MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. IO5 



French under General Maflena, lay at Ant- 

 werp, and were already preparing to attack 

 Williamftadt and Breda. 



This was not a time for a man of any acT:ivity 

 Xo be idle. I had not paffed the French lines 

 without making fome obfervations on their po- 

 fitions. I therefore immediately propofed an 

 enterprize, which was highly approved by the 

 Governor and Commandant of Bois le Due. I 

 was indeed received and attended to by them 

 with the utmoft refpcc5t, as the Hereditary 

 Prince of Hejfe Phillipfihaly fon to the Governor, 

 had ferved in Ruilia, and had conceived a high 

 regard for me, and a favourable opinion of my 

 talent as a foldier. 



This enterprife which was deemed practica- 

 ble by all the military men of experience, was 

 to furprife one of the enemy's Generals, and 

 carry him off from his quarters, a bulinefs 

 which only wanted a fmall Ihare of refolution 

 and fome ingenuity; for that General, at that 

 period, expofed himfelf to fuch an accident, by 

 placing his quarters in a fituation totally de- 

 tatched from his army, and having no other 

 guard than a few orderly comrnillioned, and 

 non-commiflioned officers. 



The Governor and Commandant not having 

 the power to carry my propofal into efFed:, 

 neverthelefs judged it proper to lay it before the 



Stadtholder. 



