Midnight, nearly calm, saw three planks, which I think came from the French fleet.

Very miserable, which is very foolish." On the 17th of July he came in sight of Cape St.Vincent, and steered for Gibraltar.

"June 18th," his diary says, "Cape Spartel in sight, but no French fleet, nor any information about them.

How sorrowful this makes me! but I cannot help myself." The next day he anchored at Gibraltar; and on the 20th, says he, "I went on shore for the first time since June 16, 1803; and from having my foot out of the VICTORY two years, wanting ten days." Here he communicated with his old friend Collingwood; who, having been detached with a squadron, when the disappearance of the combined fleets, and of Nelson in their pursuit, was known in England, had taken his station off Cadiz.

He thought that Ireland was the enemy's ultimate object; that they would now liberate the Ferrol squadron, which was blocked up by Sir Robert Calder, call for the Rochefort ships, and then appear off Ushant with 33 or 34 sail; there to be joined: by the Brest fleet.