What a prize he would have been to them. I
remained in the `Foudroyant' for some time. We all missed the admiral,
and hoped that he would come out again, and hoist his flag on board his
old ship. Whatever ship he went to it was the same, the men loved him,
and would have done anything for him. At last I was sent home in a
prize, and was paid off. As the admiral was taking a spell on shore, I
thought I would take one too, and enjoy myself. I spent some time with
my old mother; but one night, going down to see an old shipmate who was
ill at a public-house near Deal, I found myself in the hands of a
press-gang, and carried aboard the `Elephant,' Captain Foley. I had
made up my mind to belong to the flag-ship of Admiral Nelson, whatever
she might be. Still, it couldn't be helped, and, of course, I
determined to do my duty. I there learned that Captain Hardy had
commissioned the `Saint George,' of 98 guns, and that it was supposed
Lord Nelson would hoist his flag on board her. This he shortly
afterwards did, and it was some consolation, when we sailed for Yarmouth
Roads, off the Norfolk coast, to join him. It was soon whispered about
that there was work for us to do, and we guessed that there was truth in
the report when the fleet was ordered away up the Baltic. This was in
1801; a long time ago it seems. You see that Russia, and Sweden, and
Denmark were all going to join against us to help the French; and as the
Danes had a fine fleet, it was necessary to destroy or capture it, to
prevent it doing us mischief. We therefore sent to tell the Danes that
they must give it up and be friends, or that we would knock their city
about their ears, and sink their ships. They dared us do our worst.
They ought to have known what Lord Nelson was likely to do; but you must
understand that Sir Hyde Parker was commander-in-chief--he was only
second in command. A great deal of time was lost in diplomatising, and
all that time the Danes were preparing their ships and batteries to
receive us. If you take a look at a chart of the mouth of the Baltic,
you will see what numbers of shoals, and small islands, and narrow
channels there are about Copenhagen. Fortunately one of our captains,
Captain Dommet, knew the coast, and he persuaded Sir Hyde Parker only to
let the lighter ships go up to the attack. The `Saint George' drew too
much water, and, fortunately for us, Lord Nelson chose our ship to hoist
his flag on board. Didn't we