England confides that every man will do his duty.
explanation from Lieutenant John Pasco – signal officer on the Victory
His Lordship came to me on the poop, and after ordering certain signals to be made, about a quarter to noon, he said. “Mr Pasco, I wish to say to the fleet, ENGLAND CONFIDES THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY:” and he added “You must be quick, for I have one more to make which is for close action.” I replied, “If your Lordship will permit me to substitute the confides for expects the signal will soon be completed, because the word expects is in the vocabulary, and confides must be spelt,” His Lordship replied, in haste, and with seeming satisfaction, “That will do, Pasco, make it directly.” When it had been answered by a few ships in the Van, he ordered me to make the signal for close action, and to keep it up: accordingly, I hoisted No. 16 at the top-gallant mast-head, and there it remained until shot away.
At 11:45 on October 21, 1805 one of the most famous naval signals in British history was sent.
253 – England
269 – expects
863 – that
261 – every
471 – man
958 – will
220 – do
370 – his
4 – d
21- u
19 – t
24 – y