fent the following letter to the lord

mayor.

Admiralty-office, 13th October. My Lord,

I have the fatisfaction to inform your lordship, that an officer has arrived from admiral Duncan, with an account of his having fallen in with the Dutch fleet, off the coaft of Holland, on Wednesday laft, and that, after a fevere action, the fhip having the Dutch admiral on board had been dismasted and had ftruck, as bad alfo feveral others of the enemy's fhips.

When the officer left the admiral, at four o'clock in the afternoon, he was then preparing to take poffeffion of the fhips which had ftruck, and to purfue the remainder.

I moft heartily congratulate your lordship on this important event, and have the honour to be, with great regard, my lord,

Your lordfhip's moft obedient, and most humble fervant, SPENCER.

To the Right Hon, the Lord Mayor. 14. The ordinary gazette of this day announces the capture of Les Amis, a French cutter, four guns and 18 men, by fieut. Tomlinfon, of the Speedwell lugger; of the Le Flibuftier, of nine guns and 29 men, by capt. Faulkner, of the Diana; of the San Noberta, Spanish privateer, of four guns and 42 men, by the Cerberus; and of the brigantine, Le Poiffon Volant, letter of marque, four guns, by capt. Roberts, of the La Concorde. London Gazette extraordinary of

Monday, Oct. 16, 1797. Admiralty-office, O. 16. Capt. Fairfax of the Venerable arrived early this morning with difpatches from Adam Duncan, efq. admiral of the blue, commander in chief of

his majefty's fhips, &c. employed in the north fea, to Evan Nepean, efg. fecretary of the admiralty, of which the following are copies.

Venerable, at fea, 13th October, 1797, off the Coaft of Holland. SIR,

Be pleafed to acquaint the lords commiffioners of the admiralty, that, judging it of confequence their lordfhips fhould have as early information as poffible of the defeat of the Dutch fleet under the command of admiral De Winter, I difpatched the Rofe cutter at three P. M. on the 12th (11th) inftant, with a fhort letter to you immedi ately after the action was ended. I' have now further to acquaint you, for their lordships' information, that in the night of the 10th instant, after I had fent away my letter to you, of that date, I placed my fquadron in fuch fituation as to prevent the enemy from returning to the Texel without my falling in with them. At nine o'clock in the morning of the 11th I got fight of capt. Trollope's fquadron, with fignals flying for an enemy to leeward; I immediately bore up, and made the fignal for a general chace, and foon got fight of them, forming in a line on the larboard tack to receive us, the wind at N. W. As we approached near I made the fignal for the fquadron to shorten fail, in order to connect them; foon after I faw the land between Camperdown and Egmont, about. nine miles to leeward of the enemy, and finding there was no time to be loft in making the attack, I made the fignal to bear up, break the enemy's line, and engage them to leeward, each fhip her opponent, by which I got between them and the land, whither they were faft approaching. My fignals were obeyed with great promptitude, and (K 3)

vice

vice-admiral Onflow, in the Monarch, bore down on the enemy's rear in the moft gallant manner, his divifion following his example, and the action commenced about forty minutes past twelve o'clock. The Venerable foon got through the enemy's line, and I began a clofe action, with my divifion on their van, which lafted near two hours and a half, when I obferved all the mafts of the Dutch admiral's fhip to go by the board; the was, however, defended for fome time in a moft gallant manner; but being overpreted by numbers, her colours were ftruck, and admiral de Winter was foon brought on board the Venerable. On looking around me I obferved the fhip bearing the vice-admiral's flag was alfo difmafted, and had furrendered to vicc-admiral Ontlow; and that many others had likewife ftruck. Finding we were in nine fathoms water, and not farther than five miles from the land, my attention was fo much taken up in getting the heads of the difabled fhips off fhore, that I was not able to diftinguish the number of fhips captured; and the wind having been conftantly on the land fince, we have unavoidably been much difperfed, fo that I have not been able to gain an exact account of them; but we have taken poffeffion of eight or nine; more of them had ftruck, but taking advantage of the night, and being fo near their own coaft, they fucceeded in getting off, and fome of them were feep going into the Texel the next morning.

It is with the greatest pleasure and fatisfaction I make known to their lordships the very gallant behaviour of vice-admiral Onflow, the captains, officers, feamen, and marines of the fquadron, who all

appeared actuated with the truly British fpirit, at least those that I had an opportunity of feeing.

