they had heard, begged that he would get them exchanged
into a ship bound on some other destination. "They had no wish," they
said, "to quit the British service; but they entreated that they might
not be forced to fight against their own country." There was not in our
whole navy a man who had a higher and more chivalrous sense of duty
than Riou. Tears came into his eyes while the men were speaking. Without
making any reply, he instantly ordered his boat, and did not return to
the AMAZON till he could tell them that their wish was effected. The
fleet sailed on the 12th of March. Mr. Vansittart sailed in it; the
British Cabinet still hoping to attain its end by negotiation. It was
well for England that Sir Hyde Parker placed a fuller confidence in
Nelson than the government seems to have done at this most important
crisis. Her enemies might well have been astonished at learning that any
other man should for a moment have been thought of for the command. But
so little deference was paid, even at this time, to his intuitive
and all-commanding genius, that when the fleet had reached its first
rendezvous, at the entrance of the Cattegat, he had received no official
communication whatever of the intended operations. His own mind had been
made up upon them with its accustomed decision. "All I have gathered of
our first plans," said he, "I disapprove most exceedingly. Honour may
arise from them; good cannot. I hear we are likely to anchor outside of
Cronenburgh Castle, instead of Copenhagen, which would give weight to
our negotiation. A Danish minister would think twice before he would put
his name to war with England, when the next moment he would probably see
his master's fleet in flames, and his capital in ruins. The Dane should
see our flag every moment he lifted up his head."

Mr Vansittart left the fleet at the Scaw, and preceded it in a frigate
with a flag of truce. Precious time was lost by this delay, which was to
be purchased by the dearest blood of Britain and Denmark: according to
the Danes themselves, the intelligence that a British fleet was seen
off the Sound produced a much more general alarm in Copenhagen than its
actual arrival in the Roads; for the means of defence were at that time
in such a state that they could hardly hope to resist, still less to
repel an enemy. On the 21st Nelson had a long conference with Sir Hyde;
and the next day addressed a letter to him, worthy of himself and of the
occasion. Mr. Van