Note 7 — Chapter XV · TRAFALGAR

I give all figures sous bénéfice d’inventaire. Nothing is better calculated to show how hard men find it to be accurate than the discrepancies between the list of ships given by different authorities in 1804, or at any time. James does not agree with Tucker (Life of St. Vincent), and neither agree with Captain Desbrière (Projets et Tentatives). It must be remembered, too, that at any given moment a squadron might be below its establishment owing to the absence of ships in need of repair or stores, or above it because ships joined the flag as reliefs or in transit.