Alexandria Daily Advertiser

Seizure of Copenhagen.

Our formidable expedition in the Baltic has now reached its destination and its object. It appears that a demand was made by Mr. Jackson the British negotiator, of the prince royal of Denmark, the substance of which was as follows. "That in the present state of the continent it was impossible to distinguish any longer, between a neutral and an enemy, but by her becoming an ally or an open foe. That something therefore was required besides an ordinary presumption of the real disposition of every state; and that while the influence of an implacable enemy predominated over every power within his reach, and either checked or converted into immediate hostility every engagement or inclination unfavorable to his interest, it was impossible to consider the ordinary compact of any neutral nation either as a sufficient security for her own independence, or for those who confide in her neutrality. It became the duty of England therefore to discriminate in these circumstances, between rights paramount and invariable binding upon all states, and rights which might be suffered to relax and yield to that state of expediency in which a certain course of measures might involve the existence of a nation.

In this state, therefore, it was dangerous to Great Britain, and therefore ceased to be her duty, to recognise any longer the neutrality of Denmark, without a sufficient pledge; that this pledge was a permission to garrison the fortresses which command the passage of the Sound and the navigation of the Baltic, together with the free use of the Danish ports for her shipping, until such time as the pressure of circumstances ceasing, the exigency on the part of Great Britain should determine."

It is scarcely to be doubted but that the prince royal was somewhat struck with his demand. He is said, however, to have replied with great calmness and intrepidity, "That the course of conduct required of Denmark was not that of a neutral or even of an ally, but of a belligerent. He was bound, therefore, in all sense of dignity, to repel the demand made upon her; and it remained for England to look for her justification to the general judgment of Europe, which would determine on which side the neutrality of the two kingdoms was first violated. Denmark has now no choice but to resist; whilst England had that of honor and a retreat."