This print is from James Stanier Clarke and John McArthur, 'The Life of Admiral Lord Nelson, K.B.', 2 vols. (London: T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1809), vol. 2, opposite p. 448.

Without the 40 ships he had counted on for his ‘three-column’ attack, Nelson had to proceed with his 27 ships in two columns. His opponent, Villeneuve, had foreseen Nelson's tactics but in the event abandoned his ideal deployment – also of two mutually supporting columns – in favour of a single line ahead. He had prayed for a victory but frankly expected defeat. Nelson's old friend, Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood in the flagship ‘Royal Sovereign’, led the lee division and was in action before Nelson’s weather line, cutting off the rear of the Combined Fleet just as planned.