4 NARRATIVEOFAN 



CHAP. conftantly, expofed to the moft violent ravages, and 

 ^ ' the mofi: defperate outrage. Of thefe circumftances this 

 is not however the place tor a minute detail. Let it 

 fuffice therefore for the prefent, only to obferve, that 

 thefe repeated revolts and inJurreBions demanded at 

 length the moft vigorous meafures for the rt;. oration 

 of a general peace ; and that the accounts tranfmitLcd 

 to Holland, in the year 1772, that a coniiderable body 

 of armed people of this defcription had afTembled in the 

 forefts, and became extremely formidable to the colony, 

 determined their High Migbtinejj'es tiie States of the 

 United Provinces to fend out a fufficient irjaritime force 

 to oppofe the infurgents, and, if poffible, to quell the in- 

 furre'dlion. 



The Britijh navy had ever been my choice and am- 

 bition, in which I was well recommended ; but the - 

 fmall hopes of preferment I had naturally to expert in 

 time of peace, and my paternal eftate being loft juft after 

 my birth by accidental misfortunes, induced me to relin- 

 quifli the hopes of advancement in the fea fervice, and 

 to accept an enlign's commiffion, prefented me without 

 purchafe, in one of the Scots brigade regiments in the 

 pay of Holland, where Sir Jofeph Tork (late Lord Dover) 

 at that period was ambaflador from the Britifh court ; 

 before which nobleman I had the honour to take the 

 ufual oaths of abjuration and allegiance to ray King 

 and Country, as regiftered at the Britifli war-office. — 

 This point I have alfo thought it right to premife, as 



a duty 



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