MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3 



polluted by the peftilent breath of flander-; I 

 Ihall therefore confine myfelf to obfeirving, that 

 my military debut was made in 4^erica, in the 

 year 1775, J^t the age of fixteeii. 



My adventures there were not much varied 

 beyond thofe of my brethen of the fame rank. ^. 

 1 was, however, taken prifoner in 1776; but * 

 Was relieved early in 1777, by* Lord Percy, whofe 

 retirement front the army hiscountry may juft- 

 ly regret, and Sir Peter Parker, then" com- 

 manding at Rhode I Hand, I was foon after 

 w^ounded • and w^s in confcquence fent home 

 from New York, in th6 Bridget of Liverpool, 

 Captain Gilbody. 



I landed in Ireland, and carne from thence ^ 

 to Wales and to Bath j where 1 met with the 

 beautiful, but unfortunate, Mrs. Gooch. J 

 was in the rooms ; but ^ 'Iny wound rendered 

 dancing impoffible^ i party at picquet was pro- 

 pofed, which laid the' foundation of a connec- 

 tion that induced me to retire to Lifle in Flan- 

 ders. My amour with Mrs. Gooch having been ^ 

 related by the lady herfelf, in her Memoirs, 

 though not quite cofreUly^ I leave as it is t never- 

 thelefs, my reader may perhaps fmile with me 

 at her boaft of " then, and not till then, I fell,'* . 

 when they are informed that our joint ages did 

 not amount tQ forty, 



B 2 ' Had 