One of the enemy's fhips caught fire in the action, and drove very near the Venerable; but I have the pleasure to fay it was extinguifhed, and fhe is one of the fhips in our poffeffion. The fquadion has fuffered much in their mafts, yards, and rigging, and many of them have loft anumber of men; however in no proportion to that of the enemy. The carnage on board the two fhips that bore the admirals' flags has been beyond all defcription; they have had no lefs than 250 men killed and wounded on board of each fhip; and here I have to lament the lofs of captain Burgefs, of his majefty's fhip the Ardent, who brought that fhip into action in themoft gallantand mafterly manner, but was unfortunately killed foon after. However, the fhip continued the action close, until quite difabled. The public have loft a good and gallant officer in captain Burgefs, and I, with others, a fincere friend.

Captain Trollope's exertions and active good conduct in keeping fight of the enemy's fleet until I came up, have been truly meritorious, and, I truft, will meet a just reward.

I fend this by capt, Fairfax, by whofe able advice I profited much during the action, and who will give their lordships any further particulars they may wish to know.

As most of the fhips of the fquadron are much difabled, and feveral of the prizes difmafted, I fail make the best of my way with them to the Nore.

I herewith tranfinit you a lift of killed and wounded on board fuch of the fquadron as I have been able to collect; a lift of the ene

my's

action.

I am, fir,

Your moft obedient,

humble fervant, ADAM DUNCAN. A lift of the killed and wounded on board the fhips of admiral Duncan's fquadron in an action with the Dutch on 11th of October, 1797. Venerable. 13 feamen, 2 marines, killed; 6 officers, 52 feamen, 4 marines, wounded.-Total 77. Monarch. 2 officers, 34 feamen, killed; 9 officers, 79 feamen, 12 marines, wounded.-Total 136. Bedford. 2 midshipmen, 26 feamen, 2 marines, killed; 1 lieutenant, 37 feamen, 3 marines, wounded.-Total 71. Powerful. 8 feamen, 2 marines,

killed; 4 officers, 74 feamen and marines, wounded.-Total 88. Ifis. I feaman, 1 marine, killed;

3 officers, 18 feamen, wounded. -Total 23.

Ardent. 2 officers, 33 feamen, 6

marines, killed; 8 officers, 85 feamen, 11 marines, 3 boys, wounded.-Total 148. Agincourt. None killed or wounded.

Belliqueux. 2 officers, 20 feamen, 3 marines, killed; 3 officers, 63 feamen, 12 marines, wounded.

Total 103. Lancaster. 3 feamen killed; 2 officers, 13 feamen, 3 marines, wounded.-Total 21. Triumph. 25 feamen, 3 marines, 1 boy, killed; 5 officers, 50 feamen and marines, wounded.— Total 84.

Officers killed.
Monarch. Mr. J. P. Tindall and
Mr. Moyle Finlay, midship-

men.

Ardent. Captain Burgess, Mr. Michael Dunn, mafter,

Webster, Mr. James Milne, mafter's mate.

Officers wounded. Venerable. Lieutenants Clay and Douglas, lieutenant Chambers of. the marines, Mr. Stewart, midfhipman, Mr. Brown, pilot. Monarch. Lieutenant Retalick, lieutenant Smith of the marines, Mr. George Maffie, Mr. Benjamin Clement, Mr. Daniel Sherwin, Mr. Charles Slade, midfhipmen, Mr. John Chimley,

master's mate.

Lift and difpofition of the Dutch fleet on the 11th of October, 1797.

Van. Vice-admiral Reyntjes, commander. Cerberus, captain Jacobfon, 68 guns, 4co men. Delft, captain Verdoon, 56 guns, 375 men. Taken. Jupiter, vice-admiral Reyntjes and rear-adiniral Meufes, 74 guns, 550 men. Taken. Alkmaar, capt. Kraft, 56 guns, 350 men. Taken. Haarlem, capt. Wiggerts, 68 guns, 450 men. Taken. Munnikkendam, capt. Lancafter, 44 guns, 270 men. Taken. Heldin, capt. Dum fnilde L'Eeftrille, 32 guns, 230 men. Daphne brig, lieutenant Fredericks, 18 guns, 98 men.

Centre. Admiral De Winter, commander in chief.

Waffenaar, capt. Holland, 64 guns, 450 men. Taken. Batavier, captain Souters, 56 guns, 350 men.

