Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/446

416 "On board the Washington, anchored under the Vlieter, Aug. 30, 1799.

"Admiral, Neither your superiority, nor the threat that the spilling of human blood should be laid to my account, could prevent my showing you to the last moment what I could do for my Sovereign, whom I acknowledge to be no other than the Batavian people, and their representatives, when 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 it is your obligation 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 I remain to be considered as such.

(Signed)".

"To Admiral Mitchell, commanding H.B.M.'s squadron in the Texel."

Possession was immediately taken of the enemy's ships, and a British officer sent on board of each, for the purpose of maintaining peace and order among the crews, to whom Vice-Admiral Mitchell issued a manifesto, announcing their being taken possession of in favor of the Stadtholder; and a few days afterwards, the Dutch squadron was escorted to England by a detachment from the British fleet. Such of the prizes as appeared likely to be useful were subsequently purchased by government, and added to the navy.

Without detracting, in the slightest degree from the merit of those engaged in their capture, it should be observed, that the quiet surrender of the enemy's ships must be chiefly attributed to what the revolutionary government of that day chose to term, a spirit of mutiny among the crews. It is said that when the Dutch commander made the signal to prepare for battle, his men broke into open revolt and disobedience to their officers, whom they seized; at the same time taking possession of the magazines, unloading the guns, and throwing the shot and cartridges into the sea.

The naval force thus taken from the Batavian republic, including those found in the Nieuve Diep, consisted of ten sail of the line, fourteen frigates, one sloop, a sheer-hulk, and three East India men, together with about five hundred doggers and schuyts.

On the 21st September, Vice-Admiral Mitchell shifted his flag into the Babet, of 20 guns, and proceeded with a flotilla into the Zuyder Zee, where his appearance changed the politics, for a while, of several of the bordering towns and villages, which submitted, and hoisted the Orange flag. Such a loss as the Dutch had sustained by sea could scarcely be compensated by any success on land; but unfortunately for them, their forces were, for some time, obliged to retreat with the same rapidity that the English advanced. On the arrival, however, of the French General Brune, had been committing great depredations. He accordingly proceeded thither in the Melpomene, accompanied by the