Page:Authentic narrative of the proceedings of His Majesty's Squadron.pdf/11

 formed, and which he explained to his Captains with such perspicuity, as to render his ideas completely their own. To their Naval Service at least they must prove not only interesting but useful.

Had he fallen in with the French Fleet at sea, that he might make the best impression upon any part of it that should appear the most vulnerable, or the most eligible for attack, he divided his force in three Sub-Squadrons, viz.

Vanguard, Orion, Culloden, Minotaur, Goliath, Theseus, Leander, Majestic, Alexander, Audacious, Bellerophon, Swiftsure, Defence, Zealous,

Two of these Sub-Squadrons were to attack the Ships of War, while the third was to pursue the Transports, and to sink and destroy as many as it could.

The destination of the French Armament was involved in doubt and uncertainty; but it forcibly struck the Admiral, that, as it was commanded by the man whom the French had dignified with the title of the Conqueror of Italy, and, as he had with him a very large body of Troops, an Expedition had been planned, which the land force might execute without the aid of their feet, should the transports be permitted to make their escape, and reach in safety their place of rendezvous; it therefore became a material consideration with the Admiral, so to arrange his force, as at once to engage the whole attention of their ships of war, and at the same time materially to annoy and injure their convoy. It will be fully admitted, from the subsequent information which has been received upon the subject, that the ideas of the Admiral upon this occasion were perfectly just, and that the plan which he had arranged was the most likely to frustrate the designs of the enemy.

It is almost unnecessary to explain his projected mode of attack at anchor, as that was minutely and precisely executed in the action which we now come to describe. These plans, however, were formed two months before an opportunity presented itself of executing any of them, and the advantage now was, that they were