The Dutch fleet, thus composed, had quitted the Texel at 10 a.m. on the 8th, with a light breeze at east by north. The report at the time was, that it had been ordered to try to effect a junction with the French fleet in Brest road ; but, if we are to credit the French accounts, Admiral de Winter sailed with no other object in view than to seek and engage the fleet of Admiral Duncan. * On the night of the same day on which the Dutch fleet, for whatever purpose, put to sea, Captain Trollope's squadron, the wind then blowing from the south-west, was discovered to windward, and immediately chased ; but the Dutch ships, being very indifferent sailers, were soon left without a chance in their favour. The fleet then stretched out towards the flat of the Meuse, where Admiral de Winter expected to be joined by a 64-gun ship. Not meeting her, he stood on to the westward, followed, or rather, as the wind was, preceded by the squadron of Captain Trollope.

The wind, continuing westerly during the two succeeding days, prevented the Dutch fleet from getting abreast of Lowestoffe on the Suffolk coast until the evening of the 10th. The extreme darkness of that night induced Admiral De Winter to detach a few of his best-sailing ships, in the hope that they would be enabled, by daybreak, to get to windward of, and capture or chase away, the prying intruders ; but, just as the chasers had crowded sail for the purpose, some friendly merchant ships came into the fleet and informed the admiral, that the English fleet was within 11 leagues of him, in the north-north-east, steering east by south. Instantly the detached ships were recalled ; and the Dutch fleet, as soon as it was in compact order, edged away, with the wind at north-west, towards Camperdown, the appointed place of rendezvous.

On the 11th, at daylight, the Dutch fleet was about nine leagues off the village of Schevenningen, in loose order, speaking a friendly convoy, from whom some additional information was obtained. Shortly afterwards the persevering observers to windward were seen with numerous signals flying, which convinced Admiral De Winter that the British fleet was in sight. He accordingly ordered his captains to their respective stations, and, to facilitate the junction of the leewardmost ships, stood towards the land. On the Wykerdens bearing east distant about four leagues, the Dutch fleet hauled to the wind on the starboard tack, and shortly afterwards discovered Admiral Duncan's fleet in the north-north-west. Admiral De Winter then put about on the larboard tack ; and, as soon as a close line was formed in the direction of north-east and south-west,

* "La faction dominante obligea l'Amiral Dewinter â débarquer ses troupes et â sortir du Texel, sans autre but que de joindre la flotte Anglaise et de lui livrer bataille ; elle espérait affermir sa domination par le prestige de gloire dont l'environnerait un succès naval."- Victoires et Conquêtes tome viii., p. 271.

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