where too those who fought on board at Trafalgar came from, and how many representatives each of our counties had with Nelson in his last fight. Such are some of the matters dealt with in these pages, which of themselves should afford entertainment and help also to make this book useful. E. F. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. OUR _DREADNOUGHTS_:—THEIR NAME AND BATTLE RECORD 1 II. “KENT CLAIMS THE FIRST BLOW” 52 III. THE AVENGERS OF THE BLACK HOLE:—WHAT THE NAVY DID FOR CLIVE 77 IV. BOSCAWEN’S BATTLE:—THE TAKING OF THE _TÉMÉRAIRE_ 126 V. HAWKE’S FINEST PRIZE:—HOW THE _FORMIDABLE_ CHANGED HER FLAG 141 VI. WHEN THE _VICTORY_ FIRST JOINED THE FLEET:—HOW THEY BUILT THE _VICTORY_ AT CHATHAM 160 VII. ON VALENTINE’S NIGHT IN FRIGATE BAY 191 VIII. THE PAGEANT OF THE _DONEGAL_:—A MEMORY OF ’98 208 IX. ON BOARD OUR FLAGSHIPS AT TRAFALGAR:—CAPTAIN HARDY AND THOSE WHO MANNED THE _VICTORY_—UNDER FIRE WITH COLLINGWOOD—“OLD IRONSIDES” AND THE THIRD IN COMMAND 222 ILLUSTRATIONS CHAMPIONS THEN AND NOW: THE _VICTORY_ AND THE _DREADNOUGHT_ _Frontispiece_ Both ships, and the submarine alongside the _Victory_, are shown on the same scale. The picture is reproduced by kind permission of the proprietors of the _Illustrated London News_. Photos by Stephen Cribb, Southsea. _Facing page_ OUR FIRST _DREADNOUGHT_ 10 From a contemporary print kindly lent by Mr. Wentworth Huyshe. The _Dreadnought_ is shown as she appeared when serving in the “Ship Money” Fleet of Charles the First—_circ._ 1637. “OLD DREADNOUGHT’S” _DREADNOUGHT_ 28 From the original drawing made in 1740 for the official dockyard model. Now in the Author’s collection. THE RED-LETTER DAY OF NELSON’S CALENDAR. HOW THE _DREADNOUGHT_ LED THE ATTACK ON THE 21ST OF OCTOBER, 1757 34 Painted by Swaine. Engraved and Published in 1760. WHEN GEORGE THE THIRD WAS KING. OFFICERS AT AFTERNOON TEA ASHORE 38 Thomas Rowlandson. 1786. MANNING THE FLEET IN 1779. A WARM CORNER FOR THE PRESS GANG 38 James Gillray. October 15th, 1779. THE COUNTY AND ITS SHIP. THE _KENT_ TROPHY CHALLENGE SHIELD 54 From a photograph kindly lent by the designers and manufacturers of the trophy, Messrs. George Kenning & Son, Goldsmiths, Little Britain and Aldersgate Street, London.