Vice-Admiral Mitchell to Evan Nepean, Efq. Secretary of the Admiralty, of · which the following are copies: SIR, Ifis, at anchor at the Red Buay. near the Vleiter, August 30, two P. M. Where the exertions of all you did me the honour to put under my orders havebeen feen fo great, it is almoft impoffible to particularize any; but Capt. Oughton has had lo much to do, from the firft embarking of the troops to the prefent moment, and has fhewn himself to frenuous in his exertions for the good of I have the very great fatisfaction to the expedition, as well as given me much acquaint you, for the information of my affiftance from his advice on every oc- Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty,' cation, that I cannot but mention him that the whole of the Dutcb Fleet, near in the higheft manner to your Lordship, the Vleiter, furrendered to the fquadron and at the fame time exprefs my wish under my command without firing a gun, that your Lordship will fuffer him to ac agreeable to a fummons I fent this morncompany whoever may bear your dif- ing. The Dutch fquadron was to be patches to England, as I think the local held for the orders of his Serene High-' knowledge he has gained may be highly nefs the Prince of Orange, and the orufeful to be communicated to their Lord- ders I may receive from the Lords Comfhips of the Admiralty. miffioners of the Admiralty for my farther proceedings. The manner in which the Captains, Officers, and Seamen,. landed from the Fleet, behaved, while getting the cannon and ammunition along to the Army, requires my particular thanks; and here let ine conclude in a special manner the Ruf fran detachment of boats, from whofe aid and moft orderly behaviour the fervice was much benefited indeed. I am also much indebted to Capt. Hope for the clear manner in which he communicated to me your Lordship's ideas at all times when fent to me by your Lordship for that purpose, as every thing was better underflood from fuch explanation than they could otherwife have been by letter. It is impoffible for me to furnish your Lordship at prefent with any lift of the Killed, Wounded, or Miffing Seamen, or of thole that were unfortunately drowned on the beach in landing the troops, having as yet no return made me; but I am very forry to say that I was myself witness to feveral boats overfetting in the furf, in which I fear feveral lives were loft. I have the honour to be, &c. A. Mitchell. A List of Men of War, &c. taken Poffef And about 13 Indiamen and transports. Admiralty-Office, Sept. 3. Licut. Collier, of his Majefty's fhip Ifts, arrived this day with difpatches from SIR, I have the honour to be, Sir &c. (Signed) A. Mitchell. Ifis, at anchor at the Red Buoy, near the Vleiter, Aug. 31, 1799. It blowing ftrong from the S. Weft, and alfo the flood ride, I could not fend away my fhort letter of last night; therefore have in addition, to request you will lay before the Lord Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that on the morning of yefterday I got the fquadron under weigh at five o'clock, and immediately formed the line of battle, and to prepare for battle. In running in, two of the line of battle fhips, Ratvifan and America, and the Latona frigate, took the ground. We paffed the Helder Point and Mars Diep, and continued our courfe along the Texel, in the channel that leads to the Vleiter, the Dutch fquadron laying at anchor in a line at the Red Buoy in the Eaft South Eaft course. The Latona frigate got off and joined me; but as the two line of battle fhips did not, I clofed the line. About half past ten I fent Captain Rennie of the Vic tor, with a fummons to the Dutch Admiral, as it was Lord Duncan's wish that I fhould do fo; and in her way the picked up a Flag of Truce, with two Dutch Captains from the Dutch Admiral to me. Captain Rennie very properly brought them on board, and from a converfation of a few minutes, I was induced to an chor in a line, a fhort diftance from the Dutch fquadran, at their earnest request. They returned with my pofitive orders not to alter the pofition of the fhips, nor do any thing whatfoever to them, and in one hour to fubmit, or take the confequences. In lefs than the time they returned with a verbal anfwer, that they fubmitted according to the fummons, and should confider themfelves (the Officers,) on parole, until I heard from the Lord Commiffioners of the Admiralty, and the Prince of Orange, for my farther proeeedings. I have now the honour to enclofe you herewith the line of battle in which the fquadron advanced, a copy of my fummons to the Dutch Admiral, and alfo lift of the Dutch fleet. Admiral Story's flag is down, and I have fent an Officer on board each of his fhips to have an eye over, and the charge of them, as they themselves