Vryheid (the Liberty), admiral de Winter Van Roffem, 74 guns, 550 men. Taken.

States General, rear-admiral Story, 74 guns, 550 men. Leyden, capt. Mufquetier, 68 guns, 450 men.

Mars, capt. Kolff, 44 guns, 400

Hercules, capt. Van Ryfoort, 64 guns, 450 men. Taken. Brutus, rear-admiral Bloys, 74 guns,

550 men.

Befchermer, capt. Hinxtt, 56 guns,
350 men.
Gelykheid (the Equality), capt.
Ruyfen, 68 guns, 450 men,
Taken.

Ambuícade, captain-lieut. Huys,
32 gus, 270 men. Taken.
Ajax brig, lieut. Arkenbout, 18
guns, 98 men.
Haasje (Avifo), lieut. Hartenfeld,
6 guns, 35 men.

ADAM DUNCAN, N. B. Another line of battle hip, reported to be taken, name unknown.

Difpofition of the fquadron, in the order of battle, on the 11th of October, 1797.

Larboard, or lee divifion. Richard Onflow, efq. vice-admiral of the red, commander. 1. Ruffel, Henry Trollope, capt. 74 guns, 590 men. 2. Director, William Bligh, capt. 64 guns, 491 men.

3. Montague, John Knight, capt. 74 guns, 590 men. 4. Veteran, George Gregory, capt. 64 guns, 491 men.

5. Monarch, vice-admiral Onflow, Edward O'Bryen, capt. 74 guns, 599 men.

7.

6. Powerful, William O'Bryen Drury, capt. 74 guns, 590 men. Monmouth, James Walker, capt. 64 guns, 491 men. Agincourt, John Williamfon, capt. 64 guns, 491 men.

8.

men.

10. Venerable, admiral Duncan, William George Fairfax, capt. 74 guns, 593 men. 11. Ardent, Richard R. Burges, capt. 64 guns, 491 men. 12. Bedford, fir Thomas Byard, capt. 74 guns, 590 men. 13. Lancafter, John Wells, capt. 64 guns, 491 men. 14. Belliqueux, John Inglis, capt. 64 guns, 491 men. 15. Adamant, William Hotham, capt. 50 guns, 343 men. 16. Ifis, William Mitchel, capt. 50 guns, 343 men.

Repeaters.

Circe frigate-Martin floop.

SIR,

ADAM DUNCAN, Venerable, off Orfordnefs, 08. 15, 1797.

In addition to my letter of the 13th inftant, containing the particulars of the action of the 11th, and which I have not been able to fend away until this day, I have to acquaint you, for the information of the lords commiffioners of the admiralty, that, from the wind continuing to blow on the Dutch coaft, the hips have had great difficulty in keeping off the fhore, and that we have unavoidably been feparated. On Friday laft the wind blew ftrong from the W. S. W. to the W. N. W. and continued fo to do until Saturday morning: it then fhifted to the north, when I made the fignal to wear, ftood to the weftward, and fortunately anchored here last evening, the Venerable being fo leaky, that, with all her pumps going, we could but juft keep her free. This morning I obferved the fhips named in the mar

the Kentish knock, and three in Hofley bay. The wind is at N. W. and much against the difabled fhips: I have therefore fent the Lancaster and Beaulieu out to render them affistance.

Sir Thomas Williams, in the Endymion, who joined me the day after the action, I also fent in fhore, to keep by and affift the difabled fhips; and I am informed that, in the courfe of the night, he fell in with a Dutch fhip of the line off the Texel, and had engaged her, but I have not heard the particulars.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient, humble fervant, ADAM DUNCAN.

Evan Nepean, Efq. The following is the account of this important victory, as given to the Dutch government by admirals de Winter and Story.

"With the deepest impreffin of grief I inform you, that yefterday morning, October 11, we difcovered the English fleet. I immediately formed into a line of battle on the ftarboard tack, and did every thing in my power to keep the fhips as clofe together as poffible, but my orders for this purpofe could not be completely obeyed, on account of the unfteadinefs of the wind, the high fea, and the bad failing of fome of the veffels. At eleven o'clock the enemy attacked the rear of the line, which they broke through with great refolution. This I faw with fome pleafure, because I always entertained hopes that the rest of the fleet would clofe up, and therefore I made a fignal to the headmoft fhips to flacken fail. This,

however,