§ I.—PROCLAMATION.—By the Commanders in Chief of His Majesty's Forces by Sea and by Land.
§ Whereas the present treaties of peace, and the changes of government, and of territory acceded to, and by so many powers, have so far increased the influence of France on the continent of Europe, as to render it impossible for Denmark, though it desires to be neutral, to preserve its neutrality; and absolutely necessary for those who continue to resist the French aggression, to take measures to prevent the arms of a neutral power from being turned against them.—In this view, the king cannot regard the present position of Denmark with indifference; and his majesty has sent negotiators, with 222 ample powers, to his Danish majesty, to request, in the most amicable manner, such explanations as the times require, and a concurrence in such measures; as can alone give security against the further mischiefs which the French meditate through the acquisition of the Danish navy.—The king, our royal and most gracious master, has therefore judged it expedient to desire the temporary deposit of the Danish ships of the line in one of his majesty's ports.—This deposit seems to be so just, and so indispensably necessary, under the relative circumstances of the neutral and belligerent powers, that his majesty has further deemed it a duty to himself; and to his people, to support his demand by a powerful fleet, and by an army amply supplied with every preparation necessary for the most active and determined enterprise.—We come therefore to your shores, inhabitants of Zealand! not as enemies, but in self-defence, to prevent those who have so long disturbed the peace of Europe, from compelling the force of your navy to be turned against us.—We ask deposit; we have not looked to capture; so far from it, the most solemn pledge has been offered to your government, and it is hereby renewed, in the name and at the express command of the king our master, that if our demand is amicably acceded to, every ship belonging to Denmark shall, at the conclusion of a general peace, be restored to her, in the same condition and state of equipment, as when received under the protection of the British flag.—It is in the power of your government, by a word, to sheath our swords, most reluctantly drawn against you; but if, on the other hand, the machinations of France render you deaf to the voice of reason, and to the call of friendship, the innocent blood that will be spilt, and the horrors of a besieged and bombarded capital, must fall on your own heads, and on those of your cruel advisers.—His majesty's seamen and soldiers, when on shore, will treat Zealand, as long as your conduct to them permits it, on the footing of a province of the most friendly power in alliance with Great Britain, whose territory has the misfortune to be the theatre of war.—The persons of all those who remain at home, and who do not take an hostile part, will be held sacred.—Property will be respected and preserved, and the most severe discipline will be enforced.—Every article of supply furnished or brought to, market will 223 be paid for at a fair and settled price; but as immediate and constant supplies, especially of provision, forage, fuel, and transport, are necessary to all armies, it is well known that requisitions are unavoidable, and must be enforced.—Much convenience must arise to the inhabitants, and much confusion and loss to them will be prevented, if persons in authority are found in the several districts, to whom requisitions may be addressed, and through whom claims for payment may be settled and liquidated.—If such persons are appointed, and discharge their duty without meddling in matters which do not concern them, they shall be respected, and all requisitions shall be addressed to them through the proper channels and departments of the navy and army; but as forbearance on the part of the inhabitants is essential to the principle of these arrangements, it is necessary that all manner of civil persons should remain at their respective habitations; and any peasants or other persons found in arms singly or in small troops, or who may be guilty of any act of violence, must expect to be treated with rigour.—The government of his Danish majesty having hitherto refused to treat this matter in an amicable way, part of the army has been disembarked, and the whole force has assumed a warlike attitude; but it is, as yet, not too late for the voice of reason and moderation to be heard. Given in the Sound, under our hands and seals, this 16th day of Aug. 1807. (Signed) JAMES GAMBIER. CATHCART.
§ II—In Adm. Gambier's, Aug. 20, 1807.
§ Hostilities having commenced on the part of the English, I hereby declare, in virtue of the highest authority, that all English property be laid under sequestration; which each and every one is accordingly enjoined, to report the English property of what kind or nature soever to the police, who will make the further necessary arrangements: any one who conceals or does not fulfil this Order, will be considered as a traitor to the country. (Signed) PEYMAN. Copenhagen, Aug. 16, 1807.
