Welsh Journals

116 NOTABLE MEN OF WALES. Chief was persuaded to throw out the signal for discontinuing the engagement. The manner in which Lord Nelson received this signal is very forcibly depicted in Southey's work :—" About this time the signal lieutenant called out that number thirty-nine (the signal for discontinuing the action) was thrown out by the Com¬ mander-in-Chief. Lord Nelson continued to walk the deck, and appeared to take no notice of it. The signal officer met him at the next turn, and asked him if he should repeat it. * No,' he replied, ' acknowledge it.' Presently he called after him to know if the signal for close action was still hoisted ; and being answered in the affirmative, said, ' Mind you keep it so.' He now paced the deck, moving the stump of his lost arm in a manner which always indicated great emotion. 'Do you know,' said he to Mr. Ferguson, ' what is shown on board the Commander- in-Chief? Number thirty-nine!' Mr. Ferguson asked what that meant. ' Why, to leave off action !' Then, shrugging up his shoulders, he repeated the words—* Leave off action ? Now, d------n me if I do! You know, Foley,' turning to the captain, ' I have only one eye—I have a right to be blind sometimes;' and then, putting the glass to his blind eye, in that mood of mind which sports with bitterness, he exclaimed, 41 really do not see the signal!' Presently he exclaimed, *D------n the signal. Keep mine for closer battle flying! That's the way I answer such signals! Nail mine to the mast!'" At 1.30 the fire of the Danes slackened ; and at a little before two it ceased along nearly the whole of the line; but few, if any, of the ships whose flags had been struck could be taken, us they were protected by one of the batteries—that on Amak Island ; and an irregular fire was made by the ships upon the boats as the latter approached. This naturally irritated Lord Nelson, who at one time thought of sending in the fire ships to "burn the surrendered vessels. Before doing so, however, he wrote the celebrated letter to the Crown Prince of Denmark:— "Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson has been commanded to spare Denmark when she no longer resists. The line of defence which covered her shores has struck to the British flag ; but if the firing is continued on the part of Denmark he must set on fire all the prizes that he has taken, without having the power of saving the men who have so nobly defended them. The brave Danes are the brothers, and should never be the enemies of the English." A wafer was then given him, but he ordered a candle to be brought from the cockpit, and sealed the letter with wax, affixing a larger seal than he ordinarily used. " This," said he, " is no time to appear hurried or informal." After having been warmly contested for five hours the action was thus brought to a close. It had been a murderous engage-