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336 the Dutch fleet should be restored, and fifteen thousand French and Batavian prisoners released; without conditions, from the prisons of England. The demand of the restitution of the fleet was soon abandoned, though the Batavian directory; in their instructions to General Brune, insisted that the restitution of the fleet should form the leading article in any convention that might be concluded by him with the Duke of York; and the number o£ prisoners required to be released without exchange, was reduced to eight thousand. The other articles of the convention stipulated that the British and Russian forces should quit the territories of the Batavian republic before the 30th of November, and that no injury should be done to the dikes, canals, or navigation of the Texel.

The easy terms on which the British and Russian troops were permitted to evacuate Holland were loudly complained of by the Batavian directory, and strong insinuations against the integrity of General Brune were circulated throughout the republic by the party inimical to the English. These suspicions