§ III.—To his Excellency General Peyman, Commander in Chief of the Danish Land Forces. Dated, British Head Quarters before Copenhagen, Sept. 1, 1807.
§ Sir; We, the commanders in chief of his majesty's sea and land forces now before Copenhagen, judge it expedient, at this time, to summon you to surrender the 224 place, for the purpose of avoiding the further effusion of blood, by giving up a defence, which it is evident cannot long be continued.—The king, our gracious master, used every endeavour to settle the matter now in dispute, in the most conciliating manner, through his diplomatic servants.—To convince his Danish majesty and all the world, of the reluctance with which his majesty finds himself compelled to have recourse to arms, we, the undersigned, at this moment, when our troops are before your gates, and out batteries ready to open, do renew to you the offer of the same advantageous and conciliating terms, which were proposed through his majesty's ministers to your court.—If you will consent to deliver up the Danish fleet, and to our carrying it away, it shall be held in deposit for his Danish majesty, and shall be restored, with all its equipments, in as good state as it is received, as soon as the provisions of a general peace shall remove the necessity which has occasioned this demand.—The property, of all sorts, which has been captured since the commencement of hostilities, will be restored to its owners; and the union between the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Denmark, may be renewed.—But, if this offer is rejected now, it cannot be repeated. The captured property, public and private, must then belong to the captors; and the city, when taken, must share the fate of conquered places.—We must request an early decision; because in the present advanced position of the troops, so near your glacis, the most prompt and vigorous attack is indispensable, and delay would be improper. We therefore expect to receive your decision by this evening. We have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) JAMES GAMBIER, admiral of the blue, and com. in chief of his majesty's ships and vessels. CATHCART, lieut. general, &c.
§ IV.—To his Excellency Adm. James Gambier, Lord Cathcart, Comrs. In Chief of the British Sea and Land Forces. Dated Copenhagen, Sept. 1, 1807.
§ My lord; Our fleet, our own indisputable property, we are convinced is as safe in his Danish majesty's hands as ever it can be in those of the king of England, as our master never intended hostilities against yours.—If you are cruel enough to endeavour to destroy a city, that has not given any the least cause to such a treatment at your hands, it must submit 225 to its fate; but honour and duty bid us reject a proposal unbecoming an independent power; and we are resolved to repel every attack, and defend to the utmost the city, and our good cause; for which we are ready to lay down our lives.—The only proposal in my power to make, in order to prevent further effusion of blood, is, to send to my royal master, for learning his final resolution with respect to the contents t f your letter, if you will grant a passport for this purpose.—I am, &c. PEIMANN.
§ V.—To his Excellency General Peimann, &c. Dated Head Quarters before Copenhagen, Sep. 2, 1807.
§ Sir; It is with great regret that we acquaint you, that it is not in our power to suspend our combined operations, during the time necessary for consulting your government: we having done the utmost within the limits of our authority, in offering to you at this moment terms as advantageous as those which were proposed to prevent a rupture.—We shall deeply lament the destruction of the city, if it is injured; but we have the satisfaction to reflect that in having renewed to you, for the last time, the offer of the most advantageous and conciliating terms, we have done our utmost to save the effusion of blood, and prevent the horrors of war. We have the honour to be, &c. JAMES GAMBIER, admiral, &c. CATHCART, It. gen. &c.
§ A.—To the Commanders in Chief of the, British Sea and Land Forces. Dated Copenhagen, Sept. 5, 1807.
§ My lords; For preventing further effusion of blood, and not exposing the city to the sad consequences of a longer bombardment, I propose an Armistice of four-and-twenty hours; in order to come to an Agreement that may lead to the settling of the Preliminary Articles of a Capitulation. It is with the highest personal consideration, I have, &c. PEIMANN.
§ To his Excellency Major Gen. Peimann. Dated Head Quarters before Copenhagen, Sept. 5, 1807.
