[Contents]CHAP. XXX.The Ships weigh Anchor, and put to Sea—Review of the Troops—Account of the Voyage—The Arrival in the Texel—Description of the Pampus near Amsterdam—Final Debarkation in the Town of Bois-le-Duc—The Death of Colonel Fourgeoud—End of the Expedition—Short History of the late Scotch Brigade—Conclusion.Every thing being at last perfectly adjusted for our departure, both vessels, under the command of Lieutenant Coloneldes Borgnes, weighed anchor on the morning of the 1st of April, 1777, when, with a fresh breeze at E. we put to sea, and kept course N. and N. W.—Motionless and speechless, I hung over the ship’s stern till the land quite disappeared. After some days, however, by considerable exertions, I got the better of my melancholy, though not of my affection, and my mind became once more composed and calm. What chiefly contributed to the restoring of my peace, was the comfortable reflection, that if I had in some measure injured myself, I had at least done good to a few others, by relieving three1innocent and deserving young people from a state of bondage. Yet, for this action, I was assuredly most amply[382]rewarded by the preservation of my life, principally owing to their unremitting care and attention, while such numbers fell all around me, and more were ruined in their constitution, the victims of the climate and the service, some having lost the use of their limbs, and some of their memory; nay, one or two were entirely deprived of their mental faculties, and continued in a state of incurable insanity for ever.In short, out of the number of near twelve hundred able-bodied men, not one hundred returned to their friends and their country: and perhaps not twenty amongst these were to be found in perfect health. Among the dead were (including the surgeons) between twenty and thirty officers; three of which number were colonels, and one a major. So very destructive was the service to Europeans in such a climate; and such ever must be the result of the most successful operations in the unwholesome atmosphere of woods and marshes.One or two remarks I must make before I conclude this subject, which are:—First, that among the officers and private men who had formerly been in the West Indies, none died, while among the whole number of above one thousand privates, I can only recollectonesingle marine who escaped from sickness; and next, that of the few belonging to the corps that were now on their voyage for the Texel (those gentlemen alone excepted, who at this time belonged to the staff) I myself was theonly officerwho had sailed out with the regiment in 1772. This last was a[383]pleasing reflection indeed, and which could not but render me sincerely thankful to Providence.About the 14th of April, having passed the Tropicks, and changed course to N. N. E. and N. E. we were becalmed for some days. I ought not to omit that when in about 15 degrees N. latitude, we sailed through what is vulgarly called theGrass Sea, from its being covered over with a floating kind of green and yellow weed, calledgulph weeds; some of which, when dried in the sun, and spread between two sheets of paper, are very curious, resembling trees, flowers, shrubs, &c. and in which are harboured small crustaceous fish, scollops, muscles, and shells of many thousand different species. Among the last is often found that wonderful sea reptile, called thehippocampus, or sea-horse, which I could compare to nothing better than thechevalierof achess-board; though it is generally larger, and sometimes eight or nine inches in length. The body is composed of cartilaginous rings: the head, snout, and mane are incrusted all over; and the tail, which is curvated upwards in the figure of anS, terminates in a point.On the 19th, the calm still continuing, we were daily entertained by swarms of flying fish, and several doradoes and grampusses swimming and tumbling before and after the ships, as if delighting to keep us company. Thegrampusis a fish of the cetaceous kind, something resembling the dolphin, but much larger, and approaching the whale in size, some being near twenty feet in length, and prodigiously fat. This fish has forty strong teeth; is of[384]a dark brown colour, and spouts water with considerable force. We also saw at some distance from the vessels several times above the water a largenorth-caper. This fish, which very much resembles the Greenland whale, is more dangerous, on account of its being more active, which proceeds from the body being smaller and flatter than that of the former. The jaw is shorter, with very small barbs: the skin is whiter, and the produce of its blubber amounts seldom to more than thirty tons.About the 22d, the weather began to change considerably, and the whole ship’s company were attacked with a severe cold and cough, and many also with the ague.On the 30th, the crew was so weak as to be hardly able to do their duty; two of them indeed, and one marine, were already dead and overboard. Colonel de Borgnes was also at this time so much indisposed, that the command devolved upon me for a few days during his illness, when observing the other ship ahead, and almost out of sight, I availed myself of my commodoreship, by hoisting a flag at the main-top, and firing a gun to windward to bring her to, which she punctually obeyed.The Shark, & Remora.The Shark, & Remora.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.A largesharknow swimming alongside the ship, we did all that lay in our power to take it, but to no purpose. Sharks are in these seas of different kinds; but what is generally called the white shark is the most terrible of its species, on account of its size, weighing often one thousand pounds, and measuring sixteen or eighteen feet in length; the head, which is something depressed, is large;[385]it has two spouting holes, and prominent eyes, which it can turn in every direction, and bespeak the malignity of its all-devouring nature; nearly under these are its mouth and throat, of such an enormous size, that it will swallow a bull-dog: its teeth, which are placed in five or six rows, are so sharp and strong, that they will snap off a man’s arm or his leg with ease, which has very frequently happened. The whole shape of this fish is in every respect like that of the dog-fish, found in the North Seas, with very strong fins, one dorsal, two ventral, and two abdominal: the tail is bifurcated, the upper part being longest; the skin is slimy, rough, and used for what we callshagreen. The shark always swims with velocity, but must turn upon its side to take its prey, by which many fish escape its jaws.Theremora, or sucking-fish, is frequently found sticking to sharks, and to ships bottoms: this fish is ash-coloured, and long, about twenty inches; the body roundish, and tapering near the tail; the fins are placed as those of the shark, and the under skin is projecting; itssuckeris, however, what makes it most remarkable, being an oval gristly plate above its head, with transverse bars, like the palate of a sheep. This sucker has so much attraction, that no waves, however violent, can beat it off.—(For both these fishes, see the Plate annexed.)Thepilot-fishought here also to be noticed: this is small, with brilliant colours, and is said not only to feed upon[386]the gills of the shark, but to direct it to its prey, from which singularity originates its name.On the 1st of May, being exactly one month at sea, during which time, by way of making a trial, I had continued bare-footed and bare-headed, without catching cold; I this day, for the first time, not only dressed like my ship-mates, but wore every thing double, and some things triple, which I found exceedingly comfortable.About this time a Mr.Neyseus, one of our surgeons, having on board acrabbodagoorgrisson(whose ferocity I have already described) to carry home as a curiosity, the mischievous creature broke loose, and in one night murdered all the monkies, parrots, poultry, and other animals that were upon deck, while it drove most of the crew who had the watch down the hatchway; till luckily one of them with a hand-spike knocked out his brains.On the 3d, we had hard gales and heavy showers at S. E. Latitude about 40°. From this time the gale daily encreased, till the ninth, when the weather began to moderate.We now saw several porpoises, herring-gulls, &c. The first is a fish about five or six feet long, excessively fat, of a bluish black colour, and without scales; the head has small eyes, and no gills, but a long snout, and sharp teeth. The fins are but one dorsal, and two ventral, and the tail is horizontal, to enable it to leap above the water, which it does frequently to blow or breathe, at which time its snorting may be heard at a great distance. The[387]flesh of the porpoise when killed is red, and looks like some kinds of pork.Theherring-gullis a bird as large as a tame duck, perfectly white, part of the beak and prime feathers excepted, which are of a dark ash-colour; the eyes are grey, the bill and feet are yellow; the claws are black, and the length of its wings is between four and five feet, from the extremity of the one to the other.On the 13th, in the morning-watch, being not far from theAzoresor Western Isles, the vessel was nearly laid on her beam-ends, though then under double-reefed topsails, by a sudden squall at E. At this time a broken top-gallant-mast, a new hand-spike, &c. floated past the ship, the melancholy remains of a shipwreck, which we since were informed to be a Dutch homeward-bound East Indiaman, that had foundered with all the crew near the island ofTerceira.On the 14th the wind was violent, carrying away our fore-top-gallant-mast, and splitting the main-sail, while the other vessel lost her bowsprit, &c.; and on the evening of the 15th it blew a perfect storm, accompanied with thunder and lightening, and very heavy rain, which continued during the night, and which brought our main-top-mast by the board, while the ship’s crew were so very much reduced as to be hardly able to clear the wreck, in which I cheerfully assisted, by cutting away with a hatchet.The two following days we continued scudding before[388]the wind, with a reef in the fore-sail, the sea running mountains high, and constantly breaking over the vessel—pumps going day and night; soon after which we saluted the Alarm frigate from Holland, which compliment they returned.At length, the weather becoming fair, we were carried within soundings, on the 19th, when we hove the lead in ninety fathom water; but the wind shifting to the N. E. with foul weather, we beat about in the chops of the Channel, till the morning of the 21st, when at half past one a signal gun was fired for the other vessel, that we saw the light off Scilly; and at four o’clock P.M. got the pilot on board.Having been becalmed two days off Dover, it was the 27th before we first saw the Dutch coast: here we purchased some excellent fish from aSchevelinboat, with which we entertained the whole crew, though during this sea voyage no ship’s company could be better provided.Having kept off shore during the night, we at last doubledKeykduynand theHelder; and on the 28th, at three o’clock P.M. both ships, under a discharge of nine guns, dropped anchor in the Texel roads.On the 30th, having passed the small island ofUrk, in theZuyder Sea, which is theonly rockin the province of Holland, both vessels running before the wind with a fine breeze,premeditatedlystuck fast upon thePampus—this is a large bank of soft mire, covered with shoal water, and not far from Amsterdam, which it naturally protects[389]like a barrier from all foreign invaders; since all ships whatever must either be lifted over or dragged through this bank of mud.The first is done by sinking two concave vessels, calledcamels, which being chained together under the bottom of an Indiaman or man-of-war, of whatever burthen, the water is pumped out of them, when rising gradually to the surface with their burthen, they carry it to where there is to be found sufficient depth to keep it afloat.The second method is practised on smaller vessels, and consists of half a dozen sail boats, calledwater-manakins, towing them through the mud, which can never be done but when straight before the wind: at which time not only the ship itself, but the boats that have her in tow, must crowd all the sail they possibly can carry.On the morning of the 31st, having been becalmed all night, a fresh breeze at E. again sprung up, when we fired a gun as a signal, and five or six water-manakins instantly came off, by the help of which we were dragged over thePampus, not at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, but at that of fourteen hours a knot, since we did not get clear of it in less than three days sailing, though not four miles in length: however, I must confess, that the last day we had scarcely any wind at all.During this tedious passage, it was no bad entertainment, to observe the contrast between some newly-arrivedNorwegiansand us; those people sitting upon deck in[390]their shirts, and wiping off the perspiration, while we were strutting in great coats and fur caps, like so many Muscovites, to keep us from the cold.Having at this time received a considerable present of refreshments, sent by the city of Amsterdam to the deliverers of their favourite colony, and being so near revisiting their old friends and acquaintances, all on board were in the highest flow of spirits, and exulting with gladness—exceptingone!—from whose mind every happiness was banished.I must here still relate the following singular circumstance: A man-of-war’s boat coming alongside theHollandia, the officer and crew no sooner entered on board, than one of them, without speaking, ran up aloft, with a knife in his teeth, tocut down the pennant. At this time Lieutenant Colonel Seyburg, presenting a musquet, and swearing he would shoot him out of the rigging, the poor fellow came down by the back-stays like a shot, to our great entertainment; next, having explained to him that both vessels had been put in commission by the Prince of Orange, the amazed lieutenant made a handsome apology, and left the ship.On the 3d of June, every thing being in readiness, the troops were put on board six lighters, appointed to transport them toBois-le-Duc, in which town they were next to be compleated, and do the duty as part of the garrison. On leaving the vessels we were once more saluted[391]with nine guns from each; which having returned with three cheers, we set sail for the place above mentioned. As we passed in the lighters through the inland towns, such asSaardam,Haerlem, andTergow, I thought them truly magnificent, particularly the glass painting in the great church of the latter; but their inhabitants, who crouded about us, from curiosity to see us, appeared but a disgusting assemblage of ill-formed and ill-dressed rabble, so much had my prejudices been changed by living among the Indians and blacks: their eyes seemed to resemble those of a pig; their complexions were like the colour of foul linen; they seemed to have no teeth, and to be covered over with rags and dirt. This prejudice, however, was not against these people only, but against all Europeans in general, when compared to the sparkling eyes, ivory teeth, shining skin, and remarkable cleanliness of those I had left behind me. But the most ludicrous circumstance was, that during all this we never once considered the truly extraordinary figure that we made ourselves, being so much sun-burnt and so pale, that we were nearly the colour of dried parchment, by heat and fatigue; and so thin, that we looked like moving skeletons; to which I may add, that having lived so long in the woods, we had perfectly the appearance of wild people; and I in particular, very deservedly, obtained the characteristic title ofle Sauvage Anglois, or the English savage.In this state we arrived, on the 9th, at the town[392]of Bois-le-Duc, where the troops were finally disembarked.“Per varios casus, & tot discrimina rerum,Pervenimus ad Latium.”