to command, and judging that the honour of his Majesty's arms, and the circumstances of the war in these seas, required a considerable degree of enterprise, I felt myself justified in departing from the regular system; and, passing through their fleet, in a line formed with the utmost celerity, tacked, and thereby separated one-third from the main body, after a partial cannonade, which prevented their rejunction till the evening; and by the very great exertions of the ships which had the good fortune to arrive up with the enemy on the larboard tack, the ships named in the margin* were captured, and the action ceased about five o'clock in the evening.

I enclose the most correct list I have been able to obtain of the Spanish fleet opposed to me, amounting to 27 sail of the line, and an account of the killed and wounded in his Majesty's ships, as well as in those taken from the enemy. The moment the latter (almost totally dismasted), and his Majesty's ships, the Captain and Culloden, are in a state to put to sea, I shall avail myself of the first favourable wind to proceed off Cape St. Vincent in my way to Lisbon.

Captain Calder, whose able assistance has greatly contributed to the public service during my command, is the bearer of this, and will more particularly describe to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the movements of the squadron on the 14th, and the present state of it.

I am, Sir, &c.

J. JERVIS.

List of the Spanish Fleet opposed to the British,
the 14th February 1797.

56

N.B. Among the killed is General Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen, chef d'escadre.

Ships.

List of the British Fleet opposed to the Spanish,

the 14th February 1797.

Guns.

Commanders.

Killed. Wounded.

Between the battle of Valentine's day and that of Camperdown in the autumn following, the unhappy mutiny occurred. How well the seamen in the North-sea fleet redeemed their character, will be shown in the following chapter.

CHAPTER XIX.

Battle of Camperdown.

THE French Government, having now the entire command of the Dutch marine, ordered Admiral de Winter to put to sea, which he did much against his own opinion and inclination; but as the invasion of Ireland was decided on by the Directory, they considered this as an indispensable preliminary. Accordingly, on the 6th of October, the Dutch fleet quitted the Texel, and, on the 8th, the fact was communicated to Mr. Hamilton, master of the Active cutter, by a Dutch fishingboat.

This officer lost not a moment in conveying the news to Captain Trollope, of the Russel, who commanded the squadron off the Texel during the temporary absence of the commanderin-chief with the fleet, which was at Yarmouth receiving supplies of provisions and water. Mr. Hamilton was sent to him, and on the 10th made the signal from the back of Yarmouthsands to the flag-ship, that the enemy was at sea: not a moment was lost in preparing to meet them. On the morning of the 11th the admiral arrived upon his old cruising ground, and saw the Russel to leeward with the signal flying for an enemy's fleet. He instantly bore up, and at 11 o'clock got sight of the object of his anxious wishes, which for two years he had watched, and never expected to see outside of the Neiu Deep. Here was no delay, no unnecessary manœuvres in forming lines or making dispositions. The British admiral, to use a sea phrase, "dashed at them," and at half-past 12 at noon cut through their line, and got between them and their own coast. No means of retreat were allowed; a general action ensued, and, by the greater part of the Dutch fleet, was bravely maintained. A wish on their part was, however, early shown to withdraw from their antagonists, and they kept constantly edging away for their own shore, until their progress was arrested in 9 fathoms water, off the heights or sand-hills of Camperdown, about three leagues from the land. Viceadmiral Onslow, in the Monarch, bore down in the most undaunted style on the enemy's rear, broke through his line, and engaged his opponent to leeward, the wind being dead on the