88] 
detached at the bottom of the Bay, 
in order to hold a council of war, 
whom I am obliged to assemble on 
account of responsibility. ‘ 
~ [have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) EnceLBERTUsS Lucas. 
On board the Dortrecht, 
Aug. 16, 1796. 
Tohis Excellency vice-admiral sir 
G. K. Elphinstone, &c. &c. &c. 
.Excellency, 
Agreeably to my promise, I send 
you a copy of terms of capitulation, 
which I doubt not you will grant. 
In this hope I am 
Your excellency’s obedient 
servant, 
(Signed) Encersertus Lucas, 
Dortrecht, at anchor in Sal- 
danha Bay, Aug. 17, 
1796, second year of the 
Batavian republican li- 
berty. 
Articles of capitulation agreed upon 
in Saldanha Bay this 17th of 
August, 1796, between his excel- 
lency Rear-admiral Engelbertus 
Lucas, commander in chief 
of the squadron of the United 
States now lying in Saldanha 
Bay, and the hon. sir George 
Keith Elphinstone knight of 
the most honourable and mi- 
litary order of the Bath, vice- 
admiral of the blue, and com- 
mander in chief of his Britannic 
majesty’s ships and vessels in the 
Indian seas, at the Cape of Good 
Hope, and of those now lying in 
Saldanha Bay. 
Art:¥. Rear-admiral Lucas’will 
@eliver up to vice-admiral Elphin- 
stone the squadron: under his com- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1796. - 
mand, upon the conditions of the 
capitulation underwritten. 
Ans, The vice-admiral is aétuated 
by principles of humanity to prevent 
the effusion of human blood, and 
considers the surrender of the Dutch 
squadron asa matter of necessity 
and not of choice. 
2. The British admiral shall ap- 
point two ships as cartels, the frigates 
the Braave and Sirene, in which the 
rear-admiral, his officers and mid- 
shipmen, and ship’s crew, shall be 
permitted to proceed, without hin- 
drance, to Holland, and the officers 
shall keep their side arms. 
Ans. Inadmissible, by reason that 
the cartel ships sent from Toulon 
and various other places, under si- 
milar circumstances, have been de- 
tained, and their crews imprisoned, 
contrary to the laws and usage of 
war, and the general good faith of 
nations ; but officers becoming pri- 
soners shall be allowed to keep and 
wear their swords and side arms, 
so leng as they behave with be- 
coming propriety, and shall be 
treated with the respect due to their 
rank. 
Ill. The Dutch admiral, his 
officers and crew, shall retain their 
private property without being 
searched, and the remainder of the 
crew who cannot be received on 
board the frigates are to be sent to 
Holland in such manner as the Bri- 
tish admiral shall judge proper. 
Ans. Private property of every 
denomination will be secured to 
the proprietors to the fullest ex- 
tent, in consequence of British aéts 
of parliament and his Britannic 
majesty’s positive orders, as well as 
-from the general known disposition 
of British officers to treat with the 
utmost liberality those who become 
their prisoners. 
IV. They 