——————“Olim meminisse juvabit.”Thus ended, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary expeditions that was ever undertaken by European troops; and to which only the exploits of the American Buccaneers have any, and even that a very distant, resemblance.On our arrival I found that Lieutenant ColonelWesterlo, who went sick to Europe, in 1773, was not yet quite recovered. This gentleman now invited me, in company with some others, to dine with him at the public mess; where, while some Dutch officers complained that the soup was smoaky, and the beef was tough, we adventurers declared that we never had tasted a more delicious repast; and at the same time, while they praised the strawberries, cherries, and other European fruits, we thought them very indifferent, and greatly inferior to the avogado-pear, the water-melon, and the pine-apple, to which we had been lately accustomed—which shews that every thing in this world is only good or bad by comparison.The following day we were introduced, on the parade, to the Lieutenant Governor, GeneralHardenbrook, and spent the evening at his lady’s card assembly, where I must acknowledge I was charmed with some very sweet faces, fresh as the rose and the lily, while they were no less entertained with our grotesque appearance, though[393]we had now borrowed the assistance of powder and pomatum.On the 18th the troops were finally cleared with, and paid their remaining arrears, and those who chose it permitted to return to theirformerregiments. Some of the privates had from thirty to forty pounds to receive, which, sailor-like, having earned it like horses, they spent like asses. Among others, a young fellow of my company, whose late regiment chanced to be quartered in the very same town, hired three post-chaises to carry him the length of one street only, ordering a couple of drunken fiddlers in the first, his knapsack in the second, and placing himself in the third, supported by a brace of the frail sisterhood: he was, however, unfortunately shipwrecked in his course, being run foul of by themajor de place, who, having broken the fiddles, and set the ladies adrift, towed the roaring adventurer himself, after a hard tug, to the quarter-guard, where he came to an anchor in the bilboes, till the gale of his dissipation was quite spent, and he had got rid of all his cargo. In a similar manner went most of the money which had been earned with so much danger, hardship, and fatigue.Now came the time to keep my long-made resolution of bidding alasting farewellto Colonel Fourgeoud’s regiment; from which, on the 10th day of August, I obtained my free dismission, having requested it, immediately after my debarkation, from the Prince of Orange, who at the same time honoured me with a fresh Captain’s[394]commission in the Honourable General Stuart’s regiment, which I had left in September 1772; while from that date to this very day my full pay had amounted to little more than four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, having regularly been stopped out of this sumten pounds per annumfor the putrid beef, pork, rusk-bread, and hard pease, that so miraculously had kept soul and body together.Let me not, however, be considered as wishing to cast a reflection on the Dutch nation in general, who indeed omitted nothing for our preservation and encouragement during this long and painful service: a people whose virtues have been for ages as conspicuous as their valour—oneman alone was the cause of all our sufferings.Having now exchanged my blue coat for a scarlet one, bought a very handsome horse, and put Quaco in a brilliant livery, I for the last time entertained my ship-mates, with whom, without exception, I drank an everlasting friendship: then taking my final farewell of them all, I the next morning set out to rejoin the old Scotch regiment, where I was received with the strongest marks of joy and unfeigned friendship by the corps.Europe supported by Africa & America.Blake Sculpt.Europe supported by Africa & America.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1792, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.Going now to take my leave of Surinam, after all the horrors and cruelties with which I must have hurt both the eye and the heart of the feeling reader, I will close the scene with an emblematical picture ofEurope supported by Africa and America, accompanied by an ardent wish that in the friendly manner as they are represented,[395]they may henceforth and to all eternity be the props of each other. I might have included Asia, but this I omitted, as having no connection with the present narrative: we only differ in colour, but are certainly all created by the same Hand. Thus, if it has not pleased fortune to make us equal in rank and authority, let us at least use the superiority we possess with moderation, and not only proffer that happiness which we have to bestow on our equals, but let us extend it with chearfulness to the lowest of our deserving dependants.On the 25th of August I repaired to the palace ofLoo, in Guelderland, where, by the Colonel of the regiment, I was introduced to his Serene Highness theStadtholder; who not only was pleased to give me a gracious reception, remarking, that by my looks I must have suffered much, but soon after promoted me to the rank ofMajorin the same Scottish regiment.As I had now the pleasure also to see a few others of my fellow sufferers recompensed after their hardships, I had reason to think the less of our former troubles; thus, instead of indulging in censure, I found a more solid consolation in the triumph oftruth, which wasbrought to lightwithout my farther interference.“Magna est veritas & prevalebit.”On the 24th of September I went to the Hague, where I presented his Serene Highness witheighteen figuresin wax, made by myself, for his museum, which were most[396]graciously accepted. They represented the free Indians of Guiana, and negro slaves of Surinam, engaged in different occupations, on an island, supported by a crystal mirror, and ornamented with gold.I now also, withhis own consent, made a present of my faithful black boy, Quaco, to the Countess ofRosendaal, to whose family I was under very great obligations; and who since, on account of his honesty and sober conduct, not only christened him, by the name ofStedman, at my desire, but promoted him to be their butler, with a promise to take care of him as long as he lived; which was particularly grateful to me, being such advantages as I could never have procured for him myself.Here I cannot omit an anecdote of attachment in this boy:—Having set out by myself on a short journey, I found a crown-piece more than I expected in my purse, and for which I was at a loss to account; till on my return, when I questioned Quaco, he said, “that fearing I might be short of cash, where people seemed so fond of it, he had put his five-shilling piece in my pocket.”—This action was the more generous, not only in the manner it was done, but being at that time the only crown poor Quaco possessed in this world.About the latter end of October, I was offered by the directors of the settlement to be sent over as a lieutenant governor to the colony ofBerbicè, situated next to Surinam. In consequence, I immediately went toAmsterdam, to wait on them, and hear the proposals, in which they[397]indeed offered me a higher salary, and greater advantages, than they had ever offered to any other gentleman in that situation; but I insisted on having either thegovernmentif I survived, or a decentpensionafter a certain number of years at my return; which being out of their power, they said, to grant, I declined accepting of the offer altogether, judging it more prudent to recover my health and vigour in Europe with a Scottish company, than to parch any longer under the Torrid Zone, without a prospect of settling at home with honour and a competent fortune. Nor was it long before I perfectly recovered, and became as stout and healthy as I had ever been in all my life: a happiness of which not one among one hundred of my late ship-mates could boast.Among others, poorColonel Fourgeouddid not long enjoy his good fortune; for he was scarcely arrived in Holland, with the remaining few who stayed some time behind us, than his belovedptisanhaving failed him, he was one morning founddeadin his bed, attended only by a negro, and buried with military honours at the Hague.Not long after this, expired also in Surinam Fourgeoud’s mortal enemy, theGovernorof the colony; which vacancy was most worthily filled up by ColonelTexier, and since by the deserving Mr.Wichers2.From this period nothing worth recording occurred[398]till the year 1782, when the Emperor of Germany having retaken the barrier towns from the States of Holland, General Stuart’s regiment was the last that evacuated the city ofNamur, and on the same day the Imperial troops marched in to take possession: after which the Emperor ordered, in the year 1783, all the fortifications to be demolished. Soon after this, the Scotch brigade, the privates of which now consisted of all nations, was naturalized by the States of Holland, that is, formed into threeDutchregiments, on account of the war with Great Britain; and this circumstance induced myself and most of the principal officers immediately to resign—as we refused to serve against our King and Country.Having thus left the Dutch service, on which day, by the Prince of Orange, I was complimented with the rank oflieutenant-colonel, the above gentlemen went to England, where, in consequence of their loyalty, they were taken under his Britannic Majesty’s protection; and, on the 18th of June, eleven of them, of which number I was so happy to make one, were, by GeneralConway, introduced at St. James’s, where we had the honour to kiss his Majesty’s hand.On the 27th of the same month, the half-pay was voted for them all by the British House of Commons, according to the rank in which each individual hadactually servedwhile abroad3.—But, that the reader may have[399]some idea of what is meant by theScotch Brigade, and of what they formerly consisted, I will beg leave to insert the following particulars:“In 1570 this ancient corps first landed in Holland, as independent companies, commanded by some of the first noblemen in Scotland.“In the year 1578 their gallant behaviour, together with the English, at the battle ofReminat, nearMechlin, is mentioned particularly byStrada.“In 1579Meninwas surprised, and the Spanish and Walloon guards taken prisoners by ColonelBalfour, with his regiment alone.“In 1588, at the memorable blockade ofBergen-op-Zoomby the Prince ofParma, the Scots, under the command of GeneralBalfourand ColonelScott, made a sortie, and demolished the greatest part of the Spanish lines, by which the enemy were forced to break up the siege, with considerable loss of men and ammunition.“In 1590, at the siege ofZutphen-Deventer,NimeguenandHulst, their bravery is well known.“In 1593 they shared so much of the glory at the taking ofGertrudenberg, that both General Balfour and his regiment were highly distinguished by PrinceMaurice. The general he made governor to command the garrison, instead of his brother PrinceHenry; and the regiment he appointed, as the most spirited corps, to defend it.[400]“In 1599, at the taking ofBommel, the Scots suffered most considerably.“In 1600 two field officers, eight captains, with above six hundred private men, were left dead on the field, after the famousBattle of the Downs, near Nieuport, where both they and the English behaved with the greatest gallantry; and to the valour of these united bands was attributed the success of the day.“In 1601, at the siege ofOstend, which lasted three years, and at which was levelled the whole power of Spain, nothing could equal the valour and courage both of the Scotch and English, the first commanded by Generals Balfour andSt. Clair, the latter by LordsWilloughbyandVere; who, after a great slaughter of the Spaniards (including all their best officers) forced the assailants to raise the siege, and retreat with great shame and confusion.“During the government of the three first Princes of Orange,William,Maurice, andFrederick-Henry, the Scotch behaved with so much bravery, honour and reputation, that by the last prince (besides many other marks of distinction which he conferred on them) they were called thebulwarks of the republick.“The necessary limits of this chapter compel me to omit many memorable services which were rendered by this distinguished body of men to the provinces of Holland; but I cannot overlook the last siege of Bergen-op-Zoom by the French, in 1747; where, while others[401]shamefully ran away, one regiment of Scots in the middle of the town, having twice repulsed the enemy, fought alone till they were nearly cut to pieces, leaving fifteen officers and above five hundred privates on the field.”—Such is the history of the late Scotch brigade in the Dutch service; and such were the outlines of its military character, till the day of its dissolution, in 1783.I must now draw this narrative to a conclusion, by once more mentioning the name of Joanna, and acquaint the reader, that, alas!——Joanna is no more!!!——In the month of August 1783, I received the melancholy tidings from Mr. Gourlay (which pierced me to the soul) that on the fatalfifthofNovemberthis virtuous young woman departed this life, assomesuspected by poison4, administered by the hand of jealousy and envy, on account of her prosperity, and the marks of distinction which her superior merit had so justly attracted from the respectable part of the colony.But she is no more!—Reader!—the virtuous Joanna, who so often saved my life, is no more!!!—Her adopted mother, Mrs. Godefroy, who bedewed her beauteous body with tears, ordered it to be interred with every mark of respect, under the grove of orange-trees where she had lived. Her lovely boy was sent to me, with a bill of near two hundred pounds, his private property, by inheritance from his mother.—Soon after which expired both his very faithful guardians.[402]ThisCHARMING YOUTH, having made a most commendable progress in his education in Devon, went two West India voyages, with the highest character as a sailor; and during theSpanishtroubles served with honour as a midshipman on board his Majesty’s shipsSouthamptonandLizard, ever ready to engage in any service that the advantage of his king and country called for.—But, Oh!—he also is no more, having sinceperishedat sea off the island ofJamaica.The effect which the following lines had on the sympathetic and ingenious Mrs.Cowley, could alone induce me to intrude them on the Public.—Let this be my apology——Oh! more than bitter task!!!——AnElegyON MYSAILOR.Loud sounds the tempest!—peals of thunder roar;Tremendous lightnings flash from shore to shore:Seas dash the shaking rocks—seas mount the flaming sky,And elements convuls’d, speak dissolution nigh.Such scenes as these (while tossing on the waves,True to his duty still) the manly sailor braves;Such was my Boy—(whose eyes could never weepBut for his neighbour’s woes) now swallow’d in the deep.Oh! agonizing pain—pain never felt before—}My manly boy—myJohn—my Sailor is no more;Still let me mourn with hope——andGodadore:With hope, to see my sailor once againFloating on seas of bliss, thro’ th’ azure main:Till then a short farewell—my lovely boy,Thy shipmates darling, and thy father’s joy.[403]Yet one small comfort soothes (while doom’d to part,Dear gallant youth!) thy parent’s broken heart;No more thy tender frame, thy blooming age,Shall be the sport of Ocean’s turb’lent rage:No more thyolivebeauties on the wavesShall be the scorn of some European slaves;Whose optics, blind to merit, ne’er could spyThat sterling worth could bloom beneath a western sky.No more, my dear—no more—(whilesuch were scar’d)Undauntedshalt thou rock upon the yard;There, while the silver moon gleam’d thro’ the gale,With manly skill and courage hand the sail.When Fame, who scann’d the value of her Tar,Did make thee shine on board a man-of-warWith honor5—while, with equal glory fir’d,To please a parent, brother, friend, thou e’er aspir’d;Till Death—relentless Death—none can withstand,Tocut thy cable————gave theLAST COMMAND!!!Soar now, my angel, to thy Maker’s shrine,There reap that prize, due to such worth as thine.Fly, gentle shade—fly to that blest abode,There view thymother—and adore thyGod:There, Oh! my Boy!——on that celestial shore,Oh! may we gladly meet—and part no more!!!A Parent.[404]And now farewell, myfriends, who have been pleased to peruse this narrative of my distresses with sympathetic sensibility; particularly those whose goodness of heart can forgive my inaccuracies and foibles.—I say, farewell: claiming no other merit whatever throughout these pages, than that of having spoke thesimple truth; which, if I wilfully have violated, may these volumes perish, and be forgotten with their author!—But should this treasure,TRUTH, so rarely to be met with, be found in this performance:—“Let one poor sprig of bays around my headBloom while I live; and point me out when dead.”THE END.[405]1Joanna, Johnny, and Quaco.↑2This gentleman having also resigned, I have the pleasure to acquaint my readers, that in the year 1792, that gallant officer, Mr. F. Fredericy (so frequently mentioned in this narrative) and who had some time before re-entered into the service of the Society troops, was appointed Governor of the colony of Surinam.↑3The above gentlemen, who were looked upon as being therealrepresentatives of his Majesty’s Scotch brigade, had their loyalty further rewarded by the revival of that old and honourable corps in Britain, which was since re-embodied under the command of GeneralFrancis Dundas, and sent to garrisonGibraltar.↑4Her emancipated brotherHenryunderwent the same melancholy fate.↑5Since the above lines were written, the last of his commanders, the gallant CaptainJohn Hutt, lost his life in the memorable action, fought under AdmiralLord Howe, against the French, on the 1st of June 1794.—This officer loved my Sailor well; nor was he less esteemed by CaptainRichard Keates, from whom he had the honour to receive his first naval education.↑
