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The following is a copy of the answer received:

"On board the Washington, anchored under

the Vleiter, 30th August.

"ADMIRAL, "Neither your superiority, nor the threat that the spilling of human blood shall be laid to my account, could prevent my shewing to 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 representatives; but, unfortunately, 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 present situation: I therefore deliver over to you the fleet which I commanded. From this moment an obligation lies on you to provide for the safety of my officers and the few brave men who are on board the Batavian ships, as I declare myself and my officers prisoners of war, and remain to be consi dered as such.

"I am with respect,

"To Admiral MITCHELL, commanding

his Britannic Majesty's squadron in the Texel."

"S. STOREY."

Two officers, who had been intrusted with this dispatch, earnestly entreated the English commander to anchor within sight of the enemy; and that being complied with, the fleet, which had been for some time in a state of mutiny, surrendered. This important acquisition consisted of one ship of seventyfour guns, four of sixty-eight, two of fifty-four, two of forty-four guns, a frigate, and a sloop of war; in all eleven sail.

Such a loss by sea could scarcely be compensated by any success on land; but to add to their misfortunes, the Dutch forces, at the same time, were obliged to retreat with the same rapidity that the English advanced. On the arrival, however, of Ge1805-1806. N n

neral

neral Brune with a considerable body of troops, a new spirit was infused into this torpid people, and "the shades of Van Tromp, De Wit, De Ruyter, and Barneveld, were invoked (and, unhappily, not invoked in vain) to burst through their sacred tombs, and denounce death against all those who were traitors to their country!"

Notwithstanding the repeated successes of the English, a period was put to their career at Baccum; Jess indeed on account of any check sustained during that day, than in consequence of the unfavourable state of the country, for the enemy now occupied an inexpugnable position at Purmirind, and were so admirably posted, as to be able to act on the rear of the advancing army. A negociation therefore ensued, during the course of which it was urged, that the Batavian flect, acquired by the bravery and good conduct of Vice-Admiral Mitchell, should be restored; but this was resisted by the Duke of York, who spurned at the proposal, and threatened, in case of necessity, to cut down the sea dykes, which would have inundated the country, and destroyed its fertility Terms far more adequate were accordingly obtained, and the Dutch fleet was, in the mean

*

* The naval part of the expedition into Holland proved so com plete, that the marine of that power may now be fairly considered as annihilated. The following fourteen ships of the line alone remained, after the capture of the squadron at the Helder, in 1799: AT AMSTERDAM.

1. Avenger
2. Admiral Zoutman

76 Capt. S. Dekker.
Zugers.
3. Chatham

76

time, conducted by Admiral Mitchell into an English port, under the escort of six sail of British, and two Russian ships of the line, Admiral Dickson having been left behind, to superintend the embarkation of the troops. Soon after his arrival in England, his Majesty, as a distinguished mark of his sati-faction with the conduct of the officer who had won the only trophy obtained during this expedition, was pleased to confer upon him the ensigns of the order of the Bath.

In 1800 we find Sir Andrew in the Channel flect, under Admiral Lord Bridport, with his flag flying in the Windsor Castle of 98 guns; he afterwards served under Admiral Cornwallis, off Brest, but no circumstance occurred for the display of either his courage or conduct. Yet upon this, as on every other occasion, he had an opportunity of rendering every one on board happy. Although he well knew how to keep up a proper degree of subordination, he lived with

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bis officers in the same manner as a father among his children; and when obliged to part with them-for several gentlemen educated on his quarter-deck are at this moment Post-Captains-he could scarcely refrain from tears. Being fond of music, he was provided with an excellent band; and all the officers, not on duty, were accustomed to assemble every evening in the great cabin, to enjoy the concert provided for them.

In the autumn of the succeeding year, he was intrusted with the command of a division of fifteen

Squadron ordered to Bantry Bay, in November 1801, under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, K. B.

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sail of the line, with which he cruized off the coast of Ireland; and at length, in 1802, was appointed commander in chief in North America, with which appointment he repaired to Halifax in the Leander, of 50 guns.

While on this station he has lost his wife, Lady Mitchell, who had been sent to Bermuda for the benefit of ber health, and died there in 1803. He was also in imminent danger of losing one of his children, his eldest son having been severely wounded during the gallant action between the Cleopatra, Captain Sir Robert Lawrie, Bart. and la Ville de Milan *.

As the usual period of three years is now elapsed, the arrival of the gallant Vice-Admiral is impatiently expected by his friends in England.

The following is a list of his various promotions:
He was appointed a Captain, Oct. 25, 1778;
A Rear-Admiral, June 1, 1795;

A Vice-Admiral of the White, Feb. 14, 1799;
And a Vice-Admiral of the Red, in 1799.

MADAME D'ARBLAY.

MADAME d'Arblay, the subject of this biographical Sketch, is the daughter of Doctor Burney,

* Mr. Mitchell was then only a Midshipman in the navy; but on this occasion he served as acting Lieutenant on board the Cleopatra of 32 guns, which was captured on the 16th of February, 1805, by a French 50 gun ship, after a most severe action, in which she had all her rigging, &c. sut to pieces.

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