the Dutch ships, squaring their main yards, resolutely awaited the approach of the British.

Owing chiefly to the inequality in point of sailing among the British ships, Admiral Duncan's fleet, when that of the Dutch appeared in sight, was in very loose order. To enable the dull sailers to take their allotted stations, the admiral, at about 11 h. 10 m. a.m., having previously made the signal for the van-ships to shorten sail, brought to on the starboard tack ; but, observing soon afterwards that the Dutch ships, by keeping their main topsails shivering and sometimes full, were drawing fast in-shore, he successively made the signals, for each ship to engage her opponent in the enemy's line, to bear up and sail large, and for the van to attack the enemy's rear. At 11 h. 30 m. a.m., the centre of the Dutch line then bearing about south-east distant four or five miles, the British fleet bore down, but, owing to the still disunited state of the ships, in no regular order of battle : some were stretching across to get into their proper stations ; others seemed in doubt where they were to place themselves ; and others, again, were pushing, at all hazards, for the thickest of the foe. At 11 h. 53 m. a.m., Admiral Duncan signalled that he should pass through the enemy's line and engage him to leeward. Unfortunately the prevailing thick weather rendered this signal, for the short time it was up, not generally understood. It was replaced, in less than a quarter of an hour, by the signal for close action ; which was kept flying for an hour and a half, until, indeed, it was shot away by the enemy.

At about half past noon Vice-admiral Onslow, whose ship, the Monarch, was leading the larboard division of the British fleet, cut through the Dutch line, formed thus : Beschermer, Gelykheid, Hercules, Devries, Vryheid, States-General, Wassenaer, Batavier, Brutus, Leyden, Mars, Cerberus, Jupiter, Haerlem, Alkmaar, and Delft (with the nine frigates and corvettes stationed as an inner line, for the most part facing the intervals in the outer one), between the Jupiter and Haerlem, pouring into each of those ships, in passing, a well-directed broadside.

Then, leaving the Haerlem to the Powerful, the Monarch luffed up close alongside of the Jupiter ; and the two latter of these ships became warmly engaged. The rounding to of the Monarch afforded to the Monnikendam frigate and Atalanta brig, in the rear, the opportunity of pouring some raking broadsides into the former; and the Atalanta, in particular, did not retire until considerably damaged by the Monarch's shot. The remaining ships of the larboard division, more especially the Monmouth and Russel, were soon in action with the Dutch rear-ships ; among the last of which to surrender was the first that had been attacked, the Jupiter.

It was a quarter of an hour or 20 minutes after the Monarch

[PS Is it true that when briefing his officers before the engagement Admiral Duncan is reputed to have said : "Gentlemen, you see a severe Winter approaching, I have only to advise you to keep up a good fire."
or is it one of those things that some wag thought up at a later date ?]

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