[Contents]CHAP. XXX.The Ships weigh Anchor, and put to Sea—Review of the Troops—Account of the Voyage—The Arrival in the Texel—Description of the Pampus near Amsterdam—Final Debarkation in the Town of Bois-le-Duc—The Death of Colonel Fourgeoud—End of the Expedition—Short History of the late Scotch Brigade—Conclusion.Every thing being at last perfectly adjusted for our departure, both vessels, under the command of Lieutenant Coloneldes Borgnes, weighed anchor on the morning of the 1st of April, 1777, when, with a fresh breeze at E. we put to sea, and kept course N. and N. W.—Motionless and speechless, I hung over the ship’s stern till the land quite disappeared. After some days, however, by considerable exertions, I got the better of my melancholy, though not of my affection, and my mind became once more composed and calm. What chiefly contributed to the restoring of my peace, was the comfortable reflection, that if I had in some measure injured myself, I had at least done good to a few others, by relieving three1innocent and deserving young people from a state of bondage. Yet, for this action, I was assuredly most amply[382]rewarded by the preservation of my life, principally owing to their unremitting care and attention, while such numbers fell all around me, and more were ruined in their constitution, the victims of the climate and the service, some having lost the use of their limbs, and some of their memory; nay, one or two were entirely deprived of their mental faculties, and continued in a state of incurable insanity for ever.In short, out of the number of near twelve hundred able-bodied men, not one hundred returned to their friends and their country: and perhaps not twenty amongst these were to be found in perfect health. Among the dead were (including the surgeons) between twenty and thirty officers; three of which number were colonels, and one a major. So very destructive was the service to Europeans in such a climate; and such ever must be the result of the most successful operations in the unwholesome atmosphere of woods and marshes.One or two remarks I must make before I conclude this subject, which are:—First, that among the officers and private men who had formerly been in the West Indies, none died, while among the whole number of above one thousand privates, I can only recollectonesingle marine who escaped from sickness; and next, that of the few belonging to the corps that were now on their voyage for the Texel (those gentlemen alone excepted, who at this time belonged to the staff) I myself was theonly officerwho had sailed out with the regiment in 1772. This last was a[383]pleasing reflection indeed, and which could not but render me sincerely thankful to Providence.About the 14th of April, having passed the Tropicks, and changed course to N. N. E. and N. E. we were becalmed for some days. I ought not to omit that when in about 15 degrees N. latitude, we sailed through what is vulgarly called theGrass Sea, from its being covered over with a floating kind of green and yellow weed, calledgulph weeds; some of which, when dried in the sun, and spread between two sheets of paper, are very curious, resembling trees, flowers, shrubs, &c. and in which are harboured small crustaceous fish, scollops, muscles, and shells of many thousand different species. Among the last is often found that wonderful sea reptile, called thehippocampus, or sea-horse, which I could compare to nothing better than thechevalierof achess-board; though it is generally larger, and sometimes eight or nine inches in length. The body is composed of cartilaginous rings: the head, snout, and mane are incrusted all over; and the tail, which is curvated upwards in the figure of anS, terminates in a point.On the 19th, the calm still continuing, we were daily entertained by swarms of flying fish, and several doradoes and grampusses swimming and tumbling before and after the ships, as if delighting to keep us company. Thegrampusis a fish of the cetaceous kind, something resembling the dolphin, but much larger, and approaching the whale in size, some being near twenty feet in length, and prodigiously fat. This fish has forty strong teeth; is of[384]a dark brown colour, and spouts water with considerable force. We also saw at some distance from the vessels several times above the water a largenorth-caper. This fish, which very much resembles the Greenland whale, is more dangerous, on account of its being more active, which proceeds from the body being smaller and flatter than that of the former. The jaw is shorter, with very small barbs: the skin is whiter, and the produce of its blubber amounts seldom to more than thirty tons.About the 22d, the weather began to change considerably, and the whole ship’s company were attacked with a severe cold and cough, and many also with the ague.On the 30th, the crew was so weak as to be hardly able to do their duty; two of them indeed, and one marine, were already dead and overboard. Colonel de Borgnes was also at this time so much indisposed, that the command devolved upon me for a few days during his illness, when observing the other ship ahead, and almost out of sight, I availed myself of my commodoreship, by hoisting a flag at the main-top, and firing a gun to windward to bring her to, which she punctually obeyed.The Shark, & Remora.The Shark, & Remora.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.A largesharknow swimming alongside the ship, we did all that lay in our power to take it, but to no purpose. Sharks are in these seas of different kinds; but what is generally called the white shark is the most terrible of its species, on account of its size, weighing often one thousand pounds, and measuring sixteen or eighteen feet in length; the head, which is something depressed, is large;[385]it has two spouting holes, and prominent eyes, which it can turn in every direction, and bespeak the malignity of its all-devouring nature; nearly under these are its mouth and throat, of such an enormous size, that it will swallow a bull-dog: its teeth, which are placed in five or six rows, are so sharp and strong, that they will snap off a man’s arm or his leg with ease, which has very frequently happened. The whole shape of this fish is in every respect like that of the dog-fish, found in the North Seas, with very strong fins, one dorsal, two ventral, and two abdominal: the tail is bifurcated, the upper part being longest; the skin is slimy, rough, and used for what we callshagreen. The shark always swims with velocity, but must turn upon its side to take its prey, by which many fish escape its jaws.Theremora, or sucking-fish, is frequently found sticking to sharks, and to ships bottoms: this fish is ash-coloured, and long, about twenty inches; the body roundish, and tapering near the tail; the fins are placed as those of the shark, and the under skin is projecting; itssuckeris, however, what makes it most remarkable, being an oval gristly plate above its head, with transverse bars, like the palate of a sheep. This sucker has so much attraction, that no waves, however violent, can beat it off.—(For both these fishes, see the Plate annexed.)Thepilot-fishought here also to be noticed: this is small, with brilliant colours, and is said not only to feed upon[386]the gills of the shark, but to direct it to its prey, from which singularity originates its name.On the 1st of May, being exactly one month at sea, during which time, by way of making a trial, I had continued bare-footed and bare-headed, without catching cold; I this day, for the first time, not only dressed like my ship-mates, but wore every thing double, and some things triple, which I found exceedingly comfortable.About this time a Mr.Neyseus, one of our surgeons, having on board acrabbodagoorgrisson(whose ferocity I have already described) to carry home as a curiosity, the mischievous creature broke loose, and in one night murdered all the monkies, parrots, poultry, and other animals that were upon deck, while it drove most of the crew who had the watch down the hatchway; till luckily one of them with a hand-spike knocked out his brains.On the 3d, we had hard gales and heavy showers at S. E. Latitude about 40°. From this time the gale daily encreased, till the ninth, when the weather began to moderate.We now saw several porpoises, herring-gulls, &c. The first is a fish about five or six feet long, excessively fat, of a bluish black colour, and without scales; the head has small eyes, and no gills, but a long snout, and sharp teeth. The fins are but one dorsal, and two ventral, and the tail is horizontal, to enable it to leap above the water, which it does frequently to blow or breathe, at which time its snorting may be heard at a great distance. The[387]flesh of the porpoise when killed is red, and looks like some kinds of pork.Theherring-gullis a bird as large as a tame duck, perfectly white, part of the beak and prime feathers excepted, which are of a dark ash-colour; the eyes are grey, the bill and feet are yellow; the claws are black, and the length of its wings is between four and five feet, from the extremity of the one to the other.On the 13th, in the morning-watch, being not far from theAzoresor Western Isles, the vessel was nearly laid on her beam-ends, though then under double-reefed topsails, by a sudden squall at E. At this time a broken top-gallant-mast, a new hand-spike, &c. floated past the ship, the melancholy remains of a shipwreck, which we since were informed to be a Dutch homeward-bound East Indiaman, that had foundered with all the crew near the island ofTerceira.On the 14th the wind was violent, carrying away our fore-top-gallant-mast, and splitting the main-sail, while the other vessel lost her bowsprit, &c.; and on the evening of the 15th it blew a perfect storm, accompanied with thunder and lightening, and very heavy rain, which continued during the night, and which brought our main-top-mast by the board, while the ship’s crew were so very much reduced as to be hardly able to clear the wreck, in which I cheerfully assisted, by cutting away with a hatchet.The two following days we continued scudding before[388]the wind, with a reef in the fore-sail, the sea running mountains high, and constantly breaking over the vessel—pumps going day and night; soon after which we saluted the Alarm frigate from Holland, which compliment they returned.At length, the weather becoming fair, we were carried within soundings, on the 19th, when we hove the lead in ninety fathom water; but the wind shifting to the N. E. with foul weather, we beat about in the chops of the Channel, till the morning of the 21st, when at half past one a signal gun was fired for the other vessel, that we saw the light off Scilly; and at four o’clock P.M. got the pilot on board.Having been becalmed two days off Dover, it was the 27th before we first saw the Dutch coast: here we purchased some excellent fish from aSchevelinboat, with which we entertained the whole crew, though during this sea voyage no ship’s company could be better provided.Having kept off shore during the night, we at last doubledKeykduynand theHelder; and on the 28th, at three o’clock P.M. both ships, under a discharge of nine guns, dropped anchor in the Texel roads.On the 30th, having passed the small island ofUrk, in theZuyder Sea, which is theonly rockin the province of Holland, both vessels running before the wind with a fine breeze,premeditatedlystuck fast upon thePampus—this is a large bank of soft mire, covered with shoal water, and not far from Amsterdam, which it naturally protects[389]like a barrier from all foreign invaders; since all ships whatever must either be lifted over or dragged through this bank of mud.The first is done by sinking two concave vessels, calledcamels, which being chained together under the bottom of an Indiaman or man-of-war, of whatever burthen, the water is pumped out of them, when rising gradually to the surface with their burthen, they carry it to where there is to be found sufficient depth to keep it afloat.The second method is practised on smaller vessels, and consists of half a dozen sail boats, calledwater-manakins, towing them through the mud, which can never be done but when straight before the wind: at which time not only the ship itself, but the boats that have her in tow, must crowd all the sail they possibly can carry.On the morning of the 31st, having been becalmed all night, a fresh breeze at E. again sprung up, when we fired a gun as a signal, and five or six water-manakins instantly came off, by the help of which we were dragged over thePampus, not at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, but at that of fourteen hours a knot, since we did not get clear of it in less than three days sailing, though not four miles in length: however, I must confess, that the last day we had scarcely any wind at all.During this tedious passage, it was no bad entertainment, to observe the contrast between some newly-arrivedNorwegiansand us; those people sitting upon deck in[390]their shirts, and wiping off the perspiration, while we were strutting in great coats and fur caps, like so many Muscovites, to keep us from the cold.Having at this time received a considerable present of refreshments, sent by the city of Amsterdam to the deliverers of their favourite colony, and being so near revisiting their old friends and acquaintances, all on board were in the highest flow of spirits, and exulting with gladness—exceptingone!—from whose mind every happiness was banished.I must here still relate the following singular circumstance: A man-of-war’s boat coming alongside theHollandia, the officer and crew no sooner entered on board, than one of them, without speaking, ran up aloft, with a knife in his teeth, tocut down the pennant. At this time Lieutenant Colonel Seyburg, presenting a musquet, and swearing he would shoot him out of the rigging, the poor fellow came down by the back-stays like a shot, to our great entertainment; next, having explained to him that both vessels had been put in commission by the Prince of Orange, the amazed lieutenant made a handsome apology, and left the ship.On the 3d of June, every thing being in readiness, the troops were put on board six lighters, appointed to transport them toBois-le-Duc, in which town they were next to be compleated, and do the duty as part of the garrison. On leaving the vessels we were once more saluted[391]with nine guns from each; which having returned with three cheers, we set sail for the place above mentioned. As we passed in the lighters through the inland towns, such asSaardam,Haerlem, andTergow, I thought them truly magnificent, particularly the glass painting in the great church of the latter; but their inhabitants, who crouded about us, from curiosity to see us, appeared but a disgusting assemblage of ill-formed and ill-dressed rabble, so much had my prejudices been changed by living among the Indians and blacks: their eyes seemed to resemble those of a pig; their complexions were like the colour of foul linen; they seemed to have no teeth, and to be covered over with rags and dirt. This prejudice, however, was not against these people only, but against all Europeans in general, when compared to the sparkling eyes, ivory teeth, shining skin, and remarkable cleanliness of those I had left behind me. But the most ludicrous circumstance was, that during all this we never once considered the truly extraordinary figure that we made ourselves, being so much sun-burnt and so pale, that we were nearly the colour of dried parchment, by heat and fatigue; and so thin, that we looked like moving skeletons; to which I may add, that having lived so long in the woods, we had perfectly the appearance of wild people; and I in particular, very deservedly, obtained the characteristic title ofle Sauvage Anglois, or the English savage.In this state we arrived, on the 9th, at the town[392]of Bois-le-Duc, where the troops were finally disembarked.“Per varios casus, & tot discrimina rerum,Pervenimus ad Latium.”