This was one of the last questions which Mr Pitt had to debate in his ministerial capacity. The executive council of the kingdom was now on the eve of dissolu tion : the minister and his colleagues, Lord Grenville, Lord Spencer, Mr Windham, and Mr Dundas, having determined to resign. Their avowed reason was, their inability to accomplish the full emancipation of the Irish Catholics. So much had been already granted to that body of men, that Mr Pitt had deemed it unsafe to make further concessions, until the union should be effected. When that measure had been accomplished, every ob stacle in the way of emancipation seemed to be remov ed, but the scruples of his majesty had been opposed to their wishes. Such was the cause of their resignation, held out by ministers to the nation and the parliament ; but the strongest doubts were suggested by many, whether the obvious necessity for attempting to make peace with France, and their conscious inability to con clude favourable terms, had not been weightier motives than the business of the Catholics. A new administra tion was speedily formed, in which Mr Addington was first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exche quer; Lord Hawkesbury and Lord Pelham were secre taries of state ; and the Earl St Vincent first lord of the admiralty. From the number of Mr Pitt's friends, who were left in the subordinate offices of the new adminis tration, and from Mr Pitt's language in parliament, it was suspected that he held unavowedly an influence in their councils. Before his resignation, the house had voted the supplies of the year, which he estimated at forty-two millions.
At the commencement of the year an embargo was laid on all Russian, Danish, and Swedish vessels in the ports of Great Britain ; but the court of Berlin, although a party to the league, was, for particular reasons, treat ed with deference and respect. It was resolved to strike with promptitude, since the combined fleets of the north, had they acted by simultaneous movements, could have collected nearly 80 sail of the line,—a power, which was made mere formidable by the narrowness of their seas, and the dangers of their coasts.
On the I I th of March, a British fleet of 18 line of bat tle ships, with a great number of inferior vessels, sailed from Yarmouth, under the command of Admiral Parker, assisted by Vice-admiral Nelson and Rear-admiral Tot ty. The commanders were instructed to direct their efforts against the capital of the Danish dominions, if our new plenipotentiary Mr Vansittart should fail in de taching Denmark from the hostile alliance. On the 30th of March the British fleet passed the Sound, and anchored five or six miles from the island of Huen. During the passage of the straits, a remote, but ineffec tual cannonade was exchanged with the fortress of Cro nenberg.
Lord Nelson having offered his services for conduct ing the attack, was judiciously entrusted by Admiral Parker with an enterprize worthy of his genius and in trepidity. On the 2d of April, having weighed anchor,
and made the signal for attack with 12 ships of the line, he advanced to force the approaches to Copenhagen, which were defended by eleven floating batteries, a nu merous artillery on the islands of the Crown and Amak, and by a numerous fleet of ships of different sizes, con taining six of the line. Owing to the intricate navigation of the narrow scene of action, three of our chief ships, which were intended to silence the batteries of the crown isles, were prevented from taking the station as signed to them, and although they performed considera ble service, this circumstance considerably diminished the success of the day.
The action began at five minutes past 10 in the morn ing. The British van was led by Captain George Mur ray of the Edgar, and his example of intrepidity was quickly followed by every officer and man in the fleet. After an action of four hours, the fire of the whole Da nish fleet was silenced, and the majority of their vessels were either burnt or taken. As soon as the fire had slackened, and Lord Nelson had perceived that the ships and floating batteries were in his power, although the fire from the islands still continued, he sent a letter to the prince royal of Denmark, addressed to the Danes, the brothers of the Englishmen, in these words :—" Lord Nelson has directions to spare Denmark when no longer resisting ; but if the firing is continued on the part of Denmark, Lord Nelson must be obliged to set on fire the floating batteries he has taken, without having the power of saving the brave men who have defended them." His royal highness immediately sent his adju tant-general on board Lord Nelson's ship to inquire the particular object of sending the flag of truce. The vice admiral's answer was, " Lord Nelson's object in sending the flag of truce was humanity ; he therefore consents that hostilities shall cease, and that the wounded Danes may be taken on shore. Lord Nelson will take his pri soners out of the vessels, and burn or carry off' his prizes, as he shall think fit." Hostilities ceased after this cor respondence, which led first to an armistice, and after wards to a compromise between Britain and Denmark ; the secession of Denmark from the northern league being the primary condition of the treaty. A few days previous to this engagement, the Danish and Swedish islands in the West Indies had been reduced by a squad ron under Admiral Duckworth.
A Swedish fleet left Carlescrona on the 31st of March, but were prevented by contrary winds from joining the Danes. The British admiral arriving before that har bour, required an explicit declaration from the Swedes, with regard to their intentions against Britain. The Swedish admiral Cronstedt, replied in the name of the king, that Sweden would be faithful to her allies, but would listen to equitable proposals from England, if they came through regular plenipotentiaries.