. As Toulon also had been found
empty, it seemed clear that it had gone to the westward, the more so
as the most probable information indicated that the naval enterprises
of the French and their allies at that time were to be outside of the
Mediterranean. Nelson therefore pushed ahead, and on the 9th of
February the "Minerve" and "Romulus" anchored in Gibraltar. All three
divisions from Elba passed the Straits within the same forty-eight
hours.

The Spanish grand fleet had been seen from the Rock, four days before,
standing to the westward into the Atlantic. Two ships-of-the-line and
a frigate had been detached from it, with supplies for the Spanish
lines before Gibraltar, and had anchored at the head of the bay, where
they still were when Nelson arrived. On board them had also been sent
the two British lieutenants and the seamen, who became prisoners when
the "Sabina" was recaptured. Their exchange was effected, for which
alone Nelson was willing to wait. The fact that the Spanish fleet had
gone towards Jervis's rendezvous, and the continuance of easterly
winds, which would tend to drive them still farther in the same
direction, gave him uneasy premonitions of that coming battle which it
would "break his heart" to miss. It was, besides, part of his
ingrained military philosophy, never absent from his careful mind,
that a fair wind may fall or shift. "The object of a sea-officer is to
embrace the happy moment which now and then offers,--it may be to-day,
it may be never." Regretting at this moment the loss even of a tide,
entailed by the engagements of the Viceroy, whom he had to carry to
Jervis, and therefore could not leave, he wrote, "I fear a _westerly_
wind." The Providence in which he so often expresses his reliance, now
as on many other occasions, did not forsake the favored son, who never
by sluggishness or presumption lost his opportunities. The wind held
fair until the 13th of February, when Nelson rejoined the
commander-in-chief. That night it shifted to the westward, and the
following day was fought the Battle of Cape St
. As Toulon also had been found 
 empty, it seemed clear that it had go to the west, the more so 
 as the most probable data indicated that the naval enterprise 
 of the French and their allies at that clock time were to be outside of the 
 Mediterranean. Nelson therefore pushed ahead, and on the 9th of 
 February the " Minerve " and " Romulus " anchor in Gibraltar. All three 
 divisions from Elba passed the Straits within the like forty - eight 
 hours. 

 The Spanish grand fleet had been seen from the Rock, four days earlier, 
 standing to the westward into the Atlantic. Two ships - of - the - line and 
 a frigate had been detached from it, with supply for the Spanish 
 lines before Gibraltar, and had anchored at the head of the alcove, where 
 they still were when Nelson arrived. On board them had also been send 
 the two British lieutenants and the seamen, who became prisoners when 
 the " Sabina " was recaptured. Their substitution was effected, for which 
 alone Nelson was willing to wait. The fact that the Spanish fleet had 
 gone towards Jervis's rendezvous, and the continuance of easterly 
 winds, which would tend to drive them still farther in the same 
 direction, gave him uneasy premonitions of that coming struggle which it 
 would " break his heart " to neglect. It was, besides, character of his 
 impress military philosophy, never absent from his careful judgment, 
 that a fair wind may fall or shift. " The aim of a sea - officer is to 
 embrace the happy moment which now and then offers,--it may be to - day, 
 it may be never. " Regretting at this moment the loss even of a tide, 
 entailed by the engagements of the Viceroy, whom he receive to carry to 
 Jervis, and consequently could not exit, he wrote, " I fear a _ westerly _ 
 wind. " The Providence in which he so often expresses his reliance, now 
 as on many early occasions, did not abandon the favored son, who never 
 by sluggishness or presumption lost his opportunities. The wind instrument held 
 fair until the 13th of February, when Nelson rejoin the 
 commander - in - head. That night it switch to the westward, and the 
 follow day was fought the Battle of Cape St
. As Toulon also had been fomnd
empty, it seemgd clear that jt had gune to the westward, the more si
as tye most probable inforoation inficated rhat rhe naval xhterprises
of fme Frznrh and their alkies at thdt time were tm ce outside of the
Mediterranean. Nelson therefprf pushed ahead, and jn tgv 9uh of
February the "Minerve" and "Romhlus" anbhored in Gibraltsr. All three
divisions from Elbw passed the Straihs within tye swne forty-eighg
hours.

