the Helder, into which had been thrown a garrison of two thousand men, in consequence of its being menaced with an assault on the part of Sir Ralph Abercrombie. When the ships stationed before this important fortress withdrew to the Nieuve Dicp, a secret communication having been previously opened with their commander, nine of them, together with three Indiamen, immediately surrendered.† * In consequence of the meditated attack on this fortress, a detachment of British seamen was sent on shore to assist in dragging the artillery. The following anecdote relative to one of these, is well known to many of the officers who served in Holland: A grenadier having dropped, Jack immediately started from his gun, and examining the body, declared he was a dead man; and as he had belonged to the covering party that protected them, and consequently died in his defence, by G- he would take his place. He accordingly stripped off the belt, tied on the cartouch-box, and seizing the firelock, discharged his piece six different times, with such an unerring aim, as to wound six of the enemy. At length, as he was preparing for another shot, he himself received a ball through his knee-pan, and was carried on board the hospitalship to have his leg amputated. Soon after this operation, and while in a convalescent state, he was told by one of his officers that he would be tried for desertion, having left his post as a seaman, and acted as a soldier. "But," replied this brave unfortunate fellow, " I killed six of the enemy.""That may be," rejoined the lieutenant; "you, however, as you well know, flew from your quarters.” "Egad, I never thought of that," said he, "but if his honour the captain will forgive me this once, I am determined to kill no more Frenchmen on land." + Here follows a list of the Dutch men of war, &c. obtained upon this occasion. 1. Urwachten, Guns 66 2. Bro Having readily obtained pilots, and all the necessary information at the Helder, Vice-Admiral Mitchell determined to sail in quest of the remainder of the squadron, which he threatened to follow "to the walls of Amsterdam." He, at the same time, conjured the officers and crews to avoid the effusion of human blood, by an immediate surrender, either to the British, or to the Prince of Orange, whose flag they would be permitted to bear. To give greater effect to his proceedings, at five o'clock in the morning of August the 30th, he formed the following line of battle, by way of exhibiting the strength of the squadron under his command. A signal for action having been hoisted, the English Vice-Admiral set sail; but two ships and a frigate, in consequence of the intricacy of the navigation, got aground. Notwithstanding this, he entered the Mars Diep, and continued his course in the Vieiter Channel along the Texel. Having by this time drawn near to the Dutch fleet, then at anchor at the Red Buoy, he dispatched Captain Reinnie with the following letter, containing a peremptory summons: "Isis, under sail, in line of battle, August 30th. . Sir, "I desire you will instantly hoist the flag of his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange. If you do, you will be immediately considered friends of the King of Great Britain, my mest gracious sovereign; otherwise take the consequences. Painful it will be to me for the loss of blood it may occasion, but the guilt will be on your own head. "I have the honour to be, Sir, "Your most obedient humble servant, "To Rear-Admiral Storey, or the Commander in Chief of the Dutch squadron." "ANDREW MITCHELL, Vice-Admiral, and Commander of his Majesty's ships employed on the present expedition." The The following is a copy of the answer received: "On board the Washington, anchored under the Vleiter, 30th August. "ADMIRAL, "Neither your superiority, nor the threat that the spilling of human blood shall be laid to my account, could prevent my shewing to you, to the last moment, what I could do for my sovereign, whom I acknowledge to be no other than the Batavian people and its representatives; but, unfortunately, your prince's and the Orange flags have obtained their end. "The traitors whom I commanded refused to fight; and nothing remains to me and my brave officers but vain rage, and the dreadful reflection of our present situation: I therefore deliver over to you the fleet which I commanded. From this moment an obliga tion lies on you to provide for the safety of my officers and the few brave men who are on board the Batavian ships, as I declare myself and my officers prisoners of war, and remain to be considered as such. "I am with respect, "To Admiral MITCHELL, Commanding his Britannic Majesty's squadron in the Texel." "S. STOREY." Two officers, who had been intrusted with this dispatch, earnestly entreated the English commander to anchor within sight of the enemy; and that being complied with, the fleet, which had been for some time in a state of mutiny, surrendered. This important acquisition consisted of one ship of seventyfour guns, four of sixty-eight, two of fifty-four, two of forty-four guns, a frigate, and a sloop of war; in all eleven sail. Such a loss by sea could scarcely be compensated by any success on land; but to add to their misfortunes, the Dutch forces, at the same time, were obliged to retreat with the same rapidity that the English advanced. On the arrival, however, of Ge1805-1806. Nn neral neral Brune with a considerable body of troops, a new spirit was infused into this torpid people, and "the shades of Van Tromp, De Wit, De Ruyter, and Barneveld, were invoked (and, unhappily, not invoked in vain) to burst through their sacred tombs, and denounce death against all those who were traitors to their country!" Notwithstanding the repeated successes of the English, a period was put to their career at Baccum; less indeed on account of any check sustained during that day, than in consequence of the unfavourable state of the country, for the enemy now occupied an inexpugnable position at Purmirind, and were so admirably posted, as to be able to act on the rear of the advancing army. A negociation therefore ensued, during the course of which it was urged, that the Batavian fleet, acquired by the bravery and good conduct of Vice-Admiral Mitchell, should be restored; but this was resisted by the Duke of York, who spurned at the proposal, and threatened, in case of necessity, to cut down the sea dykes, which would have inundated the country, and destroyed its fertility. Terms far more adequate were accordingly obtained, and the Dutch fleet * was, in the mean * The naval part of the expedition into Holland proved so complete, that the marine of that power may now be fairly considered as annihilated. The following fourteen ships of the line alone remained, after the capture of the squadron at the Helder, in 1799: AT AMSTERDAM. 1. Avenger 76 Capt. S. Dekker. |