EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. i8i 



of mifery and diftrefs ! Lame, blind, fick, and wounded, 

 in the hope of preferving a wretched exiftence, ruflied 

 upon certain death ! They could only, in a w^ord, be 

 compared to the diftrefled army and navy at Cartha- 

 gena, commanded by the Britifh Admiral Vernon, whom 

 Thomfon defcribes — 



■ — " You, gallant Vernon, faw 

 " The miferable fcene, you pitying faw, 

 " To infant weaknefs funk, the warriour's arm j 

 *' Saw the deep-racking pang, the ghaftly form, 

 " The lip pale quivering, and the beamlefs eye, 

 " No more with ardour bright," 



For my own part, I was in a very weakly condition 

 indeed ; however, we continued to lie all night on our 

 arms, during which I preffed the meflenger to ftay, in 

 order to add one to our miferable number, being deter- 

 mined to fell our lives as dearly as poffible. But no 

 enemy appearing in the morning, we buried the dead in 

 their hammocks, not having a board to make a coffin on 

 the whole poft* In this fituation, I loft all patience, and 

 had the audacity to write to my commander, that (be- 

 fides what had happened) my laft men flood upon the 

 brink of the grave, from hardfhips and for want of being 

 properly fupported ; the very waiters of the hofpital 

 having deferted on the moment of my arrival here, and 

 gone to Paramaribo. Our whole number, indeed, was 



now 



C H AP. 

 VIII. 