§ Sir; The same necessity which has obliged us to have recourse to arms in the present occasion, compels me to decline any overture which might be productive of delay only. But to prove to you my of ardent desire to put an end to scenes, which I behold with the greatest grief, I send an officer who is authorized to receive any Proposal you may be inclined 226 to make, relative to the Articles of Capitulation, and upon which it may be possible for me to agree to any, even the shortest Armistice. I have, &c. CATHCART, lieut. general.
§ B.—To Lord Cathcart, Commander in Chief of the British Forces. Dated Copenhagen, Sept. 5, 1807.
§ My lord; The Proposal has been made without any the least dilatory intention; but the night being too far advanced for deliberating upon a matter of such very high importance, with the respective departments, a measure necessary on account of his majesty's absence, and that of the Prince; and my state of health not permitting me to proceed as expeditiously as I wish, I engage to send to-morrow before 12 o'clock, the Articles relative to the Capitulation: and have in the mean time the honour to be, &c. PEIMANN.
§ To his Excellency Maj. General Peimann, &c. Dated Head Quarters before Copenhagen, Sept. 6, 1807.
§ Sir; having communicated to admiral Gambier your letter received this morning, together with those of last night, I have to acquaint you, that we will consent to treating with you for the Capitulation of Copenhagen, on the basis of your delivering up the Danish Fleet. But as you have not forwarded Articles of Capitulation, officers of rank in the sea and land service of his majesty shall be sent forthwith, to prepare Articles with you or with the officers you may appoint, and which may, if possible, unite the, objects you have in view, in regard to the occupation of Copenhagen, with the performance of the service intrusted to us. I have &c. CATHCART, lieut. gen.
§ C.—To Lord Cathcart, Commander in Chief of the British Troops. Dated Copenhagen, Sept. 6, 1807.
§ My lord; I accept of your Proposal, with respect to the delivering up of his majesty's Fleet, as the fundamental basis of negotiations; but with this proviso, that no other English troops enter the city, than those commissaries, officers, and military men, who shall be stipulated and agreed on, in the course of the said negotiations. I have &c. PEIMANN.
§ D.—To Lord Cathcart, Commander in Chief of the British Troops. Dated Copenhagen, Sept. 6, 1807.
§ My lord; As soon as you shall be pleased to appoint a neutral place out of the town where to meet on both sides, for regulating the Articles of Capitulation, 227 officers provided with full powers for negociating, shall be sent; and in the interim, the Armistice is considered as subsisting, till contrary orders shall be given. I have, &c. PEIMANN.
§ To his Excellency Major General Peimann. Dated Head Quarters before Copenhagen, Sept. 6, 1807.
§ Sir; The officers appointed to treat with you, are major general the right hon. sir A. Wellesley, k. b. sir Home Popham, captain of the fleet, and lieut. col. Murray, deputy quarter master general of the army. These officers are waiting at the barrier, and will meet the officers named by you, at any place you may appoint for immediate discussion, between our advanced posts and your lines. Orders were given to desist from the bombardment, and to cease firing, the moment your first letter was received; but there has been no Armistice concluded; a proof of which is, that a house in the suburbs has been set on fire within these few minutes, by your people, close to our centinels. As we have already stated, more than once, we can admit of no delay in this business, and therefore it will immediately appear whether the Articles proposed, are of such a nature as to warrant an Armistice. I have the honour to be, &c. CATHCART, lieut. general.
§ CAPITULATION.—ArtiCles of capitulation for the town and citadel of Copenhagen; agreed upon between major general the right hon. sir Arthur Wellesley, k. b. sir Home Popham, knight of Malta, and captain of the fleet; and lieut. col. George Murray, deputy quarter-master general of the British Forces; being thereto duly authorized by James Gambier, esq. admiral of the blue, and commander in chief of his Britannic majesty's ships and vessels in the Baltic; and by lieut. general the right hon. lord Cathcart, knight of the thistle, commander in chief of his Britannic majesty's Forces in Zealand, and the north of the continent of Europe, on the one part: And by major general Waltasdorff, knight of the order of Danebroze, chamberlain to the king, and col. of the North Zealand regiment of infantry; rear admiral Letken, and J. H. Kirkhoff, aid-de-camp to his Danish majesty; being duly authorised by his excellency major general Peimann, knight of the order of Danebroze, and commander in chief of his Danish majesty's Forces in 228 the island of Zealand, on the other part.
