EXPEDITION TO SURINAM, 



colony once more into the utmoft confuHon and confter- chap. 

 nation ; the above gentleman, whofe name was Lepper, ^_ , 

 and only a lieutenant, was in a great meafure the caufe 

 of this misfortune, by his impetuofity and intrepidity, 

 totally unregulated by temper or condu(ft* ; but as this 

 cenfure in general terms may appear fevere, it be- 

 comes in fome degree incumbent on me to relate the 

 particulars. 



The period when this unhappy event took place, was 

 that which, in the language of the colony, is termed the 

 Jhort-dsky feafon. During this, Mr. Lepper having been 

 informed that between the rivers Patamaca and Upper 

 Cormootibo, a village of negroes had been difcovered by 

 the rangers fome time before ; he determined with his 

 fmall party, which was only a detachment from the Pata- 

 maca poll, to fally through the woods and attack them. 

 But the rebels being apprized of his intentions by their 

 fpies, which theyconftantly employ, immediately marched 

 out to receive him ; in his way they laid themfelves in am- 

 bufh, near the borders of a deep marfli, through which the 

 foldiers were to pafs to the rebel fettlement. No fooner had 

 the unfortunate men got into the fwamp and up to their 

 arm-pits, than their black enemies rufhed out from under 

 cover, and fhot them dead at their leifure in the water, 



* This gentleman formerly belonged through the heart with bis fjvQrd in a 

 Xo the life-guards in Holland, from which duel, 

 he fled, after thrufting his antagonift 



Vol. I. Q while 



