On the 3rd October Duncan, who had been cruising for eighteen weeks, was compelled to return to Yarmouth for stores with the bulk of his fleet, leaving Captain Henry Trollope with the Russell, 74, Adamant, 50, and several frigates and smaller vessels to watch the Texel. On the 7th the Dutch came out under the command of Jan Willem de Winter, who had been trained as a naval officer, had gone into exile in 1786, had served in the French Republican armies, and was a general in the army as well as vice-admiral in the fleet. His fleet consisted of the
| Vryheid | 94 | { { | Vice-Admiral de Winter. Capt. van Rossern. |
| Jupiter | 94 | { { | Vice-Admiral Reuntjes. Rear-Admiral Menses. |
| Brutus | 74 | { { | Rear-Admiral Bloys. Capt. van Treslong. |
| States General | 74 | Rear-Admiral Storij. | |
| Cerberus | 64 | Capt. Jacobson. | |
| Devries | 64 | 〃 Zegers. | |
| Gelykeid | 64 | 〃 Ruysen. | |
| Haarlem | 64 | 〃 Wiggerts. | |
| Hercules | 64 | 〃 Van Rysvort. | |
| Leyden | 64 | 〃 Musquetier. | |
| Wassenaer | 64 | 〃 Holland. | |
| Alkmaar | 50 | 〃 Kraft. | |
| Batavier | 50 | 〃 Souters. | |
| Beschermer | 50 | 〃 Hinext. | |
| Delft | 50 | 〃 Verdoorn. |
with twelve frigates and other small vessels.
The Dutch were sighted at once by our look-out vessels, and news was sent to Duncan, who left Yarmouth in pursuit. As De Winter was known to be heading to the south, and the wind was northerly, ranging from N.E. to N.W. and W. by N., Duncan stood over the North Sea from Yarmouth to the Texel, to put himself between De Winter and his port, and to gain the weather-gage, which gave him the means of forcing on a battle. The Dutch, well observed by our look-out vessels to whose crews they appeared to be somewhat awkwardly handled, stood over to Lowestoft, and then returned to their own coast. They were seen at about half-past eight on the morning of the 11th October by our fleet, which was coming down from the north with the wind at W. by N.
The ships with Duncan were—
| Venerable | 74 | { { | Admiral Duncan. Capt. W. G. Fairfax. |
| Monarch | 74 | { { | Vice-Admiral R. Onslow. Capt. E. O’Brien. |
| Russel | 74 | Capt. H. Trollope. | |
| Montagu | 74 | 〃 J. Knight. | |
| Bedford | 74 | Sir T. Byard. | |
| Powerful | 74 | Capt. W. O’Brien Drury. | |
| Triumph | 74 | 〃 W. Essington. | |
| Belliqueux | 64 | 〃 J. Inglis. | |
| Agincourt | 64 | 〃 J. Williamson. | |
| Lancaster | 64 | 〃 J. Wells. | |
| Ardent | 64 | 〃 Burgess. | |
| Veteran | 64 | 〃 G. Gregory. | |
| Director | 64 | 〃 W. Bligh. | |
| Monmouth | 64 | 〃 J. Walker. | |
| Isis | 64 | 〃 W. Mitchell. | |
| Adamant | 64 | 〃 W. Hotham. |
with eight frigates and small vessels.
Elaborate comparisons have been made to show that one fleet was stronger than the other, but they are idle in view of the simple fact that some of the English did not come into action, and some of the Dutch got out of it sooner than was becoming. Physical obstructions and fortune played a part—and every man who wears a blue coat is not a hero.
As Duncan came down in pursuit his ships were scattered, the best sailors in front, the worst behind. It would have been possible to unite them all, only by causing the more advanced ships to lie to till the laggards came up. At eleven the advanced ships did shorten sail to unite the fleet. But the Dutch, who were in a line heading from S.W. to N.E., with their heads towards the Texel, were gradually drawing towards their own coast. Camperdown, in North Holland, was about nine miles from them. Delay on Duncan’s part would have given them a chance to slip off to the Texel. Therefore his plan for fighting the battle was not, and could not, be carried out. His intention was to form his fleet on the starboard line of bearing, which, with the wind at W. by N., would be a line from S.W. to N.E. parallel to the Dutch. Then he meant to act as Howe had meant to do on the 1st June, break through the enemy from windward to leeward, all along from van to rear. As the day wore on towards the early dark of October and the Dutch drew nearer the land, the impatience of Duncan, which was patent to his officers, grew beyond control. He renounced all attempt to form a line, ordered Onslow, who was to the south and leeward of him, to break through the enemy’s rear, and the whole fleet to break through. Then first Onslow, and next the admiral went down on the enemy, setting an example to the ships about them. Duncan, an old friend and correspondent of Clerk, was penetrated with his confidence that the proper policy for an English fleet was to break into the enemy’s formation and produce a mêlée. Moreover, we have his actions to prove how well he understood that whatever the fate of the English ships was to be, the country would be served if the Dutch were left in no condition to invade for the next six months.