Also, three Indiamen, and a sheer-hulk ; together with the naval magazine at Nieueve Werk ; containing, among a great quantity of valuable ordnance-stores, 97 pieces of cannon.

The possession of the Helder having now left the Texel open to the British, Vice-admiral Mitchell, on the 30th, at 5 a.m., got under way with his squadron, and stood for the Texel ; in entering which, the Ratvison, America, and Latona took the ground. Passing the Helder point and Mars Diep, the British squadron, formed in line ahead thus : Glatton, Romney, Isis, Veteran, Ardent, Belliqueux, Monmouth, Overyssel, Mistisloff, and frigates, stood along the narrow and intricate channel of the Vlieter (the buoys of which, although purposely removed, the British, with surprising alacrity, had since replaced), towards the Dutch squadron, of eight two-deckers and frigates, at anchor in line ahead in the east-south-east channel, near the red buoy upon the Vogel sand.

While standing in, with his nine two-deckers and frigates (including, the Latona who had since got off), along a channel, through which the Dutch themselves never venture to pass with more than two ships at a time, Vice-admiral Mitchell despatched the 18-gun ship-sloop Victor, Captain James Rennie, with a summons to the Dutch admiral. Captain Rennie, on his way, met a flag of truce, with Captains Van de Capelle and De Yong, coming from Admiral Story. These officers, Captain Rennie instantly conveyed on board the Isis. After some conversation, the British admiral consented to anchor at a short distance from the Dutch admiral, and to give the latter one hour to make up his mind. In less than the time specified, the two Dutch captains returned to Vice-admiral Mitchell, with a verbal message agreeing to surrender. Possession was immediately taken of the Dutch squadron already named ; and, for the purpose of maintaining order among the different crews, a British officer was sent on board of each ship.

It remains to explain why those who, not many months before, had fought so valiantly off Camperdown, now surrendered, without a blow, at their moorings in the Texel. The fact is, the sailors had become politicians ; and, differing in opinion from their officers, had adopted a course which, if not the most honourable, was, under present circumstances, undoubtedly the most safe. They mutinied, and refused to fight ; and, as if fearful that the guns would go off by themselves, they, in many instances, drew the charges, and threw the shot overboard. Under such, we must add, discreditable circumstances, Admiral Story and his officers had no alternative but to surrender ; and

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