Shortly after this the ship was paid off, and I joined the _Barfleur_ (98), having had six weeks’ leave to see my friends and relate the wonders of my four years’ voyage in foreign parts. Throughout the four months I passed in the _Barfleur_ we were attached to the channel fleet. In May, 1805, I removed to the _Neptune_ (98 guns), Captain T. F. Fremantle, a clever, brave, and smart officer, who sent me home to pass my examination at Somerset House, in August, which I did, before old Captain Sir Alexander Snap Hammond, whose character for turning mids back frightened me not a little. The one examined before me not having been sent, as from Oxford or Cambridge, to rusticate in green fields and sylvan groves, but condemned to study six months longer in a mid’s berth on the briny element in order to finish his nautical education, and eat peas-pudding, burgoo and molasses, salt-junk, lobscouse, sea-pie, and study Hamilton Moore. However, the passing captains, seeing I was alarmed on first entering, civilly desired me to be seated a few minutes and take courage. Having waited a short time, and got rather better of some odd qualms and palpitations which the unfortunate candidate turned back before me had created, I was ordered to find the time of high-water at Plymouth, work an azimuth amplitude, double altitude, bearings and distances, &c., which being performed, I was desired to stand up, and consider myself on the quarter-deck of a man-of-war at Spithead--“unmoor”--“get underway”--“stand out to sea”--“make and shorten sail”--“reef”--“return into port”--“unrig the foremast and bowsprit, and rig them again.” I got into a scrape after reefing for not overhauling the reef tackles when hoisting the sails. However, they passed me, and desired me to come again the next day to receive my passing certificate. I made the captains the best bow I could, and, without staying to look behind me, bolted out of the room, and was surrounded in a moment by other poor fellows, who were anxiously waiting their turn to be called in for examination, who asked what questions had been put to me, and the answers I made, &c. This important event over, I spent a few days of September with my friends; then repaired to Plymouth, and was ordered a passage to join the _Neptune_ (98), off Cadiz, in the _Belleisle_ (74), one of the very last ships that sailed to join the fleet of Lord Nelson. We had a very quick run out, and ten days before the ever-memorable and glorious 21st of October, 1805, I rejoined my ship. CHAPTER VI. The Battle of Trafalgar, and extracts from the log of His Majesty’s Ship _Neptune_, on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd October, 1805. FEELINGS OF A CREW GOING INTO ACTION. BY LIEUT. H. GASCOIGNE, R.M. _Extracted from a Poem called “Fame.”_