Fortunately the log is not all that we have to rely upon for the story of the _Britannia’s_ doings at Trafalgar. Some of the officers wrote down their experiences and impressions, from which we get a remarkably interesting idea of how things fared on board during the battle. Says, to begin with, Lieutenant John Barclay in his journal:— “½ past 12. Vice-Admiral Collingwood, in the _Royal Sovereign_, commenced the action, by an attack upon the whole of the enemy’s rear, in the most gallant manner, and without any immediate prospect of support, from being so far ahead of the lee division. Took in our studding sails. About ¼ before 1, Lord Nelson, after having sustained a most galling fire in running down, opened both sides of the _Victory_ on the headmost ships of their centre division. He was close followed up by the _Téméraire_, _Neptune_, _Conqueror_, _Leviathan_, and this ship, and pushed through their line about the 14th from the van. Several raking shot called forth exertions about 10 minutes after our noble chief. Here began the din of war. It became impossible to trace farther except at intervals, when the smoke cleared away _a little_. At ¼ past 1 the masts of the ship we were most particularly engaging (larboard side) fell by the board: supposed to be the _Bucentaure_, but without any flag observed flying. Continued edging on slowly, for there was very little wind, and our main topsail in particular was shot almost entirely from the yard. At 3, got to leeward of their line and hauled up a little on the larboard tack. Until ¼ past 4 kept up a heavy fire occasionally on both sides on every French or Spanish ensign flying near us, when we hauled to the wind on the larboard tack per signal. ½ past 5, all firing ceased except from the _Achille_, a very fine French ship—wrapt in flames. The cutters instantly repaired to her assistance, and saved the crew, soon after which she blew up with a tremendous explosion.” Signal-Midshipman John Wells, in a letter home, written during the week following the battle, has this to say of what he went through and witnessed: