[COPENHAGEN, 1801.]

Plan and disposition of the Danish force, moored for the defence of the city of Copenhagen, with the British squadron, placed under the command of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson and Bronte, by Sir Hyde Parker, commander in chief; with their situation when at anchor, prior and during the action of the 2nd of April, 1801.

London, John Brydon, 21 April 1801. 490 x 610 mm, etching, with original wash colour; letterpress text below; edges untrimmed; sometime folded; small crease in upper margin. A striking prospect of the action off Copenhagen, showing the British squadron under Nelson in the foreground and Copenhagen in the distance. Each ship of the line, frigate, gunboat, and battery is listed in a number key in the letterpress text. This also comprises Sir Hyde Parker’s account to the Admiralty, including his correspondence with Stricker (the Danish governor), Nelson’s account of the battle and a list of killed and wounded.The attack on Copenhagen was decided upon to prevent Denmark from joining the Armed Neutrality, which threatened Britain’s access to the Baltic and its vital shipbuilding materials and stores. Unlike other Nelson battles, the objective was not to destroy the enemy but to manoeuvre gunboats into a position from where they could threaten the city and thus force the Danish to negotiate. This was successfully achieved on the 2 August 1801 by Nelson’s squadron, who then negotiated a truce in which Denmark would delay any action until the Baltic had been secured through the elimination of the Russian threat. With the assassination of Tsar Paul and the accession of Alexander to the Russian throne, this proved unnecessary as the latter was better disposed towards the British. The action, nevertheless, highlighted Nelson’s skills not only as a naval commander but also as a diplomat.Brydon published another plan of the action, titled ‘Plan of the battle of Copenhagen’, on 20 May 1801.One copy found in COPAC, at the British Library.

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