When Captain Domett was thus apprised of it, he felt it his duty to represent to the admiral his belief that if that course were persevered in, the ultimate object would be totally defeated: it was liable to long delays, and to accidents of ships grounding; in the whole fleet there were only one captain and one pilot who knew anything of this formidable passage (as it was then deemed), and their knowledge was very slight--their instructions did not authorise them to attempt it.

Supposing them safe through the Belts, the heavy ships could not come over the GROUNDS to attack Copenhagen; and light vessels would have no effect on such a line of defence as had been prepared against them.

Domett urged these reasons so forcibly that Sir Hyde's opinion was shaken, and he consented to bring the fleet to and send for Nelson on board.

There can be little doubt but that the expedition would have failed if Captain Domett had not thus timeously and earnestly given his advice.

Nelson entirely agreed with him; and it was finally determined to take the passage of the Sound, and the fleet returned to its former anchorage.
The next day was more idly expended in despatching a flag of truce to the governor of Cronenburg Castle, to ask whether he had received orders to fire at the British fleet; as the admiral must consider the first gun to be a declaration of war on the part of Denmark.