s case, for Denmark, long used to peace, had
not thought war possible, and every day was precious to her in
restoring and increasing the neglected protection of Copenhagen.

On the evening of March 20 the fleet anchored in the Kattegat,
eighteen miles from Cronenburg Castle and the town of Elsinore, at
which the Sound narrows to three miles. Both shores being hostile,
Parker would not attempt to force the passage until he learned the
result of the British mission to Copenhagen; meanwhile the Danes were
working busily at the blockships and batteries of the city. On the 23d
Mr. Vansittart returned with the terms rejected; and he brought, also,
alarming reports of the state of the batteries at Elsinore and
Copenhagen, which were much stronger than the previous information of
the British Cabinet had shown, proving, as Nelson urged, that each
day's delay increased the enemy's relative power. Sir Hyde called a
council. "Now we are sure of fighting," wrote Nelson to Lady Hamilton.
"I am sent for. When it was a joke I was kept in the background;
to-morrow will I hope be a proud day for England--to have it so, no
exertion shall be wanting from your most attached and affectionate
friend."

He was accompanied to Parker's flagship by Lieutenant Layman, who went
in the boat to steer for him. "On board the London," according to
Layman, "the heads appeared very gloomy. Mr. Vansittart, who arrived
at the same moment Nelson did, said that if the fleet proceeded to
attack, it would be beaten, and the attempt was in danger of being
relinquished. The Captain of the Fleet said to Layman that the Danes
were too strong to attack, and a torpor verging to despondency
prevailed in the councils. While others were dismayed, however, Lord
Nelson questioned those just arrived from Copenhagen not only as to
the force, but as to the position of the enemy. Such interrogatories
he called 'bringing people to the post.' Having learned that the great
strength of the enemy was at the head of the line, supported by the
Crown Battery, his Lordship emphatically observed that to begin the
attack there would be like taking a bull by the horns, and he
therefore suggested the attempt by the tail."[27] In order to avoid
the formidable works at Cronenburg, and yet come up in rear of
Copenhagen, according to this proposition of Nelson's, it was proposed
in the council to go by the Great Belt. That passage is more
intricate, and therefore, from the pilot's point of