PASSAGE TO HOLLAND.
Once again we have the story of Jan Vlieland but this time we hear the story from one of the passengers,PASSAGE TO HOLLAND.
Benjamin Silliman a professor of Yale University as we can read in the first chapter of the book.
Sept. 29 1811 -—About nine o'clock in the morning we were ordered on board, with the promise of sailing immediately ; our packet was called the Johanna Wilhelmina (Captain Vlieland.) Our trunks were examined by the Custom House officer, who received from each of us his accustomed fee of half a crown ; the thing is perfectly understood ; the traveller pays his money that his trunk may not be disturbed; it is merely opened and a finger or two thrust down at the sides, and all is pronounced well; if the money is refused, the trunk becomes an object of suspicion, and with the zeal of miners they dig to the very bottom ; the money which is paid for forbearance is called civility money.
Having formed my ideas of packets from those of Rhode-Island and New-Haven, and not imagining that any employed in Europe could be inferior, I was hardly able to suppress my disgust, when I found, that ours was only a little Dutch boat, of about thirty tons, as badly contrived for accommodation as possible. The births were all in her hold along her sides; we descended through the hatch-way, and neither air nor light could reach us except through this aperture. In this place, fourteen of us, of all ages, and of both sexes, were crowded together; yet, for such accommodations we paid five guineas each, exclusive of subsistence.
If you have ever descended into the hold of any one of the celebrated gun-boals of our country, you will form a tolerably correct estimate of our situation ; and, in fact, this very packet was built for a gun-boat for the invasion of England ; she was taken in action by the English, purchased of them by a Dutch captain, a--'d converted into a packet to sail between Rotterdam and London. She was however, in every respect inferior to the American gunboats., except that she was deeper in the hold, but, still we could not any where stand upright.
example of a packet.The Dort packet by William Turner.
Dort The Dort Packet Boat From Rotterdam Bacalmed
The captain did not fail according to his promise; he kept us till evening, when we got under way, but, the wind which had been fair before, now became contrary, and we beat only ten miles down the river, when the tide turning against us, we dropped our anchor and waited the return of the flood.
Sept. 30.—In addition to the privations which we all endured in common, I found that my birth was so short, that I could not extend my limbs, till I contrived to lie across with my head in one corner and my feet in the ether, but, the noise of the sailors and the snoring of the passengers rendered refreshing sleep unattainable.
In the morning we found the wind strong at east, and directly ahead—the sky was cloudy, and the weather chilly and uncomfortable. We advanced a few miles by beating; just far enough to bring us into the road where the river Thames opens into a wide bay, and by losing the protection of the land, begins to feel the fluctuation of the ocean. Here we cast anchor again, on account of the turning of the tide ; the wind increased and caused the boat to pitch and roll so much, that I became sick ; the hold, which was the only refuge from the piercing wind, was loathsome, and I preferred remaining on deck, till the termination of a very dismal day. We remained in this situation all night, and the morning brought us no alleviation of our troubles.
Oct. 1.—The east wind continued stedfast to its point, and, when the tide became favourable to our course, we could make only eight or ten miles, before we were compelled to cast anchor again, and lie tossing, through the day, with an adverse current and a strong wind, bringing in a heavy swell from the ocean. The sun was veiled, the atmosphere was cold and raw, the wind was increasing, and we had in prospect, a night much more uncomfortable than the last; nor, were we entirely without apprehensions for our safety, because our situation was very much exposed, and our bark extremely frail.
But, just at twilight, the captain relieved our solicitude, by standing in for the land. He was acquainted with the coast, and ran into a deep bay, to the north, in the county of Essex. A few miles from it stands Colchester, and immediately contiguous, a little village, whose name I do not recollect. Here we came immediately under the lee of the shore, and into smooth water.
So much does our comfort depend on comparison, that our present situation seemed happy, when contrasted with that of last night, and we passed this in perfect quiet, solaced with the reflection, that in our present situation, even a tempest would not expose us to serious danger.
Oct. 2.—The morning cheered us with a fine sun and clear sky, but, the wind remained as before, and we ran in quite to the bottom of the bay, and anchored within cable's length of the shore, among eighty or ninety sail of small sloops, employed in fishing for oysters ; with their sails all set they were plying back and forward, and presented a scene of great life and gaiety.
This bay is famous for producing the finest oysters in England ; the London market is supplied principally from its waters, and the oysters are even exported to Holland. The Colchester fishermen take them in netts which are dragged along by the motion of the boat. I have eaten excellent oysters in England, but sometimes have perceived a metallic'taste very offensive and particularly in raw oysters; the popular opinion imputes it to eopper in the oyster banks.
In this bay we observed two armed brigs, and near them a gun-boat captured at Boulogne; or.e of those which have been so long preparing for the invasion of England.
