VINCENT

vincent, battle of) disposed of the spanish fleet. in the autumn of the year the dutch, having put to sea, were defeated at camperdown by admiral duncan on the 11th of october. admiral duncan had the more numerous force, sixteen ships to fifteen, and they were on the average heavier. attacking from windward he broke through the enemy's line and concentrated on his rear and centre. eight line of battleships and two frigates were taken, but the good gunnery and steady resistance of the dutch made the victory costly. between these two battles the british fleet was for a time menaced in its very existence by a succession of mutinies, the result of much neglect of the undoubted grievances of the sailors. the victory of camperdown, completing what the victory of cape saint vincent had begun, seemed to put great britain beyond fear of invasion. but the government of the republic was intent on renewing the attempt. the successes of napoleon at the head of the army of italy had reduced austria to sign the peace of campo formio, on the 17th of october 1797, and he was appointed commander of the new army of invasion. it was still thought necessary to maintain the bulk of the british fleet in european waters, within call in the ocean. the mediterranean was left free to the french, whose squadrons cruised in the levant, where the republic had become possessed of the ionian islands by the plunder of venice. the absence of a british force in the mediterranean offered to the government of the french republic an alternative to an invasion of great britain or ireland, which promised to be less hazardous and equally effective. it was induced largely by the persuasion of napoleon himself, and the wish of the politicians who were very willing to see him employed at a distance. the expedition to egypt under his command sailed on the 19th of may 1798, having for its immediate purpose the occupation of the nile valley, and for its ultimate aim an attack on great britain "from behind" in india (see