A glance at the composition of the ship’s company of the _Britannia_, according to the muster book, shows that the foreigners among the seamen on board numbered 53 in all. Of that total 18 were Americans, 11 Germans, 6 Danes, 4 Frenchmen, 1 Swede, 4 Dutchmen, 1 East Indian, 2 Africans, 2 Italians, and 4 from the West Indies. Ireland contributed 189 seamen ratings (the total number of seamen on board the _Britannia_, as mustered by the ship’s books on Sunday morning, the day before the battle, was 599); Scotland, 42; Wales, 25; the Isle of Man, 6; the Channel Islands, 5; and the Scilly Isles, Shetland, and Skye, 1 each. The full total of all ranks and ratings on board the _Britannia_ at Trafalgar, as mustered on the 20th of October, numbered 31 officers, 599 seamen ratings (petty officers, able seamen, ordinary seamen, and landmen), 28 boys, 126 marines, 5 supernumeraries, and 8 “widows’ men,” making 797 in all. The ship’s official complement as a first rate was 837, so that the _Britannia_ was really 40 men short in the action. * * * * * One incidental fact that we learn from the _Britannia_ may be added. It throws a useful sidelight on life and ways at sea in the navy of Nelson’s day, dealing as it does with the relations that existed between officers and men on board while waiting off Cadiz for the expected battle. It proves for one thing also that Lord Northesk’s flagship quite deserved the designation of a “happy ship.” This was their favourite way of passing the time off duty, according to Lieutenant Halloran’s journal. “August 22nd. Heard that enemy had gone into Cadiz. We steered direct for that port. Here we remained blockading the place until the arrival of Lord Nelson in the _Victory_. During this time the officers and ship’s company amused themselves with dramatic performances. Our first drama, acted in the Admiral’s cabin, was as appears in the following playbill:— This evening, September 4th, 1805, will be performed a drama called ‘LORD HASTINGS.’ DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, Mr. Hurst. EARL OF DERBY, Mr. Martin, assistant surgeon. RATCLIFFE, Mr. Rattray. CATESBY, Mr. Thorndyke, midshipman. HASTINGS, Lieut. Halloran. After which will be performed a drama called ‘THE TRIUMPH OF FRIENDSHIP; OR, DAMON AND PYTHIAS.’ DIONYSIUS, Mr. Hurst. GELON, Lieut. Halloran. PALNURIUS, Mr. Austen. ARGUS, Mr. Rattray. DAMON, Mr. Martin. PYTHIAS, Mr. Thorndyke. Doors to be opened at 6.30. To begin at 7. “Wednesday, September 4th. Off Cadiz. The ship’s company also performed two or three plays on the main deck, one of them called ‘Miss in her Teens’: very well done.