Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-07-13
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20 LK,S WAR.
F1trec. from the remarks Of the National In.
tell .ge ncer on the causes of tho war:
The pretext, or claim Of right, upon which
" thout any lawful authority waatever-without
any " arrant in the Constitution or IN natural
conventional law-by the right of the
strong over the comparatively weak-the Exc
cutivs kas undertaken this conquest and subju-
CATION of a neighboring Republic, has hardly q
parallel in the modern history of nations. The
case of the bombardinent of Copenhagen and
the seizure OF the Danish fieet by the British
Government comes the nearest to it, but falls
short of 1t, because that had plausible pretext OF
a real necessity arising out of the duty of self
preservation; GIto. Britain being then engaged
in a battle for life with Napoleon in the zenith Of
his power. and having, as she sad. reason to
suppose that Napoleon intended TO obtain pos
session Of tho Danish navy for the purpose Of
matching France with England maritime
power, and thus making himself master Of the
world.
of the odious transaction, the bombar' me 1T
Of Copenhagen, we have already given Baines'
account, but that we find in Bei.hanls memoirs
of George II is so much more clear. being brief
besides, that we think readers " Ill excuse Us
for placing his narrative before them entire, as
follows
Possessed with the alarming suspicion, not
founded on any substantial grounds. that the Sc
cret articles of Tilsit laid tho foundation of 4
maritime combination against Britain, to which
Denmark would be compelled to accede, the
most vigorous measures OF countsraction were
resolved upon. OF this design some int matt on
had been given IN the Kings speech at the CT ose
of the session: and powerful fleet, consisting
Of twentysevsa sail of the line. with the usu al
aecompaniments of frgates and smaller vessels,
had been fitted out, with transports for army
Of twenty thousand men under the command Of
Admiral amber and Lord Cathcart. On the
18th Of August, 1907, Mr.. Jackson, envoy ex-
traordinary to the Court OF Denmark arrived at
~
TO the Prince Regent the motives and npprehen-
sions of the British Governmeu Mt, and TO use cv-
cry argument to induce him to acquiescs in the
necessity Of yielding TO the measure he had TO
propose This no less than the delivery Of
the entire Danish navy into the possession Of
Britain. under solemn engagement to restore
the same at the conclusion of tho war; and to
this demand All instant and categorical answer
required in default of which hostile opera
lions would forthwith commence.
Tho as.onlshnen Mt of the Prince was mex
prossible; but, as not a gun was mounted on the
rampafts OF Cope nhagen, or scarcely any mill
tary force in Zealand, he attempted TO avert the
blow by the most solemn protestations Of ad-
herence to the neu trality which he had uniform
ly protested. But the British minister answered
only by the demand Of passports and was recei-
we'd board The fleet, then at anchor near the
port This drew forth memorable declaration
from the British Government.
Tho army, which landed August l6, soon
Joined by the troops from Stralsund, and the
Danish capital was invested by land and sea. A
considerable military force having by this time
assembled in Zealand, Sir Arthur WELLESLEY was
detached to oppose its progress; and in a sharp
encounter the Danes were defeated with the loss
Of near 200 men, including sixty officers. No
overture being made on the part of the beseigsd,
and no impression produced by the summons
sent by the beselgsrs, the bombardment of the
city commenced, September the ID " it'll such
tremendous effect, as to threaten age neral con-
fagration. The cathedral, many public edifees,
and four hundred private houses were destroyed,
besides a far greater number were materially
damaged with the sacrifice Of nc less than J, 900
lives. The flames were kept up in different pa-
till the evening Of the 9Th, when the com
mander of the garrison, in order to prevent the
contamination of ruin. sent out flag of truce
desiring an armistce. The articles of sure nde r
being speedily settled, the British took posses
sion September y of the city and citadel. The
Danish navy, consisting of eighteen sail OF the
line, exclusive Of frigates and snallcr vessels,
were delivered. under engagement, the
part Of the English commanders, TO evacuate the
isle of Zealand in six weeks. Towards the close
of DC tober the victors returned from their expo
diton and entered the harbor of Portsmouth in
triumph with the captured navy Of Denmark
But this extraordinary spectacle was not hailsC
by any shouts Of graduation. This was yicto
~ which caused no exuitng emotions. The Ions
glores of Britain disdained an association with
such exploit; and the question was pointedly
asked, What words would have been strong
enough to express the national adherence, hat
this been the act of the blood stained tyrant o
France"
We have need TO renn nd our elder reador
OF the sensation which this violence, perpetratee
upon Denmark. produced all over the world, no
of the special adherence in which il Yves held il
this country.