Paul's death ends the diplomatic crisis

The League was tied so closely to Paul I that news of his assassination gave Denmark room to negotiate without openly rupturing relations with Russia. During the talks, Danish officials sometimes spoke French on the assumption that British officers could not follow them, only to find that Nelson understood the language. A settlement was reached, after which Parker sailed toward Karlskrona and induced the Swedish fleet to return to port. His reluctance to push farther into the eastern Baltic led Britain to recall him with honour and transfer command to Nelson. Nelson's handling of the Danish truce had also shown that he could conduct the diplomacy needed to finish the campaign. He then advanced to Reval while leaving ships to watch Sweden. By the time he arrived, the thawed Russian fleet had departed for Kronstadt and negotiations to end the League were already under way, making further action unnecessary.