ledge came from another quarter." That day
the orders came from the Admiralty to go to sea; and the next, March
12, the ships then present sailed,--fifteen ships-of-the-line and two
fifties, besides frigates, sloops of war, brigs, cutters, fireships,
and seven bomb-vessels,--for, if the Danes were obstinate, Copenhagen
was to be bombarded. On the 16th of March Nelson wrote both to Davison
and Lady Hamilton that he as yet knew nothing, except by common
report. "Sir Hyde has not told me officially a thing. I am sorry
enough to be sent on such an expedition, but nothing can, I trust,
degrade, do what they will." His mind was in a condition to see the
worst motives in what befell him. "I know, I see, that I am not to be
supported in the way I ought, but the St. George is beginning to
prepare this day for battle, and she shall be true to herself....
Captain Murray sees, as do every one, what is meant to disgrace me,
but that is impossible. Even the Captain of the Fleet [Parker's Chief
of Staff] sent me word that it was not his doing, for that Sir Hyde
Parker had run his pen through all that could do me credit, or give me
support; but never mind, Nelson will be first if he lives, and you
shall partake of all his glory. So it shall be my study to distinguish
myself, that your heart shall leap for joy when my name is
mentioned."[24]

Enough reached his ears to draw forth unqualified expressions of
dissent from the plans proposed, and equally clear statements as to
what should be done,--all stamped unmistakably with the "Nelson
touch," to use an apt phrase of his own. "Reports say," he tells Lady
Hamilton, "we are to anchor before we get to Cronenburg Castle, that
our minister at Copenhagen may negotiate. What nonsense! How much
better could we negotiate was our fleet off Copenhagen, and the Danish
minister would seriously reflect how he brought the fire of England on
his Master's fleet and capital; but to keep us out of sight is to
seduce Denmark into a war.... If they are the plans of Ministers, they
are weak in the extreme, and very different to what I understood from
Mr. Pitt.[25] If they originate with Sir Hyde, it makes him, in my
mind, as--but never mind, your Nelson's plans are bold and
decisive--all on the great scale. I hate your pen and ink men; a fleet
of British ships of war are the best negotiators in Europe." While the
greatness and decision of his character remain unimpaired, perhaps
even heightened, it will be