——————“Olim meminisse juvabit.”Thus ended, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary expeditions that was ever undertaken by European troops; and to which only the exploits of the American Buccaneers have any, and even that a very distant, resemblance.On our arrival I found that Lieutenant ColonelWesterlo, who went sick to Europe, in 1773, was not yet quite recovered. This gentleman now invited me, in company with some others, to dine with him at the public mess; where, while some Dutch officers complained that the soup was smoaky, and the beef was tough, we adventurers declared that we never had tasted a more delicious repast; and at the same time, while they praised the strawberries, cherries, and other European fruits, we thought them very indifferent, and greatly inferior to the avogado-pear, the water-melon, and the pine-apple, to which we had been lately accustomed—which shews that every thing in this world is only good or bad by comparison.The following day we were introduced, on the parade, to the Lieutenant Governor, GeneralHardenbrook, and spent the evening at his lady’s card assembly, where I must acknowledge I was charmed with some very sweet faces, fresh as the rose and the lily, while they were no less entertained with our grotesque appearance, though[393]we had now borrowed the assistance of powder and pomatum.On the 18th the troops were finally cleared with, and paid their remaining arrears, and those who chose it permitted to return to theirformerregiments. Some of the privates had from thirty to forty pounds to receive, which, sailor-like, having earned it like horses, they spent like asses. Among others, a young fellow of my company, whose late regiment chanced to be quartered in the very same town, hired three post-chaises to carry him the length of one street only, ordering a couple of drunken fiddlers in the first, his knapsack in the second, and placing himself in the third, supported by a brace of the frail sisterhood: he was, however, unfortunately shipwrecked in his course, being run foul of by themajor de place, who, having broken the fiddles, and set the ladies adrift, towed the roaring adventurer himself, after a hard tug, to the quarter-guard, where he came to an anchor in the bilboes, till the gale of his dissipation was quite spent, and he had got rid of all his cargo. In a similar manner went most of the money which had been earned with so much danger, hardship, and fatigue.Now came the time to keep my long-made resolution of bidding alasting farewellto Colonel Fourgeoud’s regiment; from which, on the 10th day of August, I obtained my free dismission, having requested it, immediately after my debarkation, from the Prince of Orange, who at the same time honoured me with a fresh Captain’s[394]commission in the Honourable General Stuart’s regiment, which I had left in September 1772; while from that date to this very day my full pay had amounted to little more than four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, having regularly been stopped out of this sumten pounds per annumfor the putrid beef, pork, rusk-bread, and hard pease, that so miraculously had kept soul and body together.Let me not, however, be considered as wishing to cast a reflection on the Dutch nation in general, who indeed omitted nothing for our preservation and encouragement during this long and painful service: a people whose virtues have been for ages as conspicuous as their valour—oneman alone was the cause of all our sufferings.Having now exchanged my blue coat for a scarlet one, bought a very handsome horse, and put Quaco in a brilliant livery, I for the last time entertained my ship-mates, with whom, without exception, I drank an everlasting friendship: then taking my final farewell of them all, I the next morning set out to rejoin the old Scotch regiment, where I was received with the strongest marks of joy and unfeigned friendship by the corps.Europe supported by Africa & America.Blake Sculpt.Europe supported by Africa & America.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1792, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.Going now to take my leave of Surinam, after all the horrors and cruelties with which I must have hurt both the eye and the heart of the feeling reader, I will close the scene with an emblematical picture ofEurope supported by Africa and America, accompanied by an ardent wish that in the friendly manner as they are represented,[395]they may henceforth and to all eternity be the props of each other. I might have included Asia, but this I omitted, as having no connection with the present narrative: we only differ in colour, but are certainly all created by the same Hand. Thus, if it has not pleased fortune to make us equal in rank and authority, let us at least use the superiority we possess with moderation, and not only proffer that happiness which we have to bestow on our equals, but let us extend it with chearfulness to the lowest of our deserving dependants.On the 25th of August I repaired to the palace ofLoo, in Guelderland, where, by the Colonel of the regiment, I was introduced to his Serene Highness theStadtholder; who not only was pleased to give me a gracious reception, remarking, that by my looks I must have suffered much, but soon after promoted me to the rank ofMajorin the same Scottish regiment.As I had now the pleasure also to see a few others of my fellow sufferers recompensed after their hardships, I had reason to think the less of our former troubles; thus, instead of indulging in censure, I found a more solid consolation in the triumph oftruth, which wasbrought to lightwithout my farther interference.“Magna est veritas & prevalebit.”On the 24th of September I went to the Hague, where I presented his Serene Highness witheighteen figuresin wax, made by myself, for his museum, which were most[396]graciously accepted. They represented the free Indians of Guiana, and negro slaves of Surinam, engaged in different occupations, on an island, supported by a crystal mirror, and ornamented with gold.I now also, withhis own consent, made a present of my faithful black boy, Quaco, to the Countess ofRosendaal, to whose family I was under very great obligations; and who since, on account of his honesty and sober conduct, not only christened him, by the name ofStedman, at my desire, but promoted him to be their butler, with a promise to take care of him as long as he lived; which was particularly grateful to me, being such advantages as I could never have procured for him myself.Here I cannot omit an anecdote of attachment in this boy:—Having set out by myself on a short journey, I found a crown-piece more than I expected in my purse, and for which I was at a loss to account; till on my return, when I questioned Quaco, he said, “that fearing I might be short of cash, where people seemed so fond of it, he had put his five-shilling piece in my pocket.”—This action was the more generous, not only in the manner it was done, but being at that time the only crown poor Quaco possessed in this world.About the latter end of October, I was offered by the directors of the settlement to be sent over as a lieutenant governor to the colony ofBerbicè, situated next to Surinam. In consequence, I immediately went toAmsterdam, to wait on them, and hear the proposals, in which they[397]indeed offered me a higher salary, and greater advantages, than they had ever offered to any other gentleman in that situation; but I insisted on having either thegovernmentif I survived, or a decentpensionafter a certain number of years at my return; which being out of their power, they said, to grant, I declined accepting of the offer altogether, judging it more prudent to recover my health and vigour in Europe with a Scottish company, than to parch any longer under the Torrid Zone, without a prospect of settling at home with honour and a competent fortune. Nor was it long before I perfectly recovered, and became as stout and healthy as I had ever been in all my life: a happiness of which not one among one hundred of my late ship-mates could boast.Among others, poorColonel Fourgeouddid not long enjoy his good fortune; for he was scarcely arrived in Holland, with the remaining few who stayed some time behind us, than his belovedptisanhaving failed him, he was one morning founddeadin his bed, attended only by a negro, and buried with military honours at the Hague.Not long after this, expired also in Surinam Fourgeoud’s mortal enemy, theGovernorof the colony; which vacancy was most worthily filled up by ColonelTexier, and since by the deserving Mr.Wichers2.From this period nothing worth recording occurred[398]till the year 1782, when the Emperor of Germany having retaken the barrier towns from the States of Holland, General Stuart’s regiment was the last that evacuated the city ofNamur, and on the same day the Imperial troops marched in to take possession: after which the Emperor ordered, in the year 1783, all the fortifications to be demolished. Soon after this, the Scotch brigade, the privates of which now consisted of all nations, was naturalized by the States of Holland, that is, formed into threeDutchregiments, on account of the war with Great Britain; and this circumstance induced myself and most of the principal officers immediately to resign—as we refused to serve against our King and Country.Having thus left the Dutch service, on which day, by the Prince of Orange, I was complimented with the rank oflieutenant-colonel, the above gentlemen went to England, where, in consequence of their loyalty, they were taken under his Britannic Majesty’s protection; and, on the 18th of June, eleven of them, of which number I was so happy to make one, were, by GeneralConway, introduced at St. James’s, where we had the honour to kiss his Majesty’s hand.On the 27th of the same month, the half-pay was voted for them all by the British House of Commons, according to the rank in which each individual hadactually servedwhile abroad3.—But, that the reader may have[399]some idea of what is meant by theScotch Brigade, and of what they formerly consisted, I will beg leave to insert the following particulars:“In 1570 this ancient corps first landed in Holland, as independent companies, commanded by some of the first noblemen in Scotland.“In the year 1578 their gallant behaviour, together with the English, at the battle ofReminat, nearMechlin, is mentioned particularly byStrada.“In 1579Meninwas surprised, and the Spanish and Walloon guards taken prisoners by ColonelBalfour, with his regiment alone.“In 1588, at the memorable blockade ofBergen-op-Zoomby the Prince ofParma, the Scots, under the command of GeneralBalfourand ColonelScott, made a sortie, and demolished the greatest part of the Spanish lines, by which the enemy were forced to break up the siege, with considerable loss of men and ammunition.“In 1590, at the siege ofZutphen-Deventer,NimeguenandHulst, their bravery is well known.“In 1593 they shared so much of the glory at the taking ofGertrudenberg, that both General Balfour and his regiment were highly distinguished by PrinceMaurice. The general he made governor to command the garrison, instead of his brother PrinceHenry; and the regiment he appointed, as the most spirited corps, to defend it.[400]“In 1599, at the taking ofBommel, the Scots suffered most considerably.“In 1600 two field officers, eight captains, with above six hundred private men, were left dead on the field, after the famousBattle of the Downs, near Nieuport, where both they and the English behaved with the greatest gallantry; and to the valour of these united bands was attributed the success of the day.“In 1601, at the siege ofOstend, which lasted three years, and at which was levelled the whole power of Spain, nothing could equal the valour and courage both of the Scotch and English, the first commanded by Generals Balfour andSt. Clair, the latter by LordsWilloughbyandVere; who, after a great slaughter of the Spaniards (including all their best officers) forced the assailants to raise the siege, and retreat with great shame and confusion.“During the government of the three first Princes of Orange,William,Maurice, andFrederick-Henry, the Scotch behaved with so much bravery, honour and reputation, that by the last prince (besides many other marks of distinction which he conferred on them) they were called thebulwarks of the republick.“The necessary limits of this chapter compel me to omit many memorable services which were rendered by this distinguished body of men to the provinces of Holland; but I cannot overlook the last siege of Bergen-op-Zoom by the French, in 1747; where, while others[401]shamefully ran away, one regiment of Scots in the middle of the town, having twice repulsed the enemy, fought alone till they were nearly cut to pieces, leaving fifteen officers and above five hundred privates on the field.”—Such is the history of the late Scotch brigade in the Dutch service; and such were the outlines of its military character, till the day of its dissolution, in 1783.I must now draw this narrative to a conclusion, by once more mentioning the name of Joanna, and acquaint the reader, that, alas!——Joanna is no more!!!——In the month of August 1783, I received the melancholy tidings from Mr. Gourlay (which pierced me to the soul) that on the fatalfifthofNovemberthis virtuous young woman departed this life, assomesuspected by poison4, administered by the hand of jealousy and envy, on account of her prosperity, and the marks of distinction which her superior merit had so justly attracted from the respectable part of the colony.But she is no more!—Reader!—the virtuous Joanna, who so often saved my life, is no more!!!—Her adopted mother, Mrs. Godefroy, who bedewed her beauteous body with tears, ordered it to be interred with every mark of respect, under the grove of orange-trees where she had lived. Her lovely boy was sent to me, with a bill of near two hundred pounds, his private property, by inheritance from his mother.—Soon after which expired both his very faithful guardians.[402]ThisCHARMING YOUTH, having made a most commendable progress in his education in Devon, went two West India voyages, with the highest character as a sailor; and during theSpanishtroubles served with honour as a midshipman on board his Majesty’s shipsSouthamptonandLizard, ever ready to engage in any service that the advantage of his king and country called for.—But, Oh!—he also is no more, having sinceperishedat sea off the island ofJamaica.The effect which the following lines had on the sympathetic and ingenious Mrs.Cowley, could alone induce me to intrude them on the Public.—Let this be my apology——Oh! more than bitter task!!!——AnElegyON MYSAILOR.Loud sounds the tempest!—peals of thunder roar;Tremendous lightnings flash from shore to shore:Seas dash the shaking rocks—seas mount the flaming sky,And elements convuls’d, speak dissolution nigh.Such scenes as these (while tossing on the waves,True to his duty still) the manly sailor braves;Such was my Boy—(whose eyes could never weepBut for his neighbour’s woes) now swallow’d in the deep.Oh! agonizing pain—pain never felt before—}My manly boy—myJohn—my Sailor is no more;Still let me mourn with hope——andGodadore:With hope, to see my sailor once againFloating on seas of bliss, thro’ th’ azure main:Till then a short farewell—my lovely boy,Thy shipmates darling, and thy father’s joy.[403]Yet one small comfort soothes (while doom’d to part,Dear gallant youth!) thy parent’s broken heart;No more thy tender frame, thy blooming age,Shall be the sport of Ocean’s turb’lent rage:No more thyolivebeauties on the wavesShall be the scorn of some European slaves;Whose optics, blind to merit, ne’er could spyThat sterling worth could bloom beneath a western sky.No more, my dear—no more—(whilesuch were scar’d)Undauntedshalt thou rock upon the yard;There, while the silver moon gleam’d thro’ the gale,With manly skill and courage hand the sail.When Fame, who scann’d the value of her Tar,Did make thee shine on board a man-of-warWith honor5—while, with equal glory fir’d,To please a parent, brother, friend, thou e’er aspir’d;Till Death—relentless Death—none can withstand,Tocut thy cable————gave theLAST COMMAND!!!Soar now, my angel, to thy Maker’s shrine,There reap that prize, due to such worth as thine.Fly, gentle shade—fly to that blest abode,There view thymother—and adore thyGod:There, Oh! my Boy!——on that celestial shore,Oh! may we gladly meet—and part no more!!!A Parent.[404]And now farewell, myfriends, who have been pleased to peruse this narrative of my distresses with sympathetic sensibility; particularly those whose goodness of heart can forgive my inaccuracies and foibles.—I say, farewell: claiming no other merit whatever throughout these pages, than that of having spoke thesimple truth; which, if I wilfully have violated, may these volumes perish, and be forgotten with their author!—But should this treasure,TRUTH, so rarely to be met with, be found in this performance:—“Let one poor sprig of bays around my headBloom while I live; and point me out when dead.”THE END.[405]1Joanna, Johnny, and Quaco.↑2This gentleman having also resigned, I have the pleasure to acquaint my readers, that in the year 1792, that gallant officer, Mr. F. Fredericy (so frequently mentioned in this narrative) and who had some time before re-entered into the service of the Society troops, was appointed Governor of the colony of Surinam.↑3The above gentlemen, who were looked upon as being therealrepresentatives of his Majesty’s Scotch brigade, had their loyalty further rewarded by the revival of that old and honourable corps in Britain, which was since re-embodied under the command of GeneralFrancis Dundas, and sent to garrisonGibraltar.↑4Her emancipated brotherHenryunderwent the same melancholy fate.↑5Since the above lines were written, the last of his commanders, the gallant CaptainJohn Hutt, lost his life in the memorable action, fought under AdmiralLord Howe, against the French, on the 1st of June 1794.—This officer loved my Sailor well; nor was he less esteemed by CaptainRichard Keates, from whom he had the honour to receive his first naval education.↑
CHAP. XXX.The Ships weigh Anchor, and put to Sea—Review of the Troops—Account of the Voyage—The Arrival in the Texel—Description of the Pampus near Amsterdam—Final Debarkation in the Town of Bois-le-Duc—The Death of Colonel Fourgeoud—End of the Expedition—Short History of the late Scotch Brigade—Conclusion.
The Ships weigh Anchor, and put to Sea—Review of the Troops—Account of the Voyage—The Arrival in the Texel—Description of the Pampus near Amsterdam—Final Debarkation in the Town of Bois-le-Duc—The Death of Colonel Fourgeoud—End of the Expedition—Short History of the late Scotch Brigade—Conclusion.
The Ships weigh Anchor, and put to Sea—Review of the Troops—Account of the Voyage—The Arrival in the Texel—Description of the Pampus near Amsterdam—Final Debarkation in the Town of Bois-le-Duc—The Death of Colonel Fourgeoud—End of the Expedition—Short History of the late Scotch Brigade—Conclusion.
