Hij zag Vlissingen branden
P. A. Hart hoorn
In September 1809 was Symons Horden met zijn
schip de Shark Cutter op de reede van Duins
aangekomen uit Zeeland met berichten over de
oorlog. Nog onder de indruk van zijn belevenis
sen schreef hij een brief aan zijn vader in
Devonshire. Deze brief kwam onlangs te voor
schijn uit een verzameling van filatelistische
stukken van een Londense postzegelhandel. We
hebben deze brief hier in zijn geheel en in de
oorsponkelijke taal afgedrukt, omdat in een
vertaling veel van de persoonlijke stijl (én de
persoonlijke opvattingen aangaande de spel
ling....) verloren zou gaan.
De brief was geadresseerd aan Cap(tai)n Hor
den, Bood, Braunton near Barnstaple, Devon. Er
waren twee poststempels. In een cirkel: B SEP
7 1809 en het poststempel van Deal in Kent:
DEAL 74.
Shark Cutter
Downs September 3rd 1809.
Dear Father,
We arived hear last evening with Dispatches
from the Island Walsheren (Flushing belonging
to the Dutch) which surrendered to us the 31st
or 32nd of July after a very sevear cannona
ding it was a very Grand sight to see the
Shells and likewise Congraves Rockets which
flew in the air in the night time like Firey
Meetors carrying a long train of fire after
them and setting fire to every house thy lighted
on we was very near the Town of Camptvar
when it was Bumbarded so could see every
thing that went on we took severall other
smaller (dit stond doorgestreept) Island but I
hear v/e have since laid them under water as we
cannot keep posession of them.
I hear we have lost 6 or 7 Hundred men killed
and wounded and hear there is 7 or 8 thousand
sick it is a very un healthy country for
English men, being so verry low and marshey
and very Bad water to use it afords Great
Plenty of Timber and Capital Horses for draft
the Beef and Mutton very poor but exelant
gardens abot it.
We have been up the River Sheld as far as a
fort called Fort Dilo above which lyes the
French fleet we could see the French flags
flying about 4 or 5 miles Distant from us but
Durst not go aney Farther as the Enemy had
received verry great reinforsements a young
man a Midship Man who had been five or 6
years Prisoner in France made his escape to
Antworp with the french armey in character of
a Surg(eo)ns mate of the french Armey with
thirty thousand Men from thence he escaped to
the English and got on b(oar)d H:M Ship Ceasar.
I hear that the General Lord Chatham and the
Adm(irals) cannot agree which is commonly the
case, Adm(ira)l Oatway waited on Lord Ch(a-
tha)m in the morning, staid all day at last he
sent word if it did not rain he would get up at
3 in the afternoon I hear the Adm(ira)l went
of has not been to him since the(y) say he
never us'd to get out till 3 or 4 in the afternoon
so the army did not know how to act;
the(y) say the sailors did the most execution
against Flushing and the fire rockets the(y)
fired Broadsides like ship firing, which Injured
the Town very much and Burnt down the
Church and 9 Frig(a)ts went up the river and
discharged several Broadsides at the Town
which done much damage to the Batteries and
Town The Inhabbitants must be in very great
distress the French would not let the women
out of the place.
I suppose we shall keep Flushing if possible as
its the Key of the Sheld Just as lundy is to the
Bristol Channel. I hear the French have 12 Sail
of the line and 40 Gun Brigs lying just below
Antworp they have thrown chains across the
river buoid up with Baulk and both side very
strong foarts upwards of 60 Piece heavy Cannon
both.
We are going to sink several old ships in the
river to keep them from passing out it has
been said that if the General would have agreed
to land in time our ships would have gone up
and Destroid the french fleet before they got the
place so much strengthened but I fear we have
made a badish hand of it alltogether loosing a
great number of men for little or nothing and
being at Great Expence to the Nation in equi-
ping such a very large fleet I suppose near a
thousand sail of vessels all I see is a number
of very fine Brass Cannon and some stores this
is a dangerous coast being so full of sandbanks
we have been a ground two or three times liketo
have been lost but thank God are safe so far
thare has been several small vessels wrecked
and several of the men of war have grounded
and much damaged.
We dot not know when we shall return home or
go out a gain as our Cutter is much in want of
repair in the hul sails and rigging. I hope we
shall not go back to holland again as the place is
so very dangerous in sands and Pleast tot Give
69
markt