occasion. This unsuccessful affair was followed by the evacuation of Alexandria; and the British troops were withdrawn from Egypt.

CHAP. XIX.

Remarks on Sir Home Popham's Expedition to South America. Expedition against Denmark. Affairs of the Peninsula.

SIR Home Popham had ever been distinguished as an officer of great ability and talent. He was likewise distinguished by a bold spirit of enterprise; this was particularly evidenced in the expedition which he undertook against Buenos Ayres, with the secret sanction, but not authorized instruction, of the British cabinet. We have adverted to the total disappointment of Sir Home's sanguine views. General Beresford, the commander of the land forces, had acted with profound military judgment, and was peculiarly respected for his conciliatory behaviour to the Spaniards.

General Linieres, from the following letter, which was published in the public prints, appears to have felt deep concern at some treatment which General Beresford had experienced in his passage up the country; it was dated Buenos Ayres, in January, 1807:

"Among all the sad events that have excited my deepest regret and sorrow, since the peace of this continent has been disturbed by the visitation of war, there is none that has given me more exquisite pain than the two atrocious acts which you have acquainted me with. Be assured, Sir, that there is not an individual, possessed of the common sentiments of humanity, that does not participate in the indignation I feel, at enormities of which no one could have been guilty, but an abandoned wretch, inured to the perpetration of the most shocking crimes.

"That all the British officers may be placed in a state of security against such horrid outrages in future, I have given orders to the commandant of hussars, Don Pedro

de Lunez, with a strong detachment of troops, to pursue the assassins, and to concert with the commander on the (Indian) frontiers the proper measures for the prevention of the like horrid scenes; reprobated by honor, by humanity, and by the law of nations. I assure you, Sir, that a conjoint memorial from all that is most respectable among the English chiefs, could not have bad more weight with me than one from Major-general Beresford ; whose humanity, and other virtues, are held in the greater estimation in this colony, that they form a perfect contrast with the conduct of Commodore Popham. The cannonading of Monte Video, though it could not serve any purpose; the sacking of such an open village as Maldonado; and, finally, the exposing of two hundred Spanish prisoners to death, through sufferings and want, without shelter, without water, and without sustenance, on the small island of Lobos; of whom forty, to escape too slow a death, ventured, in order to reach the continent, to commit themselves to the waves of the ocean, on the skins of animals; an enterprise which, dangerous as it was, succeeded:-These things, Sir, in rude and uncultivated minds, have not failed to produce irritation. But I hope that, by the means I have determined to employ, matters will yet be restored to a state of tranquillity. And, that you may be enabled to communicate to me whatever you may think fit, in the most expeditious manner, I have given orders for the establishment of couriers at proper stations, all along the road from Luxom to this place (Buenos Ayres), which shall be at your service at all hours.

"I pray, make my compliments acceptable to Colonel Pack, and to Captain Ogilvie, whose misfortune I deplore. And be assured, Sir, that there is no one who does greater justice to your merit than I do. You would make me happy by letting me know if I could do any thing for you; and if you would dispose of my purse as your own, with the frankness of a brother soldier, you would singularly oblige, Sir,

"Your very humble and obedient servant,

"CHEV. DE Linieres."

Archimedes, when he jumped out of the Bath, and ran through the streets of Syracuse, naked, crying out, "I have found it; I have found it;" did not express greater

emotions of rapture than Sir Home Popham, on the temporary possession of Buenos Ayres and the circular letters he addressed to the British manufacturers, were, assuredly, not dictated by sound policy, but were the effusions of impetuous emotions on the spur of the occasion. The merchants at Lloyd's Coffee-house received, however, the communications of the gallant kuight, with testimonies of high approbation; and the city of London, in common council assembled, voted a valuable sword, both to Sir Home, and to General Beresford. A motion was, however, made by Mr. Waithman, on December 3, 1807, for rescinding the votes of thanks to the former; which he prefaced by a speech, reprobating the conduct of Sir Home, as having deceived the manufacturers of Birmingham, and other trading towns, whom he had led into error, by holding out Buenos Ayres as a market for their commodities, when, in fact, it was not. The motion was, however, rejected by a large majority.

We shall have further occasion to notice some events connected with this unfavorable expedition; but we now turn our attention to circumstances of the greatest importance, which tended to disturb the peace and repose of Europe, owing to the Machiavelian policy of Bonaparte.

