[20] The author is indebted for this anecdote to Mrs. F.H.B. Eccles, of
Sherwell House, Plymouth, the daughter of the "little Fan" who told it.

[21] Morrison. The Hamilton and Nelson Papers, Nos. 777, 778, 779.




CHAPTER XVI.

THE EXPEDITION TO THE BALTIC AND BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN.--NELSON RETURNS
TO ENGLAND.

FEBRUARY--JUNE, 1801. AGE, 42.


The trouble between Great Britain and Denmark, which now called Nelson
again to the front, leading to the most difficult of his undertakings,
and, consequently, to the most distinguished of his achievements,
arose about the maritime rights of neutrals and belligerents. The
contention was not new. In 1780 the Baltic States, Russia, Sweden, and
Denmark, being neutrals in the war then raging, had combined to
assert, by arms, if necessary, certain claims advanced by them to
immunity from practices which international law had hitherto
sanctioned, or concerning which it had spoken ambiguously. These
claims Great Britain had rejected, as contrary to her rights and
interests; but, being then greatly outnumbered, she temporized until
the end of the war, which left her in possession of the principles at
stake, although she had forborne to enforce them offensively. The