asted; and certainly feints against the coasts of Brittany
and Spain promised to further the Dutch expedition.[519]

Early in August Pitt and his colleagues finally resolved to send the
expedition to the Dutch coast; but they had not decided as to the length
or extent of the occupation. So, at least, it appears from a letter of
Pitt to Sir Charles Grey:

Downing Street, _Aug. 23, 1799_.[520]

You will not wonder that the circumstances of the present moment
have strongly recalled to Mr. Dundas's mind and mine the
conversations which we have at different times had with you
respecting the possibility of a successful stroke against Brest.
The assemblage of the combined fleets[521] in that port renders
such an object more tempting than ever. We have a prospect, if
the expedition in Holland should terminate speedily, of having a
large army of 30,000 men at least, and a large body of marines,
with any number of sail-of-the-line that may be thought
necessary, applicable to such a service by the month of October;
and if the Allies continue to push their operations on the other
side of France, the bulk of the French force will find
sufficient occupation at a distance from their coast. In all
these respects the time seems as favourable as it can ever be
expected to be to such an enterprise; and if it is to be
undertaken, we shall derive the greatest confidence of success
from seeing the execution of it placed in your hands. Many
circumstances may undoubtedly arise in the course of the next
six weeks which may oblige us to abandon the idea....

This letter proves that Pitt did not expect a prolonged occupation of
Holland, at least by British troops; but the notions of Ministers on
this topic were singularly hazy. All things considered, the expedition
at first fared well. Sir Ralph Abercromby, the leader of the first
detachment of some 12,000 British troops, effected a landing near the
forts at the Helder, and on 27th August speedily captured them. Three
days later Admiral Mitchell captured a squadron of 10 sail-of-the-line
and several frigates anchored behind the Texel. Pitt was elated by these
successes, and wrote from Walmer Castle on 5th September: "We are
impatiently waiting till this east wind brings our transports in sight
to carry the remainder of our troops, in order to compleat speedily what
has been so gloriously be