every gun in the fleet would have covered their approach; a few minutes would have carried them there; and let any one ask himself, what defence was to be expected from five hundred raw Danish soldiers, on an ill-built battery, that gave no cover—­fatigued, besides, by the carnage of a terrible battle—­against such assailants, flushed with victory, and irresistible in courage.”  It may, however, be proper to remark, that we could have done little more than spiked the guns; as these batteries, being within the range of the fire of the citadel, were not possible to have been long retained.

The following note, in answer to that sent on shore by Lord Nelson, was brought in a flag of truce from Copenhagen, by General-Adjutant Lindholm.

“His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has sent me, General-Adjutant Lindholm, on board, to his Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Admiral, the Right Honourable Lord Nelson, to ask the particular object of sending the flag of truce?”

Though Sir Frederic Thesiger, formerly a commander in the Russian service, and who had been recommended, by Earl Spencer, to accompany Lord Nelson as what is absurdly denominated, with a very reprehensible spirit of Gallicism to introduce into the British navy, the admiral’s aide-de-camp, had carried the flag of truce, with Lord Nelson’s note, and was authorized verbally to enlarge on the humanity of it’s import, some suspicions appear to have been entertained as to the true nature and extent of his lordship’s object; and, therefore, General-Adjutant Lindholm was thus commissioned to procure a farther explanation in writing.  His lordship, accordingly, addressed to the Government of Denmark the following reply.

“Lord Nelson’s object in sending the flag of truce, is humanity.  He, therefore, consents that hostilities shall cease, till Lord Nelson can take his prisoners out of the prizes; and he consents to land all the wounded Danes, and to burn or remove his prizes.

“Lord Nelson, with humble duty to his royal highness, begs leave to say, that he will ever esteem it the greatest victory he ever gained, if this flag of truce may be the happy forerunner of a lasting and happy union, between his own most gracious sovereign and his majesty the King of Denmark.

     “Nelson and Bronte. 
     “Elephant, 2d April 1801.”

The Danish government, now wisely satisfied of Lord Nelson’s sincerity, immediately invited him on shore, that a conference might be held with the King of Denmark, for arranging the preliminaries of an amicable treaty; and his lordship, without hesitation, visited Copenhagen in the afternoon of this very day.