been started by some of the members, relative to each of the three Powers we should either have to engage, in succession or united, in those seas.  The number of the Russians was, in particular, represented as formidable.  Lord Nelson kept pacing the cabin, mortified at everything that savoured either of alarm or irresolution.  When the above remark was applied to the Swedes, he sharply observed, ’The more numerous the better;’ and when to the Russians, he repeatedly said, ’So much the better, I wish they were twice as many, the easier the victory, depend on it.’  He alluded, as he afterwards explained in private, to the total want of tactique among the Northern fleets; and to his intention, whenever he should bring either the Swedes or Russians to action, of attacking the head of their line, and confusing their movements as much as possible.  He used to say, ’Close with a Frenchman, but out-manoeuvre a Russian.’”

Nelson gave personal supervision to the general work of buoying the Northern Channel.  On the morning of April 1st he made a final examination of the ground in the frigate “Amazon,” commanded by Captain Riou, who fell in the next day’s battle.  Returning at about one in the afternoon, he signalled his division to weigh, and, the wind favoring, the whole passed without accident, the “Amazon” leading.  By nightfall they were again anchored, south of the Middle Ground, not over two miles from that end of the Danish line.  As the anchor dropped, Nelson called out emphatically, “I will fight them the moment I have a fair wind.”  As there were in all thirty-three ships of war, they were crowded together, and, being within shelling distance of the mortars on Amag Island, might have received much harm; but the Danes were too preoccupied with their yet incomplete defences to note that the few shells thrown dropped among their enemies.

“On board the Elephant,” writes Stewart, who with his soldiers had followed Nelson from the “St. George,” “the night of the 1st of April was an important one.  As soon as the fleet was at anchor, the gallant Nelson sat down to table with a large party of his comrades in arms.  He was in the highest spirits, and drank to a leading wind and to the success of the ensuing day.  Captains Foley, Hardy, Freemantle, Riou, Inman, Admiral Graves, his Lordship’s second in command, and a few others to whom he was particularly attached, were of this interesting party; from which every man separated with feelings of admiration for their great leader, and with anxious impatience to follow him to the approaching battle.  The signal to prepare for action had been made early in the evening.  All the captains retired to their respective ships, Riou excepted, who with Lord Nelson and Foley arranged the Order of Battle, and those instructions that were to be issued to each ship on the succeeding day.  These three officers retired between nine and ten to the after-cabin, and drew up those Orders that have been generally published, and which ought to be referred to as the best proof of the arduous nature of the enterprise in which the fleet was about to be engaged.