The most important points to be noticed in this personal discussion, which was preliminary to the actual negotiation, are, first, Nelson's statement of the cause for the presence of the British fleet, and, second, the basis of agreement he proposed.

As regards the former, to a question of the Prince he replied categorically: The fleet is here "to crush a most formidable and unprovoked Coalition against Great Britain." For the second, he said that the only foundation, upon which Sir Hyde Parker could rest his justification for not proceeding to bombardment, would be the total suspension of the treaties with Russia for a fixed time, and the free use of Danish ports and supplies by the British fleet.
These two concessions, it will be observed, by neutralizing Denmark, would remove the threat to British communications, and convert Denmark into an advanced base of operations for the fleet.

Nelson did not have great hope of success in negotiating, for he observed that fear of Russia, not desire for war, was controlling the Prince.

Therefore, had he been commander-in-chief, he would at all risks have pushed on to Revel, and struck the coalition to the heart there.

"I make no scruple," he wrote to St.Vincent after he had procured the armistice, "in saying that I would have been at Revel fourteen days ago.