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lish shipping. Some frigates and lighter vessels got under weigh, and were employed in sound­ ing. Towards evening twelve sail of the line/ all the frigates, and most of the smaller ves­ sels weighed, and with a northern breeze passed through the Hollander deep. Admiral Parker, with eight sail of the line and two small vessels, preserved his station, while Ad­ miral Nelson anchored, with his division, beyond the fire of our outermost ships. Conjecture was now at an end. A change of wind to the southward would enable Lord Nelson to bear down with his division, and we anxiously awaited the awful moment. Our ships were moored with four anchors, and manned, indiscriminately, by people of all de­ scriptions, hastily collected for the present exi­ gency ; they had been constantly on the alert during the former two nights, a third was now added to their fatigue; and when it is considered, that these people were unacquainted with the exercise of great guns, that they were all day employed in practising, and all night in watching, the compliment paid them by Mr. d 3