president.  Unfortunately for the Committee, a large proportion of the officers and crews were strongly Orangist.  Most of the officers resigned, and it was necessary to purge the crews.  Their places had to be supplied by less experienced and trustworthy material; but Vice-Admiral Jan de Winter did his utmost to create a fleet in fit condition to join the French and Spanish fleets in convoying an expeditionary force to make a descent upon the coast of Ireland.  In July, 1797, eighty ships were concentrated at the Texel with troops on board, ready to join the Franco-Spanish squadrons, which were to sail from Brest.  But the junction was never effected.  Week after week the Dutch admiral was prevented from leaving the Texel by contrary winds.  The idea of an invasion of Ireland was given up, but so great was the disappointment in Holland and such the pressure exerted on De Winter by the Commission of Foreign Affairs, that he was obliged against his will to put to sea on October 7, and attack the English fleet under the command of Admiral Duncan, who was blockading the Dutch coast.  The number of vessels on the two sides was not unequal, but neither officers nor crews under De Winter could compare in seamanship and experience with their opponents.  The fleets met off Camperdown and the Dutch fought with their traditional bravery, but the defeat was complete.  Out of sixteen ships of the line nine were taken, including the flag-ship of De Winter himself.

Meanwhile there had arisen strong differences of opinion in the Republic as to the form of government which was to replace the old confederacy of seven sovereign provinces.  No one probably wished to continue a system which had long proved itself obsolete and unworkable.  But particularism was still strong, especially in the smaller provinces.  The country found itself divided into two sharply opposed parties of Unitarians and federalists.  The Unitarians were the most active, and meetings were held all over the country by the local Jacobin clubs.  Finally it was determined to hold a central meeting of delegates from all the clubs at the Hague.  The meeting took place on Jan. 26, 1796, and resolutions were passed in favour of summoning a National Convention to draw up a new constitution on Unitarian lines.  Holland and Utrecht pressed the matter forward in the States-General, and they had the support of Gelderland and Overyssel, but Zeeland, Friesland and Groningen refused their assent.  Their action was very largely financial, as provinces whose indebtedness was small dreaded lest unification should increase their burden.  But even in the recalcitrant provinces there were a large number of moderate men; and through the intervention of the French ambassador, Noeel, who gave strong support to the Unitarians, the proposal of Holland for a National Assembly to meet on March 1 was carried (February 18) by a unanimous vote.  The following Provisional Regulation was then rapidly drawn up by a special