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THE LIBRARIES

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Vardinq Jc

MAJOR JAMES GEORGE vSEMPIJE LISLE

PuifSa^mlcrl/lPfl. /n/ W. Steward mhcfodilii/

THE

LIFE

OF

MAJOR J. G. SEMPLE LISLE;

CONTAINING

J FAITHFUL NARRAriVE

OF HIS

ALTERNATE VICISSITUDES OF SPLENDOR AND
MISFORTUNE.

If KITTEN BY HIMSELf.

THE WHOLE INTERSPERSED WITH

INTERESTING ANECDOTES,

AND

AUTHENTIC ACCOUNTS OF IMPORTANT PUBLIC
TRANSACTIONS.

Jfpera piulta

Pertulit, adverjis rerum immerfabili; undis.

Horace.

THE SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR W. STEWART, NO. I94, OPPOSITE YORK

HOUSE, PICCADILLY,

1 80c.

9F,Black(iiett Piint^Tf 10,'^ukc^s Cpt'rtt Chancery I^m.

,A -^JL^ -/

s

V-

i

PREFACE.

When any one offers his own Memoirs
to the world, it is very natural to afl^: what
are his claims to the notice of the Public ?
To this the Author of the following fheets can
juftly reply, that perhaps there exifts not an-
other individual who has been io much the
play-thing of Fortune as him.felf ; and he can
boldly add, that few have been fo unju/lly
calumniated. With fliame he acknowledges
that there have been parts of his life he can
neither juftify, nor means to defend; but this
Work, the truth of which refts not upon his
own teftimony only, but upon that of cha-
racters whom fufpicion itfelf would not dare
to doubt, will prove that his life has been, by
no means, a feries of difgraces.

uch

168089

vi PREFACE.

Such as it has really been, he lays it before
the world, ready to receive from the impartial
voice of the Public that praife or that cenfure
to which he may be found entitled.

To the republic of letters he feels the ne-
ceflity of apologizing for any inaccuracies
which may be found in the compofition. Born
a foldier, though happy in an excellent edu-
cation, the profeflion of arms engaged his en-
tire foul; fomething muft, therefore, be al-
lowed for the produdiion of one no way in the
habit of writing beyond private correfpon-
dence or military orders. Befides, ever ac-
cuftomed to execute his ideas with rapidity,
he confefTes his want of patience to touch, re-
touch, and ponder, words and fyllables ; but
though his periods may want that harmonious
chime which amufes the car, they fhall never
be deficient in truth and candour.

The many exalted charad;ers whofe names
are introduced in this work, will, the Author
trufts, excufe the freedom he has ufed with
them ; he has, indeed, had the honour of
ftanding by their fides in the field of battle
and in the drawing-room -, and he hopes, that

not

PREFACE. vil

not one of them will be afhamed of appearing
along with him on paper.

In fome parts he has, however, fupprefled
circumftances which, though highly honour-
able to himfelf, are neverthelefs improper for
publication ; but when his readers refledt, as
he hopes they will have the goodnefs to do,
that he has been entrufted with important
/late fecrets, by the moft potent Princes in
the world, they would, he is fure, confider
him as far loft to all honour, indeed, fliould
he fufFer them to efcape him, merely to gra-
tify his own vanity.

Finally, fliould any m.aterial fadl be mif-
tated, which may ealily happen to any one
who writes from memory only, he will rea-
dily and thankfully rectify his miftake on
being informed of it. Of thofe defpicable
fcriblers, who, without knowledge of him or
his hiftory, have dared to publilh their anony-
mous libels, he fhall, at prefent, take very
little notice; though, perhaps, fome future
day he may recompence them as they de-
fer ve.

^<

CONTENTS.

-^:

CHAP. I.

THE author's birth, education, and military dehtlt in
America in 1775. — Return to England in 1777. — Ren-
contre with the well known Mrs. Gooch.— Goes to
Lifle in Flanders.— Adventure there, which obliged
him to go to Tournay, the frontier town of the em-
pire •— -^ "— —* P* *

CHAP. n.

