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322 and strong suspicions were entertained, that in the bosom of the directory and of the councils there was a party in the pay of England, which, like the stadtholder's, betrayed the interests of the republic, and served the cause of its most dangerous rival. In particular it was thought that the fleet sent to the Cape of Good Hope was destined to fall an easy prey to the English; and rumours of this treason were afloat before the armament sailed from the ports of Holland. To ascertain the foundation on which such a report rested would probably be no easy task, but the mention that it was widely circulated and believed, serves to shew the opinion that was entertained of the government; and that men, in places of authority and trust, were thought to be base enough, for mercenary considerations, to betray their country.

The naval combat of the 11th of October, 1797, though it ended in the total defeat of their fleet, raised for a period the spirits of the Dutch nation, and was of some advantage to the government. The contest was