lfc)1. EDMUND, A TALE. 1S5 



the fame.method. I approved of his propofal. He was hard^ 

 ly out of fight, when feveral men ruflied fuddenly from a 

 concealment ; one of them feized my horle by the bridle j 

 while I (truck at him with the butt end of my %vhip, I re- 

 ceived a blow on my head, which brought :me fenfelefs to 

 the ground. When I recovered, I found myfelf in a pal- 

 try looking apartment, furrounded by a number of fellows, 

 whofe countenances told me I had no good to expeft from 

 them. I alked them the meaning of all this, and was an- 

 fwered I ihould know that in proper time. I was immedi- 

 ately forced into a carriage, one of the fellows placed on 

 each fide of me, — carried to Portsmouth, and put on board 

 a tranfport, which failed next day with troops for Germany. 

 'i. Time will not permit me to relate particularly the va- 

 rious circujnltances which happened during the diiferent 

 campaigns in which I have ferved. As a reward for ray 

 fobriety and attention to duty, I was foon raifed to the rank, 

 of ferjeant. At the battle of Ramalies, my behaviour was 

 efteemed brave ; it wa,s mentioned in very high terms t© 

 the DuxE OF Marlborough, who foon after prefented me 

 with an enfign's commiffion. In this new fphere, I formed 

 an intimacy with a number of the officers, particularly a 

 young gentleman of the name of Douglass, a native of 

 Scotland, whofe life I had the happincfs to preferve from 

 the fword of a bafe affaffin. From that moment we were 

 united in the indiffoluble ties of friendfliip. At the attack 

 of the French lines of Malplaquet, I had my left arm fliot 

 away, befide a ball lodged in one of my thighs. Surround- 

 ed by the enemy, I ihould certainly have fallen a viclim to 

 their ferocity, had not Mr. Douglass, who perceived my 

 fituation, come to my relief. The victory was glorious : it 

 was decifive ; but I loft my friend. He was certainly kill- 

 ed, or at leaft taken prifoner j for from that day till this, 1 

 could never learn what liecame of him. The lofs of !b 

 much blood, and a long and tedious recovery, made a re- 

 turn to my native country neceiTary, in order to recruit my 

 debilitated conlHtution. In the bofom of a parent, in the 

 company of my friend Mr. Williams, I now expeft to find 

 a folace to my afflidion. This remaining happinefs, how is 

 it embittered by the recolledlion of Maria, once the i'avn: 

 Vol. IIL + Aa 



