to escape damage.