The Russians had 82 sail of the line and 40 frigates.

Of these there were 47 sail of the line at Cronstadt, Revel, Petersburgh, and Archangel; but the Russian fleet was ill-manned, ill-officered, and ill-equipped.

Such a combination under the influence of France would soon have become formidable; and never did the British Cabinet display more decision than in instantly preparing to crush it.
They erred, however, in permitting any petty consideration to prevent them from appointing Nelson to the command.

The public properly murmured at seeing it intrusted to another; and he himself said to Earl St.
Vincent that, circumstanced as he was, this expedition would probably be the last service that he should ever perform.

The earl, in reply, besought him, for God's sake, not to suffer himself to be carried away by any sudden impulse.
The season happened to be unusually favourable; so mild a winter had not been known in the Baltic for many years.