tsar L88,000 for first
expenses, and a subsidy of L44,000 a month, and to provide transports
and horses. On August 27 a British force of 10,000 men under Sir Ralph
Abercromby landed at the Helder, a point by no means suited for an
invasion, which was chosen on account of its proximity to the Dutch
fleet. Abercromby repulsed an attack of the Dutch and threw open the
Texel to the British ships, under Admiral Mitchell. The Dutch seamen,
who were attached to the house of Orange, forced their officers to hoist
the prince's flag, and the fleet, consisting of thirteen ships carrying
from sixty-four to forty-four guns and other smaller vessels,
surrendered, and was carried to Yarmouth. The arrival of the Russians
was delayed, and the republicans had time to make preparations for
defence. Brune, a French general, took command of the combined French
and Dutch forces, and failing in an attempt on the British position,
established his quarters before Alkmaar.

On September 12 the first division of the Russians arrived, and
reinforcements from England brought up the number of the combined army
to about 30,000 men. The Duke of York was ostensibly in command, but the
cabinet ordered that all operations should be directed by a standing
council of war. A general advance was attempted on the 18th-19th. It was
not well planned, and failed owing chiefly to the undisciplined
impetuosity of the Russians on the right wing. The British lost over
1,000 killed and wounded, the Russians about 2,500, but the allies took
some 3,000 prisoners, mostly Dutch. Heavy rains set in; the republicans
broke up the roads and laid the country in front of the allies under
water. The invaders, cooped up in a sandy corner of land, were in a
sorry plight. A fresh advance was attempted on October 2; there was some
heavy fighting in which General, afterwards Sir John, Moore and his
brigade highly distinguished themselves, and Moore was twice wounded. It
was a drawn battle; and Brune fell back on the formidable line of
Beverwyk. The duke attacked him on the 6th, and failed to drive him from
his position. It became evident that the allies would not succeed in
forcing their way out of the small district they occupied, and that the
hopes entertained in England of assistance from the Dutch were
fallacious, for the people showed no sign of deserting the French
alliance. Accordingly, on the 18th, the duke capitulated; it was agreed
that the allies should re-embark unmoles