He had been left with
only his own ship and the _Adamant_, keeping in check a Dutch fleet of
15 sail of the line, under Admiral de Winter. In order to prevent the
Dutch from coming out, Admiral Duncan made use of a ruse, frequently
repeating signals, as if communicating with the main body of his fleet
in the offing. At length he was joined by other line-of-battle ships,
but his fleet, severely battered by bad weather, and being short of
provisions, had to put back into Yarmouth Roads, while Captain Trollope
remained with a small squadron to watch the enemy. He continued there
till the 9th of October, when information was brought that the Dutch
fleet was at sea. He immediately sailed, and having looked into the
Texel, on the 11th the _Russell_ and other ships were seen with the
signal flying at their mast-heads that the enemy was in sight to
leeward. The Dutch fleet stood away, however, towards the coast of
Suffolk, when, finding that the English admiral was within seven leagues
of him, he sailed back towards Camperdown, followed by the English
look-out frigates. De Winter now formed a close line of battle, and
resolutely awaited Admiral Duncan. The British fleet on this bore down
on the enemy, with the signal flying for close action. The _Monarch_,
leading the larboard division of the British fleet, first cut the Dutch
line, pouring in well-directed broadsides on the ships on either side of
her. The action soon became general; one after the other the Dutch
ships were compelled to strike. One of them, the _Hercules_, catching
fire, the crew threw overboard their powder, and were therefore obliged
to surrender their ship. The Dutch admiral's ship, the _Vryheid_, held
out gallantly to the last, but was at length compelled to yield, when
the rest of the ships which had not yet struck their colours, did their
best to make off. By this time the English were in possession of two
seventy-fours, five sixty-fours, two fifties, and two frigates. The
escaping enemy could not be pursued, for the land was close aboard, and
the fleet in nine fathoms water. All the victors could do, therefore,
was to secure their prizes, and to endeavour to get clear of the shore
before nightfall. The Dutchmen had fought gallantly, aiming at the
hulls of the British ships, which were fearfully shattered, and in all
of them numerous shots were found sticking; though the masts and rigging
were but comparatively little injured. The English l