for about a mile along the whole extent of the town, leaving intervals for the batteries on shore to play.  As our anchor dropped, at eight in the evening, Lord Nelson emphatically called out, that he would fight them the moment he had a fair wind.  It came with the morning; and the signal to prepare for battle, floated from our mast-head.  He had spent the whole night in consultation.  The gallant and ever to be lamented Captain Riou never left him.  Captain Hardy, too, was there, of course; and the brave and the good Captain Foley.  To mark the spirit which the presence and example of Lord Nelson never failed to inspire, Captain Hardy, as soon as it became dark, had ventured along the enemy’s line, in the smallest sized boat; and, as he went so near that the noise of throwing the lead might have discovered him, he used a long pole, or rod, on which he marked the depth of the water.  About half past nine in the morning, the signals of the different ships having been made, repeated, and answered, we had the mortification to see the Agamemnon get upon the edge of the shoal, on the first attempt to leave her anchorage, where she remained immovable.  A similar misfortune followed, in succession, to the Russell and Polyphemus; and the Jamaica frigate, with a convoy of gun-boats and small craft, having fallen in with a counter-current, made the signal of inability to come forward.  A mind less invincible than Lord Nelson’s, might have been discouraged.  Though the battle was not began, yet he had approached the enemy; and he felt that he could not retreat, to wait for reinforcements, without compromising the glory of his country.  His soul, too, was ever superior to common discouragements; and, the signal to bear down still kept it’s place.  His agitation, during these moments, was extreme.  I never shall forget the impression that it made upon me!  It was not, however, the agitation of indecision; but of ardent, animated patriotism, panting for glory, which had appeared within his reach, and was vanishing from his grasp.  The Edgar, at last, led in.  I shall not attempt to describe the scene that ensued, for language has not the power.  We were received with the fire of more than a thousand guns!  No sooner had all the ships got into their stations, than the countenance of our chief brightened, and his good-humour flowed.  As the fire rolled, his conversation became joyous, animated, elevated, and delightful; for, confident of victory, he knew that his deck was, at that moment, the most glorious theatre of human nature.  For an hour, the battle raged.  Our fire was regular, distinctive, and terrible; that of the enemy was becoming desultory and ill-directed.  When the signal-lieutenant called out, that number 39, (to discontinue the action) was thrown out by the commander in chief, then about four miles off, Lord Nelson refused to believe it:  but, when he was again assured, he exclaimed—­“Then, damn the signal; take no notice of it, and hoist mine for closer battle:  that is the way I answer such