text:  As it was likely that the combined fleets of France and Spain would oppose the passage of the British Lord Howe at an early period called the flag-officers and captains on board the Victory and proposed to them the question--Whether considering the superiority of the enemy's numbers it might not be advisable to fight the battle at night when British discipline might counterbalance the numerical superiority? All the officers junior to Jervis gave their opinion for the night attack but he dissented