Blackwood went on board the Victory about six. Nelson, certain of a triumphant issue to the day, asked him what he should consider as a victory. The officer answered, that, considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the enemy, their apparent determination for a fair trial of strength, and the situation of the land, he thought it would be a glorious result if fourteen were captured. He replied, "I shall not be satisfied with fewer than twenty!"

布莱克伍德军官六次到维多利亚军舰的甲板上察看，坚信自己会胜利的纳尔逊问布莱克伍德什么样的结果才能称得上是胜利，布莱克伍德回答说，鉴于敌人以往漂亮的作战部署、对公平力量之间的比拼有着明显的自信、再加上陆地上面的情况，他认为如果能俘获14支舰队那将是无比光荣的战举。纳尔逊却回应道：“只有俘获20支以上的舰队才能达到我的要求！”

Soon afterwards he asked him if he did not think there was a signal wanting. Captain Blackwood made answer, that he thought the whole fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about. These words were scarcely spoken before that signal was made which will be remembered as long as the language, or even the memory of England, shall endure—Nelson's last signal: "England expects every man to do his duty!" It was received throughout the fleet with a shout of answering acclamation, made sublime by the spirit which it breathed and the feeling which it expressed. "Now," said Lord Nelson, "I can do no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of all events, and the justice of our cause. I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty."

之后，纳尔逊又问他是否觉得我方舰队还缺少标语。布莱克伍德上尉回答说，他觉得整个舰队似乎已经对自己的职责有了足够清晰的认知，在那条标语喊出之前这种话平时很少会挂在嘴边。这条标语会被终生铭记，就像我们不会忘记自己的语言一样，它甚至会成为英格兰的记忆——纳尔逊喊出的最后一条标语是：“英格兰希望每个人都能尽责！”这句话被传遍整个舰队，士兵们都被这句话所传递的精神和表达的情怀所感染，并回应给它庄严的欢呼和呐喊。“现在，”纳尔逊大人说，“我会尽我最大的努力。我们必须相信那“全能的上帝”，相信我们是正义的，感谢上帝将此机会赋予给我让我能履行自己的职责。”

He wore that day, as usual, his admiral's frock-coat, bearing on the left breast four stars of the different orders with which he was invested. Ornaments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark for the enemy, were beheld with ominous apprehensions by his officers. It was known that there were riflemen on board the French ships, and it could not be doubted that his life would be particularly aimed at.

那天他像往常一样穿着他那件海军上将的大衣，大衣上左胸前的四颗星代表着他被授予的不同勋章，不过这些“饰物”也使得他成为敌人眼中最晃眼的猎物，因此他的军官们都满怀忧虑地望着那四颗星。法国的军舰上有火枪手是众所周知的，毫无疑问纳尔逊将成为他们瞄准的特殊目标。