DEFEAT OF THE DUTCH FLEET UNDER ADMIRAL DE WINTER, BY

ADMIRAL (afterwards Lord) DUNCAN, 11th OCTOBER, 1797. Every effort of the British arms in this eventful war has something peculiarly distinctive to recommend it. Of its present characteristic it is only intended to remark that relaxed for a moment under the influence of mistaken principles, seamen who at the Nore rudely demanded redress of grievances, here by persevering bravery evinced to the public enemy how little is to be hoped from any defect in the love of their country..

France eager to avail herself of the circumstances of the times, in the primeval activity of her policy, founded upon the continental success of her arms, no sooner suffered disappointment at the port of Spain, than she sought (if they were not coeval) new means at the mouth of the Texel.

To tell the long and unwearied watchings on the boisterous North Sea, the terrible

conflict at such a period of the year, temporarily deprived, as these pages are, of many of the communications of thanks, would be to assume a task which is every way better resolved into the fact recorded by the Journals of Parliament.

Lord Chancellor's speech to Admiral Lord Viscount Duncan, 8th Nov. 1797. Lord Viscount Duncan,

I am commanded by the Lords to give your Lordship the thanks of this House for your able and gallant conduct in the brilliant and decisive victory obtained over the Dutch fleet on the 11th day of October last as well as for the zeal, courage, and perseverance which you have uniformly manifested during the arduous period in which you have commanded His Majesty's fleet in the North Sea.

At the same time that this vote passed unanimously, their Lordships were pleased to order, that all the Peers should be summoned to attend the House on the occasion; a distinction unprecedented, but

called for by the general admiration your conduct has inspired, and strongly expressive of that peculiar satisfaction which the Peers must feel upon your Lordship's promotion to a distinguished seat in this House.

Splendid in all its circumstances as the victory obtained by His Majesty's fleet under your command has been, important as it must prove in its consequences, to the security of all his Majesty's dominions, and under the divine blessing, to the favorable issue of the arduous contest in which they are engaged; the magnitude and Justre of these considerations have not so occupied the observation of the Lords as to make them unmindful of the constant vigilance with which your Lordship had, in the whole course of your command for three successive seasons, watched and frustrated every design of the enemy; nor the manly fortitude with which you had sus-. tained the temporary defection of the greater part of your force; nor, above all, that undaunted resolution with which, at so

momentous a crisis, you proceeded to check and controul the presumptuous hopes

These are merits, in which fortune can claim no share; they spring from that energy of mind, and that ardent love of your country, which has directed your own conduct, and animated the officers and men under your command, to those exertions which are entitled to every testimony of public gratitude and applause.

Lord Viscount Duncan's reply.

My Lords,

Not accustomed to speak in public, though my feelings are great, my words must be few.

Deeply impressed as I am with the high honor this Right Honorable House has been pleased to confer on me, I shall only say, that I acknowledge it with the most profound respect, and feel much gratified by it.

Æg.

G

To you, my Lord, my best thanks are due for the very flattering and polite manner you have been pleased to convey to me the resolutions of this House.

Luna 6 die Novembris, 1797.

Sir,

London, November 5th, 1797.

I am honoured with your letter of the Srd instant, conveying to me the resolutions by which the House of Commons on that day, manifested its unanimous sense of the services which myself, Sir Richard Onslow, and the several Captains, officers, and men, under my command, rendered their country on the 11th of October last, which I shall not fail to communicate to them; and if, in fulfilling the duties of my station, I have been fortunate in rendering service to my country, I am most truly gratified, and feel the highest satisfaction, not only in the sense the House of Commons is pleased to entertain of my conduct, but in the very flattering