e proceeds: "As to his nonsense about victory, His Royal
Highness will not much credit him. I sunk, burnt, captured, or drove
into the harbour, the whole line of defence to the southward of the
Crown Islands. He says he is told that two British ships struck. Why did
he not take possession of them? I took possession of his as fast as they
struck. The reason is clear, that he did not believe it: he must have
known the falsity of the report. He states that the ship in which I had
the honour to hoist my flag fired latterly only single guns. It is true;
for steady and cool were my brave fellows, and did not wish to throw
away a single shot. He seems to exult that I sent on shore a flag of
truce. You know, and His Royal Highness knows, that the guns fired
from the shore could only fire through the Danish ships which had
surrendered; and that, if I fired at the shore, it could only be in the
same manner. God forbid that I should destroy an unresisting Dane! When
they become my prisoners, I become their protector."

This letter was written in terms of great asperity to the Danish
commander. Lindholm replied in a manner every way honourable to himself.
He vindicated the commodore in some points, and excused him in others;
reminding Nelson that every commander-in-chief was liable to receive
incorrect reports. With a natural desire to represent the action in the
most favourable light to Denmark, he took into the comparative strength
of the two parties the ships which were aground, and which could not
get into action; and omitted the Trekroner and the batteries upon Amak
Island. He disclaimed all idea of claiming as a victory, "what, to every
intent and purpose," said he, "was a defeat--but not an inglorious one.
As to your lordship's motive for sending a flag of truce, it never can
be misconstrued and your subsequent conduct has sufficiently shown that
humanity is always the companion of true valour. You have done more: you
have shown yourself a friend to the re-establishment of peace and good
harmony between this country and Great Britain. It is, therefore,
with the sincerest esteem I shall always feel myself attached to
your lordship." Thus handsomely winding up his reply, he soothed and
contented Nelson; who drawing up a memorandum of the comparative force
of the two parties for his own satisfaction, assured Lindholm that,
if the commodore's statement had been in the same manly and honourable
strain, he would have been the last