tion, if they ever are
victorious, know not the feel of humanity. You know, and his royal
highness knows, that the guns fired from the shore could only fire
through the Danish ships which had surrendered; and that, if I
fired at the shore, it could only be in the same manner. God
forbid, that I should destroy an unresisting Dane! _When they
became my prisoners, I became their protector_. Humanity alone,
could have been my object; but Mr. Fischer's carcase was safe, and
he regarded not the sacred call of humanity. His royal highness
thought as I did. It has brought about an armistice; which, I pray
the Almighty, may bring about a happy reconciliation between the
two kingdoms. As I have not the names of all the ships
correct--only of the thirteen, including the seven sail of the line
which struck, remained at anchor, and fell into my possession after
the battle--I shall, therefore, be very much obliged to you, for a
correct list of their names; and the number of men, if possible to
be obtained, on board each, and the numbers sent from the shore
during the action. My earnest wish is, to be correct; and believe
me, dear Sir, with great esteem, your most obedient servant,

"Nelson and Bronte."

"General-Adjutant Lindholm."

Whatever severity may appear in this retort, it's, justice would be with
difficulty refuted. The answer of General-Adjutant Lindholm apologizes,
with very considerable address, for the commander in chief; but that
honourable officer's reasoning is also tinctured with as much national
partiality as is consistent with a due regard to truth. This is no
uncommon effect of patriotic zeal in the best minds, and may be traced
even in that of our hero.

"Copenhagen, 2d May 1801.

"MY LORD!

"Your lordship has imposed upon me a very painful task, by desiring
me to communicate to his Royal Highness the Crown Prince the
contents of that letter with which your lordship has favoured me
the 22d of April; and in which you have treated Commodore Fischer
with a severity which, as a brother officer, I cannot but think too
great, indeed, I conceive, that your lordship has felt a certain
degree of displeasure at that incorrectness which you have thought
to find in Commodore Fischer's official report; but your lordship
did not fully consider, at that moment, that