Goes to BrufTels. — Interview with Mr. Fitzherbert, now
Lord St. Helens. — Leaves BrufTels, and accompanies
the army of Frederic the Great, and the Emprefs Queen
of Hungary to the field, — Returns through Holland to
England. — Marries.— 'Goes to France ; and from thence,
at the inft^nce of the Duchefs of Kingfton, to Ruffia.
—Adventure at Riga in Livonia, — His arreft there. —
Goes to St. Peterlburg, and is introduced to Prince Po-
temkin and the Emprefs. — Curious particulars of the
Duchefs of IC.'s family — •«- p. 5

CHAP. in.

The author performs his miflion to Dantzic, and return-
in^ is met by a melTen ger to haftea his journey. — Ar-

b nves

CONTENTS.

V

rives at St. Peterfburg, and is ordered to wait the Em»
prefs's difpatches. — Tiie Duchefs of Kingfton's con-
duit.— Determines to remove his family to Narva, on
account of the Dachefs's tyrannical difpofition.— Leaves
the capita], with perraiffion to go to the Duchefs's
houfe. — Laws refpecting travellers in Ruffila. — Quarrels
with the Duchefs.-— Removes his family to Narva, and
fets out for Cherfcn — -. ,— P« 14

CHAP. IV.

The author arrives at Cherfon, and delivers his difpatches
to Prince Potemkin. — An exprefs arrives from the Du-
chefs of Kingfton complaining of him to the Prince,
which is received, and anfwered in a very mortifying
manner. — Some account of Cherfon. — -The Corfes Bx-
pidfes, a corps of them given to the author to organize.
— Aftonifhing atchievement pf !:h^ Emprefs ip building
(hips.' — Mode of launching and navigating them down the
jriver Nieper. — Admira| Mackenzie and Captain Taite.
— Military arrangements. — Mutiny among the Corfes
Expulfes -— — — p. 22

CHAP. V.

Improvements in the Ruffian army by the author.— :Re-.

|t marks on military uniforms. — Ruffian peafants. — Re-
mark? on the proper ufe of the bayonet in exercife. — A
refutation of 3n anonymous libeller. — The author, ha-
ving completed the organization of the Corficans, fets
off to the army in the Crimea.— His flattering reception.
— Character of the commanders Potemkin and Su-
warrow. — Ruffian foldiers, their character and har-
dinefs — — • — P-28

CHAP,

CONTENTS. xi

CHAP. VI.

Mr. Fltzherbert, now Lord St. Helens, arrives at St. Pa-
terfburgh. — The author fent from Karazu-bazar to Ac-
tiare, where he again meets Admiral Mackenzie.—
Vifits a curious old building there. — Mackenzie and he
receive prefents from fome of the Tartar Chiefs. — Re-
turns to head-quarters, and has a narrow efcape. — ^Po-
temkin retires to Krementchuck on account of his
health. — The arrival of a Circaflian Prince there as hof-
tage. — Plain where the battle of Pultowa was fought. —
Splendour of the Viceroy of Mofcow. — Anecdotes of
Potemkin, the Emprefs Catharine, and other remarkable
perfons. — The author prepares to leave Ruflia) quits the
Ri^ffian fervice, and fails for Copenhagen p. 36

CHAP. vn.

The author arrives at Copenhagen juft after the revolution
there. — Anecdotes of the King of Denmark. — Goes to
Pruflia. — Ceremony of entering Potfdam. — Frederic the
Great's mode of receiving reports. — Waits on Comtc
de Goertz.— Etiquette of prefentation to the King. —
Meets feveral diftinguifhed characters. — The Heredita-
ry Prince's apartments defcribed. — Receives permiflion
from the King to attend his mancxuvres. — Prefented to
the Queen, at the palace of Shoen Haufen, near Berlin.
— Accompanies the Prince on fome private expeditions.
—Is ordered to leave Potfdam. — The order revoked next
day. — Defcription of Potfdam. — Defcriptions and anec-
dotes of Frederic the Great. — Excellence of the Pruffian
troops .. — . .^ 52.

h 2 CHAP.

xii C 6 N t E N t S;

CHAP. VJII.

