377 transports, measuring 78420 tons, and conveying about 27000 troops, more than half of them Germans in British pay.

It appears that Mr. Jackson, the British plenipotentiary to the court of Denmark, had his first interview with the crown prince at Kiel in Holstein. To the former's demand on the subject of the Danish fleet, the latter returned such a reply as might be expected, * and, despatching an estafette to Copenhagen, with orders to put the city in the best possible state of defence, proceeded thither himself. On the 10th in the evening, the courier reached Copenhagen, and early on the following morning the work of preparation began. At noon the prince arrived, and by his presence gave an additional impetus to the exertions of his subjects. On the 12th his Danish majesty quitted Copenhagen for Colding in Jutland, leaving the defence of the city to the care of Major-general Peiman. The regular force at this time in the city and suburbs of Copenhagen, of which the population, in the preceding March, was estimated at upwards of 100,000 souls, has been variously stated at from 3000 to 10,000 men ; but the account that appears to be the most worthy of credit makes the number, including an organized militia-force of 2000 men, 5510. These were exclusive of sailors, and of 3600 armed citizens ; so that the whole force, regular and irregular, amounted probably to 12,000 men. The main Danish army, of more than double that amount, was encamped in Holstein.

The sea-defence of the port consisted of the Trekronen pile-battery, situated at the distance of 2000 yards, in a north-east by north direction from the entrance of the harbour (which runs like a canal through the centre of the town), and mounting 68 guns besides mortars, a pile-battery in advance of the citadel, mounting 36 guns and nine mortars, the citadel itself mounting 20 guns and three or four mortars, and the holm or arsenal battery, mounting 50 guns and 12 mortars ; total 174 guns and 25 mortars, the guns long 36 and 24 pounders (Danish), and the mortars the largest in use.

There were also, around the Trekronen and in front of the harbour, the blockship Mars, of 64 guns, and the prame St. Thomas, of 22, also three 20-gun prames (24-pounders), two floating batteries, and from 25 to 30 gun-boats, each of the latter mounting two heavy long-guns. The fleet in the arsenal consisted of 6 sail of the line and 21 frigates and sloops afloat, but not in a serviceable state, besides three 74-gun ships on the stocks, one early finished. Two sail of the line, the Prindts-Christian-Frederic 74, Captain Jessen, and Princessen-Louisa-Augusta 64, Captain Sneedorf lay in ports of Norway ; the one at Christiansand, the other at Frederickswaern.

On the night of the 12th the Frederickscoarn frigate, at anchor

*  No official account was published of the result of this interview, and, of the private accounts, scarcely two agree.

^ back to top ^