Every thing being at last perfectly adjusted for our departure, both vessels, under the command of Lieutenant Coloneldes Borgnes, weighed anchor on the morning of the 1st of April, 1777, when, with a fresh breeze at E. we put to sea, and kept course N. and N. W.—Motionless and speechless, I hung over the ship’s stern till the land quite disappeared. After some days, however, by considerable exertions, I got the better of my melancholy, though not of my affection, and my mind became once more composed and calm. What chiefly contributed to the restoring of my peace, was the comfortable reflection, that if I had in some measure injured myself, I had at least done good to a few others, by relieving three1innocent and deserving young people from a state of bondage. Yet, for this action, I was assuredly most amply[382]rewarded by the preservation of my life, principally owing to their unremitting care and attention, while such numbers fell all around me, and more were ruined in their constitution, the victims of the climate and the service, some having lost the use of their limbs, and some of their memory; nay, one or two were entirely deprived of their mental faculties, and continued in a state of incurable insanity for ever.In short, out of the number of near twelve hundred able-bodied men, not one hundred returned to their friends and their country: and perhaps not twenty amongst these were to be found in perfect health. Among the dead were (including the surgeons) between twenty and thirty officers; three of which number were colonels, and one a major. So very destructive was the service to Europeans in such a climate; and such ever must be the result of the most successful operations in the unwholesome atmosphere of woods and marshes.One or two remarks I must make before I conclude this subject, which are:—First, that among the officers and private men who had formerly been in the West Indies, none died, while among the whole number of above one thousand privates, I can only recollectonesingle marine who escaped from sickness; and next, that of the few belonging to the corps that were now on their voyage for the Texel (those gentlemen alone excepted, who at this time belonged to the staff) I myself was theonly officerwho had sailed out with the regiment in 1772. This last was a[383]pleasing reflection indeed, and which could not but render me sincerely thankful to Providence.About the 14th of April, having passed the Tropicks, and changed course to N. N. E. and N. E. we were becalmed for some days. I ought not to omit that when in about 15 degrees N. latitude, we sailed through what is vulgarly called theGrass Sea, from its being covered over with a floating kind of green and yellow weed, calledgulph weeds; some of which, when dried in the sun, and spread between two sheets of paper, are very curious, resembling trees, flowers, shrubs, &c. and in which are harboured small crustaceous fish, scollops, muscles, and shells of many thousand different species. Among the last is often found that wonderful sea reptile, called thehippocampus, or sea-horse, which I could compare to nothing better than thechevalierof achess-board; though it is generally larger, and sometimes eight or nine inches in length. The body is composed of cartilaginous rings: the head, snout, and mane are incrusted all over; and the tail, which is curvated upwards in the figure of anS, terminates in a point.On the 19th, the calm still continuing, we were daily entertained by swarms of flying fish, and several doradoes and grampusses swimming and tumbling before and after the ships, as if delighting to keep us company. Thegrampusis a fish of the cetaceous kind, something resembling the dolphin, but much larger, and approaching the whale in size, some being near twenty feet in length, and prodigiously fat. This fish has forty strong teeth; is of[384]a dark brown colour, and spouts water with considerable force. We also saw at some distance from the vessels several times above the water a largenorth-caper. This fish, which very much resembles the Greenland whale, is more dangerous, on account of its being more active, which proceeds from the body being smaller and flatter than that of the former. The jaw is shorter, with very small barbs: the skin is whiter, and the produce of its blubber amounts seldom to more than thirty tons.About the 22d, the weather began to change considerably, and the whole ship’s company were attacked with a severe cold and cough, and many also with the ague.On the 30th, the crew was so weak as to be hardly able to do their duty; two of them indeed, and one marine, were already dead and overboard. Colonel de Borgnes was also at this time so much indisposed, that the command devolved upon me for a few days during his illness, when observing the other ship ahead, and almost out of sight, I availed myself of my commodoreship, by hoisting a flag at the main-top, and firing a gun to windward to bring her to, which she punctually obeyed.The Shark, & Remora.The Shark, & Remora.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.A largesharknow swimming alongside the ship, we did all that lay in our power to take it, but to no purpose. Sharks are in these seas of different kinds; but what is generally called the white shark is the most terrible of its species, on account of its size, weighing often one thousand pounds, and measuring sixteen or eighteen feet in length; the head, which is something depressed, is large;[385]it has two spouting holes, and prominent eyes, which it can turn in every direction, and bespeak the malignity of its all-devouring nature; nearly under these are its mouth and throat, of such an enormous size, that it will swallow a bull-dog: its teeth, which are placed in five or six rows, are so sharp and strong, that they will snap off a man’s arm or his leg with ease, which has very frequently happened. The whole shape of this fish is in every respect like that of the dog-fish, found in the North Seas, with very strong fins, one dorsal, two ventral, and two abdominal: the tail is bifurcated, the upper part being longest; the skin is slimy, rough, and used for what we callshagreen. The shark always swims with velocity, but must turn upon its side to take its prey, by which many fish escape its jaws.Theremora, or sucking-fish, is frequently found sticking to sharks, and to ships bottoms: this fish is ash-coloured, and long, about twenty inches; the body roundish, and tapering near the tail; the fins are placed as those of the shark, and the under skin is projecting; itssuckeris, however, what makes it most remarkable, being an oval gristly plate above its head, with transverse bars, like the palate of a sheep. This sucker has so much attraction, that no waves, however violent, can beat it off.—(For both these fishes, see the Plate annexed.)Thepilot-fishought here also to be noticed: this is small, with brilliant colours, and is said not only to feed upon[386]the gills of the shark, but to direct it to its prey, from which singularity originates its name.On the 1st of May, being exactly one month at sea, during which time, by way of making a trial, I had continued bare-footed and bare-headed, without catching cold; I this day, for the first time, not only dressed like my ship-mates, but wore every thing double, and some things triple, which I found exceedingly comfortable.About this time a Mr.Neyseus, one of our surgeons, having on board acrabbodagoorgrisson(whose ferocity I have already described) to carry home as a curiosity, the mischievous creature broke loose, and in one night murdered all the monkies, parrots, poultry, and other animals that were upon deck, while it drove most of the crew who had the watch down the hatchway; till luckily one of them with a hand-spike knocked out his brains.On the 3d, we had hard gales and heavy showers at S. E. Latitude about 40°. From this time the gale daily encreased, till the ninth, when the weather began to moderate.We now saw several porpoises, herring-gulls, &c. The first is a fish about five or six feet long, excessively fat, of a bluish black colour, and without scales; the head has small eyes, and no gills, but a long snout, and sharp teeth. The fins are but one dorsal, and two ventral, and the tail is horizontal, to enable it to leap above the water, which it does frequently to blow or breathe, at which time its snorting may be heard at a great distance. The[387]flesh of the porpoise when killed is red, and looks like some kinds of pork.Theherring-gullis a bird as large as a tame duck, perfectly white, part of the beak and prime feathers excepted, which are of a dark ash-colour; the eyes are grey, the bill and feet are yellow; the claws are black, and the length of its wings is between four and five feet, from the extremity of the one to the other.On the 13th, in the morning-watch, being not far from theAzoresor Western Isles, the vessel was nearly laid on her beam-ends, though then under double-reefed topsails, by a sudden squall at E. At this time a broken top-gallant-mast, a new hand-spike, &c. floated past the ship, the melancholy remains of a shipwreck, which we since were informed to be a Dutch homeward-bound East Indiaman, that had foundered with all the crew near the island ofTerceira.On the 14th the wind was violent, carrying away our fore-top-gallant-mast, and splitting the main-sail, while the other vessel lost her bowsprit, &c.; and on the evening of the 15th it blew a perfect storm, accompanied with thunder and lightening, and very heavy rain, which continued during the night, and which brought our main-top-mast by the board, while the ship’s crew were so very much reduced as to be hardly able to clear the wreck, in which I cheerfully assisted, by cutting away with a hatchet.The two following days we continued scudding before[388]the wind, with a reef in the fore-sail, the sea running mountains high, and constantly breaking over the vessel—pumps going day and night; soon after which we saluted the Alarm frigate from Holland, which compliment they returned.At length, the weather becoming fair, we were carried within soundings, on the 19th, when we hove the lead in ninety fathom water; but the wind shifting to the N. E. with foul weather, we beat about in the chops of the Channel, till the morning of the 21st, when at half past one a signal gun was fired for the other vessel, that we saw the light off Scilly; and at four o’clock P.M. got the pilot on board.Having been becalmed two days off Dover, it was the 27th before we first saw the Dutch coast: here we purchased some excellent fish from aSchevelinboat, with which we entertained the whole crew, though during this sea voyage no ship’s company could be better provided.Having kept off shore during the night, we at last doubledKeykduynand theHelder; and on the 28th, at three o’clock P.M. both ships, under a discharge of nine guns, dropped anchor in the Texel roads.On the 30th, having passed the small island ofUrk, in theZuyder Sea, which is theonly rockin the province of Holland, both vessels running before the wind with a fine breeze,premeditatedlystuck fast upon thePampus—this is a large bank of soft mire, covered with shoal water, and not far from Amsterdam, which it naturally protects[389]like a barrier from all foreign invaders; since all ships whatever must either be lifted over or dragged through this bank of mud.The first is done by sinking two concave vessels, calledcamels, which being chained together under the bottom of an Indiaman or man-of-war, of whatever burthen, the water is pumped out of them, when rising gradually to the surface with their burthen, they carry it to where there is to be found sufficient depth to keep it afloat.The second method is practised on smaller vessels, and consists of half a dozen sail boats, calledwater-manakins, towing them through the mud, which can never be done but when straight before the wind: at which time not only the ship itself, but the boats that have her in tow, must crowd all the sail they possibly can carry.On the morning of the 31st, having been becalmed all night, a fresh breeze at E. again sprung up, when we fired a gun as a signal, and five or six water-manakins instantly came off, by the help of which we were dragged over thePampus, not at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, but at that of fourteen hours a knot, since we did not get clear of it in less than three days sailing, though not four miles in length: however, I must confess, that the last day we had scarcely any wind at all.During this tedious passage, it was no bad entertainment, to observe the contrast between some newly-arrivedNorwegiansand us; those people sitting upon deck in[390]their shirts, and wiping off the perspiration, while we were strutting in great coats and fur caps, like so many Muscovites, to keep us from the cold.Having at this time received a considerable present of refreshments, sent by the city of Amsterdam to the deliverers of their favourite colony, and being so near revisiting their old friends and acquaintances, all on board were in the highest flow of spirits, and exulting with gladness—exceptingone!—from whose mind every happiness was banished.I must here still relate the following singular circumstance: A man-of-war’s boat coming alongside theHollandia, the officer and crew no sooner entered on board, than one of them, without speaking, ran up aloft, with a knife in his teeth, tocut down the pennant. At this time Lieutenant Colonel Seyburg, presenting a musquet, and swearing he would shoot him out of the rigging, the poor fellow came down by the back-stays like a shot, to our great entertainment; next, having explained to him that both vessels had been put in commission by the Prince of Orange, the amazed lieutenant made a handsome apology, and left the ship.On the 3d of June, every thing being in readiness, the troops were put on board six lighters, appointed to transport them toBois-le-Duc, in which town they were next to be compleated, and do the duty as part of the garrison. On leaving the vessels we were once more saluted[391]with nine guns from each; which having returned with three cheers, we set sail for the place above mentioned. As we passed in the lighters through the inland towns, such asSaardam,Haerlem, andTergow, I thought them truly magnificent, particularly the glass painting in the great church of the latter; but their inhabitants, who crouded about us, from curiosity to see us, appeared but a disgusting assemblage of ill-formed and ill-dressed rabble, so much had my prejudices been changed by living among the Indians and blacks: their eyes seemed to resemble those of a pig; their complexions were like the colour of foul linen; they seemed to have no teeth, and to be covered over with rags and dirt. This prejudice, however, was not against these people only, but against all Europeans in general, when compared to the sparkling eyes, ivory teeth, shining skin, and remarkable cleanliness of those I had left behind me. But the most ludicrous circumstance was, that during all this we never once considered the truly extraordinary figure that we made ourselves, being so much sun-burnt and so pale, that we were nearly the colour of dried parchment, by heat and fatigue; and so thin, that we looked like moving skeletons; to which I may add, that having lived so long in the woods, we had perfectly the appearance of wild people; and I in particular, very deservedly, obtained the characteristic title ofle Sauvage Anglois, or the English savage.In this state we arrived, on the 9th, at the town[392]of Bois-le-Duc, where the troops were finally disembarked.“Per varios casus, & tot discrimina rerum,Pervenimus ad Latium.”——————“Olim meminisse juvabit.”Thus ended, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary expeditions that was ever undertaken by European troops; and to which only the exploits of the American Buccaneers have any, and even that a very distant, resemblance.On our arrival I found that Lieutenant ColonelWesterlo, who went sick to Europe, in 1773, was not yet quite recovered. This gentleman now invited me, in company with some others, to dine with him at the public mess; where, while some Dutch officers complained that the soup was smoaky, and the beef was tough, we adventurers declared that we never had tasted a more delicious repast; and at the same time, while they praised the strawberries, cherries, and other European fruits, we thought them very indifferent, and greatly inferior to the avogado-pear, the water-melon, and the pine-apple, to which we had been lately accustomed—which shews that every thing in this world is only good or bad by comparison.The following day we were introduced, on the parade, to the Lieutenant Governor, GeneralHardenbrook, and spent the evening at his lady’s card assembly, where I must acknowledge I was charmed with some very sweet faces, fresh as the rose and the lily, while they were no less entertained with our grotesque appearance, though[393]we had now borrowed the assistance of powder and pomatum.On the 18th the troops were finally cleared with, and paid their remaining arrears, and those who chose it permitted to return to theirformerregiments. Some of the privates had from thirty to forty pounds to receive, which, sailor-like, having earned it like horses, they spent like asses. Among others, a young fellow of my company, whose late regiment chanced to be quartered in the very same town, hired three post-chaises to carry him the length of one street only, ordering a couple of drunken fiddlers in the first, his knapsack in the second, and placing himself in the third, supported by a brace of the frail sisterhood: he was, however, unfortunately shipwrecked in his course, being run foul of by themajor de place, who, having broken the fiddles, and set the ladies adrift, towed the roaring adventurer himself, after a hard tug, to the quarter-guard, where he came to an anchor in the bilboes, till the gale of his dissipation was quite spent, and he had got rid of all his cargo. In a similar manner went most of the money which had been earned with so much danger, hardship, and fatigue.Now came the time to keep my long-made resolution of bidding alasting farewellto Colonel Fourgeoud’s regiment; from which, on the 10th day of August, I obtained my free dismission, having requested it, immediately after my debarkation, from the Prince of Orange, who at the same time honoured me with a fresh Captain’s[394]commission in the Honourable General Stuart’s regiment, which I had left in September 1772; while from that date to this very day my full pay had amounted to little more than four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, having regularly been stopped out of this sumten pounds per annumfor the putrid beef, pork, rusk-bread, and hard pease, that so miraculously had kept soul and body together.Let me not, however, be considered as wishing to cast a reflection on the Dutch nation in general, who indeed omitted nothing for our preservation and encouragement during this long and painful service: a people whose virtues have been for ages as conspicuous as their valour—oneman alone was the cause of all our sufferings.Having now exchanged my blue coat for a scarlet one, bought a very handsome horse, and put Quaco in a brilliant livery, I for the last time entertained my ship-mates, with whom, without exception, I drank an everlasting friendship: then taking my final farewell of them all, I the next morning set out to rejoin the old Scotch regiment, where I was received with the strongest marks of joy and unfeigned friendship by the corps.Europe supported by Africa & America.Blake Sculpt.Europe supported by Africa & America.