The author leaves Prufiia and returns to Denmark.-— Sets
out for England, where he arrives in December 1784. —
Frequently vifits the Continent in the coqrfe of the two
following years-'T-BefpeaJcs a travelling pcft-chaife of
Mr. Lycet. — IVIr. Lycet, not being able to arreft him
for the DEBT, twelve months after the delivery of the
carriage, proceeds criminally againft him. — The un-
happy confequences. — Sen4s a model of a faddle and acr
coutrement to thp King of Pruffia. — Obtains his par-
don, and goes to France. — Forms an intimacy with
fome of the moft diftinguifhed characters there.— Pro-
ceedings of the Convention, and anecdotes of the per-
fons principally concerned in the maffacre of the King,
with the proceiHqn to his trial --r- p. 67

CHAP. IX,

The Convention orders that the decree pronouncing the
King's death fhould be made known to him within twenr
ty-four hours — His counfellors refufed admiflion to him,
— His fentence announced to him. — Proceedings the
evening previous to his execution. — The author attends
at the Temple with General Beruyer. — Santerre's bru-
'tal behaviour at the Temple the morning of the King's
death. — The Queen and Royal Family refufed to fee the
King, by the CommifTaries, with an explanation' of the
reafon. — -Sahterre's fpeech to his Majefty when he came
to fetch him, not related by Clery. — More "brutality of
Sante'rre. — A man murdered for pitying the Kirig. — .
Preparations feit the place of execution. — The King's
liehaviour, and "the involuntary refpedl paid to him. —
Kew infuUs of Santerre.— The King's death and
burial -r* — — p. 84

CHAP.

CONTENTS, xiii

CHAP; X;

Santerre fends a letter to the Convention^ announcing the
King's death, which the Prefident declined reading
aloud. — -The city overwhelmed with forrow. — The au-
thor fciids an account of the King's death to London. — ■
Jlclblves to leave France^ and receives i pafTport for
that purpofe. — In danger of being arrefted as a fpy. —
Makes his efcape from Paris.-^Pafles feVeral garrifon
towns by ftratageim, and reaches Bruflels* — Difficulty
of pafling the Cordon, and the method he took to avoid
Antwerp, where Dumourier then was.— ^Arrives at
Hoogftraten. — Stops for refrefhment at Baal-Kertog.—
Reaches Bois !e Duc.^Propofes an enterprize which is
approyedj and occafions him to go to the Hague.— Re-
turns with power to carry his plan into execution p, 95

CHAP. XL

Change in the operations of the French, which defeats the
author's plan.— ^He goes to cut off fome forage belong-
ing to the Fren&h, in the vicinity of Alphen. — Per-
feilly fucceeds. — ^Employs a bold ftratagem to recon-
noitre Breda. — Finds the Duke Frederic of Brunfwic
juft leaving Bois le Duc^ and follows him to the village
of Oofterwyk. -^Without time to reft or take refrefh-
xrxgnt, difpatched to Saxe Coburg. — Is prefent at the
memorable battle of St. Tronde, which laftcd three
days — The defperate taking of Ooftmaal.-— Account
of the battle, with an anecdote of the Archduke.—
Returns to the Duke of Brunfwic, after a moft extra-
ordinary journey of fatigue and danger. — Without top-
ping, proceeds to the Hague, and gives a dcfcription of
the battle t9 the Stadtholder -^ p. 196

b 3 CHAP,

xiV C O N T £ N T S.

CHAP. XII.

