"Had not our attention been necessarily turned to a subject of more immediate importance, I should have been happy in the opportunity of suggesting to your Lordship some ideas more directly connected with the business on which I was sent abroad: I mean the measures which it might be proper to adopt in case Denmark or either of the other Northern Courts should apply to the Commander-in-chief for an armistice, or make any other overtures towards accommodation, either in consequence of those successes which such a fleet under such leaders may be expected to obtain, or of any change of political sentiment. In case the Admiral has received no special instructions on this subject, it appears to me, that he could do no more than receive any proposition which may be made, and transmit them to England; granting at the same time, if he shall think it advisable, a cessation of arms on such conditions as may enforce the observance of good faith, and secure the conclusion of a treaty conformable to the interests of Great Britain. What pledge it might be proper in each instance to require, you will be best able to judge if the case should occur, but it seems to be essential that the fleet of the Power applying should either be directed to take its orders from the British Admiral, or disarmed and laid up in such a situation as to be nearly at your discretion. It might, for instance, be required that the Danish fleet should retire into the harbour at Copenhagen, that the floating batteries and fortified islands at the entrance should be given up, and the battery on Amack Point, and that under the citadel on the beach, together with the guns of the citadel commanding the harbour, should be dismounted. Similar measures with respect to Carlscroon or Cronstadt might be pursued, but as the surrender of those fortresses would not be attended with the disgrace and irritation necessarily consequent on the capitulation of the capital of a kingdom, there would be less objection to insisting on this being absolutely put into your hands. I am the more induced to submit these ideas to your Lordship's consideration, as I think it very probable that some overture may come, either from Denmark or Sweden in case you should be able to give such a blow to the Russian navy, and may deliver them from the fear of their powerful ally, and at the same time

add to the terror of the British arms. With respect to an attempt on Cronstadt (judging from such plans as I have), I cannot think the difficulties insuperable, especially if the means taken to choke up the Northern Channel are ineffectual, which, from its breadth, I think they must be. It is true that very shallow water is marked at the eastern end, but from the pains taken by the Russians to destroy the passage, I apprehend they must in reality know it to be practicable for large ships. I was more confirmed in this opinion from finding that Etches, who seems the most active and intelligent adventurer I ever met with, and who served some time in the Russian fleet, thinks an attack there by no means difficult. Of that, however, you will before this time have better means of judging.

"Of domestic affairs I have little to say. The King is getting well; we hope securely, but too slowly for the wishes of the nation. Mr. Addington, who has been very ill, is nearly recovered. Believe me, my Lord, with the sincerest wishes for your success and happy return, faithfully

"Yours,

"N. VANSITTART."

The following "minute of conversation with his Royal Highness the Prince Royal of Denmark" corrected by Nelson himself cannot but be interesting here:

"Minute of a Conversation with his Royal Highness, the Prince Royal of Denmark.

"His Royal Highness began the conversation by saying how happy he was to see me, and thanked me for my humanity to the wounded Danes. I then said, that it was to me, and would be the greatest affliction to every man in England, from the King to the lowest person, to think that Denmark had fired on the British flag, and become leagued with her enemies. His Royal Highness stopped me by saying that Admiral Parker had declared war against Denmark. This I denied, and requested his Royal Highness to send for the papers, and he would find the direct contrary, and that it was the farthest from the thoughts of the British

Admiral. I then asked if his Royal Highness would permit me to speak my mind freely on the present situation of Denmark? to which he having acquiesced, I stated to him the sensation which was caused in England by such an unnatural alliance with, at the present moment, the furious enemy of England. His answer was, that when he made the alliance, it was for the protection of their trade, and that Denmark would never be the enemy of England, and that the Emperor of Russia was not the enemy of England when this treaty was formed that he never would join Russia against England, and his declaration to that effect was the cause of the Emperor's (I think he said) sending away his Minister,-that Denmark was a trading nation, and had only to look to the protection of its lawful commerce. His Royal Highness then enlarged on the impossibility of Danish ships under convoy having on board any contraband trade; but to be subjected to be stopped, even a Danish fleet, by a pitiful privateer, and that she should search all the ships and take out of the fleet any vessels she might please, was what Denmark could not permit. To this my answer was simply, What occasion for convoy to fair trade? To which he answered, Did you find any thing in the convoy of the Freja? and that no Commander could tell what contraband goods might be in the convoy, &c. &c. and as to merchants, they would always sel what was most saleable; and as to swearing to property, I could get any thing sworn to which I pleased. I then said, Suppose that England, which she never will, was to consent to this freedom and nonsense of navigation, I will tell your Royal Highness what the result would be-ruination to Denmark; for the present commerce of Denmark with the warring powers was half the neutral carrying trade, and any merchant in Copenhagen would tell you the same. If all this freedom was allowed, Denmark would not have more than the sixth part, for the State of Passenburgh was as good as the State of Denmark in that case; and it would soon be said, we will not be stopped in the Sound, our flag is our protection, and Denmark would lose a great source of her present revenue; and that the Baltic would soon change its name to the Russian Sea. He said, this was a delicate subject, to which I replied, That his Royal Highness had

