e in their ranks, retired into the stern gallery to write a letter
to the crown prince. This letter stated, "that he had been commanded to
spare Denmark when she no longer resisted; that her line of defence had
struck to the British flag; and that, if the fire were continued, he
should be obliged to destroy all the floating batteries which he had
taken, without having the power of saving their brave defenders, who
were the brothers, and ought not to be the enemies, of Englishmen." This
letter, with a flag of truce, was sent by Captain Sir Frederic Thesiger;
and in about half-an-hour he brought an inquiry from the prince: What
was the object of Nelson's note? Nelson's reply was, that he sent the
flag of truce out of humanity; and that he consented that hostilities
should cease, and that the wounded Danes might be taken on shore. He
added: "Lord Nelson, with humble duty to his royal highness the prince,
will consider this the greatest victory he has ever gained, if it may
be the cause of a happy reconciliation and union between his own most
gracious sovereign and his majesty the King of Denmark." Sir F.
Thesiger was dispatched a second time with the reply, and the Danish
adjutant-general was referred to the commander-in-chief for a conference
upon this overture. Nelson availed himself of this critical moment to
get his crippled ships under weigh, and the imminent danger from which
he had extricated them soon became apparent. His own ship, the Elephant,
and three others remained fixed upon the shoal for many hours. Nelson
left the Elephant soon after she took the ground, observing as he
left her: "I have fought contrary to my orders, and I shall perhaps be
hanged. Never mind, let them." It was soon agreed that there should be
a suspension of hostilities for twenty-four hours; that all the prizes
should be surrendered; and that the wounded Danes should be carried on
shore. Nelson landed on the day after the battle, and had an interview
with the crown prince for the purpose of arranging preliminaries. The
negociation lasted some time, and on one occasion was on the point of
breaking off; but Nelson's firm conduct overawed the Danish negociators,
and it was agreed that there should be an armistice of fourteen weeks.
Nelson's own account of the battle of Copenhagen was, that it was the
most dreadful he had ever witnessed. Several British officers fell in
the action, and among the rest "the gallan, good Rion." For this
victory Ne