Engel de Ruyter was made rear-admiral-and his father was sent to visit the coast of England; but a tempest put an end to the voyage, and he returned to Helvoetsluis. On the 19th of February, 1674, the Treaty of Westminster was signed. Charles at last definitely broke with the ally in whom he could place no faith, pocketed the 2,000,000 guilders-which he extorted from the United Provinces, and Louis was left to face the Dutch alone. "ADIEU FOR EVER." THE ATTEMPT ON THE FRENCH WEST INDIES-HOME LIFE- WITH the conclusion of the war of 1672-73, de Ruyter's fame as a seaman again increased. His masterly conduct of the contest against the two most powerful nations in Europe, was a source of universal admiration. The bold attack at Solebay, which defeated the plan of invasion in 1672, the patient defensive strategy in the shoals of Schooneveldt, when the navy of the Netherlands had been unavoidably reduced in strength, followed as it was by two repulses inflicted on the superior fleets of the Allies, had greatly impressed his contemporaries. When to these triumphs succeeded the battle of Kykduin, and the eventual relief of Holland from all threats by sea, de Ruyter's renown passed all previous limits. While it was seen how his unremitting attention to details had shaped the Dutch navy to the requirements of his strategy, it is possible that the deterioration which was proceeding on the other side of the Channel, and its results in assisting de Ruyter's success, may have been overlooked,* as well as the want of the determination to combat the Dutch with the same untiring energy as in Cromwell's war. The English nation had given Charles but very grudging assistance in his two wars. This was probably fully understood by the Prince of Orange, who felt so secure in regard to the future policy of his uncle, that he now ventured, under de Ruyter's advice, while reducing the navy, to allow the preparation of a fleet destined to attack the French Antilles. On the 27th of February, 1674, de Ruyter had taken the oath of allegiance to the Prince, and he availed of the opportunity to impress on him his views in regard to this expedition, the idea of which he had himself originated. The command of the force destined for this affair was confided to de Ruyter, while to van Tromp was entrusted an attack on the coast of France. The greatest * Pepys. + See Colomb, "Naval Warfare," and Davies, "History of Holland." secrecy was enjoined in the preparation of these bold and aggressive designs. The Dutch fleet was now to consist of 54 ships of the line, 12 frigates, and 84 smaller ships, making 150 sail of all kinds, carrying 18,400 sailors, and about 2700 soldiers. The cost of providing the vessels and their armament and provisions for six months, was about 5,700,000 florins (Brandt, p. 628; Looman, p. 382). Wielingen was the rendezvous arranged; but the various admiralties took some time in the preparation of their contingents, the weather was not favourable, and it was only on the 24th of May that de Ruyter was able to leave Wielingen, and even then, some of his vessels were not ready to sail. On the 27th, the fleet arrived off Dover, and the admiral saluted the fortress with 13 guns, his lieut.-admirals with 11, the vice-admirals with nine, and the rear-admirals with seven. Several English officers went on board de Ruyter, and the most friendly intercourse was observed. Despatching an urgent appeal to the Dutch naval authorities to forward the storeships with cannon and munitions of war, for want of which he was being delayed, de Ruyter passed down the English coast as far as Torbay. Thence, on the 9th of June, he cleared with about 56 vessels (including a detachment of nine which were to rejoin later), carrying 4336 sailors, 3386 soldiers, and 1142 cannon. De Ruyter hoisted his flag on the Zeven Provincien, van Ness and Bankert had commands in his fleet, but van Tromp remained with the Channel fleet destined to make an attack on the French coast. By this time, however, the secret of both expeditions was out, and along the Channel shores of France an excited look-out was maintained for van Tromp. "The nation of shopkeepers," as Louis XIV. had called the Dutch, had failed to keep pace with de Ruyter's plans. The paltering preparations of their divided and jealous admiralties, always behindhand when despatch was of the essence of the affair in hand, had worked more completely to upset all calculations than the abilities of their antagonist. De Ruyter, complaining bitterly of the inertia which had delayed him so long, steers for a point about 20 leagues west of Cape Finnisterre. Sixty-seven years of a hard life have not dimmed the courage or the endurance of the stout Zealander, and, once more on his favourite element, he is looking forward to the crowning success of an enterprise peculiarly his |