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The politics of Denmark had been flagitiously under the controul of French politics: under the insidious pretext of neutrality Denmark was to all intents and poses, an active agent of France. In consequence of some very lenient acts of retaliation adopted by the cabinet of St. James's, very insolent, as well as ill judged, remonstrances were presented by the Danish minister. It was at length deemed expedient to inflict a just chastisement upon that northern power which so long had perfidiously annoyed the interests of Great Britain. The fitting out of the grand armament destined for the passage of the Sound, reflected great credit upon the new administration, as it was fitted out with inviolable secrecy. The naval and military armaments amounted to twenty-seven sail of the line, with vessels of other descriptions, having on board upwards of twenty thousand men. Prior to the sailing of the fleet, Commodore Keats was dispatched to the Great Belt, with peremptory instructions, not to suffer any military force whatever to enter Zealand; and so admirably was this instruction

obeyed, that all communication was cut off between the former place, and the adjacent isle of Funen; and the main land of Holstein, Jutland, and Sleswick: thus was Zealand completely blockaded by a British force. The command of the land forces was given to Lord Viscount Cathcart, while the naval operations were directed by Admiral Gambier While Great Britain thus unsheathed

the sword of justice, she also held out the olive branch of peace to her besotted foe. A negociation was to be acted upon ere the decisive blow was given. Mr. Jackson was appointed the diplomatic minister to the court of Copenhagen on this occasion. This minister was instructed personally, and without delay, to repair to the residence of the Prince Royal, and to acquaint that Prince with an unequivocal declaration of the views and designs of the British court. The ground of his demands, and the ultimatum by which his conduct was to be regulated, was the delivery of the Danish fleet to the British Admiral, to be reserved in possession of his Britannic Majesty, until the termination of the war with France, when it was to be restored to Denmark: and in default of the Prince Royal's compliance, hostilities were immediately to commence against Denmark. Mr. Jackson left England on August 1, 1807, and reached Kiel on the 6th of the same month. Upon his arrival in Holstein, the British minister found a great degree of confusion resulting from an order for all masters of British vessels to quit the port of Tonningen, given by Mr. Thornton, the British minister to the Circle of Lower Saxony, which gave great offence to the Danish government. Mr. Jackson had an interview with Count Bernstorff, the Danish minister at Kiel, prior to his introduction to the Prince Royal. Mr. Jackson executed his mission with firmness, and freely acquainted the Prince, without the least reserve, what measures were resolved upon by the cabinet of Great Britain, in case of his refusal to deliver up the fleet. On the next day the Crown Prince suddenly left Kiel, and repaired to Copenhagen, whither he was followed by Mr. Jackson. On August 12, a day illustrious in the annals of Great Britain, Mr. Jackson arrived, after a journey of great difficulty, at Copenhagen, when he was informed by Count Bernstorff, that his Highness had left Copenhagen, and proceeded to Sleswich. It VOL. II.-31.

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was too evident to perceive the nefarious design of the Prince in thus eluding the British minister, it was on purpose to gain time, and by that means to take precautionary measures to make preparations against the proposed attacks of the English. The British minister, feeling the dignity of his sovereign and his country shamefully trifled with, demanded of Count Bernstorff a categorical answer, either from the Prince by him, or from himself, if authority for that purpose had been delegated to him. This demand was made in so peremptory a manner, that the Danish minister was compelled to relate the truth, which was, that he was only an agent, by whom overtures could be received, and transmitted by him to the Crown Prince. Upon this the negociation was broken off, and Mr. Jackson having received his passports, embarked on board a British frigate. Admiral Gambier, and Lord Cathcart, being apprised of the issue of the negociation, made an immediate arrangement for active operations.

The army landed, without opposition, at the village of Vedbeck, on August 16, and a proclamation was issued by the British commander, explaining to the inhabitants of Zealand, the motives his Britannic Majesty had in view; namely, after a long protracted and fruitless negociation, and deprecating the imperious measures which they found themselves obliged to adopt, yet still they were willing to seize hold of any opportunity which might offer to renew overtures of peace.

The conduct of the Crown Prince of Denmark, a man in no way distinguished for his talents, but most perverted in his principles, now exposed his innocent, unof fending subjects, to all the horrors of war; and the inhabitants of Copenhagen were to be exposed, through his invincible obstinacy, to all the terrors of a tremendous bombardment.

On the eve of September 2, the land batteries erected by the British army, and the bomb and mortar vessels, opened a desolating fire upon Copenhagen: the fire was returned but very feebly from the citadel, and the ramparts of the town. On the following night, the fire from the British batteries was slackened; this arose from

+ See "The Siege of Copenhagen, described by an eye-witneess,'

1806.