EXPEDITION TO SURINA M. 5 



a duty owing to myfelf, to flievv the world iii general that C H A P» 

 it was necellity not choice that compelled me to enter , ^1 , 

 into a fore'gfi fervice ; though perhaps a more ancient 

 ap.d diftinguifhed corps does not exifi: than the above 

 brigade l ;as proved t^) be, both in this ifland and on the 

 continent, for above two hundred years. 



At the time of the above infurre(?tion I was Lieutenant 

 in the Honourable General J'oi'/J Stuarfs regiment; when, 

 impreffed by the hopes of traverfmg the fea, my favou- 

 rite eltment, and in fome meafure gratifying my curio- 

 lity, in exploring a part of the world not generally 

 known; ftill more by the proff-eul: of that preferment 

 which might be conicquent on fo dangerous an expedi- 

 tion ; I inftantly folicited admiffion into a corps of volun- 

 teers which was preparing to fail for Guiana, and had 

 the honour, by his Serene Hlgbnefs William V. 

 Prince of Orange, to be advanced to the rank of 

 Captain by brevet under Colonel Louis Henry Four- 

 geoud, a Swifs gentleman, from the Alpine Mountains,, 

 who was appointed our commander in chief. 



Having taken the oaths of fidelity on the 12th of No- 

 vember to the new corps, and prepared what was necef- 

 fary for the voyage, I bade farewell to my old regi- 

 ment, and immediately failed to tne ifland of 

 where feveral of our gentlemen were already affembled ; 



* Each officer was permitted to re- a vacancy being there preferved for hin^ 

 enter his forix.er regiment, if he furvived during his abfence, 

 the expedition, and returned to Europe, 



and 



