hout fits of generosity, and some natural
goodness, but subject to the wildest humours of caprice, and erased
by the possession of greater power than can ever be safely, or perhaps
innocently, possessed by weak humanity. Denmark was French at heart:
ready to co-operate in all the views of France, to recognise all her
usurpations, and obey all her injunctions. Sweden, under a king whose
principles were right, and whose feelings were generous, but who had a
taint of hereditary insanity, acted in acquiescence with the dictates
of two powers whom it feared to offend. The Danish navy, at this time,
consisted of 23 ships of the line, with about 31 frigates and smaller
vessels, exclusive of guard-ships. The Swedes had 18 ships of the
line, 14 frigates and sloops, seventy-four galleys and smaller vessels,
besides gun-boats; and this force was in a far better state of equipment
than the Danish. The Russians had 82 sail of the line and 40
frigates. Of these there were 47 sail of the line at Cronstadt, Revel,
Petersburgh, and Archangel; but the Russian fleet was ill-manned,
ill-officered, and ill-equipped. Such a combination under the influence
of France would soon have become formidable; and never did the British
Cabinet display more decision than in instantly preparing to crush it.
They erred, however, in permitting any petty consideration to prevent
them from appointing Nelson to the command. The public properly murmured
at seeing it intrusted to another; and he himself said to Earl St.
Vincent that, circumstanced as he was, this expedition would probably
be the last service that he should ever perform. The earl, in reply,
besought him, for God's sake, not to suffer himself to be carried away
by any sudden impulse.

The season happened to be unusually favourable; so mild a winter had not
been known in the Baltic for many years. When Nelson joined the fleet at
Yarmouth, he found the admiral "a little nervous about dark nights and
fields of ice." "But we must brace up," said he; "these are not times
for nervous systems. I hope we shall give our northern enemies that
hailstorm of bullets which gives our dear country the dominion of the
sea. We have it, and all the devils in the north cannot take it from us,
if our wooden walls have fair play." Before the fleet left Yarmouth, it
was sufficiently known that its destination was against Denmark. Some
Danes, who belonged to the AMAZON frigate, went to Captain Riou, and
telling him what