The accounts of the naval actions that followed show no lively appreciation on the part of the bulk of British captains.

On the First of June the new signal for breaking through the line at all points was the first Howe made, and it was followed as soon as the moment for action arrived by that 'for each ship to steer for, independently of each other, and engage respectively the ship opposed in situation to them in the enemy's line.' The result was an action along the whole line, during which Howe himself at the earliest opportunity passed through the enemy's line and engaged on the other side, though as a whole the fleet neglected to follow either his signal or his example.
In the next great action, that of St.Vincent, the circumstances were not suitable for the new manoeuvre, seeing that the Spaniards had not formed line.

Jervis had surprised the enemy in disorder on a hazy morning after a change of wind, and this was precisely the 'not very probable case' which Clerk of Eldin had instanced as justifying a perpendicular attack.

Whether or not Jervis had Clerk's instance in his mind, he certainly did deliver a perpendicular attack.

The signal with which he opened, according to the signification as given in the flagship's log, was 'The admiral intends to pass through the enemy's line.'[11] There is nothing to show whether this meant Howe's manoeuvre or Rodney's, for we do not know whether at this time the instruction existed which enabled the two movements to be distinguished by a pennant over.
What followed however was that the fleet passed between the two separated Spanish squadrons in line ahead as Clerk advised.