On the 13th in the evening, Sir Robert Calder, in his Majesty’s ship the Prince of Wales, parted company with the Fleet, on his return to England.  His departure Lord Nelson had some days before evinced an anxious wish to procrastinate, and was heard that very day to declare his firm belief that the Combined Fleets would be at sea in the course of ten days or a fortnight.[2]

On the 18th the Donegal, Captain Malcolm, left the Fleet for Gibraltar.  On the 19th his Majesty’s ships the Colossus, Mars, Defence, and Agamemnon, formed the cordon of communication with the frigates in shore:  the Fleet was lying to.  About half past nine in the morning, the Mars, being one of the ships nearest to the Fleet, repeated the signal from the ships further in shore, that “the Enemy were coming out of port.”  Lord Nelson immediately ordered the general signal to be made, with two guns, for a chace in the south-east quarter.  The wind was now very light; and the breezes partial, mostly from the south-south-west.  The Fleet made all possible sail; and about two o’clock the Colossus and Mars repeated signals from the ships in shore, communicating the welcome intelligence of “the Enemy being at sea.”  This cheered the minds of all on board, with the prospect of realizing those hopes of meeting the Enemy which had been so long and so sanguinely entertained.  It was well known to His Lordship, that all the Enemy’s ships had the iron hoops on their masts painted black; whereas the British ships, with the exception of the Belleisle and Polyphemus, had theirs painted yellow:  and as he considered that this would serve for a very good mark of distinction in the heat of battle, he made known this circumstance to the Fleet, and ordered the Belleisle and Polyphemus to paint their hoops yellow; but the evening being far advanced when the signal was made to them for this purpose, His Lordship, fearing that it might not be distinctly understood, sent the Entreprenante cutter to them to communicate the order.

During the night the Fleet continued steering to the south-east under all sail, in expectation of seeing the Enemy; and at day-break on the 20th found itself in the entrance of the Straits of Gibraltar, but nothing of the Enemy to be discovered.  The Fleet now wore, and made sail to the north-west; and at seven in the morning the Phoebe was seen making signals for “the Enemy bearing north.”  At eight o’clock the Victory hove to; and Admiral Collingwood, with the Captains of the Mars, Colossus, and Defence, came on board, to receive instructions from His Lordship; at eleven minutes past nine they returned to their respective ships, and the Fleet made sail again to the northward.

In the afternoon the wind increased, and blew fresh from the south-west; which excited much apprehension on board the Victory, lest the Enemy might be forced to return to port.  The look-out ships, however, made several signals for seeing them, and to report their force and bearings.  His Lordship was at this time on the poop; and turning round, and observing a group of Midshipmen assembled together, he said to them with a smile, “This day or to-morrow will be a fortunate one for you, young men,” alluding to their being promoted in the event of a victory.