A soldier-like and becoming answer was returned to this formality.

The governor said that the British minister had not been sent away from Copenhagen, but had obtained a passport at his own demand.

He himself, as a soldier, could not meddle with politics; but he was not at liberty to suffer a fleet, of which the intention was not yet known, to approach the guns of the castle which he had the honour to command: and he requested, "if the British admiral should think proper to make any proposals to the King of Denmark, that he might be apprised of it before the fleet approached nearer." During this intercourse, a Dane, who came on board the commander's ship, having occasion to express his business in writing, found the pen blunt; and, holding it up, sarcastically said, "If your guns are not better pointed than your pens, you will make little impression on Copenhagen!" On that day intelligence reached the admiral of the loss of one of his fleet, the INVINCIBLE, seventy-four, wrecked on a sand-bank, as she was coming out of Yarmouth: four hundred of her men perished in her.

Nelson, who was now appointed to lead the van, shifted his flag to the ELEPHANT, Captain Foley--a lighter ship than the ST.

GEORGE, and, therefore, fitter for the expected operations.