±x£v I N T R O D U C T I O N. 
fons to fufpe£t that flic was an Engllih {pf^ 
or at leaft a. tranfport laden with warlike' 
ftorcs for the enemy. Staarlng, who waa 
port- captain, thought it his duty, in that qua- 
lity, to endeavour to obtain certain informa- 
tion on the fubje£b ; and with that view went 
on board his floop, and proceeded to the 
fhip to examine her. This was what the 
Dane had been afraid of. Scarcely was the 
captain in his power when he gave orders to 
weigh anchor, and made preparations for put- 
ting to fea. Staaring, however, fufpeding 
this treachery, had, before he quitted tKe 
iliore, taken precautions to prevent its fuccefs. 
Accordingly, he made from the deck the fignal 
that had been agreed upon ; and the weft bat- 
tery, which he had himfelf caufed to be con- 
ftruded, and which was called by his name, 
immediately opened and began to difcharge its 
guns upon the velTel. In vain did the Dane 
threaten in his wrath, that, unlefs Staaring 
gave a counter-fignal and filenced the battery. 