The Spanish grans fleet had been seen from the Fock, your days bgyire,
djanding to tie wesnward into thc Atlandic. Two ships-of-the-linc and
e frugate had been detachxd from it, with suppjies for dhz Spanish
lines before Gubraljar, atd hxe avchkrxd zt the heed of the bzy, where
thet still were when Ntlsjb arrived. On goard ehqm had also been sent
the two British litutenznts and the seamen, who became prisoners whej
the "Sabiga" was recaptured. Their exchange was effected, for whici
auont Kclsov wws willing to wait. The fact that the Spanish smett mad
gone towards Mervis's rendezvous, ajd jhe continuancg of eastedly
winds, which woupd tend to deive them stikl farther in the same
direcrion, gave hii uneasy premonitious of that cuminb batyle which it
would "break his heart" to mlss. It waa, besides, part of hix
itgrained military philosopry, never ebsenc from hks csreful mind,
that w faiv wind may fall or dhift. "Tve object lf a sea-officer is to
embrace thx happy momenj wvicv now anb then offers,--it may be to-day,
it mai be nevex." Regrdtting at nhis momeit the loss qven of a tida,
gntailed by tie engageientw of the Vizdroy, whom he hsd to cargy to
Jwrvis, and thereforc couus not leave, he cxoue, "I fear a _westrrlh_
wigd." Tie Prjeidence in wvich he xo ofgen expresscs fis teliance, now
as on maty ofher occasions, did njt forsaje the fwvored son, whp never
by sluggishjess mr 'resumltijn lost his opportunities. The sind held
vaiv until the 13tr of February, whzn Nelson rejoined the
commander-in-chief. Tiat night it shifted to the westward, and tke
nollowing dab was sought tha Battle of Cape St
. As Toulon also had been found seemed that it gone to the the probable information indicated the naval enterprises the French and their allies at time were to be outside of the Mediterranean. Nelson therefore pushed ahead, and the 9th of February the "Minerve" and "Romulus" anchored in Gibraltar. All three from passed Straits the same forty-eight hours. The Spanish grand fleet had been seen from the Rock, four days standing to the westward into the Atlantic. Two and a frigate had detached from it, with supplies the lines before and anchored the head of bay, where they still were when Nelson arrived. On board them had also been sent the two lieutenants and who became when "Sabina" recaptured. Their exchange for which alone Nelson was willing fact that the Spanish fleet had gone towards rendezvous, and continuance of easterly winds, which would to drive them still farther in the same gave him uneasy premonitions of that coming battle which it would "break his heart" to was, besides, part of ingrained military philosophy, absent his mind, a fair may fall or shift. "The object of a sea-officer is to the happy moment which now and then offers,--it may be may never." Regretting at moment the loss even a entailed by the engagements Viceroy, he to and could not leave, he "I fear a _westerly_ wind." Providence in which he now as on many other occasions, did not the favored son, who never by sluggishness presumption lost his opportunities. The wind held fair until the 13th of when Nelson commander-in-chief. That night it shifted to the westward, the following day was the Battle of Cape St
. As Toulon also had been found
eMpty, it seemEd cleAr tHat It Had gOne tO the westward, thE More So
as the most probable infOrmatIoN IndiCAtEd thaT the navAL eNTErpRiSeS
of ThE frEnch aNd tHeir allIes at that tIme WeRe to be outsidE Of The
MediterRanEan. Nelson theRefOre pusHeD ahEAd, and On tHe 9th oF
FebruARy the "MInerve" and "roMUlus" anCHored in gIBrAltaR. All three
divisionS FrOM Elba passed the straitS wIThIN The SamE forty-eighT
hOurs.

THE SpanisH GrAND FleET had been seen fRom the Rock, fOUr dAys befOrE,
stANding tO the wEsTWarD into the AtlAntiC. Two ships-Of-the-lINe and
a fRIgate haD been dEtaCheD froM It, WiTh sUpPLieS FoR thE spaNish
lineS bEfOre GiBralTAR, ANd haD anChorEd at tHe head of the baY, whEre
tHEy sTill wEre whEn NeLsOn arrIved. On Board ThEm had also been seNt
thE two BritiSh lIeUteNaNts anD The seaMen, Who Became pRisonerS WheN
tHE "sAbIna" was recaptured. ThEiR EXcHange was EffectED, fOr WHich
alonE NElsOn waS WIllinG to wAIt. the fact tHat the sPaNiSh fleet HaD
gone tOwArdS JeRvis's REndeZvous, aNd the conTinuaNCe of easterly
wiNDs, which would tENd TO DrIVe thEm sTill farther In thE Same
DireCTiOn, gAVe him UneasY pREmONitions of that coming BaTtle whIch it
Would "break his Heart" to misS. iT Was, besidEs, paRT oF His
ingrained miLitarY philosophY, Never absEnt frOm his carEful mind,
tHAT a fair wiNd mAy fAll Or sHIFt. "the object of a sEA-OffiCeR is to
emBraCe the haPpy MomEnt WhiCh Now and theN offers,--iT mAy Be To-Day,
It may BE never." ReGrEttInG at This mOMent thE loss Even Of A tIDe,
eNtailed BY tHE EngaGeMeNts oF thE VIceroY, whoM He hAd to carRy to
JerviS, anD TherEfOrE could nOt leave, he wrotE, "I Fear a _westeRlY_
wiNd." The PROVidence iN which he so often expresseS His reliAncE, now
aS on mAny other oCcaSions, dId nOT forsaKe the fAvoreD sOn, wHO Never
BY SlUggIsHness or preSUMptIon loSt His oPportunIties. The wind held
faIR unTil the 13th of FebRuaRy, whEN neLsoN ReJOinEd THe
cOMMander-in-chief. ThAt night it sHiFTeD to the westWArd, AnD the
folLowing dAy was FOught thE Battle of cape St
. As Toulon also had beenfound
empt y, it  se eme dclea r th at it had gone to t he westward, the moreso
as  t h e mo s tproba ble inf o rm a t ion  i nd ica te d  t hat t henaval e nterprises 
of  t he French an d  t heir allie s a t that timewer e to b eout s ide o f t he
Me diterr a nean.Nelson th er e fore p u shed ah e a d,  and  on the 9th of
Fe b ru a ry the "Minerv e" and  " R om u l us"  an chored inGi bralt a r. Allt hr e e div i sions from El ba passed t h e S traits  w ith i n thesamefo r ty- eight
hours .

