In Captain Maurice's letter the Danish force was estimated at 4,000 men, but it does not appear that their numbers exceeded 3,000, including the crews of the gun-vessels. Sixteen hundred men only were landed, and the defence which these made was highly creditable to them. It has therefore been justly said, that "if the British gained honour by their victory, the Danes lost none by their defeat." The unexpected arrival of the Tartar frigate and Sheldrake sloop turned the scale; the Danish gun-boats being unable to cope with that naval force, abandoned the brave troops they had landed as soon as the frigate and sloop were discovered. Before the fleet left England, Sir James received the following letter from his Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick:
Great George Street, London, 6th April 1811.
Sir,
I take the liberty to recommend to your kindness Major Nordenfeldt, who is gone to Germany on private affairs of my family. I imagine that the difficulties he has met with in returning to England are the cause of his having been more than six months absent. If circumstances should allow him to pass from Colberg to this country, I request your interference on his behalf, and that you would have the goodness to communicate to him the inclosed order of Government[12] for landing either at Portsmouth or Yarmouth.
I am, &c.
William, Duke of Brunswick.
To Vice-admiral Sir James Saumarez.
To this letter Sir James wrote the following answer:
St. James's Place, London, 6th April 1811.
Sir,