§ Article I. When this Capitulation shall be signed and ratified, the troops of his Britannic majesty are to be put in possession of the citadel.—II. A guard of his Britannic majesty's troops shall likewise he placed in the Dock Yard.—III. The Ships and Vessels of war of every description, with all the Naval Stores belonging to his Danish majesty, shall be delivered into the charge of such persons as may be appointed by the commanders in chief of his Britannic majesty's forces, and they are to be put in immediate possession of the Dock Yards, and all the buildings and storehouses belonging thereto.—IV. The Store Ships and Transports in the service of his Britannic majesty, are to be allowed if necessary to come into the harbour, for the purpose of embarking such stores and troops as they have brought in to this island.—V. As soon as the ships have been removed from the Dock Yards, or within six weeks from the date of this Capitulation, or sooner if possible, the troops of his Britannic majesty shall deliver up the citadel to the troops of his Danish majesty, in the state in which it will be found when they shall occupy it; his Britannic majesty's troops shall likewise within the before-mentioned time, or sooner if possible, be embarked from the island of Zealand.—VI. From the date of this Capitulation, hostilities shall cease throughout the island of Zealand.—VII. No person whatsoever shall be molested, and all property public or private, with the exception of the Ships and Vessels of War, and the Naval Stores before-mentioned belonging a to his Danish majesty, shall be respected; and all civil and military officers in the service of his Danish majesty, shall continue in the full exercise of their authority throughout the island of Zealand: and every thing shall be done which can tend to produce union and harmony between the two nations.—VIII. All Prisoners taken on both sides, shall be unconditionally restored; and those officers who are prisoners on parole, shall be released from its effects.—IX. Any English Property that may have been sequestered in consequence of the existing hostilities, shall be restored to the owners. This Capitulation shall be ratified by the respective commanders in chief, and the ratifications shall be exchanged before 12 o'clock at noon this day. Done at Copenhagen, this 7th day of Sept. 1807. (Signed) ARTHUR WELLESLEY, HOME POP- 229 HAM, GEORGE MURRAY.—(Signé) ERNST FREDRICK WALTASDORFF, O. LIETKEN, J. H. KIRCHHORFF, Ratified by me PEIMANN.
§ Copy of a Letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Viscount Castlereagh. Dated Admiralty Office, 30th January, 1808.
§ My lord; Having in compliance with the desire expressed in your lordships letter of the 28th instant, called upon admiral lord Gambier, to report in writing the information which his lordship had given verbally to his majesty's ministers, with respect to the state of preparation and equipment in which the Danish Navy was found on the surrender of Copenhagen; we transmit to your lordship a copy of the Report we have revceived from the admiral on the subject. And we are &c. R. BICKERTON, W. J. HOPE, JAS. BULLER.
§ To the Hon. WW. Pole, &c. dated Admiralty Office, 2Sth Jan. 1808.
§ Sir; In answer to your letter of this day's date, I have to acquaint you, that upon taking possession of the Arsenal at Copenhagen, the Fleet was found in such a state, that it could be equipped and sent to sea in a very short time; most of the ships were in condition for service, their lower masts were in, the top-masts, yards, rigging, sails, guns, and stores of every description, were so arranged in the arsenal, and in compartments in the store-houses, that they could be put on board on the shortest notice; there was no one article wanting which was necessary for their equipment, and it is certain that the Fleet could have been completely ready for sea in three weeks, or a month at most, as in a shorter space of time 16 sail of the line, 14 frigates of different classes, 8 sloops, and 2 smaller vessels, were fitted ready to be navigated to England, by the seamen of the Fleet under my command, with the assistance of some troops. There cannot be a stronger proof of the good condition of the Danish ships, than their having been brought to England, through much tempestuous weather, without suffering in their hulks in the least degree. I am &c. GAMBIER.