We were very solicitous during our confinement in these waters, to go on shore and make ourselves comfortable at an inn, but the alien laws were severe against us, and the captain would not run the risk of a fine of five hundred pounds for permitting us to land ; and we ourselves, as aliens regularly cleared for a foreign country, and, in that way discharged from the care of the ajien office, should have been liable to severe amercement and imprisonment besides,
As we could not land, we sent our captain on shore to procure us some fresh provisions. He brought us a peck of miserable apples and pears, for which he paid five shillings; for a bottle of gin he gave five shillings and nine pence, and for a bottle of rum six shillings and six pence;—a specimen partly of imposition, and partly of the high prices of the articles of life in this country.
Oct. 3.—The wind continued as before, only blowing with more strength, but we were favoured with remarkably fine weather. We dropped down the bay a mile, and anchored again, that we might be ready to put to sea, whenever the wind should become more favourable.
By this time I began to discover with what people I was imprisoned. We were a motley collection. Among our number were several Dutchmen, a German, a Swiss, a Hamburgher, a Russian, a Prussian, a Frenchman, a Jew, an English woman and two Americans; all were however very civil, but with the kindest deportment we could not be but very uncomfortable. Our captain seemed to care very little for the comfort of his passengers ; his object was to get our money, and to expend as little of it as possible for our convenience. Most of the passengers found their own provisions, but there were a few of us who paid each an extra guinea to the captain, and depended upon him for our lahle which was so miserable that wo had sufficient reason to regret that we had not been our own stewards.
Oct. 4.—No change in our situation. Without a possibility of landing or of putting to sea, we were obliged to submit to our fate, although I fear, we were not actuated by all that resignation which ought to prevent a murmur, when providence obstructs our way, and thwarts our favourite purposes. The inconveniences of our situation were serious, but to me and my companion, the loss of time was the most important consequence.
We beguiled a part of the evenings, by wrapping ourselves in the sails and talking of scenes beyond the Atlantic.
Oct. 5.—Although the direction of the wind remained unaltered, it became less violent, and our captain was induced to hoist sail and to endeavour to put to sea. We continued beating all day, and at sunsetting dropped anchor a few miles from Harwich, having gained two or three leagues on our course, but as the wind was still hostile, we determined to run into Harwich as soon as the tide would serve.
Oct. 6.—Accordingly, last night at eleven, we were standing in for Harwich, when the wind suddenly changed, and blew upon our larboard beam, and we, immediately put to sea. When morning arrived, we were out of sight, of land, and making a hopeful progress on our course. But, the sky was cloudy and the wind very cold and uncomfortable.
In the progress of the day, we were visited by two British brigs of war, civilly tieated, and permitted to proceed. We stood all day on our course, and night came upon us with no other prospect than that afforded by the ocean and the heavens.
Last evening we saw a partial sea-fight. Through the darkness that hovered over the face of the water, we perceived the rapid eruption of flame from the mouths of cannon; soon alter, several broadsides were exchanged, and the affair seemed to be decided. In the course of an hour we came in sight of three ships, and we conjectured that one had been overpowered by two, which circumstance would account for the speedy termination of the contest.
Oct. 7.—I rose at three in the morning, and remained on deck. We were already in fn fathom water, and waited impatiently for the dawning of the day to discover to us the land. We did not descry it however till we were, as I imagine, within ten or twelve miles of the shore, to which we rapidly approached with a fine fair wind.
Vol. u. 23
NO. LIX—ARRIVAL IN HOLLAND.
The Briel and other objects—Appearance of the water on tilt sand hanks—Dutch fishermen—Maas Sluys—Nature of the dominion exercised \iy the French in Holland—Formalities of entrance—An evening scene on the Meuse—A young patriot—A Russian.
The first objects that arrested my attention, were the towers of the Uriel a fortified town on the Meuse ; the steeples of Gravesande on the left; farther off, in the same direction, the turrets of the Hague, and all along the margin of the sea, high sand-hills, raised by the beating of the waves, and now serving for a barrier against their farther encroachments. But, all these\objects appeared, as if springing up out of the ocean, for the land beyond was so low that it could not be discerned.
Between ten and eleven in the morning, we entered the Meuse. The access is by a winding channel, for the sand-banks, which are concealed by shallow water, extend for miles into the sea, and, in bad weather, render the coast a perilous one, even to those who know it best, and always so to strangers.
The sea brought in a great surf, and, as we approached the sand-banks we could distinctly mark their commencement ; the water changed its colour at once, from the deep azure of the ocean, to a dirty brown, and the boundary line was almost mathematically exact.