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1792, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.Going now to take my leave of Surinam, after all the horrors and cruelties with which I must have hurt both the eye and the heart of the feeling reader, I will close the scene with an emblematical picture ofEurope supported by Africa and America, accompanied by an ardent wish that in the friendly manner as they are represented,[395]they may henceforth and to all eternity be the props of each other. I might have included Asia, but this I omitted, as having no connection with the present narrative: we only differ in colour, but are certainly all created by the same Hand. Thus, if it has not pleased fortune to make us equal in rank and authority, let us at least use the superiority we possess with moderation, and not only proffer that happiness which we have to bestow on our equals, but let us extend it with chearfulness to the lowest of our deserving dependants.On the 25th of August I repaired to the palace ofLoo, in Guelderland, where, by the Colonel of the regiment, I was introduced to his Serene Highness theStadtholder; who not only was pleased to give me a gracious reception, remarking, that by my looks I must have suffered much, but soon after promoted me to the rank ofMajorin the same Scottish regiment.As I had now the pleasure also to see a few others of my fellow sufferers recompensed after their hardships, I had reason to think the less of our former troubles; thus, instead of indulging in censure, I found a more solid consolation in the triumph oftruth, which wasbrought to lightwithout my farther interference.“Magna est veritas & prevalebit.”On the 24th of September I went to the Hague, where I presented his Serene Highness witheighteen figuresin wax, made by myself, for his museum, which were most[396]graciously accepted. They represented the free Indians of Guiana, and negro slaves of Surinam, engaged in different occupations, on an island, supported by a crystal mirror, and ornamented with gold.I now also, withhis own consent, made a present of my faithful black boy, Quaco, to the Countess ofRosendaal, to whose family I was under very great obligations; and who since, on account of his honesty and sober conduct, not only christened him, by the name ofStedman, at my desire, but promoted him to be their butler, with a promise to take care of him as long as he lived; which was particularly grateful to me, being such advantages as I could never have procured for him myself.Here I cannot omit an anecdote of attachment in this boy:—Having set out by myself on a short journey, I found a crown-piece more than I expected in my purse, and for which I was at a loss to account; till on my return, when I questioned Quaco, he said, “that fearing I might be short of cash, where people seemed so fond of it, he had put his five-shilling piece in my pocket.”—This action was the more generous, not only in the manner it was done, but being at that time the only crown poor Quaco possessed in this world.About the latter end of October, I was offered by the directors of the settlement to be sent over as a lieutenant governor to the colony ofBerbicè, situated next to Surinam. In consequence, I immediately went toAmsterdam, to wait on them, and hear the proposals, in which they[397]indeed offered me a higher salary, and greater advantages, than they had ever offered to any other gentleman in that situation; but I insisted on having either thegovernmentif I survived, or a decentpensionafter a certain number of years at my return; which being out of their power, they said, to grant, I declined accepting of the offer altogether, judging it more prudent to recover my health and vigour in Europe with a Scottish company, than to parch any longer under the Torrid Zone, without a prospect of settling at home with honour and a competent fortune. Nor was it long before I perfectly recovered, and became as stout and healthy as I had ever been in all my life: a happiness of which not one among one hundred of my late ship-mates could boast.Among others, poorColonel Fourgeouddid not long enjoy his good fortune; for he was scarcely arrived in Holland, with the remaining few who stayed some time behind us, than his belovedptisanhaving failed him, he was one morning founddeadin his bed, attended only by a negro, and buried with military honours at the Hague.Not long after this, expired also in Surinam Fourgeoud’s mortal enemy, theGovernorof the colony; which vacancy was most worthily filled up by ColonelTexier, and since by the deserving Mr.Wichers2.From this period nothing worth recording occurred[398]till the year 1782, when the Emperor of Germany having retaken the barrier towns from the States of Holland, General Stuart’s regiment was the last that evacuated the city ofNamur, and on the same day the Imperial troops marched in to take possession: after which the Emperor ordered, in the year 1783, all the fortifications to be demolished. Soon after this, the Scotch brigade, the privates of which now consisted of all nations, was naturalized by the States of Holland, that is, formed into threeDutchregiments, on account of the war with Great Britain; and this circumstance induced myself and most of the principal officers immediately to resign—as we refused to serve against our King and Country.Having thus left the Dutch service, on which day, by the Prince of Orange, I was complimented with the rank oflieutenant-colonel, the above gentlemen went to England, where, in consequence of their loyalty, they were taken under his Britannic Majesty’s protection; and, on the 18th of June, eleven of them, of which number I was so happy to make one, were, by GeneralConway, introduced at St. James’s, where we had the honour to kiss his Majesty’s hand.On the 27th of the same month, the half-pay was voted for them all by the British House of Commons, according to the rank in which each individual hadactually servedwhile abroad3.—But, that the reader may have[399]some idea of what is meant by theScotch Brigade, and of what they formerly consisted, I will beg leave to insert the following particulars:“In 1570 this ancient corps first landed in Holland, as independent companies, commanded by some of the first noblemen in Scotland.“In the year 1578 their gallant behaviour, together with the English, at the battle ofReminat, nearMechlin, is mentioned particularly byStrada.“In 1579Meninwas surprised, and the Spanish and Walloon guards taken prisoners by ColonelBalfour, with his regiment alone.“In 1588, at the memorable blockade ofBergen-op-Zoomby the Prince ofParma, the Scots, under the command of GeneralBalfourand ColonelScott, made a sortie, and demolished the greatest part of the Spanish lines, by which the enemy were forced to break up the siege, with considerable loss of men and ammunition.“In 1590, at the siege ofZutphen-Deventer,NimeguenandHulst, their bravery is well known.“In 1593 they shared so much of the glory at the taking ofGertrudenberg, that both General Balfour and his regiment were highly distinguished by PrinceMaurice. The general he made governor to command the garrison, instead of his brother PrinceHenry; and the regiment he appointed, as the most spirited corps, to defend it.[400]“In 1599, at the taking ofBommel, the Scots suffered most considerably.“In 1600 two field officers, eight captains, with above six hundred private men, were left dead on the field, after the famousBattle of the Downs, near Nieuport, where both they and the English behaved with the greatest gallantry; and to the valour of these united bands was attributed the success of the day.“In 1601, at the siege ofOstend, which lasted three years, and at which was levelled the whole power of Spain, nothing could equal the valour and courage both of the Scotch and English, the first commanded by Generals Balfour andSt. Clair, the latter by LordsWilloughbyandVere; who, after a great slaughter of the Spaniards (including all their best officers) forced the assailants to raise the siege, and retreat with great shame and confusion.“During the government of the three first Princes of Orange,William,Maurice, andFrederick-Henry, the Scotch behaved with so much bravery, honour and reputation, that by the last prince (besides many other marks of distinction which he conferred on them) they were called thebulwarks of the republick.“The necessary limits of this chapter compel me to omit many memorable services which were rendered by this distinguished body of men to the provinces of Holland; but I cannot overlook the last siege of Bergen-op-Zoom by the French, in 1747; where, while others[401]shamefully ran away, one regiment of Scots in the middle of the town, having twice repulsed the enemy, fought alone till they were nearly cut to pieces, leaving fifteen officers and above five hundred privates on the field.”—Such is the history of the late Scotch brigade in the Dutch service; and such were the outlines of its military character, till the day of its dissolution, in 1783.I must now draw this narrative to a conclusion, by once more mentioning the name of Joanna, and acquaint the reader, that, alas!——Joanna is no more!!!——In the month of August 1783, I received the melancholy tidings from Mr. Gourlay (which pierced me to the soul) that on the fatalfifthofNovemberthis virtuous young woman departed this life, assomesuspected by poison4, administered by the hand of jealousy and envy, on account of her prosperity, and the marks of distinction which her superior merit had so justly attracted from the respectable part of the colony.But she is no more!—Reader!—the virtuous Joanna, who so often saved my life, is no more!!!—Her adopted mother, Mrs. Godefroy, who bedewed her beauteous body with tears, ordered it to be interred with every mark of respect, under the grove of orange-trees where she had lived. Her lovely boy was sent to me, with a bill of near two hundred pounds, his private property, by inheritance from his mother.—Soon after which expired both his very faithful guardians.[402]ThisCHARMING YOUTH, having made a most commendable progress in his education in Devon, went two West India voyages, with the highest character as a sailor; and during theSpanishtroubles served with honour as a midshipman on board his Majesty’s shipsSouthamptonandLizard, ever ready to engage in any service that the advantage of his king and country called for.—But, Oh!—he also is no more, having sinceperishedat sea off the island ofJamaica.The effect which the following lines had on the sympathetic and ingenious Mrs.Cowley, could alone induce me to intrude them on the Public.—Let this be my apology——Oh! more than bitter task!!!——AnElegyON MYSAILOR.Loud sounds the tempest!—peals of thunder roar;Tremendous lightnings flash from shore to shore:Seas dash the shaking rocks—seas mount the flaming sky,And elements convuls’d, speak dissolution nigh.Such scenes as these (while tossing on the waves,True to his duty still) the manly sailor braves;Such was my Boy—(whose eyes could never weepBut for his neighbour’s woes) now swallow’d in the deep.Oh! agonizing pain—pain never felt before—}My manly boy—myJohn—my Sailor is no more;Still let me mourn with hope——andGodadore:With hope, to see my sailor once againFloating on seas of bliss, thro’ th’ azure main:Till then a short farewell—my lovely boy,Thy shipmates darling, and thy father’s joy.[403]Yet one small comfort soothes (while doom’d to part,Dear gallant youth!) thy parent’s broken heart;No more thy tender frame, thy blooming age,Shall be the sport of Ocean’s turb’lent rage:No more thyolivebeauties on the wavesShall be the scorn of some European slaves;Whose optics, blind to merit, ne’er could spyThat sterling worth could bloom beneath a western sky.No more, my dear—no more—(whilesuch were scar’d)Undauntedshalt thou rock upon the yard;There, while the silver moon gleam’d thro’ the gale,With manly skill and courage hand the sail.When Fame, who scann’d the value of her Tar,Did make thee shine on board a man-of-warWith honor5—while, with equal glory fir’d,To please a parent, brother, friend, thou e’er aspir’d;Till Death—relentless Death—none can withstand,Tocut thy cable————gave theLAST COMMAND!!!Soar now, my angel, to thy Maker’s shrine,There reap that prize, due to such worth as thine.Fly, gentle shade—fly to that blest abode,There view thymother—and adore thyGod:There, Oh! my Boy!——on that celestial shore,Oh! may we gladly meet—and part no more!!!A Parent.[404]And now farewell, myfriends, who have been pleased to peruse this narrative of my distresses with sympathetic sensibility; particularly those whose goodness of heart can forgive my inaccuracies and foibles.—I say, farewell: claiming no other merit whatever throughout these pages, than that of having spoke thesimple truth; which, if I wilfully have violated, may these volumes perish, and be forgotten with their author!—But should this treasure,TRUTH, so rarely to be met with, be found in this performance:—“Let one poor sprig of bays around my headBloom while I live; and point me out when dead.”THE END.[405]
Every thing being at last perfectly adjusted for our departure, both vessels, under the command of Lieutenant Coloneldes Borgnes, weighed anchor on the morning of the 1st of April, 1777, when, with a fresh breeze at E. we put to sea, and kept course N. and N. W.—Motionless and speechless, I hung over the ship’s stern till the land quite disappeared. After some days, however, by considerable exertions, I got the better of my melancholy, though not of my affection, and my mind became once more composed and calm. What chiefly contributed to the restoring of my peace, was the comfortable reflection, that if I had in some measure injured myself, I had at least done good to a few others, by relieving three1innocent and deserving young people from a state of bondage. Yet, for this action, I was assuredly most amply[382]rewarded by the preservation of my life, principally owing to their unremitting care and attention, while such numbers fell all around me, and more were ruined in their constitution, the victims of the climate and the service, some having lost the use of their limbs, and some of their memory; nay, one or two were entirely deprived of their mental faculties, and continued in a state of incurable insanity for ever.
In short, out of the number of near twelve hundred able-bodied men, not one hundred returned to their friends and their country: and perhaps not twenty amongst these were to be found in perfect health. Among the dead were (including the surgeons) between twenty and thirty officers; three of which number were colonels, and one a major. So very destructive was the service to Europeans in such a climate; and such ever must be the result of the most successful operations in the unwholesome atmosphere of woods and marshes.
One or two remarks I must make before I conclude this subject, which are:—First, that among the officers and private men who had formerly been in the West Indies, none died, while among the whole number of above one thousand privates, I can only recollectonesingle marine who escaped from sickness; and next, that of the few belonging to the corps that were now on their voyage for the Texel (those gentlemen alone excepted, who at this time belonged to the staff) I myself was theonly officerwho had sailed out with the regiment in 1772. This last was a[383]pleasing reflection indeed, and which could not but render me sincerely thankful to Providence.
About the 14th of April, having passed the Tropicks, and changed course to N. N. E. and N. E. we were becalmed for some days. I ought not to omit that when in about 15 degrees N. latitude, we sailed through what is vulgarly called theGrass Sea, from its being covered over with a floating kind of green and yellow weed, calledgulph weeds; some of which, when dried in the sun, and spread between two sheets of paper, are very curious, resembling trees, flowers, shrubs, &c. and in which are harboured small crustaceous fish, scollops, muscles, and shells of many thousand different species. Among the last is often found that wonderful sea reptile, called thehippocampus, or sea-horse, which I could compare to nothing better than thechevalierof achess-board; though it is generally larger, and sometimes eight or nine inches in length. The body is composed of cartilaginous rings: the head, snout, and mane are incrusted all over; and the tail, which is curvated upwards in the figure of anS, terminates in a point.
On the 19th, the calm still continuing, we were daily entertained by swarms of flying fish, and several doradoes and grampusses swimming and tumbling before and after the ships, as if delighting to keep us company. Thegrampusis a fish of the cetaceous kind, something resembling the dolphin, but much larger, and approaching the whale in size, some being near twenty feet in length, and prodigiously fat. This fish has forty strong teeth; is of[384]a dark brown colour, and spouts water with considerable force. We also saw at some distance from the vessels several times above the water a largenorth-caper. This fish, which very much resembles the Greenland whale, is more dangerous, on account of its being more active, which proceeds from the body being smaller and flatter than that of the former. The jaw is shorter, with very small barbs: the skin is whiter, and the produce of its blubber amounts seldom to more than thirty tons.
About the 22d, the weather began to change considerably, and the whole ship’s company were attacked with a severe cold and cough, and many also with the ague.
On the 30th, the crew was so weak as to be hardly able to do their duty; two of them indeed, and one marine, were already dead and overboard. Colonel de Borgnes was also at this time so much indisposed, that the command devolved upon me for a few days during his illness, when observing the other ship ahead, and almost out of sight, I availed myself of my commodoreship, by hoisting a flag at the main-top, and firing a gun to windward to bring her to, which she punctually obeyed.
