282 
Veere Gat, and the plan of running at 
once up the West Scheldt by the Weeling 
Channel seemed abandoned, the object of 
destroying the Cadsand batteries ceased, ‘and 
a landing there would only have been an 
unnecessary risk, and a very inconvenient 
sepatation of our force, and, of course, occa- 
sion great delay in collecting it for ulterior 
operations. It must not, however, be for- 
gotten, that the difficulties here turned out 
to be much greater than had been at all 
foreseen before we sailed. In the first plece, 
the beach was so exposed, that in blowing 
weather it was found impossible to land: and 
from what cause I know not, the marquis of 
Huntly’s division could not be taken up, in 
the first instance, “high enough to attack the 
Breskens battery, the only one, from its 
situation, of much importance. . In addition 
to this, the enemy, who had been repre- 
sented by all the intelligence communicated 
to me to be very weak, almost actually with- 
out troups in that quarter, appeared to be well 
prepared, and in considerable force. Under 
these circumstances, according to lord 
Huntly’s report, commodore Owen appears 
to have experienced great disappointment in 
not having the support of lord Gardner’s fleet 
and of his boats: but his lordship, as I be- 
lieve, could never enter the Weeling Chan- 
nel at all; nor indeed was I ever acquainted 
with what instructions were given to him en 
this head. 
When it was found that lord Huntly’s 
division could neither land nor proceed by 
the Weeling Passage up the Scheldt, as I had 
intended they should, it was determined to 
withdraw them; but. from the boisterous 
state of the weather, it was some days before 
this could be effected. As soon as it was 
accomplished, they were passed over to 
South Beveland. 
With respect to sir John Hape’s operation, 
it was more prosperous. The object of it 
was this: In the original arrangement for 
carrying the army at once up the West 
Scheldt, sir John Hope’s division was includ- 
ed; but just before we sailed, the admiral 
received intelligence that the French fleet 
was come down abreast of Flushing, and 
seemed to threaten to oppose our passage up 
the Scheldt. 
Ia this view, it was conceived that, by 
landing on the north side of South Beveland, 
the, island might be possessed, and all the 
batteries taken in reverse, and thereby the 
position of the French fleet, if they ventured 
to remain near Flushing, would be, as it 
were, turned, and their retreat rendered 
more difficult, while the attack on them by 
our ships would have been much iacilitated ;° 
and, for this object, the division of sir John 
Hope rather preceded, in sailing from the 
Downs, the rest of the fieet. 
_ The navigation of the. East Scheldt was 
found most difficult; but by the skill and 
pesseverauce of sir Richard Keats, this pur- 
= 
State of Public Affairs in March. 
[April 1, 
pose was happily and early accomplished, 
though the troeps were carried a great way 
in schuyts and boats; and this division was 
landed. near Ter Goes, from whence they 
swept all the batteries in the island that 
could impede the progress of our ships up 
the West Scheldt, and possessed themselves 
on the 2d of August of the important post 
of Batz, to which it had been promised 
the army should at once have been brought 
Up, . 
Sir John Hope remained in possession of 
this post, though not without Leing twice 
attacked by the enemy’s flotilla, for nine 
days before any of the gun-buais under capt. 
sir Home Popham were moved up the 
Scheldt to his support. 
But it will be recollected, that both these. 
Operations tended directly to forward the ori- 
ginal purpose of a rapid progress up the 
Schelde ; the former by opening the Cadsand 
Channel, could the landing of lord Hunt- 
ly’s division have been effected; the second, 
by covering the progress of our fleet along 
the coast of South Beveland, while the di- 
vision under sir John Hope was at the same 
time so far advanced towards the destinatioa 
at which the rest of the 
assembled. 
It will now only be necessary for me to 
bring before your majesty the dates at which 
the several parts of the armament were eni- | 
bled, according to the arrangement of sir 
Richard Strachan, to pursue their progress 
up the Scheldt. In this place, however, it 
may be proper that I should previously advert 
to the grounds on which the 3d divisign, 
under lieutenant-general Grosvenor, as well 
as the two light battalions of the King’s , 
German Legion (composing part of the force’ 
detained in the first instance te proceed 
against Antwerp), were landed at Walcheren, 
and employed before Flushing. 
Your majesty will-be pleased to recollect, 
that the troops which sailed from Portsmouth, 
under lieurenant-general sir Eyre Coote, 
were destined for the service of Walcheren, 
and had been considéred as sufficient for that 
object, according to the intelligence received, 
and the supposed strength of the enemy ; 
though, at the game time, certainly relying, 
for.the first efforts against Flushing, on the 
promised co-operation of the navy, and on 
their establishing, as was held ont, in the 
first instance, a naval blockade, except on 
the side of Veer and Rammekins. Untortu- 
nately, however, this did not take place, 
and for several nights after the army was 
before Flushing, the enemy succeeded in 
throwing from the opposite coast, probably 
from the canal of Ghent, considerable rein~ 
forcements into the place, which enabled 
him constantly to annoy our out-posts and 
working parties, and finally to attempt a 
sally in force, though, happily, from the 
valour of your. majesty’s troops, without suc- 
cess. TDhis proving very harassing, particu~— 
pn ae i _ karly 
armament was to be 
