Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1795 to 1872, Volume 1 (4th ed, 1915).djvu/41

1796] accordingly taken in possession at once, and the remainder of the fleet on the following morning.

Most of the soldiers on board were found to be Germans, who asserted that they had been prisoners of the French and had been compelled to take service under the Batavian Republic. They were very willing to change sides, and the transports that soon afterwards sailed to India took most of them away in English uniforms. A considerable number of the Dutch seamen also offered to enter the English service, and were gladly taken over. The British officers, indeed, congratulated themselves on having secured not only a number of excellent ships, but a fine body of recruits both for the army and the navy.

Before the close of the year most of the Dutch officers were sent to the Netherlands in a cartel ship, and the others returned in a neutral vessel. A court was constituted for their trial, but on the 21st of June 1797, before a decision was given, Admiral Lucas died of illness caused mainly by mortification and anxiety. The other officers were absolved from blame.

This event disheartened the patriot party in the colony, and the large naval and military force that was present overawed even the farmers of the distant eastern frontier. On the 22nd of August there was a public meeting at the drostdy of Graaff-Reinet, attended, however, by no one from Zwartkops River, the Zuurveld, or Bruintjes Hoogte, except Adriaan van Jaarsveld. The landdrost Gerotz and the secretary Oertel exerted themselves to bring about submission to the authorities at the Cape, with the result that a document was signed by all the people of note who were present—including Van Jaarsveld—in which they promised fidelity to the English government. Two deputies—Pieter Ernst Kruger and Christiaan Rudolph Opperman by name—were sent to Capetown with it. The deputies reached their destination on the 8th of September. Two days earlier Major King had left Groenekloof—where a considerable military force was stationed