of one of her frigates had been detained and treated with harshness.*

*This alludes to the case of his Danish majesty's frigate the Haufeneu. Some English men of war having fallen in with this vessel and her convoy, in December 1799, the commander of one of them demanded her destination; and on learning that she was bound for Gibraltar, replied, "that if the captain was going thither he would not visit the convoy; but that in case it should not cast anchor in that port, the ceremony would assuredly take place."

Captain Van Dockum having informed the officer who came on board that he would resist a search, a signal was made to examine the fleet immediately, and a boat from the Emerald prepared to execute the order, on which some musquetry was fired from the Dane, and one of the English sailors severely wounded. A boat belonging to the Flora was at the same time seized and detained until a threat of retaliation had been held out.

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"On their arrival in the bay of Gibraltar, Lord Keith demanded to inspect Captain Van Dockum's instructions, but the latter refused to comply; he at the same time observed, that he was commanded to prohibit the visitation of his convoy, and that he only obeyed his orders by firing on the boats of the English squadron. Having afterwards pledged his honour to this, in presence of the admiral and governor of the garrison, and promised to surrender himself before a judge, he was permitted to return on board; but on entering his boat he transmitted a letter in which he refused to comply. On this Lord Keith stated, "that if he neglected to submit, and should thereby attempt to withdraw himself from justice, the affair would be represented to his court."

Mr. Merry, the minister of Great Britain at Copenhagen, accordingly presented a note on this subject to Count Bernstorff, dated April 10, 1800, in which he insisted "on the right of visiting and examining merchant vessels on the high seas, whatever their nation might be, and whatever their cargoes or destinations.”

He also stated, "that his Britannic Majesty had no doubt of the displeasure which his Danish Majesty will feel on learning the violent and indefensible procedure of an officer in his service; and the King is persuaded (added he) of the promptitude with which his

"An event occurred soon after that occasioned much perplexity, and was productive of the most disagreeable consequences.

"Although the armed vessels of the two northern powers had protested against a search, and one of them actually recurred to small arms, yet nothing in the shape of a regular engagement had hitherto taken place. This, however, at length occurred in the course of this summer; for the captain of the Freya having refused to permit the vessels under his protection to be examined by an English squadron at the mouth of the Channel, although he freely offered to exhibit all their papers for inspection, an action immediately ensued, and after having two men killed and five wounded, the Dane struck his colours and was carried into the Downs."*

It will be seen from the above statement that the

Danish Majesty will make to his (Britannic) Majesty the formal disavowal and apology which he had so just a right to expect from him in the present case, with a reparation proportionate to the nature of the offence committed."

It appears, however, that neither" apology" nor" reparation" was made upon the present occasion; on the contrary, Count Bernstorff, in his reply, asserted, "that none of the maritime and independent powers of Europe have ever acknowledged the right of permitting neutral ships to be searched when escorted either by one or several ships of war." He added, "that the cap. tain of the (Danish) king's frigate, by repelling a violence which he had no right to expect, had done no more than his duty; and that it was on the part of the English frigates that the violation of the rights of a neutral sovereignty, and of a power friendly to his Britannic Majesty, had been committed."

History of the Wars of the French Revolution, vol. ii. p. 517.

situation of Great Britain, in respect to neutral powers, was at this period eminently critical. France also, by exerting a giant's might, had exhibited a giant's strength. Unawed by the formidable combination against her, she had combated a world in arms, and it was now dreaded, even by men not unfriendly to her first efforts in behalf of domestic freedom, that a power was about to be created that might one day aspire to the domination of Europe. In the mean time, her rulers were unceasingly agitating the courts of the Baltic, and under pretence of establishing a free trade, wished to clip the wings of that commerce, which had enabled a comparatively small country to contend successfully for ages, with more extensive territories and a more numerous population.

The states situate on the shores of the Baltic carried on a trade highly profitable to themselves with England, but absolutely necessary for the existence of that country as a maritime nation; a regular commercial intercourse with them had consequently become useful, and even indispensible; their enmity, therefore, was to be dreaded, and their friendship courted. But, above all things, it was to be feared lest any umbrage should be given to a capricious prince, who affected to possess all the magnanimity, without exhibiting any of the solid talents of his mother, and began to consider himself as the protector of the north of Europe.

The American war had given birth to an "armed neutrality," formidable in the extreme, which had been suspended rather than dissolved, and might at

any

any

time be brought into action with renewed vigour and encreased strength. A powerful monarch at its head would render such a league doubly formidable,at a time when France began to resume her ancient preponderance; and although we might at length prove conquerors, yet our dock-yards and arsenals would be in want of naval and military stores, while a large body of the merchants would be injured, if not ruined.

In this dilemma it was resolved in the British cabi net, as has been already hinted, to select a negociator equally eminent for his talents and his moderation; and accordingly Sir Charles, recently created Lord Whitworth, was nominated for this purpose. Having made the necessary dispositions, with all possible promptitude, be repaired immediately to Copenhagen, in the character of plenipotentiary extraordinary, Mr. Merry, our resident minister there, remaining as usual, on purpose to discharge the customary official business of his department.

While his lordship commenced a treaty with the Count de Bernstorff, a nobleman of great talents and influence, his mission was backed and his arguments supported by those powerful advocates usually recurred to on the part of princes. A strong squadron, consisting of nine sail of the line, four bomb-ketches, and five gun-boats, under the command of Admiral Dickson, accordingly entered the Sound; and as such guests, however disagreeable, were not to be slighted, the Prince-royal, who has for some years taken upon

• Ratio ultima regum,

Bb 4

himselt

himself the management of public affairs, immediately signified his wishes, in form of an invitation, that they should anchor in Elsineur roads.

As the court of Denmark was at that period assured of support from the neighbouring states, her ministers held a high language, and considering England as the aggressor, affected rather to demand than to yield submission. However, after a considerable time had elapsed in discussion, an adjustment at last took place, August 29, 1800, in consequence of the indefatigable exertions of our plenipotentiary, who averted the caJamities that afterwards ensued, and which, indeed, might have been wholly avoided, had not some unfortunate circumstances occurred.

As the Danish government stood greatly on the point of honour, and repeatedly and earnestly urged the disgrace offered to its flag, something on this score was very properly conceded. It was therefore agreed that the frigate with the convoy were to be released, and the former repaired in one of the ports of his Britannic Majesty, according to the customary usage among friendly and allied powers. As the claim of visiting merchantmen while under convoy of a ship of war presented greater difficulties, this article was referred to the more leisurely investigation of a future period; but the court of Copenhagen was to restrict itself on that subject, and to send armed vessels for this purpose into the Mediterranean only; a measure which appeared in some respect necessary in that quarter of the globe, on account of the depredations of the Barbary corsairs, who at this time in

fested