The Dutch fishermen swarmed around us, and as they sailed by, they all took off their hats and bade us good morrow. These fishermen dress in a singular style ; they wear large hats like umbrellas, and breeches of enormous size; both men and boys had pipes in their mouths, a proof certainly of some adroitness, for they contrived to smoke, talk, and manage their boats without breaking their pipes, and this in a brisk breeze, and a heavy swell of the sea, while the ropes and sails were constantly (lapping about their heads. On board our own boat, we had been so fumigated during the whole passage, by our Dutch companions, who were incessantly smoking, that most of us were glad to relinquish the hold to them, and seek purer air on deck.
As we proceeded up the river we saw great numbers of wild geese and other sea-fowl, all around us ; and, the wreck of an American ship, half buried in the sand, exhibited a melancholy mementolo mariners. Having now advanced a considerable distance into the river, the beach and ocean gradually receded from our view; the water was smooth, and both wind and tide conspired to float us slowly up to Mans Sluys, a considerable village about six miles from the river's mouth. There we dropped anchor. At this station all the packets from England are obliged to stop to undergo an examination.
It will doubtless appear strange.that an intercourse of this nature should exist between countries at war. The truth is, England and Holland are not cordially hostile; both countries are greatly benefited by an active commercial intercourse, always existing in periods of peace, and which it is extremely difficult to suppress even in time of war. Holland is the mere cats-paw of France. Sorely against her will, her claws are thrust into the fire by her powerful mistress, while the humble and reluctant instrument gains no share of the nuts, but has the burning entirely to herself.
. The Dutch, who are the nominal rulers of Holland, intimidated by the real masters of the country, the French, who are resident among thorn, have, from time to time, enacted severe laws to cut off the communication with England. Only a few months since they issued an edict making it a capital crime for any captain, even a neutral, to bring either poods or passengers from England ; the goods were liable to confiscation, and the passengers to imprisonment or even to death. These things were well known in England, and were repeatedly mentioned tome in that country by Americans who had come from this. We arrived here therefore with halters about our necks ; but we knew that the Dutch would never be permitted by the French to execute even the laws which they themselves had forced them to pass. Singular as it may appear, the Dutch, in direct opposition both to their own interests and inclinations, enact sanguinary laws against the intercourse with England, and then the French demand their own price for insuring safety against the operation of these vecy laws.
The whole history of the business may be comprised within a very few sentences.* At Rotterdam there constantly resides a French general, who is called the guardian and prelector ofthe coast; subordinate to him is a French consul, and, at Maas Sluys, a Dutch comman
«d to care very little for the comfort of his passengers ; his object was to get our money, and to expend as little of it as possible for our convenience. Most of the passengers found their own provisions, but there were a few of us who paid each an extra guinea to the captain, and depended upon him for our lahle which was so miserable that wo had sufficient reason to regret that we had not been our own stewards.
Oct. 4.—No change in our situation. Without a possibility of landing or of putting to sea, we were obliged to submit to our fate, although I fear, we were not actuated by all that resignation which ought to prevent a murmur, when providence obstructs our way, and thwarts our favourite purposes. The inconveniences of our situation were serious, but to me and my companion, the loss of time was the most important consequence.
We beguiled a part of the evenings, by wrapping ourselves in the sails and talking of scenes beyond the Atlantic.
Oct. 5.—Although the direction of the wind remained unaltered, it became less violent, and our captain was induced to hoist sail and to endeavour to put to sea. We continued beating all day, and at sunsetting dropped anchor a few miles from Harwich, having gained two or three leagues on our course, but as the wind was still hostile, we determined to run into Harwich as soon as the tide would serve.
Oct. 6.—Accordingly, last night at eleven, we were standing in for Harwich, when the wind suddenly changed, and blew upon our larboard beam, and we, immediately put to sea. When morning arrived, we were out of sight, of land, and making a hopeful progress on our course. But, the sky was cloudy and the wind very cold and uncomfortable.
In the progress of the day, we were visited by two British brigs of war, civilly tieated, and permitted to proceed. We stood all day on our course, and night came upon us with no other prospect than that afforded by the ocean and the heavens.
Last evening we saw a partial sea-fight. Through the darkness that hovered over the face of the water, we perceived the rapid eruption of flame from the mouths of cannon; soon alter, several broadsides were exchanged, and the affair seemed to be decided. In the course of an hour we came in sight of three ships, and we conjectured that one had been overpowered by two, which circumstance would account for the speedy termination of the contest.
Oct. 7.—I rose at three in the morning, and remained on deck. We were already in fn fathom water, and waited impatiently for the dawning of the day to discover to us the land. We did not descry it however till we were, as I imagine, within ten or twelve miles of the shore, to which we rapidly approached with a fine fair wind.
Vol. u. 23
NO. LIX—ARRIVAL IN HOLLAND.
