time with destructive effect to the Victory's crew: her great guns
however being silent, it was supposed at different times that she had
surrendered; and in consequence of this opinion, the Victory twice
ceased firing upon her, by orders transmitted from the quarter-deck.

At this period, scarcely a person in the Victory escaped unhurt who was
exposed to the Enemy's musketry; but there were frequent huzzas and
cheers heard from between the decks, in token of the surrender of
different of the Enemy's ships. An incessant fire was kept up from both
sides of the Victory; her larboard guns played upon the Santissima
Trinidada and the Bucentaur; and the starboard guns of the middle and
lower decks were depressed, and fired with a diminished charge of
powder, and three shot each, into the Redoutable. This mode of firing
was adopted by Lieutenants WILLIAMS, KING, YULE, and BROWN, to obviate
the danger of the Temeraire's suffering from the Victory's shot passing
through the Redoutable; which must have been the case if the usual
quantity of powder, and the common elevation, had been given to the
guns.--A circumstance occurred in this situation, which shewed in a most
striking manner the cool intrepidity of the Officers and men stationed
on the lower deck of the Victory. When the guns, on this deck were run
out, their muzzles came into contact with the Redoutable's side; and
consequently at every discharge there was reason to fear that the Enemy
would take fire, and both the Victory and the Temeraire be involved in
her flames. Here then was seen the astonishing spectacle of the fireman
of each gun standing ready with a bucket full of water which as soon as
his gun was discharged he dashed into the Enemy through the holes made
in her side by the shot.

It was from this ship (the Redoutable) that Lord NELSON received his
mortal wound. About fifteen minutes past one o'clock, which was in the