Officers 48
Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers 651-699
---
Total killed and wounded 953
---
After a week's negotiation, during which Lord Nelson daily went on
shore, and greatly endeared himself to the virtuous of all ranks, for
his amiable frankness, generosity, and honour, the following treaty was
signed and sealed, as the basis of returning amity between Great Britain
and Denmark.
"The Danish Government on the one hand--and Admiral Sir Hyde
Parker, Knight, Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's
Forces in the Road of Copenhagen, on the other--being, from motives
of humanity, equally anxious to put a stop to the farther effusion
of blood, and to save the City of Copenhagen from the disastrous
consequences which may attend a farther prosecution of hostilities
against that city, have mutually agreed upon a Military Armistice,
or Suspension of Arms. His Danish Majesty having, for that purpose,
appointed Major-General Ernest Frederic Walterstorff, Chamberlain
to his Danish Majesty, and Colonel to a Regiment; and
Adjutant-General Hans Lindholm, Captain in his Danish Majesty's
Navy; his Commissioners for agreeing about the terms of the said
Armistice--and Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Knight, having, with the
same view, duly authorized the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Nelson
of the Nile, Knight of the most honourable Order of the Bath, Duke
of Bronte in Sicily, Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of St.
Ferdinand and of Merit, and of the Imperial Order of the Ottoman
Crescent, Vice-Admiral in the Fleet of his Britannic Majesty; and
the Right Honourable William Stewart, Lieutenant-Colonel in his
Britannic Majesty's service, and commanding a detachment of his
Britannic Majesty's forces embarked--the said Commissioners have
met this day; and, having exchanged their respective powers, have
agreed upon the following terms--
"ARTICLE I.
"From the moment of the signature of this armistice, all
hostilities shall immediately cease, between the fleet under the
command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, and the City of Copenhagen, and
all the armed ships and vessels of his Danish Majesty in the road
or harbour of that city; as, likewise, between the different
islands and provinces of Denmark, Jutland included.
"ARTICLE II.
"The armed ships and vessels belonging to his Danish Majesty shall
remain in their present actual situation, as to armament,
equipment, and hostile position; and the treaty, commonly
understood as the treaty of Armed Neutrality, shall, as far as
relates to the co-operation of Denmark, be suspended while the
Armistice remains in force.
"On the other side, the armed ships and vessels under the command
of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, shall in no manner whatsoever molest
the City of Copenhagen, or his Danish Majesty's armed ships and
vessels on the coasts of the different islands and provinces of
Denmark, Jutland included; and, in order to avoid every thing which
might otherwise create uneasiness or jealousy, Sir Hyde Parker
shall not suffer any of the ships or vessels under his command to
approach within gun-shot of the armed ships or forts of his Danish
Majesty, in the road of Copenhagen. This restriction shall not,
however, extend to vessels necessarily passing and repassing
through the Casper or King's Channel.
"ARTICLE III.
"This armistice is to protect the city of Copenhagen, as also the
coast of Denmark, of Jutland, and islands included, against the
attack of any other naval force which his Britannic Majesty may
now, or hereafter, during it's remaining in force, have in those
seas.
"ARTICLE IV.
"The fleet of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker shall be permitted to provide
itself at Copenhagen, and along the coasts of the different islands
and provinces of Denmark, Jutland included, with every thing which
it may require for the health and comfort of it's crews.
"ARTICLE V.
"Admiral Sir Hyde Parker shall send on shore all such subjects of
his Danish Majesty as are now on board the British fleet under his
command; the Danish government engaging to give an acknowledgment
for them, as also for all such wounded as were permitted to be
landed after the action of the 2d instant, in order that they may
be accounted for in favour of Great Britain, in the unfortunate
event of the renewal of hostilities.
"ARTICLE VI.
"The coasting trade carried on by Denmark along all such parts of
her coast as are included in the operation of this armistice, shall
be unmolested by any British ships or vessels whatever, and
instructions given accordingly by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker.
"ARTICLE VII.