permitted me to speak out. He then said, Pray answer me a question. For what is the British fleet come into the Baltic? My answer, To crush a most formidable and unprovoked coalition against Great Britain. He then went on to say, that his uncle (George III.) had been deceived, that it was a misunderstanding, and that nothing should ever make him take a part against Great Britain, for that it could not be his interest to see us crushed, nor, he trusted, ours to see him; to which I acquiesced. I then said, there could be no doubt of the hostility of Denmark, for if her fleet had been joined with Russia and Sweden, they would assuredly have gone into the North Sea, menaced the Court of England, and probably have joined the French if they had been able. His Royal Highness said his ships never should join any power against England, but it required not much argument to satisfy him he could not help it, by his treaty. In speaking of the pretended union of the Northern Powers, I could not help saying that his Royal Highness must be sensible that it was nonsense to talk of a mutual protection of trade with a Power who had none, and that he must be sensible that the Emperor of Russia would never have thought of offering to protect the trade of Denmark, if he had not had hostility. against Great Britain. He said repeatedly, I have offered to-day, and do offer, my mediation between Great Britain and Russia. My answer was, A mediator must be at peace with both parties. You must settle your matter with Great Britain. At present you are leagued with our enemies, and are considered naturally as a part of the effective force to fight us. Talking much on this subject, his Royal Highness said, What must I do to make myself equal? Answer,—Sign an alliance with Great Britain, and join your fleet to ours. His Royal Highness then said, Russia will go to war with us, and my desire as a commercial nation is to be at peace with all the world. I told him, he knew the offer of Great Britain, either to join us or disarm. And pray, Lord Nelson, what do you call disarming? My answer was, that I was not authorized to give an opinion on the subject; but I considered it as not having on foot any force beyond the customary establishment. Question: And do you consider the guard-ships in the Sound as beyond that common establish

ment? Answer: I do not. Question: We have always had five sail of the line in the Cattegat and coast of Norway? Answer: I am not authorized to define what is exactly disarming, but I do not think such a force will be allowed. His Royal Highness: When all Europe is in such a dreadful state of confusion, it is absolutely necessary that States should be on their guard. Answer: Your Royal Highness knows the offers of England to keep 20 sail of the line in the Baltic. He then said, I am sure my intentions are very much misunderstood. To which I replied, that Sir Hyde Parker had authorized me to say that upon certain conditions his Royal Highness might have an opportunity of explaining his sentiments at the Court of London. I am not authorized to say on what conditions exactly. Question: But what do you think? Answer: First, a free entry of the British fleet into Copenhagen, and the free use of every thing we may want from it. Before I could get on, he replied quick, That you shall have with pleasure. The next is, whilst this explanation is going on, a total suspension of your treaties with Russia. These, I believe, are the foundation on which Sir Hyde Parker only can build other articles for his justification in suspending his orders, which are plain and positive. His Royal Highness then desired me to repeat what I had said, which having done, he thanked me for my open conversation; and I having made an apology if I had said any thing which he might think too strong, his Royal Highness very handsomely did the same, and we parted, he saying that he hoped we would cease from hostilities to-morrow, as on such an important occasion he must call a Council."

On the 9th an armistice was agreed upon, and the terms transmitted to the Admiralty by the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart. They were printed in the London Gazette of April 21st, and are in autograph in the Sidmouth Papers. The following was adressed by Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton:

66

"April 9th, 1801.

My dearest Friend, you will perceive that I am become a negotiator, a bad one no doubt, but perhaps as upright a one as any England send. Count Bernstorff has taken to his