Once the British blockade made resistance untenable, Lucas's officers proposed taking Batavian frigates home as cartel ships. A cartel ship was a protected vessel used to take prisoners home as a humanitarian vessel during that voyage. Admiral Elphinstone refused to release the frigates and offered the officers eventual parole instead. The negotiations ended in unconditional surrender after the Dutch crews entered open rebellion. Lucas had failed to secure the frigates for the journey home.
Notable Point · 38:22-39:25
What cartel ships meant in surrender negotiations
Lucas's officers sought frigates to carry them home as protected cartel ships, but Britain offered eventual parole instead and retained the warships.