division of Danish gun-boats, which, during the two preceding days, in conjunction with a battery of 12-pounders and heavy mortars erected at a timber-yard near that extremity of the city, had greatly annoyed the Guards ; all which gun-boats, in a little while, were driven away, with one gun-boat much damaged, and upwards of 30 officers and men killed and wounded, afloat and on shore.

During the 28th, 29th, and 30th, no skirmishing took place between the adverse flotillas ; but on the 31st the Danish prames, gun-boats, crown battery, and floating batteries, again attacked the British batteries at the mill and the advanced squadron : which latter, since the repair of the gun-brigs, had resumed its position off the entrance of the harbour. In this affair the Charles armed transport was blown up by a shell from the Trekronen ; whereby her master (James Moyase), seven of her seamen and two of the Valiant's were killed, and one lieutenant (Henry Nathaniel Rowe), a master's mate (Philip Tomlinson, mortally), and 12 seamen of the Valiant, and seven of the Charles, wounded ; total, 10 killed, and 21 wounded. No other British vessel engaged appears to have sustained any loss. The Danes acknowledged a loss of only one man killed and four wounded.

On the 1st of September, in order to frustrate any attempt to send reinforcements from Stralsund, now in the possession of the French, to Zealand, the former port was declared to be in a state of close blockade, and Commodore Keats was directed to detach a sufficient force to maintain it. On the same day, the army having nearly finished the numerous gun and mortar batteries (48 mortars and howitzers and twenty 24-pounders were mounted) around the city, the two British commanders-in-chief summoned Major-general Peiman to surrender the Danish fleet ; pledging the faith of their government, that the same should be held merely as a deposit, and be restored at a general peace, and that all other captured Danish property should be restored immediately. To this summons the Danish general returned a direct negative, but requested time to send to the king on the subject.

Admiral Gambier and Lord Cathcart refused to consent to this ; and on the 2d, at 7 h. 30 m. P.M.,* all the British batteries opened, and the town was set on fire by the first general flight of shells. The bomb-vessels also threw some shells ; and the fire was returned by the Danes, who, for several days previous, had fired from the walls and outposts, both with cannon and musketry, upon the British advanced posts. The bombardment

*  A singular discrepancy here occurs in the official accounts. Admiral Gambier, in his letter, states that the bombardment commenced " in the morning of that day " (see London Gazette for 1807, p. 1231); Lord Cathcart, and the Danes themselves, at half past seven in the evening.

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