Chapter XIII: Events of 1801

BRITISH EXPEDITION TO THE BALTIC.—BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN.—BONAPARTE'S
FUTILE ATTEMPTS TO CONTEST CONTROL OF THE SEA.—HIS CONTINENTAL
POLICY.—PRELIMINARIES OF PEACE WITH GREAT BRITAIN, OCTOBER,
1801.—INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER, SO FAR, ON THE COURSE OF THE
REVOLUTION.

Isolation of Great Britain in Europe, in 1801 41

Expedition to the Baltic planned 41

Instructions to Sir Hyde Parker, commander-in-chief 42

Nelson second in command 42

The fleet sails 42

Nelson's plan of operations 43

The military situation, strategic and tactical 44

Characteristics of Nelson's military genius 45

Denmark's relation to the league of the northern States 46

Half measures of Sir Hyde Parker 47

Nelson advances against Copenhagen 47

Battle of Copenhagen 48

Results of the battle 51

Nelson's negotiations with the Danish government 51

Armistice concluded with Denmark 51

Assassination of the Czar Paul I. 51

Merits of Nelson's conduct in the Baltic 52

British embargo upon merchant ships of the Baltic powers 53

Resulting retaliatory action of Prussia 54

Inherent weakness of the Northern League 55

Conciliatory action of the new Czar 55

Sir Hyde Parker relieved from command 56

Nelson takes the British fleet to Revel 56

His action rebuked by the Czar 57

Convention between Great Britain and Russia 57

Dissolution of the Armed Neutrality 57

Nature of the claims maintained by it 58

Bonaparte's proceedings in the Italian and Spanish peninsulas 59

Failure of his maritime projects for the relief of Malta and Egypt 60

His attempt to collect a naval force in Cadiz 63

Naval battle of Algesiras, and its consequences 64

Strategic significance of these events 65

Cession of Louisiana by Spain to France 67

Bonaparte's intended occupation of Portugal frustrated 67

His diplomatic dilemma in the summer of 1801 68

Coolness towards him of Russia and Prussia 69

Triumphant influence of the British Sea Power 69

Preliminaries of Peace between Great Britain and France 70

Terms of the preliminaries signed at London, October, 1801 71

Cessation of hostilities 72

Criticism of the terms by the British Opposition 72

Influence of Sea Power upon the course of the Revolution 74

Pitt's opinions 75