The Shark, & Remora.The Shark, & Remora.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
The Shark, & Remora.
London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
A largesharknow swimming alongside the ship, we did all that lay in our power to take it, but to no purpose. Sharks are in these seas of different kinds; but what is generally called the white shark is the most terrible of its species, on account of its size, weighing often one thousand pounds, and measuring sixteen or eighteen feet in length; the head, which is something depressed, is large;[385]it has two spouting holes, and prominent eyes, which it can turn in every direction, and bespeak the malignity of its all-devouring nature; nearly under these are its mouth and throat, of such an enormous size, that it will swallow a bull-dog: its teeth, which are placed in five or six rows, are so sharp and strong, that they will snap off a man’s arm or his leg with ease, which has very frequently happened. The whole shape of this fish is in every respect like that of the dog-fish, found in the North Seas, with very strong fins, one dorsal, two ventral, and two abdominal: the tail is bifurcated, the upper part being longest; the skin is slimy, rough, and used for what we callshagreen. The shark always swims with velocity, but must turn upon its side to take its prey, by which many fish escape its jaws.
Theremora, or sucking-fish, is frequently found sticking to sharks, and to ships bottoms: this fish is ash-coloured, and long, about twenty inches; the body roundish, and tapering near the tail; the fins are placed as those of the shark, and the under skin is projecting; itssuckeris, however, what makes it most remarkable, being an oval gristly plate above its head, with transverse bars, like the palate of a sheep. This sucker has so much attraction, that no waves, however violent, can beat it off.—(For both these fishes, see the Plate annexed.)
Thepilot-fishought here also to be noticed: this is small, with brilliant colours, and is said not only to feed upon[386]the gills of the shark, but to direct it to its prey, from which singularity originates its name.
On the 1st of May, being exactly one month at sea, during which time, by way of making a trial, I had continued bare-footed and bare-headed, without catching cold; I this day, for the first time, not only dressed like my ship-mates, but wore every thing double, and some things triple, which I found exceedingly comfortable.
About this time a Mr.Neyseus, one of our surgeons, having on board acrabbodagoorgrisson(whose ferocity I have already described) to carry home as a curiosity, the mischievous creature broke loose, and in one night murdered all the monkies, parrots, poultry, and other animals that were upon deck, while it drove most of the crew who had the watch down the hatchway; till luckily one of them with a hand-spike knocked out his brains.
On the 3d, we had hard gales and heavy showers at S. E. Latitude about 40°. From this time the gale daily encreased, till the ninth, when the weather began to moderate.
We now saw several porpoises, herring-gulls, &c. The first is a fish about five or six feet long, excessively fat, of a bluish black colour, and without scales; the head has small eyes, and no gills, but a long snout, and sharp teeth. The fins are but one dorsal, and two ventral, and the tail is horizontal, to enable it to leap above the water, which it does frequently to blow or breathe, at which time its snorting may be heard at a great distance. The[387]flesh of the porpoise when killed is red, and looks like some kinds of pork.
Theherring-gullis a bird as large as a tame duck, perfectly white, part of the beak and prime feathers excepted, which are of a dark ash-colour; the eyes are grey, the bill and feet are yellow; the claws are black, and the length of its wings is between four and five feet, from the extremity of the one to the other.
On the 13th, in the morning-watch, being not far from theAzoresor Western Isles, the vessel was nearly laid on her beam-ends, though then under double-reefed topsails, by a sudden squall at E. At this time a broken top-gallant-mast, a new hand-spike, &c. floated past the ship, the melancholy remains of a shipwreck, which we since were informed to be a Dutch homeward-bound East Indiaman, that had foundered with all the crew near the island ofTerceira.
On the 14th the wind was violent, carrying away our fore-top-gallant-mast, and splitting the main-sail, while the other vessel lost her bowsprit, &c.; and on the evening of the 15th it blew a perfect storm, accompanied with thunder and lightening, and very heavy rain, which continued during the night, and which brought our main-top-mast by the board, while the ship’s crew were so very much reduced as to be hardly able to clear the wreck, in which I cheerfully assisted, by cutting away with a hatchet.
The two following days we continued scudding before[388]the wind, with a reef in the fore-sail, the sea running mountains high, and constantly breaking over the vessel—pumps going day and night; soon after which we saluted the Alarm frigate from Holland, which compliment they returned.
At length, the weather becoming fair, we were carried within soundings, on the 19th, when we hove the lead in ninety fathom water; but the wind shifting to the N. E. with foul weather, we beat about in the chops of the Channel, till the morning of the 21st, when at half past one a signal gun was fired for the other vessel, that we saw the light off Scilly; and at four o’clock P.M. got the pilot on board.
Having been becalmed two days off Dover, it was the 27th before we first saw the Dutch coast: here we purchased some excellent fish from aSchevelinboat, with which we entertained the whole crew, though during this sea voyage no ship’s company could be better provided.
Having kept off shore during the night, we at last doubledKeykduynand theHelder; and on the 28th, at three o’clock P.M. both ships, under a discharge of nine guns, dropped anchor in the Texel roads.
On the 30th, having passed the small island ofUrk, in theZuyder Sea, which is theonly rockin the province of Holland, both vessels running before the wind with a fine breeze,premeditatedlystuck fast upon thePampus—this is a large bank of soft mire, covered with shoal water, and not far from Amsterdam, which it naturally protects[389]like a barrier from all foreign invaders; since all ships whatever must either be lifted over or dragged through this bank of mud.
The first is done by sinking two concave vessels, calledcamels, which being chained together under the bottom of an Indiaman or man-of-war, of whatever burthen, the water is pumped out of them, when rising gradually to the surface with their burthen, they carry it to where there is to be found sufficient depth to keep it afloat.
The second method is practised on smaller vessels, and consists of half a dozen sail boats, calledwater-manakins, towing them through the mud, which can never be done but when straight before the wind: at which time not only the ship itself, but the boats that have her in tow, must crowd all the sail they possibly can carry.
On the morning of the 31st, having been becalmed all night, a fresh breeze at E. again sprung up, when we fired a gun as a signal, and five or six water-manakins instantly came off, by the help of which we were dragged over thePampus, not at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, but at that of fourteen hours a knot, since we did not get clear of it in less than three days sailing, though not four miles in length: however, I must confess, that the last day we had scarcely any wind at all.
During this tedious passage, it was no bad entertainment, to observe the contrast between some newly-arrivedNorwegiansand us; those people sitting upon deck in[390]their shirts, and wiping off the perspiration, while we were strutting in great coats and fur caps, like so many Muscovites, to keep us from the cold.
Having at this time received a considerable present of refreshments, sent by the city of Amsterdam to the deliverers of their favourite colony, and being so near revisiting their old friends and acquaintances, all on board were in the highest flow of spirits, and exulting with gladness—exceptingone!—from whose mind every happiness was banished.
I must here still relate the following singular circumstance: A man-of-war’s boat coming alongside theHollandia, the officer and crew no sooner entered on board, than one of them, without speaking, ran up aloft, with a knife in his teeth, tocut down the pennant. At this time Lieutenant Colonel Seyburg, presenting a musquet, and swearing he would shoot him out of the rigging, the poor fellow came down by the back-stays like a shot, to our great entertainment; next, having explained to him that both vessels had been put in commission by the Prince of Orange, the amazed lieutenant made a handsome apology, and left the ship.
On the 3d of June, every thing being in readiness, the troops were put on board six lighters, appointed to transport them toBois-le-Duc, in which town they were next to be compleated, and do the duty as part of the garrison. On leaving the vessels we were once more saluted[391]with nine guns from each; which having returned with three cheers, we set sail for the place above mentioned. As we passed in the lighters through the inland towns, such asSaardam,Haerlem, andTergow, I thought them truly magnificent, particularly the glass painting in the great church of the latter; but their inhabitants, who crouded about us, from curiosity to see us, appeared but a disgusting assemblage of ill-formed and ill-dressed rabble, so much had my prejudices been changed by living among the Indians and blacks: their eyes seemed to resemble those of a pig; their complexions were like the colour of foul linen; they seemed to have no teeth, and to be covered over with rags and dirt. This prejudice, however, was not against these people only, but against all Europeans in general, when compared to the sparkling eyes, ivory teeth, shining skin, and remarkable cleanliness of those I had left behind me. But the most ludicrous circumstance was, that during all this we never once considered the truly extraordinary figure that we made ourselves, being so much sun-burnt and so pale, that we were nearly the colour of dried parchment, by heat and fatigue; and so thin, that we looked like moving skeletons; to which I may add, that having lived so long in the woods, we had perfectly the appearance of wild people; and I in particular, very deservedly, obtained the characteristic title ofle Sauvage Anglois, or the English savage.
In this state we arrived, on the 9th, at the town[392]of Bois-le-Duc, where the troops were finally disembarked.
“Per varios casus, & tot discrimina rerum,Pervenimus ad Latium.”——————“Olim meminisse juvabit.”
“Per varios casus, & tot discrimina rerum,
Pervenimus ad Latium.”———
———“Olim meminisse juvabit.”
Thus ended, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary expeditions that was ever undertaken by European troops; and to which only the exploits of the American Buccaneers have any, and even that a very distant, resemblance.
On our arrival I found that Lieutenant ColonelWesterlo, who went sick to Europe, in 1773, was not yet quite recovered. This gentleman now invited me, in company with some others, to dine with him at the public mess; where, while some Dutch officers complained that the soup was smoaky, and the beef was tough, we adventurers declared that we never had tasted a more delicious repast; and at the same time, while they praised the strawberries, cherries, and other European fruits, we thought them very indifferent, and greatly inferior to the avogado-pear, the water-melon, and the pine-apple, to which we had been lately accustomed—which shews that every thing in this world is only good or bad by comparison.
The following day we were introduced, on the parade, to the Lieutenant Governor, GeneralHardenbrook, and spent the evening at his lady’s card assembly, where I must acknowledge I was charmed with some very sweet faces, fresh as the rose and the lily, while they were no less entertained with our grotesque appearance, though[393]we had now borrowed the assistance of powder and pomatum.
On the 18th the troops were finally cleared with, and paid their remaining arrears, and those who chose it permitted to return to theirformerregiments. Some of the privates had from thirty to forty pounds to receive, which, sailor-like, having earned it like horses, they spent like asses. Among others, a young fellow of my company, whose late regiment chanced to be quartered in the very same town, hired three post-chaises to carry him the length of one street only, ordering a couple of drunken fiddlers in the first, his knapsack in the second, and placing himself in the third, supported by a brace of the frail sisterhood: he was, however, unfortunately shipwrecked in his course, being run foul of by themajor de place, who, having broken the fiddles, and set the ladies adrift, towed the roaring adventurer himself, after a hard tug, to the quarter-guard, where he came to an anchor in the bilboes, till the gale of his dissipation was quite spent, and he had got rid of all his cargo. In a similar manner went most of the money which had been earned with so much danger, hardship, and fatigue.
Now came the time to keep my long-made resolution of bidding alasting farewellto Colonel Fourgeoud’s regiment; from which, on the 10th day of August, I obtained my free dismission, having requested it, immediately after my debarkation, from the Prince of Orange, who at the same time honoured me with a fresh Captain’s[394]commission in the Honourable General Stuart’s regiment, which I had left in September 1772; while from that date to this very day my full pay had amounted to little more than four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, having regularly been stopped out of this sumten pounds per annumfor the putrid beef, pork, rusk-bread, and hard pease, that so miraculously had kept soul and body together.
Let me not, however, be considered as wishing to cast a reflection on the Dutch nation in general, who indeed omitted nothing for our preservation and encouragement during this long and painful service: a people whose virtues have been for ages as conspicuous as their valour—oneman alone was the cause of all our sufferings.
Having now exchanged my blue coat for a scarlet one, bought a very handsome horse, and put Quaco in a brilliant livery, I for the last time entertained my ship-mates, with whom, without exception, I drank an everlasting friendship: then taking my final farewell of them all, I the next morning set out to rejoin the old Scotch regiment, where I was received with the strongest marks of joy and unfeigned friendship by the corps.
Europe supported by Africa & America.Blake Sculpt.Europe supported by Africa & America.London, Published Decr. 1st, 1792, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
Blake Sculpt.
Europe supported by Africa & America.
London, Published Decr. 1st, 1792, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
Going now to take my leave of Surinam, after all the horrors and cruelties with which I must have hurt both the eye and the heart of the feeling reader, I will close the scene with an emblematical picture ofEurope supported by Africa and America, accompanied by an ardent wish that in the friendly manner as they are represented,[395]they may henceforth and to all eternity be the props of each other. I might have included Asia, but this I omitted, as having no connection with the present narrative: we only differ in colour, but are certainly all created by the same Hand. Thus, if it has not pleased fortune to make us equal in rank and authority, let us at least use the superiority we possess with moderation, and not only proffer that happiness which we have to bestow on our equals, but let us extend it with chearfulness to the lowest of our deserving dependants.
On the 25th of August I repaired to the palace ofLoo, in Guelderland, where, by the Colonel of the regiment, I was introduced to his Serene Highness theStadtholder; who not only was pleased to give me a gracious reception, remarking, that by my looks I must have suffered much, but soon after promoted me to the rank ofMajorin the same Scottish regiment.
As I had now the pleasure also to see a few others of my fellow sufferers recompensed after their hardships, I had reason to think the less of our former troubles; thus, instead of indulging in censure, I found a more solid consolation in the triumph oftruth, which wasbrought to lightwithout my farther interference.
“Magna est veritas & prevalebit.”
“Magna est veritas & prevalebit.”
On the 24th of September I went to the Hague, where I presented his Serene Highness witheighteen figuresin wax, made by myself, for his museum, which were most[396]graciously accepted. They represented the free Indians of Guiana, and negro slaves of Surinam, engaged in different occupations, on an island, supported by a crystal mirror, and ornamented with gold.
I now also, withhis own consent, made a present of my faithful black boy, Quaco, to the Countess ofRosendaal, to whose family I was under very great obligations; and who since, on account of his honesty and sober conduct, not only christened him, by the name ofStedman, at my desire, but promoted him to be their butler, with a promise to take care of him as long as he lived; which was particularly grateful to me, being such advantages as I could never have procured for him myself.
Here I cannot omit an anecdote of attachment in this boy:—Having set out by myself on a short journey, I found a crown-piece more than I expected in my purse, and for which I was at a loss to account; till on my return, when I questioned Quaco, he said, “that fearing I might be short of cash, where people seemed so fond of it, he had put his five-shilling piece in my pocket.”—This action was the more generous, not only in the manner it was done, but being at that time the only crown poor Quaco possessed in this world.
