To the copy signed by Lord Nelson, and delivered to Captain George Hope, of the Defence, was added: 'N.B .-- When the Defence quits the fleet for England you are to return this secret memorandum to the Victory' Captain Hope wrote on that paper: 'It was agreeable to these instructions that Lord Nelson attacked the combined fleets of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar on the 21st of October, 1805, they having thirty-three of the line and we twenty-seven,'-- Nicolas.
The injunction to return the memorandum may well have been added to all copies issued, and this may account for their general disappearance.
[2] For this document the Society is indebted to Commander G.P.W.
Hope, R.N., who has kindly placed it at my disposal.
[3] For this document the Society is again indebted to Commander Hope, R.N.
_ADMIRAL GAMBIER_, 1807.
[+MS.

of Commander Hope, R.N.

Copy+.] _Order of Battle and Sailing_.[1] The respective flag officers will have the immediate direction of the division in which their ships are placed, subject to the general direction of the admiral commanding the squadron to which they belong.
The ships in order of battle and sailing are to keep at the distance of two cables' length from and in the wake of each other, increasing that distance according to the state of the weather.[2] The leading ship of the starboard division is to keep the admiral two points on her weather bow.

The leading ship of the lee division is when sailing on a wind to keep the leader of the weather column two points before her beam; when sailing large, abreast of her.
(Signed) J.GAMBIER.
Prince of Wales, Yarmouth Roads: 23 July, 1807.
FOOTNOTES: [1] For the actual order to which the instructions are appended see Introductory Note, _supra_, p.

322.
[2] The normal distance was then a cable and a half.