shall not attempt to describe the scene that ensued, for language has
not the power. We were received with the fire of more than a thousand
guns! No sooner had all the ships got into their stations, than the
countenance of our chief brightened, and his good-humour flowed. As the
fire rolled, his conversation became joyous, animated, elevated, and
delightful; for, confident of victory, he knew that his deck was, at
that moment, the most glorious theatre of human nature. For an hour, the
battle raged. Our fire was regular, distinctive, and terrible; that of
the enemy was becoming desultory and ill-directed. When the
signal-lieutenant called out, that number 39, (to discontinue the
action) was thrown out by the commander in chief, then about four miles
off, Lord Nelson refused to believe it: but, when he was again assured,
he exclaimed--"Then, damn the signal; take no notice of it, and hoist
mine for closer battle: that is the way I answer such signals!" It flew,
at the word; and every ship engaged respected it as soon as seen. He
again exclaimed--"Now, nail mine to the mast!" and, turning to Captain
Foley, with admirable good-humour said--"Foley, you know I have lost an
eye, and have a right to be blind when I like; and, damn me, if I'll see
that signal!"--pointing to Sir Hyde Parker's ship. At a quarter before
three in the afternoon, the victory was compleat; the whole Danish line,
that was drawn up before the town, having struck their colours, after a
dreadful defence, and their ships becoming untenable. The Elephant, the
flag-ship, about an hour before, in veering away cable, to get opposite
the Crown Batteries, had stuck on a small middle shoal, and remained
fast: the same misfortune had happened to the Defiance; and, I believe,
one more besides. To board the prizes was difficult; or, rather,
impossible: for, being under the batteries of the town, no boat could
approach them. Lord Nelson, therefore, sent a flag of truce, with the
following letter--

"Lord Nelson has directions to spare Denmark, when no longer
resisting; but, if the firing is continued on the part of Denmark,
Lord Nelson will be obliged to set on fire all the
floating-batteries he has taken, without having the power of saving
the brave Danes who have defended them.

"Nelson and Bronte,

"Vice-Admiral, under the command of
"Admiral Sir Hyde Parker.

"Dated on board his Majesty's ship Elephant, Copenhagen