364 DUTCH APPREHENSION. 



lish would take the island ; and the arrival in the 

 roads of a British man-of-war (the Cura^oa) was 

 almost hailed by them as a confirmation of the fact. 

 The government trembled for Java when the 

 news of war in Europe arrived ; and the appear- 

 ance of our men-of-war, the Magicienne, Wolf, 

 &c. did not tend to allay their apprehensions. The 

 Dutch vessels were sent off to Sourabaya, and 

 remained there under the protection of the sloops 

 of war, Helden and Amphitrite ; so there was 

 hardly a single Dutch vessel remaining in Ba- 

 tavia roads, the English and American flags 

 almost alone waving. The government were 

 engaged in erecting two turf batteries on the 

 banks a short distance down the river, and 

 planted cannon upon them, and mercantile 

 affairs were almost suspended. It was expected 

 that an embargo would have been laid by the 

 Dutch on our ships in Batavia roads ; but an 

 order issued on this subject had reference only 

 to their own vessels. The Calcutta and other 

 papers were at this time filled with false and 

 absurd statements relating to the Dutch force at 

 Batavia, and seemed most eager to point out, 

 even in the event of hostilities, in what manner 

 they could most easily invade British property.* 

 In consequence of the present unsettled state 

 * The following paragraph appeared in one of the Calcutta 