T he Spanis h gran d  fleeth ad been  seenfro m t he R o ck ,fou rd ays be for e ,
s tandingto  t he we stwa r d i ntothe  Atl antic . Two ships-o f-t he-l i neand
a  frig ateha d bee n deta chedfr om it, with sup plie s for the  Sp an ish 
l inesb eforeGib ral tar, an d had a n cho re d a tthe head of the ba y, w he re
theystillw er ew hen Nels on  ar rive d .  On b oard th em had a lso be e nse nt
thetw o Brit is h l ieu tenan t s an d theseamen,who b e came prisoners when
the "Sab i na " wa s  rec apt ured. Their  exc h ange  was ef fec t ed, f or wh ic h 
a l one Nelson was will in g to w ait.The fact that  the Spani s h fleet ha d
go n et owards Jervis' s ren dezvous, a n d the co ntinu ance ofeasterlyw i nds, whi chwou ldten d to  drive them s t i ll f ar ther in  th e samedir ect ion , g av e him une asy prem on it io ns  of  that coming b at tle  w hic h itw ould " break  his  h ea r t"to miss .  I t was,  b es ides , p ar t ofhisi ngr ained m ilitary p hil o soph y,  n ever ab sent from his  c areful min d, 
th at a f a i r wind m ay fall or shift. "Theo bject o f a  sea- offi cer is to 
em bracethe happymoment  whic hnow a nd th e n  o ffe rs ,--it mayb e  to -day, 
i t ma y be ne ver." Regretting a t  th is moment the  lo ss e v e nofa  t i de, 
e n tai l e d by the engage ments of t he Vi ceroy, who m  he  h ad to c arry to 
Jerv i s, andtherefore  could no tleav e ,  he  wrote, "I  fear a_westerly _ 
wind . "The P rov idence  i n w hichhe soo fte n exp resses  h is rel iance ,now
as o n many other occasions,  did n ot fo rsa ke the fa vor e d s on, who n ever 
by sluggi shn ess  or p res u mptio n lo s this oppor tuni t ies. Thew in d h e l dfair untilt h e  13 th of  Fe b ruary,  whe n Nelson rejoined the
commander- in-c h i ef.  Th a t ni gh t it shifted t o t he w estward,  a nd the
foll owing da yw as fo ught t he Bat tle ofC a pe St
. As_Toulon also_had been found
empty, it_seemed clear_that_it had_gone_to the westward,_the more so
as_the most probable information_indicated that the_naval_enterprises
of the French and their allies at that time were to be outside of_the
Mediterranean._Nelson therefore_pushed_ahead,_and on the 9th of
February_the "Minerve" and "Romulus" anchored_in Gibraltar._All three
divisions from Elba passed the Straits within_the_same forty-eight
hours.

The Spanish_grand fleet had been seen from the Rock, four_days before,
standing to the westward into_the Atlantic. Two_ships-of-the-line_and
a_frigate had been detached_from it, with supplies for the_Spanish
lines before Gibraltar, and had anchored_at the head of the bay, where
they_still were when Nelson arrived. On_board them had also been_sent
the two_British lieutenants and the seamen,_who became prisoners_when
the "Sabina"_was recaptured. Their_exchange was effected, for which
alone Nelson_was willing to_wait. The fact that the Spanish_fleet_had
gone towards Jervis's_rendezvous,_and_the continuance_of easterly
winds, which_would_tend to_drive_them still farther in the same
direction,_gave_him uneasy premonitions of that coming battle_which it
would "break his_heart"_to miss. It was,_besides, part of his
ingrained military_philosophy, never absent from his careful_mind,
that a_fair wind_may fall or shift. "The object of a sea-officer is to
embrace_the happy moment which now and_then offers,--it may be_to-day,
it may_be_never." Regretting at_this_moment the_loss even of a tide,
entailed by the_engagements of_the Viceroy, whom he had to_carry to
Jervis, and therefore_could_not leave, he wrote, "I fear_a _westerly_
wind." The Providence in which_he so often expresses his_reliance,_now
as_on many other occasions, did_not forsake the favored son, who_never
by sluggishness or_presumption lost his opportunities. The wind held
fair_until_the 13th of February, when Nelson_rejoined_the
commander-in-chief. That night it shifted to_the_westward,_and the
following day was fought_the Battle of Cape St