of the conflict, sent a flag of truce on shore, to propose a cessation of hostilities. For the truth of this account the Dane appealed to the prince, and all those who, like him, had been eye-witnesses of the scene. Nelson was exceedingly indignant at such a statement, and addressed a letter, in confutation of it, to the Adjutant-General Lindholm; thinking this incumbent upon him, for the information of the prince, since his royal highness had been appealed to as a witness: "Otherwise," said he, “had Com❝modore Fischer confined himself to his "own veracity, I should have treated his "official letter with the contempt it de"served, and allowed the world to appre❝ciate the merits of the two contending offi

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99 cers.' After pointing out and detecting some of the mistatements in the account, he proceeds: "As to his nonsense about vic66 tory, his royal highness will not much "credit him. I sunk, burnt, captured, or "drove into the harbour, the whole line of "defence to the southward of the Crown "Islands. He says he is told that two

"British ships struck. Why did he not "take possession of them? I took posses"sion of his as fast as they struck. The "reason is clear, that he did not believe it: "he must have known the falsity of the "report. He states, that the ship in which "I had the honour to hoist my flag, fired "latterly only single guns. It is true: for "steady and cool were my brave fellows, "and did not wish to throw away a single "shot. He seems to exult that I sent on "shore a flag of truce.-You know, and "his royal highness knows, that the guns "fired from the shore could only fire "through the Danish ships which had sur"rendered; and that, if I fired at the shore, "it could only be in the same manner. "God forbid that I should destroy an un66 resisting Dane! When they became my "prisoners I became their protector."

This letter was written in terms of great asperity against the Danish commander. Lindholm replied in a manner every way honourable to himself. He vindicated the commodore in some points, and excused

him in others; reminding Nelson, that every commander in chief was liable to receive incorrect reports. With a natural desire to represent the action in a most favourable light to Denmark, he took into the comparative strength of the two parties the ships which were aground, and which could not get into action; and omitted the Trekroner and the batteries upon Amak Island. He disclaimed all idea of claiming as a victory "what to every intent and 66 purpose," said he, "was a defeat,--but "not an inglorious one. As to your lord66 ship's motive for sending a flag of truce, ❝it never can be misconstrued; and your "subsequent conduct has sufficiently shewn "that humanity is always the companion of "true valour. You have done more; you "have shewn yourself a friend to the re-es"tablishment of peace and good harmony "between this country and Great Britain.

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It is therefore, with the sincerest esteem I "shall always feel myself attached to your "lordship." Thus handsomely winding up his reply he soothed and contented Nel

son; who, drawing up a memorandum of the comparative force of the two parties, for his own satisfaction, assured Lindholm, that if the commodore's statement had been in the same manly and honourable strain, he would have been the last man to have noticed any little inaccuracies which might get into a commander in chief's public letter.

For the battle of Copenhagen, Nelson was raised to the rank of viscount:—an inadequate mark of reward for services so splendid and of such paramount importance to the dearest interests of England. There was, however, some prudence in dealing out honours to him step by step: had he lived long enough, he would have fought his way up to a dukedom.

CHAPTER VIII.

CONTENTS.

Sir Hyde Parker is recalled, and Nelson appointed Commander. He goes to Revel.-Settlement of Affairs in the Baltic.-Unsuccessful Attempt upon the Flotilla at Boulogne.-Peace of Amiens.-Nelson takes the Command in the Mediterranean on the Renewal of the War.-Escape of the Toulon Fleet.-Nelson chases them to the West Indies, and back; delivers up his squadron to Admiral Cornwallis, and lands in England.

WHEN Nelson informed Earl St. Vincent that the armistice had been concluded, he told him also, without reserve, his own discontent at the dilatoriness and indecision which he witnessed, and could not remedy. "No man," said he, "but those who are 66 on the spot, can tell what I have gone "through, and do suffer. I make no scru66 ple in saying, that I would have been at