ned on the 24th of March. An armistice was made for fourteen
weeks, which left the British fleet free to proceed up the Baltic. On
the 12th of April, after lightening the three-deckers of their guns, the
fleet passed over the shallows. But its presence had now lost all
military significance. Sir Hyde Parker was assured by the Russian
minister at Copenhagen that the new tsar Alexander I. would not continue
the policy of hostility with England and alliance with France which had
proved fatal to his father. The Swedes, who like the Danes had entered
the coalition under pressure from Russia, did not send their ships to
sea. The government of the new tsar was prepared for an arrangement with
England. The date of the final settlement was in all probability delayed
by the activity of Nelson, and his belief that a British fleet was the
best negotiator in Europe. The British government learnt of the tsar's
death on the 15th of April. On the 17th it instructed Sir Hyde Parker to
agree to a suspension of hostilities, and not to take active measures
against Russia so long as the Reval squadron did not put to sea. On the
21st of April, having now received a full account of the battle at
Copenhagen, it recalled Sir Hyde Parker, whose vacillating conduct and
want of enterprise had become manifest. He received the news of his
recall on the 5th of May. Nelson, to whom the command passed, at once
put to sea, and hastened with a part of his fleet to Reval, which he
reached on the 12th of May. The Russian squadron had, however, cut a
passage through the ice in the harbour on the 3rd, and had sailed for
Kronstadt. Nelson was received with formal civility by the Russian
officers, with whom he exchanged visits. He wrote a letter to Mr
Garlike, secretary of the British embassy at St Petersburg, saying that
he had come with a small squadron as the best way of paying "the very
highest compliment" to the tsar.

The Russian government, which not unnaturally wished to avoid any
appearance of acting under dictation, and was now in no anxiety for the
Reval squadron, treated his presence as a menace. On the 13th of May
Count Pahlen answered in a most peremptory letter informing Nelson that
negotiations would be suspended while he remained at Reval. This retort
caused Nelson annoyance which he did not attempt to conceal, but he
justly concluded that he had nothing further to do at Reval, and
therefore returned down the Baltic. Nelson remained with the fl