, with their public books of record, that they might have the
name of Nelson in them written by his own hand.

From Rostock the fleet returned to Kioge Bay. Nelson saw that the
temper of the Danes towards England was such as naturally arose from the
chastisement which they had so recently received. "In this nation," said
he, "we shall not be forgiven for having the upper hand of them: I only
thank God we have, or they would try to humble us to the dust." He saw
also that the Danish cabinet was completely subservient to France: a
French officer was at this time the companion and counsellor of the
Crown Prince; and things were done in such open violation of the
armistice, that Nelson thought a second infliction of vengeance would
soon be necessary. He wrote to the Admiralty, requesting a clear and
explicit reply to his inquiry, Whether the commander-in-chief was at
liberty to hold the language becoming a British admiral? "Which, very
probably," said he, "if I am here, will break the armistice, and set
Copenhagen in a blaze. I see everything which is dirty and mean going
on, and the Prince Royal at the head of it. Ships have been masted, guns
taken on board, floating batteries prepared, and except hauling out and
completing their rigging, everything is done in defiance of the treaty.
My heart burns at seeing the word of a prince, nearly allied to our
good king, so falsified; but his conduct is such, that he will lose
his kingdom if he goes on; for Jacobins rule in Denmark. I have made no
representations yet, as it would be useless to do so until I have
the power of correction. All I beg, in the name of the future
commander-in-chief, is, that the orders may be clear; for enough is done
to break twenty treaties, if it should be wished, or to make the Prince
Royal humble himself before British generosity."

Nelson was not deceived in his judgment of the Danish cabinet, but the
battle of Copenhagen had crippled its power. The death of the Czar Paul
had broken the confederacy; and that cabinet, therefore, was compelled
to defer till a more convenient season the indulgence of its enmity
towards Great Britain. Soon afterwards Admiral Sir Charles Maurice Pole
arrived to take the command. The business, military and political, had
by that time been so far completed that the presence of the British
fleet soon became no longer necessary. Sir Charles, however, made the
short time of his command memorable, by passing the Great Belt for