The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-08-24 00:00:00

V

.• •
' VIE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN.

The intelligence that a British fleet was seen off
tit Souud, produced a much more general alarm
in Copenhagen than its actual arrival in our Roads.
Der means of defence were in such a state. Gnat
ws could scarcely hope to resist, much less to repel
an enemy.
There could be no doubt as to the British ships
passing the Sound the moment an opportunity of-
fired, considering how the Dutch Admiral, Opdam,
passed it with his fleet, during ti.e siege of Copen-
hagen. in the years liisS-60. At teat time Cron-
' berg was in possessiou of the Swedes, tney had nu-
merous batteries on their shore, and a considerable
fleet riding in the Sound. Yet ()edam fought his
way through this treble fire, and with the loss of
one ship only, reached the Roads of Copenhagen.
For seven days the Kind proved unfavourable to
the British, during which time our best exertions
were employed in making every possible preparation.
On the morning of March 30th, about seven
o'clock, the thundering peals of Cronberg put an
end to suspense. Very shortly after we could dis-
cern the rapid approach of the enemy's fleet. and.
as the gale was blowing fresh, it soon advanced
within seven or eight miles of the city, where it
anchored. A frigate, lugger, and a brig.got rather
n ; but the battery of the Three Crowns,
and the fire from the block ships, compelled them
to retire. tie magnificence of this speCtacle na-
turally produced various impressions on our minds ;
but, whether favourable, or unfavourable, they
were soon lost in the enthusiasm and unanimity
which pervaded all classes. The question was not
who is the enemy.? but, where is the enemy ? It
was a moment of impending danger; the duty we
owed our country, therefore. inspired us with only
one sentiment. The noble spirit displayed by the
Students at the siege in 16511-60 was• now equally
conspimous in their su.:casors, who, with one hand
end one bean. associated themselves into a corps
of twelve hundred ; while those sons of the Muses,
whom age and infirmity prevented from rallying
round the standard of patrireisno, did all in their
power to encourage and confirm so Laudable an
effort. Cherubs:lain Lindenkrone sent a thousand
dollars to the aid of those Students, whose private
means vitae unequal to .11te expense of tills public
day.
The soneenand of this corps was given to Mr.
De Hatch. Marshal of the Court, who soon placed
it in excellent order.
K. De Larrieten happening to be at Copenhagen,
honoured the Parade with his presence, and was
pleased to. compliment their military skill and pa-
triotic spirit. by saying, " At the head of such brave
youths, I would advance against any enemy."
The first and second days passed quietly over,
but on the morning of April 1, we could perceive
an lumina hustle among the English shipping.—
Some frigates and lighter vessels got under weigh.
and were employed in sounding. Towards even-
ing. twelve sail of the Dine, all the frigates, and most
Of she manse mods. welshed. and, with a northern
beseas. posed Arse. Holhinder Deep. Ad-
aniral Parker. with eight mil of the line, and two
small vessels, preserved his station; while Vice-
Admiral Nelson anchored with his division, beyond
the ire of our outermost ships.
tonjeffuro was now at an end. A change of wind
to the southward would enable Lord Nelson to bear
down with his division, and we anxionsly awaited
the awful moment. Our ships were moored with
four anchors, and manned, indiscriminately. by
people hastily collated for the present exigency ;
all hands had been constantly on the alert, dining
the two former nights—a third was now added to
their fatigue; and when it is considered that these
people were unacquainted with the exei cite of great
guns, that they were all day employed in pradising,
medal! night in watching, the compliment paid them
by M. Bardenfletb, First Lieutenant on board the
Charlene Alaskai in his professional account of the
battle, will not be deemed vain. lie says, 66 The
spirit which animated all hands on board, and not
their actual strength, enabled them to perform what
,they did."
The morning of April the 2d dawned, and the
wind blowing southerly. our Commodore made a
sigoal for the whole line to lay the broadside to the
enemy.
Neither the Citadel, the batteries on the new
Dock-yard, nor those on the Island of Amick,
could render any assistance, from the remote situa-
tion of our line of defence, beyond which the British
fleet lay. Another strong proof may be adduced ;
the shot from the British fleet passed over our block
ships, without material injury to the batteries, and
only one ship, the DenonePk. had a few men wound-
ed with the splinters of a vin shivered by a ball
from the F-nglish.
Bosom sow and so. beds divisions of she Sri.
tish weighed, and our Commodore hoisted his flag
of Defiance from the Daisies'. Admiral Parker, with
thecha.raderistic seal of a British seaman. beat op
against wind and current towards the Battery of the
Three Crowns, ;imposing_ to awe our ships in the
Inner-Roads, while the Hero of the Nile bore right
down on our liue.
The t dear led the British van, advancing in a most
gallant stile against the Prase/igen, which opened
bet fire en thelormer, five minutes after ten. The
regrirs then paured is a broadside. Just as the Ad-
ger was on the tack to take her station, a second
I broadside was discharged from the Proetiesreee, when
the whole of the British line gaining rapidly on
ours. in a few minutes two-thirds of our ships were
in action. As our line was not broken. only one
half of the force on either side was consequently
aimed.
It would be vain in me to touch upon a inkjet%
which has, if I may use the expression. exhausted
the powers of poets and artists. British fortitude
and skill have been so often displayed, that I need
only my, the brave tars on thus occasion scarcely
perceived the signal, before the glory of Albion
shone in all its wonted splendour.
Our foremost ship, the Peeeeesteen was exposed,
during the whole of Baron, to time fate of the
Payteraiise, of tit guns. the Rime, send the Br&
ha.. which two latter ships ran aground at the
pima:nee:neat of the battle; but this misfortune
(as Lord Nelson observed) did not impede the ser-
vice ; the Programers was, at the same time, raked
by the La knifes, of td) guns. and a gun-brig.
The distinaion which Commodore Pitcher, in his I