requested that it fhould be fo. I have alfo furnished them with the Prince of Orange's Standard, many of them not having had it before, and they are now all under thefe colours. To maintain quiet among their crews, I iffued a fhort manifefto, of which I al. To enciofe a copy herewith. The animated exertions and conduct of the whole fquadron, are far above any praife I can beflow on them; but I fhall ever feel most fenfibly impreffed on my heart their spirited conduct during the whole of this bufinefs. We have all felt the fame zeal for the honour of our Sovereign and our Country; and although the conclufion has not turned out as we expected, yet the merit I may fay, in fome meafure, is fill not the lets due to my fquadron; and if I had brought them to action, I truft it would have added another laurel to the Navy of England in this prefent war. The Dutch were aftonished and thunderstruck at the approach of our fquadron; never believing i poffible that we could fo foon have laid down the buoys, and led down to them in line of battle in a channel, where they themselves go through but with one or two ships at a time. I have fent Lieut. Collier with thefe difpatches, who will give their Lordships every information, as he has been employed in the whole of the communication with the Dutch fquadron, and was alfo on fhore with me as my Aide-deCamp on the day of landing. I have the honour to be, &c. A. Mitchell. P. S. Since writing the above, I received the Dutch Admiral's Answer in writing, which I enclofe herewith. [Then follows the Line of Battle.] Ifis, under fail in line of battle, Aug. 30. SIR, I defire you will inftantly hoift the flag of his Serene Highnefs the Prince of Orange. If you do, you will immediately be confidered as Friends of the King of Great Britain, my moft gracious Sovereign, otherwife take the confequences. Painful it will be to me for the lofs of blood it may occafion, but the guilt will be on your own head. To I have the honour to be, Sir, Vice- Admiral and Commander in Rear-Admiral Story, or the A lift of the Dutch Squadron taken poffef fion of in the Texel by Vice- Admiral Mitchell, Aug. 30. Washington-Rear Admiral Story, Capt. Admiral de Ruyter-Capt. Huijs, 68 guns. under the Vieiter. Amphitrite-Capt. Schutter, 44 guns; under the Vleister. Ifis, Aug. 30. 1799. The undersigned, Vice Admiral in the fervice of his Majefty the King of Great Britain, charged with the execution of the naval part of the expedition to reftore the Stadtholder and the Old and Lawful Conftitution of the Seven United Provinces, guaranteed by his Majefty; having agreed that in confequence of the fummons to Rear-Admiral Story, the fhips, after hoifting the ancient colours, will be confidered as in the fervice of the Allies of the British Crown, and under the orders of his Serene Highnels the Hereditary Stadtholder, Captain and Admiral General of the Seven United Provinces, has thought it proper to give an account of this agreement to the brave crews of the different fhips, and to fummon them by the fame to behave in a peaceable and orderly manner. so that no complaints may be reprefented by the Officer; Officer; the anderfigned will fend on board each of the fhips to keep proper order, until the intentions of his Majefty, and his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, as Admiral General, fhall be known, for the farther deftination of thefe hips, on account of which difpatches will be immediately fent off. And to make them aware, that in cafe their conduct should not be fo, as may be expected from the known loyalty and attachment of the Dutch Navy to the Illuftrious Houfe of Orange on this occacafion, any excess or irregularity will be punished with the feverity which the diforders may have been committed merit. (Signed) Andrew Mitchell. On board the Washington, anchored under the Vleiter, 30th Aug. 1799. ADMIRAL, Neither your fuperiority, nor the threat that the fpilling of human blood fhould be laid to my account, could prevent my fhewing you to the last moment what I could do for my Sovereign, whom I acknowledge to be no other than the Batavian People and its Reprefentatives, 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 prefent fituation: I therefore deliver over to you the fleet which I commanded. From this moment it is your obligation to provide for the fafety of my Officers, and the few brave men who are on board the Batavian fhips; as I declare my felf and my Officers prifoners of war, and remain to be confidered as fuch. I am, with refpect, S. Storg. To Admiral Mitchell, commanding bis Britannic Majefly's Squadron in the Texel. SIR, Ifis, at anchor at the Red Buoy, near the Vleiter, Aug. 31, 1799. Since my letter of the 29th by Capt. Oughton, I received a letter from Captain