CHAPTER XXV. Continuation of Naval Rencounters.-Affair of Count Byland-Sir Hyde Parker and Admiral Zeutman.Commodore Johnftone ordered to the Cape of Good Hope.-Admiral Kempenfelt-Lofs of the Royal George.-Baron de Rullincort's Expedition to the Ifle of Jerfey. Capture of Minorca.-Gibraltar again befieged, defended, and relieved.-Mr. Adams's Negociation with the Dutch Provinces. 1781. WHILE the active and interesting scenes in CHAP. XXV. the West Indies, related in the preceding pages, commanded the attention of America, and deranged the systems of France, other objects of importance, by fea as well as by land, equally occupied the arms, the industry, and the ener gies of the European powers, and equally affected the great cause of freedom, and the entire independence of the United States. The French navy had indeed fuffered much in the West Indies, and the Batavians there were nearly ruined by the unexpected operations of war; yet the Dutch flag ftill waved with honor over the ocean, and in several inftances maintained the courage, the character, and the glory, won by their Van Trumps, de Ruyters, and other naval heroes diftinguished in their hif tory. CHAP. XXV. 1781. They had been called out to try their strength on the ocean, by the open hoftilities of Britain, in confequence of a declaration by the king, which relieved them from a state of fufpenfe. This declaration, dated April the feventeenth, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, annihilated all former treaties of neutrality, friendship, or connexion, and suspended all ftipulations respecting the freedom of navigation and commerce in time of war, with the subjects of the ftates-general. A few weeks previous to the date of this declaration of war, the government of Great Britain had exercised its affumed right of fearching the veffels of all nations for contraband goods. This prefumptuous right they had for many years arrogated to themselves, though no other nation had acceded to the claim; yet it had been fubmitted to, from want of power fufficient for an effectual oppofition, while all confidered it an infringement on the free trade of nations, that could not be juftified by the laws of equity. A number of Dutch merchantmen, laden with timber and naval ftores for the ufe of France, had taken the advantage of failing under the protection of count Byland, who, with a fmall fleet of men of war and frigates, was to efcort a convoy to the Mediterranean. In confequence of this intelligence, the English gov 1781. ernment sent out a fquadron of armed fhips CHAP. XXV. under the command of captain Fielding, in pursuit of them, with a commiffion to fearch, seize, and make prizes of any of the Dutch fhips, that might have on board articles deemed contraband goods, according to the conftruction of the British laws of trade. The Dutch refused to submit to the humiliating orders; notwithstanding which, Fielding dispatched a number of boats to execute the business. These were fired upon by the Dutchmen; on which captain Fielding fired a fhot across the head of the Dutch admiral's fhip, who returned a broadfide. This falute was anfwered in a manner that might have been expected from a British naval commander, and feveral fhot were exchanged; but count Byland, though fenfible that he was in force fufficient for a fevere action that might enfue, from the humane idea of faving the lives of his men, thought proper to strike his colors and furrender to the English.* In the meantime, moft of the convoy, under cover of the night, made their efcape into fome of the ports of France: the remainder were detained; and the Dutch admiral informed, that he was at liberty to hoift his colors and pursue British Annual Register. CHAP. XXV. 1781. his voyage. He refused to leave any part of his convoy, but hoifted his colors and failed with them to Spithead, where he continued until he received fresh inftructions from his masters. This affair enkindled much refentment in the bofoms of the Hollanders, who confidered an attempt to fearch their fhips as an act of unwarrantable infolence. This, with many other concurring circumftances which then exifted, had ripened their minds for the open rupture which foon after took place between the English and Dutch governments. Many feats of maritime bravery were exhibited on the ocean, during the existing war between the two nations. The moft fignal event of the kind in the European feas the fame year, was an action which took place between admiral Zeutman, commander of the Dutch fleet, and fir Hyde Parker, who commanded a British fquadron of fuperior force. They met near a place called the Dogger-Bank, as admiral Parker was returning from Elfineur with a large convoy. An engagement immediately took place equal valor and prowefs animated the officers on each fide, and equal fury and bravery ftimulated the failors: an action bloody indeed, was kept up for three or four hours, but without either allowing the honor of victory to his antagonist. After a fhort paufe, within a little distance from each other, they withdrew to their native fhores. Admiral Zeutman was honored, careffed, promoted, and happy in the applaufes of his countrymen; while admiral Parker returned chagrined and difgufted: he indeed received the approbation, and was honored with a visit from the king, and an invitation to dine with him on board the royal yacht; but he refused the honor of knighthood his majefty was about to confer on him, complained heavily that he had not been properly fupported, and attributed the escape of any part of the Dutch fleet to the negligence of the admiralty. Notwithstanding the renown of the British navy, the nation had little to boaft from the termination of feveral marine adventures, through the course of the present year. Their fleets had fallen under fome disappointments and difafters, which heightened the clamor against the admiralty officers, and increased the difcontent of the nation. Commodore Johnstone, with an handsome fquadron, had been ordered to fail for, and take poffeffion of, the Cape of Good Hope. Had he fucceeded, his next enterprise was defigned to furprise Buenos Ayres, and fweep the Spanish fettlements on Rio de la Plata, in South Amer CHAP. XXV. 1781. |