HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

CHAP.IX V.I«73.iSth ofJM ay.Sea-fight.

4th June.

Another

sea-fight.

Holland, and found die enemy, lying at anchor,av ithin the sands at Schonvelt. There is a naturalconfusion attending sea-fights, even beyond othermilitary transactions; derived from the precariousoperations of winds and tides , as well as fromthe smoke and darkness, in which every thing isthere involved. No wonder, therefore , thataccounts of those battles are apt to contain uncer-tainties and contradictions ; especially when de-livered by writers of the hostile nations, whotake pleasure in exalting the advantages of theirown countrymen , and depressing those of theenemy. All we can say with certainty of thisbattle, is, that both sides boasted of the victory;and we may thence infer, that the event wasnot decisive. The Dutch , being near limne,retired into their harbours. In a week, they- wereresitted, and presented themselves again to thecombined fleets. A new action ensued, not moredecisive than the foregoing. It was not foughtwith great obstinacy on either side ; but whetherthe Dutch or the allies first retired, seems to bea matter of uncertainty. The loss in the formerof these actions fell chiefly on the French, whomthe Englilh, diffident of their intentions, tookcare to place under their own squadrons; and theythereby exposed them to all the fire of the enemy.There seems not to have been a ship lost on eitherfide in the second engagement.

Ir was sufficient glory to de Ruyter, that,with a fleet much inferior to the combinedsquadrons of France and England, he could fight