to General Brune, proposing a capitulation on the basis
of an armistice, or of the free embarkation of his
army. This was agreed to at Alkmaar, on the 18th
of October, and thus ended this memorable expedition,
the most considerable that had been attempted in modern
times up to that period. As the introduction of
foreign troops into England was prohibited by the
Bill of Rights, the Russians were sent to the islands
of Jersey and Guernsey, the season not admitting of
their return home. About 6,000 were quartered
in the latter island, where a disease, contracted
by exposure to the marshy grounds of Holland, carried
off some hundreds, who were buried at the foot of the
hill on which stands Vale Castle, and where their
graves are still to be seen. Their conduct in
Guernsey was at first peaceable and orderly;—the
inhabitants were surprised at seeing them eat the grease
from the cart wheels, and they were also excessively
fond of ardent spirits; and, having plenty of money,
they indulged in them freely, swallowing large draughts
in a raw state. But in June, 1800, while the transports
were in the roads to convey them to Russia, a soldier,
who was robbing vegetables on a small farm, which
had been frequently plundered by his comrades before,
was fired at and wounded by the proprietor. This
so exasperated the whole body, that fears were entertained
of their revenging themselves on the inhabitants generally;
and as the British garrison was very small, it required
all the tact and conciliation of the lieutenant-governor,
Sir Hew Dalrymple, to prevent an outbreak. The
Russians embarked, but the guns at Castle Cornet were
kept shotted to prevent their relanding.[13] The 49th,
on the return of the expedition from Holland, after
remaining a short time in England, was again quartered
in Jersey, where the fine person and manly bearing
of Lieut.-Colonel Brock are still favorably remembered.
In return for the many attentions which he and his
officers received in that island, he obtained an ensigncy
in his own regiment for a young man resident there,
whom he afterwards pushed forward in the service, and
who died recently a major-general and a companion
of the bath. Early in the year 1801, the 49th
was embarked in the fleet destined for the Baltic,
under Sir Hyde Parker; and Lieut.-Colonel Brock was
second in command of the land forces at the memorable
attack of Copenhagen, by Lord Nelson, on the 2d of
April. He was appointed to lead the 49th in storming
the principal of the Treckroner batteries, in conjunction
with five hundred seamen, under Captain Fremantle,[14]
of the Ganges, of 74 guns; but the protracted and
heroic defence of the Danes rendering the attempt impracticable,
Colonel Brock, during the hard-fought battle, remained
on board the Ganges; and at its close he accompanied
Captain Fremantle to the Elephant, 74, Nelson’s
flag ship, where he saw the hero[15] write his celebrated
letter to the Crown Prince of Denmark. Savery
Brock was also on board the Ganges, and while in the