"This armistice is to continue, uninterrupted by the contracting
parties, for the space of fourteen weeks from the signature hereof;
at the expiration of which time, it shall be in the power of either
of the said parties to declare a cessation of the same, and to
recommence hostilities, upon giving fourteen days previous notice.
"The conditions of this armistice are, upon all occasions, to be
explained in the most liberal and loyal manner, so as to remove all
ground for farther dispute, and facilitate the means of bringing
about the restoration of harmony and good understanding between the
two kingdoms.
"In faith whereof, we, the undersigned commissioners, in virtue of
our full powers, have signed the present armistice, and have
affixed to it the seal of our arms.
"Done on board his Britannic Majesty's ship the London, in Copenhagen
Roads, April 9, 1801.
"Nelson and Bronte.
"William Stewart.
"Ernest Frederic Walterstorff.
"Hans Lindholm.
"In pursuance of my abovementioned authority, I ratify this document
with my hand--
"Frederic.
"Ratified by me--
"Hyde Parker, Admiral and Commander in Chief of his Britannic
Majesty's Fleet."
The Danes had great reason to be satisfied with the liberality of this
armistice; the conditions of which certainly were, on our part, most
strictly performed. It will appear that, on the part of Denmark, this
was not precisely the case. Lord Nelson's conduct, however, at once firm
and conciliating, procured justice to his country without again
resorting to arms. The first blow had been struck by Denmark, and she
had suffered for her rashness and temerity. Even in passing the Sound,
her guns evinced the disposition, but happily possessed not the power,
to injure the British fleet. A very heavy fire was kept up by the Danes,
but none of our ships received a shot. In the mean time, we had several
bomb-ships firing on the town of Elsineur, the shells from which killed
upwards of a hundred and fifty people on shore. At Copenhagen, still
more confident in their strength, they had made every arrangement for
the destruction of our fleet, but no preparation for the defeat of their
own. Shielded by nature with dangerous shoals, and fortified by art with
powerful batteries, they seemed rather to invite, than to dread, any
hostile attack. They reflected not, that the hero coming against them
was no less expert as a navigator than as a warrior, and scarcely more a
seaman than a soldier. Happily his heroic heart was replete with
humanity, and his dreadful ability to shed human blood only surpassed by
his ardent desire to spare it's unnecessary effusion. The Danes,
trusting to the strength of their grand line of defence, composed of
eighteen ships, block-ships, floating-batteries, &c. which were all, in
a few hours, sunk, burnt, or taken, had neglected to engage surgeons for
their wounded defenders; who were found bleeding to death, on boarding
the different captured vessels, in prodigious numbers, and afforded a
shocking spectacle of horror to our brave but humane seamen. To preserve
his fellow creatures from wanton destruction, the hero's flag of truce
unfurled; a pause was thus obtained; reason had time to operate; and the
basis was immediately laid for a renewal of that amity which had happily
prevailed, for a long series of years, between the two nations, though
anciently the fiercest foes.
The news of this victory was received in England with the utmost
rejoicing; nor did the temper of the people fail to participate in their
favourite hero's generous sentiments towards the brave but vanquished
Danes. They considered Denmark as having been unwillingly dragged into
the confederacy; they admired the patriotic courage of her misdirected
sons; and generously lamented the cruel necessity of thus compelling
them to relinquish a league, which had for it's object, beneath the
artful veil of a generous love of liberty, that has sufficiently deluged
the earth with blood, the unjust and absurd view of destroying the
maritime power of Great Britain, by which the freedom of the, seas is
alone preserved to the honourable commerce of all civilized nations.
On the 16th of April, the Earl of St. Vincent, then First Lord of the
Admiralty, made a motion in the House of Peers--and Mr. Addington, now
Lord Sidmouth, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the House of
Commons--of thanks to Sir Hyde Parker, Lord Nelson, Rear Admiral Graves,
and the rest of the officers, seamen, and marines, for their very
exemplary bravery displayed in the great and glorious victory atchieved
at Copenhagen; which were carried, in both houses, with acclamations of
unanimous applause. The Duke of Clarence observed, of his old friend,
Lord Nelson, whom he ever loved and revered, that fortune seemed to back
his courage and intrepidity, in every enterprise he engaged; and
acknowledged his own obligations, as a prince of the blood, to the
gallant commanders, and to the whole fleet, for the accomplishment of a
victory which, probably, in it's effects, would restore the possessions
on the continent to his family, together with the peace and security of
the British empire, and of Europe. About a month afterwards, Lord Nelson
was elevated to the rank of Viscount of the united kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, by the name, stile, and title, of Viscount Nelson
of the Nile, and of Burnham-Thorpe in the county of Norfolk; an
additional honour which was generally and justly considered, at the
time, and must ever be regarded by posterity, as by no means equal to
his high deserts.