Winthrop, of the Circe, containing a more particular account of the men of war, &c. taken poffeffion of in the New Diep, than I had then in my power to fend, of which you will receive a copy here with for the information of my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty. I have the honour, &c. In Ireland, Capt. Wilfon, of the Aberdeenshire Fencibles, to Mifs Lambton, of Caftlefinn. At Kelfo, Robert Steuart, Efq. at Stonefield, to Mifs Robertson, daughter of the late Mr Peter Robertson, merchant in Kelfo At Glasgow, Mr Robert Burnside, manufacturer, to Mifs Agnes Biggar, daughter of Mr Mathew Biggar, manufacturer, Pollokfhaws. Od. 28 At Geanies, by Tain, George Affiotti, Efq Affilant Commiffary General for North Britain, to Mifs Ann MacLeod, fecond daughter of the late Donald MacLeod, Efq. Nov. 2. At Mrs McLeod's, Senior, of Bookfeller, to Mifs Mary Stephens. M Leod, Drumfheugh, Stuart Cheyne, Rev. Mr William Frafer, minister of Gigha, -. At Lochgair Houfe, Argyleshire, the to Mifs Anna Campbell. fon, of the Bengal Engineers, to Mifs Ha4. At Edinburgh, Capt. Thomas Robertmilton, daughter of William Hamilton, Efq. Hill-ftreet. At Broomloan, Robert Hagart, Efq. of St. Thomas, to Mifs Ann P. Moore, of St. Eustatius. April 8. Lieut W. Macredie, fon to W. Macredie, Efq of Peerceton, Ayrshire. Sept 19. At New York, of the yellow fever, Mr Hay Stevenfon, merchant. 21. At the Helder, Colonel Auguftus Maitland, Commanding Officer of the 3d batt. of the Ift regt. of Foot Guards, in confequence of the wounds he received in the action of the 6th ult. in front of Egmont op-Zee; and was interred on the 22d with military honours. Oct. 8. At Egmont-op Zee, in confequence of a wound he received in his body in the action of the 6th inflant in Holland, Major Lindfay Crawfurd Campbell, eldest fon of the late John Campbell, Efq. of Newfield, and grand-nephew to the late General John Earl of Crawfurd and Lindfay. - In his houfe in the Crefcent, Bath, John Riddell, Efq. 9. At Dungannon, Mr James Fleming, Surgeon. At Edinburgh, Mrs Jackfon, relict of the deceased Dr Charles Jackfon of Nicholatounfield. 11. At Edinburgh, Mr Alex Duff, late Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights, and Slater to his Majefty's Board of Ordnance for Scotland. 1 13. At London, Dr. George Wilfon of Stottencleugh, late phyfician in Petersburgh, Virginia. At Oxenden, James Auchinleck, Efq. of Woodcockdale. At Belfast, Hamilton Young, Efq. for feveral years merchant in New York. 14. At Carniehaugh, in the 61ft year of his age, Capt. John Carfrae, of the Breadalbane Fencibles. At her house in North Cafle Street, the Hon. Mrs Steuart, widow of the Hon. David Steuart, late of the Royal Navy. At Forge, Captain James Scott, late of the Honourable Company's Marine, Bombay. 17. At Glasgow, the Rev. Dr George Lawrie, Minifter of Loudoun, in the 78th year of his age, and 36th of his miniftry. 18. At Edinburgh, after a month's painful and lingering illness, (which the bore with the greatest fortitude,) in the 9th year of her age, Mifs Efther Lewis, fecond daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Theophilus Lewis, of his Majesty's Marine forces. She was a very fine promifing child, and to add to her parents' affliction, her death was occafioned by her clothes taking fire (through the carelessness and inattention of a fervaint maid), by which she was burnt in a moft dreadful manner. 19. At Logie, Alexander Gordon, M. D. Surgeon in the Royal Navy, and fome time Phyfician to the Aberdeen Dispensary. 21. At Kello, Mr George White, Master of the English school there. -. At Glafgow, in the 75th year of her age, Agnes Mitchell, wafherwoman. She never refided out of the alley in which the was born; never faw the bridge which was built over the Clyde at the Broomielaw, above thirty years ago, but from the Green; never travelled fo far weft from the Gallowgate where the refiled, as to the head of the Janiaica-ftreet, a diftance of half-a-mile; never loft a tooth in her life, nor fwallowed one dofe of medicine till fhe was feized with the illaefs of which she died. 22. At Shieldhall, near Glasgow, Mrs Barbara Laird, spouse to Mr John Menzies, of the Cuftoms at Edinburgh. 23. At Ham, Lady Lindfay, Relict of the late Vice-Admiral Sir John Lindlay, K. B. 25. At St. Laurence Houfe, near Haddington, Mr John Barclay, fon of the late Dr George Barclay of Middleton. 26. At Lauder, Bailie George Lauder, Baker there. -. At Edinburgh, Mr Alexander Campbell, Writer to the Signet, Mrs Ingles, Relict of the late Mr Edward Ingles, Druggift in Edinburgh. At Edinburgh, George Auguflus Haldane, Efq. of Gleneagles. 27. At Edinburgh, Mifs Marjory Stuart, youngest daughter of James Stuart, Efq. Blairhall. - At Baldovie, John Farquharfon, Esq. 1 |