LONDON IN PERIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10871, 15 April 1929, Page 6

LONDON IN PERIL.

SOUND OF FOREIGN GUNS

A LETTER TO REPYS

Although, to use Macaulay’s favorite expiossion, every schoolboy knows that dur ng the reign of Charles. 11., in 1635, a Dutch fleet sai'ed up the Thames and .Londoners suffered the humiliation of hearing foreign guns, it i.s not generally known that the Dutch landed a force of 3,00 f) men anil actually attacked the Lnndguanl fort. The* details of the incident, written by an eye-wit-ness. Sir Anthony Deane, are given m an article in the December number of the ‘‘National Review” by a descendant and namesake of S r Anthony. Sir Anthony (then Captain) Deane was a shipwright and a subordinate and close friend of Samuel L’epvs. During the threat of invasion by the Dutch bis despatches kept hy Pop vs informed of the movements of the enemy. Eight of those despatches, which are preserved at the Bodleian, in Oxford, -survive. The writing, the absence of punctuation, and the reckless spelling hear evidences of desperate haste. One wr tten at “about 7 a. Clockc in the morning” of .June 3 is given in full, Imt the spelling and punctuation of the original are amemletT. The letter runs :—- “Honoured Sir—Yesterday in the afternoon the Dutch fleet landed, about 2 miles from Lanilgiuird Fort, about 3000 men. and at the same time 0 ships came near the, fori, and smartly played at the fort. The tort spent little more powder than to annoy them, for they lay round it. After an hour's dispute with the ships, the Dutch army boldly came to the tort walls. On the r appearance tin* fort gave them a warm entertainment. which caused them to retreat to the place they landed at, and left behind them 20 ladders and many arms. One part ot the. Dutch had made good a way down to the fort, hut after some time, with Ihe h ss of 12 of our men. they pull them also to the boats. There in a body they continued till dark, and in the nigiii we- got from hence 500 men. and if they had stayed they had been by this time certa nly well beaten. But now (hey all quitted the land, and their ships fallen down to Oasly Bay. The fireships of this place was the only cause they rlare not bring their slips no further in, vet the winds so lavor them that not one of ours could get to w.nilward of them. The harm done at vhe U.irt—one man killed. three wounded, with tin- governor (whose wound we hope, of little harm); the Dutch about the fort, 8 dead and uon tilled unknown. It is thought th-'V got away the dead along with them, for it was a very hot dispute, and many shot fired. The mil tla have taken some, but its yet wo know not the numbers nor what they killed. AYluit tliev will do furth.r we do not know, but it 's believed they will scarcely attempt Hie land here anv more—which 's a'l at- present from your honor s most humbfe servant- tit command. Anthonv Deane/’ Correspondence with Bep.vs © s_ doses that he would not allow his personal friendship to interfere with his official duty. Concerning an appointment made, by Deane with wh cli 1„, was dissatisfied. “J mil not dissemble because I iovo you.' writes Repys. “I am wholly dissatisfied with your proceedings.” ' Alter summarising the facts he goes on: “Air Deane, I do bear you stillQgonil respect and (though it may he you ,-'o not now think that worth keeping) I should bo glad to have reason to continue it to you. But upon mv word, 1 have not spared to tell the Board my i pinion of you about t’n s business, as you will see shortly hv a letter we have wrote to Commissioner Taylor. Wherein I have been verv free concerning you. ami shall he 'more so, if ever I meet with the like occasion. The only k iillness I have shown you m it is that 1 have not acquainted Sir AN illtain Coventry with any part ot it, and <K--ire- vou will give no second occas on of doing it.” The reprool was taken in good part, and at < hustmas Deane sent from Harwich as a present to Repys “tour great turkeys.