EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 369 



day, it was celebrated at the head quarters ; where, after chap. 

 dinner, in the court ledge, hearing Captain Bolts in an , ^ _ 

 undeferved manner cenfured by the colonel's adjutant, for 

 recommending one of the voting volunteers of ^n ex- 

 cellent chara6ler, but who had no friends to fupport him*, 

 1 broke through the ring that furrounded them in a paf- 

 lion, and not being able to reftrain myfelf, publicly re- 

 proved the aggreffor, even in Fourgeoud's prefence, when 

 a furious altercation and very high words immediately 

 enfued ; the confequence of which was, that next morn- 

 ing at fun-rife we walked to the favannah without fe- 

 conds, where, near the gallows, we drew our fmall fwords, 

 and after making a few pafles at each other. Captain Van 

 Geurick's point met my fhell, which having nearly 

 pierced, his blade fnapped in two pieces, and the fortune 

 of war put him entirely in my power. Difdaining, how- 

 ever, to take a mean advantage, I inftantly dropped my 

 fmall fword, and defired him to flep home and re- 

 place his own, in order to renew the battle : but this 

 propofal he was pleafed to call fo generous, that taking 

 me by the hand, he requeued a renewal of friendfliip ; 

 thus acknowledging we had been too hafty on both fides, 

 we went to vilit poor Bolts, who knew nothing of our 

 morning's walk, and was (though not without difficulty) 

 perfuaded alfo to enter into the amicable treaty": by which 

 a fecond rencounter was happily prevented, and a ge- 

 neral reconciliation took place. 



* A Mr. Sheffer^ already named, to laft, on the pay of a private foldler, 

 who had ferved with honour from firft during this painful expedition. 



Vol. II. 3 B On 



