discovered in their flights of frenzy and fancy that Napoleon intended to take possession by force of the Danish fleet, when, as a matter of fact, he had never shown any indication, by word or thought, of committing an act so unjust and hostile to his own interests.  A strong point in his policy was to keep Denmark on terms of friendly neutrality.  Moreover, he was not, as many writers have said (in loyalty to fashion), an unscrupulous breaker of treaties.  It was an unworthy act of the British Government to send Mr. Jackson as their representative to bully the Danes into giving up their fleet to the British, on the plea that they had learned by reports through various channels what Napoleon’s intentions were.  Count Bernsdorf, to whom Jackson insolently conveyed the nightmare of his Government, very properly raged back at him that “the Danish Government had no such information, and that he was adducing false reports and mere surmises quite unworthy of credit to fill the measure of British injustice in forcing Denmark into a ruinous war.  It was folly to suppose that Napoleon could gain anything by throwing Norway and Denmark into an alliance with England and Sweden.”  Then he adds, with a dignified sense of wrong, “that the Regent knew how to defend his neutrality.”  “It might be possible,” retorts Mr. Jackson, “though appearances are against that supposition, that the Danish Government did not wish to lend itself to hostile views; still, it could not resist France.”  Then Bernsdorf, who has right on his side, said in accents of crushing anger, “So! because you think Napoleon has the intention of wounding us in the tenderest part, you would struggle with him for priority and be the first to do the deed?” “Yes,” responds the distinguished representative of the upholders of the rights of nations, “Great Britain would insist upon a pledge of amity.”  “What pledge,” demands the Count.  “The pledge of uniting the Danish forces to those of Great Britain,” is the reply.

It will be seen that nothing short of vassalism will satisfy the policy laid down by the stupid emancipationists of downtrodden nations, as represented by the impressive effrontery of the noble Jackson.  What a terrible piece of wooden-headed history was the effort to force Denmark to break her neutrality or make war on her!  They seized Zealand, and because the Prince Regent refused to agree to their perfidy, they kept possession of it.  The Prince sent written instructions to burn all the ships and stores, but the messenger was captured and the faithful person to whom the delivery of the document was entrusted swallowed it (i.e. swallowed the instructions).  Copenhagen had been bombarded and practically reduced to destruction by Nelson, who had settled with the Danes on favourable British terms, one of the conditions being that they were to leave with their booty in six weeks.  The Regent subsequently declared war and outwitted the British designs (so it is said) on Zealand.