The reason is clear, that he did not believe it: he must have known the falsity of the report.

He states that the ship in which I had the honour to hoist my flag fired latterly only single guns.

It is true; for steady and cool were my brave fellows, and did not wish to throw away a single shot.

He seems to exult that I sent on shore a flag of truce.

You know, and His Royal Highness knows, that the guns fired from the shore could only fire through the Danish ships which had surrendered; and that, if I fired at the shore, it could only be in the same manner.