Sceptre and armed merchantmen capture a Dutch convoy

After France invaded the Netherlands in January 1795, Sceptre escorted an East India Company convoy around the Cape toward India and China, carrying mail as well as protecting merchant shipping. A third rate was unlikely to be stopped by an ordinary frigate. At St Helena she delivered orders dated 9 February that permitted British warships and privateers to detain Dutch vessels and cargoes as well as French shipping. A storm had divided a convoy of sixteen Dutch East Indiamen, leaving eight to return toward the Cape while the other eight and their escort eventually reached neutral Norway. Captain Essington assembled armed Company vessels and borrowed troops for boarding parties before sailing on 3 June. Swallow escorted an initial capture into St Helena and returned with additional sailors. After seven Dutch sails were sighted on 14 June, General Goddard passed through their formation at about one in the morning, taking their measure without returning their fire. The Dutch surrendered later that morning after little further firing, and additional Company ships helped board the prizes. Neither side suffered casualties.