“Before I enter,” says Colonel Drinkwater, “on the detail of the proceedings of the important day which will certainly immortalize the name of Jervis, and of his brave seconds, it will be proper to state the relative force of the British and Spanish fleets.

“The British fleet—­or, to use, I believe, a more correct term, the British squadron—­consisted of fifteen sail of the line, four frigates, a sloop of war, and a cutter; the Spanish fleet, of twenty-seven sail of the line, ten frigates, and a brig.

     “Before sun-set, in the evening of the 13th, the signal had been
     made for the British squadron to prepare for battle, and the ships
     were also directed to keep in close order during the night.

“At day-break, on the 14th—­St. Valentine’s Day—­the British fleet was in complete order, formed in two divisions, standing on a wind to the south south-west.  The morning was hazy.  About half past six, the Culloden made the signal for five sail in the south-west by south quarter; which was soon after confirmed by the Lively and Niger frigates, and that the strange sail were by the wind on the starboard tack.  The Bonne Citoyenne sloop of war, Captain Lindsey, was therefore directed to reconnoitre.

     “At a quarter past eight o’clock, the squadron was ordered,
     by-signal, to form in a close order; and, in a few minutes
     afterwards, the signal was repeated to prepare for battle.

“About half past nine o’clock, the Culloden, Blenheim, and Prince George, were ordered to chase in the south by west quarter; which, upon the Bonne Citoyenne making a signal that she saw eight sail in that quarter, was afterwards strengthened by the Irresistible, Colossus, and Orion.

“A little past ten o’clock, the Minerve frigate made the signal for twenty sail in the south-west quarter; and, a few minutes after, of eight sail in the south by west.  Half an hour afterwards, the Bonne Citoyenne made the signal that she could distinguish sixteen—­and, immediately afterwards, twenty-five—­of the strange ships, to be of the line.  The enemy’s fleet were, indeed, now become visible to all the British squadron.

“The ships first discovered by the Culloden were separated from their main body; which, being to windward, were bearing down in some confusion, with a view of joining their separated ships.  It appeared to have been the British admiral’s intention, on discovering the separated ships of the enemy’s fleet, to have cut them off, if possible, before the main body could arrive to their assistance; and, with this view, the fast-sailing ships of his squadron were ordered to chase.

“Assured, now, of the near position of their main body, he probably judged it most advisable to form his fleet into the line of battle; and the signal was made for their forming the line of battle ahead and astern, as most convenient.