The Briel and other objects—Appearance of the water on tilt sand hanks—Dutch fishermen—Maas Sluys—Nature of the dominion exercised \iy the French in Holland—Formalities of entrance—An evening scene on the Meuse—A young patriot—A Russian.
The first objects that arrested my attention, were the towers of the Uriel a fortified town on the Meuse ; the steeples of Gravesande on the left; farther off, in the same direction, the turrets of the Hague, and all along the margin of the sea, high sand-hills, raised by the beating of the waves, and now serving for a barrier against their farther encroachments. But, all these\objects appeared, as if springing up out of the ocean, for the land beyond was so low that it could not be discerned.
Between ten and eleven in the morning, we entered the Meuse. The access is by a winding channel, for the sand-banks, which are concealed by shallow water, extend for miles into the sea, and, in bad weather, render the coast a perilous one, even to those who know it best, and always so to strangers.
The sea brought in a great surf, and, as we approached the sand-banks we could distinctly mark their commencement ; the water changed its colour at once, from the deep azure of the ocean, to a dirty brown, and the boundary line was almost mathematically exact.
The Dutch fishermen swarmed around us, and as they sailed by, they all took off their hats and bade us good morrow. These fishermen dress in a singular style ; they wear large hats like umbrellas, and breeches of enormous size; both men and boys had pipes in their mouths, a proof certainly of some adroitness, for they contrived to smoke, talk, and manage their boats without breaking their pipes, and this in a brisk breeze, and a heavy swell of the sea, while the ropes and sails were constantly (lapping about their heads. On board our own boat, we had been so fumigated during the whole passage, by our Dutch companions, who were incessantly smoking, that most of us were glad to relinquish the hold to them, and seek purer air on deck.
As we proceeded up the river we saw great numbers of wild geese and other sea-fowl, all around us ; and, the wreck of an American ship, half buried in the sand, exhibited a melancholy mementolo mariners. Having now advanced a considerable distance into the river, the beach and ocean gradually receded from our view; the water was smooth, and both wind and tide conspired to float us slowly up to Mans Sluys, a considerable village about six miles from the river's mouth. There we dropped anchor. At this station all the packets from England are obliged to stop to undergo an examination.
It will doubtless appear strange.that an intercourse of this nature should exist between countries at war. The truth is, England and Holland are not cordially hostile; both countries are greatly benefited by an active commercial intercourse, always existing in periods of peace, and which it is extremely difficult to suppress even in time of war. Holland is the mere cats-paw of France. Sorely against her will, her claws are thrust into the fire by her powerful mistress, while the humble and reluctant instrument gains no share of the nuts, but has the burning entirely to herself.
. The Dutch, who are the nominal rulers of Holland, intimidated by the real masters of the country, the French, who are resident among thorn, have, from time to time, enacted severe laws to cut off the communication with England. Only a few months since they issued an edict making it a capital crime for any captain, even a neutral, to bring either poods or passengers from England ; the goods were liable to confiscation, and the passengers to imprisonment or even to death. These things were well known in England, and were repeatedly mentioned tome in that country by Americans who had come from this. We arrived here therefore with halters about our necks ; but we knew that the Dutch would never be permitted by the French to execute even the laws which they themselves had forced them to pass. Singular as it may appear, the Dutch, in direct opposition both to their own interests and inclinations, enact sanguinary laws against the intercourse with England, and then the French demand their own price for insuring safety against the operation of these vecy laws.
* As the knowledge of some of these facts was not attained till I had been some days on shore in Holland, it would, in strictness, have been more correct to have referred the history of them to a subsequent date, but as this part of my journal was written in England, after my return from Holland, I felt myself at liberty to deviate from the strictness of chronological order in everything but the events of my tour.
Tis story we already told long ago but today we found not the Dutch side of the story but the British side,
All this from the book
A journal of travels in England, Holland and Scotland: and of two ..., Volume 2 Benjamin Silliman
One of the passengers was the baroness.
More information from other articles
and about Jeroen Vlieland from Stockton.
And finally the auction of the ship.
NICOLAUS MONTAUBAN VAN SWYNDREGT en WILLEM VAN DAM J.H.Zoon, Makelaars, zullen, op HEDEN den 12 Maart 1805, 's namiddags ten 3 uren, Rotterdam, in 't Logement het Zwynshoofd, aan den meest biedenden, (zonder Afding) verkoopsn, een extra welbezeild BOMSCHlP, genaamd JOHANNA WILHELMINA, laatst gevoerd door Schipper Ary Vlieland, lang over Steven 37 voeten. hol 9voetenenl duim, wyd, i9voeten. Bieder by de Inventaris en bericht by de gemelde Makelaars. NICOLAUS MONTAUBAN VAN SWYNDREGT, Makelaar te Rotterdam
