and once more beg to express my approbation ef your conduct. May God, who
has thus fur conducted you, continue to do so; and may the British navy, the
glory and support of our country, be restored to its wonted splendour, and be
not only the bulwark of Britain, but the terror of the world. But this can only
be effected by a spirit of adherence to our duty, and obedience; and let us
pray that the Almighty God may keep us in the right way of thinking; God
bless you all !" The crew of the Venerable were so affected by this simple, but
impressive address, that on retiring there was not a dry eye among them.
Thus, admiral Duncan, by acts of mildness and conciliation, and by his until form firmness, contrived, when every other British admiral, and even the government itself failed in the attempt, to keep his own ship, as well as the crew of the Adamant, free from the contagion of the dangerous evil that then almost universally prevailed.
Fortunately for Great Britain the enemy was not aware of the insubordination that existed throughout the fleet At a time, however, when Duncan had only two line of battle ships under his control, his ingenuity supplied the place of strength, and saved this country from the disgrace of a foreign invasion; for it cannot be doubted, that had the Dutch commander known the state of helplessness in which the nation was placed, when its right arm was so effectually bound up by the demon of rebellion, they would have chosen that moment to run for our shores. It was then that the happy thought occurred to the anxious mind of Duncan, that by approaching the Texel with his puny force, and by malting signals as if his fleet were in the offing, he might deceive the wary De Winter into the belief that he was blocked up by a superior squadron. This stratagem was employed with entire success, nor indeed was it known to De Winter that a deception had been practised upon him, until he had become his antagonist's prisoner. This manojuvre, so singular in its conception, so successful in its execution, and performed at a moment of such extreme national difficulty, stands unparalleled in naval history, and alone gave to him who devised it as good a claim to the honour of a coronet, and to his country's gratitude, as if he had gained a great victory.
On the termination of the mutiny, admiral Duncan was joined by the rest of his fleet, very much humbled, and anxious for an opportunity to wipe away, by some splendid achievement, the dishonour they had incurred. The two rival fleets were now placed on an equal footing; and all anxiety for the event of a collision was completely removed. Having blockaded the Dutch coast till the month of October, Duncan was under the necessity of coming to Yarmouth roads to refit, leaving only a small squadron of observation under the command of captain Trollope. But scarcely had he reached the roads, when a vessel on the back of the sands gave the spirit-stirring signal that the enemy was at sea. Not a moment Avaslost in getting under sail, and early on the morning of the 11th of October he was in sight of captain Trollope's squadron, with a signal Hying for an enemy to leeward. He instantly bore up, made signal for a general chase, and soon came up with them, forming in line on the larboard tack, between Camperdown and Egmont, the land being about nine miles to leeward. The two fleets were of nearly equal force, consisting each of sixteen sail of the line, exclusive of frigates, brigs, &c. As they approached each other, the British admiral made signal for his fleet, which was bearing up in two divisions, to break the enemy's line, and engage to leeward; each ship her opponent The signal was promptly obeyed; and getting between the enemy and the land, to which they were fast approaching, the action commenced at half-past twelve, and by one it was general throughout the whole line. The Monarch was the first to break the enemy's line. The
