only had an opportunity of firing a few shot. Nor need I to
mention the Crown Battery, on which sixty-six guns were mounted, as
that battery did not fairly get into action, and only fired a few
random shot.

"When Commodore Fischer left the Dannebrog, that ship was on fire,
had many killed, several of it's officers wounded, and otherwise
suffered much. It was, I conceive, the duty of the commander, to
remove his broad pendant to another ship; and he went on board the
Holstein, from whence he commanded the line of defence; and where
he remained two hours, his broad pendant flying on board the said
ship. When this ship was mostly disabled, the Commodore went to the
Crown Battery, which also was under his command. He would, in my
humble opinion, have been justified, from the wound he received on
his head, to quit the command altogether, when he left the
Dannebrog; and no blame could ever have attached, for it, to his
character as a soldier. I have given myself every possible pain, to
be informed whether Commodore Fischer's pendant has been removed
before or after the ship struck; and the officers all agree, in
declaring, that the broad pendant has been replaced by a captain's
pendant, both on board the Dannebrog and the Holstein, previous to
those ships hauling down their ensign. It is even remarkable that,
on board the Dannebrog, the man who had taken down the broad
pendant, and hoisted the captain's pendant, was killed when coming
down the shrouds, and fell upon deck with the commodore's pendant
in his hand.

"I do not conceive that Commodore Fischer had the least idea of
claiming as a victory what to every intent and purpose was a
defeat: he has only thought, that this defeat was not an inglorious
one; and, that our officers and men displayed much bravery and
firmness, against force so superior in every respect. Your
lordship's report, and your letter to me, proves it. I confess,
that your lordship took all the vessels opposed to you; except
five, carrying together eighty-six guns. I am of opinion, with your
lordship, that three ships of seventy-four guns each would have
been a hard match for the Three Crowns Battery; but, they certainly
would have been forced to go away.

"As to your lordship's motive for sending a flag of truce to our