554 DUTCH MISSIONS TO ENGLAND IN 1689 October extraordinary and adding Engelburg and Citters to their number.^ The two last declined to take part in the naval conferences on the ground that they were so far advanced. They were still to last more than a month. At the first conference with the English, on 9/19 March at Torrington's house, the Dutch, on being asked to put forward a proposal, made that on which they had agreed amongst them^ selves, for two joint fleets, one of fifty of the line for the Channel and the Irish Sea, one of thirty for the Mediterranean, each with its due complement of lighter craft, and the additional squadron of ten frigates to cruise from Dover to Walcheren.^ This is what was agreed in the treaty, and it lays down an outline for the strategy of the war. In addition to this, however, the Dutch made a proposal which was declined. They suggested an expedition to America, for the protection of possessions and the advancement of the interests of the two states, but the English answered that their interests in that quarter did not agree. At later conferences the same proposal was revived, but nothing more was agreed than that each power should grant the protection of its convoys to the other's West Indiamen.^ When the Dutch island Eustatia was seized by the French and Englishmen became anxious for the safety of their own West Indian plantations, it was again thought possible that there might be common action there, but the English recovered Eustatia single-handed and gave it back to the Dutch. Combined action in the West Indies does not seem to have been made a second time the subject of diplomatic dis- cussion.* The reason for the English refusal presumably was a general desire to keep down the activity of the Dutch in American waters, to prevent them from extending their trade or possessions there, or at least toabstain from contributing to any such extension. At the first of the conferences, the difficulties of naval pre- cedence began, the English claiming the right of commanding the joint fleets, while the Dutch were willing to concede it to an English admiral of the fleet but not to any officer of lower rank. We shall probably be right in doing what Bentinck did, and treating this as a trifling matter.^ The king easily settled it by promising to give the temporary rank of admiral to any of his vice-admirals who should command.' Another similar dispute was raised about the order of voting in joint councils of war. It was difficult to get a satisfactory order of seniority, because the English custom » Dispatch of 8/18 March ; Res. Stat. Oen., 25 February/7 March. ^ Dispatch of 12/22 March. » Dispatch of 19/29 March, 2/12 April.
- Witsen to burgomasters, 28 May/7 June, 18/28 June.
- Witsen in Scheltema, Mengelvxrk, m. ii. 148.
- Dispatch, 11/21 March.
