MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, lOJ 



with a ccntincl of the troops of the line, we 

 Ihould endeavour to approach and flioot him; 

 but if he were a Garde Nationale^ (whom we 

 knew at that time to be whoJly unacquainted 

 •with the bufinefs of fcrvice, and whom we could 

 at once diftinguilh from the ftriking difference 

 of the uniform,) that I Ihould endeavour to get 

 the counterfign from him; fortunately the firlt 

 we encountered was a Garde Nationale. He 

 challenged me; I anfwered that I was of the 

 General Staff, fent to vifit the polls, and to ex- 

 amine the centinels, fome of whom had fuffered 

 Auftrian fpies to pafs, and were fuppofed to 

 have forgot the counterfign. He replied that it 

 was not him, and after fome altercation gave it 

 to me. I thereupon pretended great fatisfadion, 

 and exprefling the uneafinefs it would have given 

 me, to have been obliged to have ordered fo 

 fine a young man to have been fh9t, I rode on. 

 Having obtained this, I had no difficulty to pafe 

 another centinel, whom I foon afterwards met, 

 and. early in the forenoon, found myfelfin the 

 Dutch village of Hoogfiraaten^ which lies about 

 half- w^ay between Antwerp and -S^/V /<? Dur,- hi- 

 ther I learnt the enemies parties frequently came, 

 even before the declaration of war. 



My flay in this village was confequently very 

 fhort; and fromthence I went toBa^rle-Hertog, 



H 4 but 