About the latter end of October, I was offered by the directors of the settlement to be sent over as a lieutenant governor to the colony ofBerbicè, situated next to Surinam. In consequence, I immediately went toAmsterdam, to wait on them, and hear the proposals, in which they[397]indeed offered me a higher salary, and greater advantages, than they had ever offered to any other gentleman in that situation; but I insisted on having either thegovernmentif I survived, or a decentpensionafter a certain number of years at my return; which being out of their power, they said, to grant, I declined accepting of the offer altogether, judging it more prudent to recover my health and vigour in Europe with a Scottish company, than to parch any longer under the Torrid Zone, without a prospect of settling at home with honour and a competent fortune. Nor was it long before I perfectly recovered, and became as stout and healthy as I had ever been in all my life: a happiness of which not one among one hundred of my late ship-mates could boast.
Among others, poorColonel Fourgeouddid not long enjoy his good fortune; for he was scarcely arrived in Holland, with the remaining few who stayed some time behind us, than his belovedptisanhaving failed him, he was one morning founddeadin his bed, attended only by a negro, and buried with military honours at the Hague.
Not long after this, expired also in Surinam Fourgeoud’s mortal enemy, theGovernorof the colony; which vacancy was most worthily filled up by ColonelTexier, and since by the deserving Mr.Wichers2.
From this period nothing worth recording occurred[398]till the year 1782, when the Emperor of Germany having retaken the barrier towns from the States of Holland, General Stuart’s regiment was the last that evacuated the city ofNamur, and on the same day the Imperial troops marched in to take possession: after which the Emperor ordered, in the year 1783, all the fortifications to be demolished. Soon after this, the Scotch brigade, the privates of which now consisted of all nations, was naturalized by the States of Holland, that is, formed into threeDutchregiments, on account of the war with Great Britain; and this circumstance induced myself and most of the principal officers immediately to resign—as we refused to serve against our King and Country.
Having thus left the Dutch service, on which day, by the Prince of Orange, I was complimented with the rank oflieutenant-colonel, the above gentlemen went to England, where, in consequence of their loyalty, they were taken under his Britannic Majesty’s protection; and, on the 18th of June, eleven of them, of which number I was so happy to make one, were, by GeneralConway, introduced at St. James’s, where we had the honour to kiss his Majesty’s hand.
On the 27th of the same month, the half-pay was voted for them all by the British House of Commons, according to the rank in which each individual hadactually servedwhile abroad3.—But, that the reader may have[399]some idea of what is meant by theScotch Brigade, and of what they formerly consisted, I will beg leave to insert the following particulars:
“In 1570 this ancient corps first landed in Holland, as independent companies, commanded by some of the first noblemen in Scotland.
“In the year 1578 their gallant behaviour, together with the English, at the battle ofReminat, nearMechlin, is mentioned particularly byStrada.
“In 1579Meninwas surprised, and the Spanish and Walloon guards taken prisoners by ColonelBalfour, with his regiment alone.
“In 1588, at the memorable blockade ofBergen-op-Zoomby the Prince ofParma, the Scots, under the command of GeneralBalfourand ColonelScott, made a sortie, and demolished the greatest part of the Spanish lines, by which the enemy were forced to break up the siege, with considerable loss of men and ammunition.
“In 1590, at the siege ofZutphen-Deventer,NimeguenandHulst, their bravery is well known.
“In 1593 they shared so much of the glory at the taking ofGertrudenberg, that both General Balfour and his regiment were highly distinguished by PrinceMaurice. The general he made governor to command the garrison, instead of his brother PrinceHenry; and the regiment he appointed, as the most spirited corps, to defend it.[400]
“In 1599, at the taking ofBommel, the Scots suffered most considerably.
“In 1600 two field officers, eight captains, with above six hundred private men, were left dead on the field, after the famousBattle of the Downs, near Nieuport, where both they and the English behaved with the greatest gallantry; and to the valour of these united bands was attributed the success of the day.
“In 1601, at the siege ofOstend, which lasted three years, and at which was levelled the whole power of Spain, nothing could equal the valour and courage both of the Scotch and English, the first commanded by Generals Balfour andSt. Clair, the latter by LordsWilloughbyandVere; who, after a great slaughter of the Spaniards (including all their best officers) forced the assailants to raise the siege, and retreat with great shame and confusion.
“During the government of the three first Princes of Orange,William,Maurice, andFrederick-Henry, the Scotch behaved with so much bravery, honour and reputation, that by the last prince (besides many other marks of distinction which he conferred on them) they were called thebulwarks of the republick.
“The necessary limits of this chapter compel me to omit many memorable services which were rendered by this distinguished body of men to the provinces of Holland; but I cannot overlook the last siege of Bergen-op-Zoom by the French, in 1747; where, while others[401]shamefully ran away, one regiment of Scots in the middle of the town, having twice repulsed the enemy, fought alone till they were nearly cut to pieces, leaving fifteen officers and above five hundred privates on the field.”—Such is the history of the late Scotch brigade in the Dutch service; and such were the outlines of its military character, till the day of its dissolution, in 1783.
I must now draw this narrative to a conclusion, by once more mentioning the name of Joanna, and acquaint the reader, that, alas!——Joanna is no more!!!——
In the month of August 1783, I received the melancholy tidings from Mr. Gourlay (which pierced me to the soul) that on the fatalfifthofNovemberthis virtuous young woman departed this life, assomesuspected by poison4, administered by the hand of jealousy and envy, on account of her prosperity, and the marks of distinction which her superior merit had so justly attracted from the respectable part of the colony.
But she is no more!—Reader!—the virtuous Joanna, who so often saved my life, is no more!!!—Her adopted mother, Mrs. Godefroy, who bedewed her beauteous body with tears, ordered it to be interred with every mark of respect, under the grove of orange-trees where she had lived. Her lovely boy was sent to me, with a bill of near two hundred pounds, his private property, by inheritance from his mother.—Soon after which expired both his very faithful guardians.[402]
ThisCHARMING YOUTH, having made a most commendable progress in his education in Devon, went two West India voyages, with the highest character as a sailor; and during theSpanishtroubles served with honour as a midshipman on board his Majesty’s shipsSouthamptonandLizard, ever ready to engage in any service that the advantage of his king and country called for.—But, Oh!—he also is no more, having sinceperishedat sea off the island ofJamaica.
The effect which the following lines had on the sympathetic and ingenious Mrs.Cowley, could alone induce me to intrude them on the Public.—Let this be my apology——Oh! more than bitter task!!!——
AnElegyON MYSAILOR.Loud sounds the tempest!—peals of thunder roar;Tremendous lightnings flash from shore to shore:Seas dash the shaking rocks—seas mount the flaming sky,And elements convuls’d, speak dissolution nigh.Such scenes as these (while tossing on the waves,True to his duty still) the manly sailor braves;Such was my Boy—(whose eyes could never weepBut for his neighbour’s woes) now swallow’d in the deep.Oh! agonizing pain—pain never felt before—}My manly boy—myJohn—my Sailor is no more;Still let me mourn with hope——andGodadore:With hope, to see my sailor once againFloating on seas of bliss, thro’ th’ azure main:Till then a short farewell—my lovely boy,Thy shipmates darling, and thy father’s joy.[403]Yet one small comfort soothes (while doom’d to part,Dear gallant youth!) thy parent’s broken heart;No more thy tender frame, thy blooming age,Shall be the sport of Ocean’s turb’lent rage:No more thyolivebeauties on the wavesShall be the scorn of some European slaves;Whose optics, blind to merit, ne’er could spyThat sterling worth could bloom beneath a western sky.No more, my dear—no more—(whilesuch were scar’d)Undauntedshalt thou rock upon the yard;There, while the silver moon gleam’d thro’ the gale,With manly skill and courage hand the sail.When Fame, who scann’d the value of her Tar,Did make thee shine on board a man-of-warWith honor5—while, with equal glory fir’d,To please a parent, brother, friend, thou e’er aspir’d;Till Death—relentless Death—none can withstand,Tocut thy cable————gave theLAST COMMAND!!!Soar now, my angel, to thy Maker’s shrine,There reap that prize, due to such worth as thine.Fly, gentle shade—fly to that blest abode,There view thymother—and adore thyGod:There, Oh! my Boy!——on that celestial shore,Oh! may we gladly meet—and part no more!!!
Loud sounds the tempest!—peals of thunder roar;
Tremendous lightnings flash from shore to shore:
Seas dash the shaking rocks—seas mount the flaming sky,
And elements convuls’d, speak dissolution nigh.
Such scenes as these (while tossing on the waves,
True to his duty still) the manly sailor braves;
Such was my Boy—(whose eyes could never weep
But for his neighbour’s woes) now swallow’d in the deep.
Oh! agonizing pain—pain never felt before—
My manly boy—myJohn—my Sailor is no more;
Still let me mourn with hope——andGodadore:
With hope, to see my sailor once again
Floating on seas of bliss, thro’ th’ azure main:
Till then a short farewell—my lovely boy,
Thy shipmates darling, and thy father’s joy.[403]
Yet one small comfort soothes (while doom’d to part,
Dear gallant youth!) thy parent’s broken heart;
No more thy tender frame, thy blooming age,
Shall be the sport of Ocean’s turb’lent rage:
No more thyolivebeauties on the waves
Shall be the scorn of some European slaves;
Whose optics, blind to merit, ne’er could spy
That sterling worth could bloom beneath a western sky.
No more, my dear—no more—(whilesuch were scar’d)
Undauntedshalt thou rock upon the yard;
There, while the silver moon gleam’d thro’ the gale,
With manly skill and courage hand the sail.
When Fame, who scann’d the value of her Tar,
Did make thee shine on board a man-of-war
With honor5—while, with equal glory fir’d,
To please a parent, brother, friend, thou e’er aspir’d;
Till Death—relentless Death—none can withstand,
Tocut thy cable————gave theLAST COMMAND!!!
Soar now, my angel, to thy Maker’s shrine,
There reap that prize, due to such worth as thine.
Fly, gentle shade—fly to that blest abode,
There view thymother—and adore thyGod:
There, Oh! my Boy!——on that celestial shore,
Oh! may we gladly meet—and part no more!!!
A Parent.[404]
And now farewell, myfriends, who have been pleased to peruse this narrative of my distresses with sympathetic sensibility; particularly those whose goodness of heart can forgive my inaccuracies and foibles.—I say, farewell: claiming no other merit whatever throughout these pages, than that of having spoke thesimple truth; which, if I wilfully have violated, may these volumes perish, and be forgotten with their author!—But should this treasure,TRUTH, so rarely to be met with, be found in this performance:—
“Let one poor sprig of bays around my headBloom while I live; and point me out when dead.”
“Let one poor sprig of bays around my head
Bloom while I live; and point me out when dead.”
THE END.
[405]
1Joanna, Johnny, and Quaco.↑2This gentleman having also resigned, I have the pleasure to acquaint my readers, that in the year 1792, that gallant officer, Mr. F. Fredericy (so frequently mentioned in this narrative) and who had some time before re-entered into the service of the Society troops, was appointed Governor of the colony of Surinam.↑3The above gentlemen, who were looked upon as being therealrepresentatives of his Majesty’s Scotch brigade, had their loyalty further rewarded by the revival of that old and honourable corps in Britain, which was since re-embodied under the command of GeneralFrancis Dundas, and sent to garrisonGibraltar.↑4Her emancipated brotherHenryunderwent the same melancholy fate.↑5Since the above lines were written, the last of his commanders, the gallant CaptainJohn Hutt, lost his life in the memorable action, fought under AdmiralLord Howe, against the French, on the 1st of June 1794.—This officer loved my Sailor well; nor was he less esteemed by CaptainRichard Keates, from whom he had the honour to receive his first naval education.↑
1Joanna, Johnny, and Quaco.↑2This gentleman having also resigned, I have the pleasure to acquaint my readers, that in the year 1792, that gallant officer, Mr. F. Fredericy (so frequently mentioned in this narrative) and who had some time before re-entered into the service of the Society troops, was appointed Governor of the colony of Surinam.↑3The above gentlemen, who were looked upon as being therealrepresentatives of his Majesty’s Scotch brigade, had their loyalty further rewarded by the revival of that old and honourable corps in Britain, which was since re-embodied under the command of GeneralFrancis Dundas, and sent to garrisonGibraltar.↑4Her emancipated brotherHenryunderwent the same melancholy fate.↑5Since the above lines were written, the last of his commanders, the gallant CaptainJohn Hutt, lost his life in the memorable action, fought under AdmiralLord Howe, against the French, on the 1st of June 1794.—This officer loved my Sailor well; nor was he less esteemed by CaptainRichard Keates, from whom he had the honour to receive his first naval education.↑
1Joanna, Johnny, and Quaco.↑
1Joanna, Johnny, and Quaco.↑
2This gentleman having also resigned, I have the pleasure to acquaint my readers, that in the year 1792, that gallant officer, Mr. F. Fredericy (so frequently mentioned in this narrative) and who had some time before re-entered into the service of the Society troops, was appointed Governor of the colony of Surinam.↑
2This gentleman having also resigned, I have the pleasure to acquaint my readers, that in the year 1792, that gallant officer, Mr. F. Fredericy (so frequently mentioned in this narrative) and who had some time before re-entered into the service of the Society troops, was appointed Governor of the colony of Surinam.↑
3The above gentlemen, who were looked upon as being therealrepresentatives of his Majesty’s Scotch brigade, had their loyalty further rewarded by the revival of that old and honourable corps in Britain, which was since re-embodied under the command of GeneralFrancis Dundas, and sent to garrisonGibraltar.↑
3The above gentlemen, who were looked upon as being therealrepresentatives of his Majesty’s Scotch brigade, had their loyalty further rewarded by the revival of that old and honourable corps in Britain, which was since re-embodied under the command of GeneralFrancis Dundas, and sent to garrisonGibraltar.↑
4Her emancipated brotherHenryunderwent the same melancholy fate.↑
4Her emancipated brotherHenryunderwent the same melancholy fate.↑
5Since the above lines were written, the last of his commanders, the gallant CaptainJohn Hutt, lost his life in the memorable action, fought under AdmiralLord Howe, against the French, on the 1st of June 1794.—This officer loved my Sailor well; nor was he less esteemed by CaptainRichard Keates, from whom he had the honour to receive his first naval education.↑
5Since the above lines were written, the last of his commanders, the gallant CaptainJohn Hutt, lost his life in the memorable action, fought under AdmiralLord Howe, against the French, on the 1st of June 1794.—This officer loved my Sailor well; nor was he less esteemed by CaptainRichard Keates, from whom he had the honour to receive his first naval education.↑