Page:Sketch of the life and character of His Royal Highness the late Duke of York (1).pdf/14

 14 was vacuated by Colonel Vyse, whom Lord Moira had left there with a brigade of British troops, which were embarked and removed with the ar- tillery and stores. His Royal Highness's army was encamped, and cantoned between the Waal and the Leck, occupy- ing the line of the former river as far as the island of Bommel, in which Dutch troops were stationed. In this position the army continued unmolested, until His Royal Highness's return to England, which took place early in December. In February, 1795, his Majesty was graciously pleased to nominate the Duke of York to the situa- tion of Commander-in-Chiet, an office, at that time not less important than it had become arduous, from the deplorable effects of the inefficiency and abuse which prevailed in every branch and depart ment of the military service. There existed 10 positive system of discipline, no rule of promotion. In September, 1799, the Duke of York was called from the immediate duties of his official situation at home, to assume the command of an expedition undertaken by the British Government, for the deliverance of Holland, at a period when there was reason to hope that the success obtained by the Austrian and Russian armies in Germany and Italy would prevent the French from offering any vigorous resistance in Holland, especially if the attempt to emancipate that country should be sup- ported by the inhabitants, as there appeared just graunds to expect. Preparations were made early in the summer for this enterprise, for which it was intended to assemble 80,000 British troops, who were to be joined of the coast of Holland by 17,000 Russians. On the 13th of September 1799, the day on