In the mean time, immediately after signing the convention with Denmark,
Russia and Sweden remaining still unattacked, Sir Hyde Parker had
proceeded to the eastward, with such ships as were in a condition for
service: leaving Lord Nelson at Copenhagen, with orders to repair his
damaged ships, and dispose of the prizes; after which, he was to follow
the commander in chief, and assist in accomplishing the other designs of
this very important expedition. The repairs were not long compleating,
and the prizes were soon disposed of; of the latter, all but one--the
Holstein of sixty-four guns--were found entirely unfit for service, and
immediately destroyed. Even this solitary remain of the Danish
formidable line of defence, was only judged worthy of being commissioned
as an hospital-ship in the British fleet; yet villainy and weakness
united to wrest from our hero the honour of a compleat victory, even on
the spot where it had been felt as well as witnessed.
Lord Nelson, after the battle of the 2d of April, had returned with his
flag to the St. George; and, on the 16th, was ready to proceed after the
commander in chief, who had entered the Baltic, and greatly alarmed the
Russians, Prussians, and Swedes. Most of the squadron of his lordship,
however, touched the ground, in their passage through the narrow and
shallow channel which divides the islands of Amak and Saltholm, and two
or three of them actually sticking fast for a short time, he was
detained, even after they did pass, to have the St. George lightened,
which drew still more water than the rest, by taking out the guns, and
putting them on board an American ship. While this was effecting, the
report of the Swedish fleet being out, with an intention to join that
of Russia, then lying at Revel, reached his lordship. The instant he
received this intelligence, though it was then a very cold evening of
that climate, he descended into his gig, or smallest boat; and, after
being so exposed on the water several hours, got again on board the
Elephant, the former bearer of his flag and triumph. Lord Nelson, in his
extreme haste to quit the St. George, had neglected to take his
boat-cloak; but he would not lose a moment in returning for it,
notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather and the great distance he
had necessarily to go. A master of one of the ships, who was ordered to
attend, earnestly pressed his lordship's acceptance of a great coat
which he had brought for himself. This, however, was as kindly refused,
as it had been affectionately tendered--"I thank you," said the hero,
"very much; but, to tell you the truth, my anxiety, at present, keeps me
sufficiently warm." Soon afterwards, his lordship asked--"Think you,
that the British fleet has quitted Bornholm? If it has," continued he,
without waiting for a reply, "we must follow it to Carlscrona." His
lordship had arrived about midnight; and, the next day, saw the Swedish
armament safely sheltered under the numerous forts and batteries erected
on the island at the entrance of Carlscrona; where, as he suspected, it
had taken timely refuge from the British fleet. Sir Hyde Parker, while
on his voyage to Revel, having gained intelligence of the intended
junction of the Swedish fleet with that of the Russians against which
he was proceeding, had immediately steered his course for the Island of
Bornholm, with the hope of intercepting the Swedes; but the commander,
warned by the Danish disaster, wisely retreated from the danger of a
similar encounter, by returning into port with the utmost precipitation.
Scarcely had Lord Nelson quitted Copenhagen, where he could not but have
endeared himself to every virtuous heart, by his amiable liberality of
disposition--bountifully rewarding youth of promise in the national
military schools of the Danes, as if he had been dealing honours among
the deserving of his own country, and every way displaying the superior
cast of his dignified soul--when he learned that Olfert Fischer, the
Danish commander in chief, had officially published the following
shamefully partial account of this indisputably great and glorious
victory, as transmitted to his Royal Highness the Crown Prince.