The author fent for to court next morning, and forced t»
go dirty as he came from his journey, — Returns to
Duke F. of Brunfwic,— ^Capitulation of Breda. — Saxe
- Coburg's great acStions. — Thofe excite fufpicions in the
^ Convention, who fent to recal Dumourier. — Dumou-
rier fends the Commiflaries, and his intended fuccefTor,
Bournonville, prifoners to Saxe Coburg. — -The author
arrives at Saxe Coburg's head-quarters. — Dumourier
_ deferts, w^ith feveral others. — The author returns to
. Dulce F. of Briinfwic at Bois le Due. — ^Finds the Duke
jndifpofed. — Receives a moft extraordinary and honour-
able comm.iflion in the Dutch fervice at the Hague. — •
■ Returns to Bois le Due, and prepares to take the field.
— Is fent on political bufmefs to BrulTells. — Is induced
to leave that army, and go to the army of the Upper
Rhine. — Situation of the army, and charailers of the
Generals. — 'The King of PrufTia leaves the field. — The
reigning^ Duke of Brunfwic fucceeds him. — The au-
thor's diftreiTed fituation.— Retires to a fmall town in
the interior - — — ■ — P- ^2.3

CHAP. XIII.

The author's afFair with Mrs. S. — Characler of Col. S. — •
' The author fets out for Augfburg in Suabia, accompa-
nied by Mrs. S. — Becomes acquainted with Baron
■" D'Ompteda. — Reaches Augfburg. — iSuddenly arrefted
' there, on the requifitioji of the Baron D'Ompteda.—
' The Baron arrives at Augflnirg, and makes fome vague
general charged. — Demands all the author's papers in the
name of his Britannic Majcfty. — The author writes to

Mr.'

C O N T EN T Sr XV .

Mr. Dundas. — Was extremely Well treated during his
confinement. — Receives a letter from Mr* Vv^alpole,
* with an official denial on the part of the Britifh govern-
ment, of any knowledge of the tranfadlion. — Decree of
the Senate of Augfburg. — Remarks on the decree of the
Senate. — Kind behaviour of Mr. Walpole p. 133

CHAP. XIV.

More accounts of the nature of the author's confinement.

. — Finds means to convey a letter to the Duke Frederic

. of Brunfwic— ^-Receives a letter from that great General

, in the moft flattering terms. — Receives indulgences

_. from the magiftrates. — Writes a letter to Baron D'Omp-

teda. — Copy of it. — The Baron rather chufes to fit down

difgraced, than to give the fatisfacflion required. — Goes

to Manheim. — A droll manoeuvre there. — Receives a

bayonet wound. — Proceeds to Cologne and Aix-la-Cha-

pelle, where he finds Colonel S. has been bullying in his

abfence. — Goes to Holland, hears the fame accounts,

but cannot find the Colonel. — Arrives in England,

where the Colonel has been more loudj feeks him by

every ftratagem, and in every place, but in vain p. 149

CHAP. XV.

The author's reafons for returnlnc; to England. — He waits
on the Minifl:ers with fome propofals which are rejevSted.
— Becomes involved in another misfortune. — Is about
to proceed to the Continent, and put back by a ftorm. — >
Apprehended and taken to Bow-ftreet. — Repeated ex-
aminations there. — Ridiculous charges made againft
him. — Would have been difcharg-ed but for Mr. Flood.
—Is tried and convidled, but retains many valuable

b 4 friends.

jorf CONTENTS.

friends.— Mr. Burke's friendly interference ; copies of
letters from him.— Mr. Bofwell, with one of his letters.
^^RemarJcs of the author's friends — P* ^SS

CHAP. xvr.

The author remains two years a prifoner in Newgate. -»•
Begins to entertain hopes that he will not be fent away.
—The fhcrifFs attempt to fend him away in an abrupt
manner.— -His defpair- and its confequences. — Reflec-
tions on this aiftion, and the conduil of the fherifFs.-^
Sent down to Portfmouth. — Receives the l^indeft treat-
ment from Mr. Dyne, contractor for tranfports. — Em-
barks on board the Lady Shore. — Finds the {hip in a
ftate of mutiny. — Different inftances of the mutinous
behaviour of the foldiers of the New S. Wales corps.
—Pufillanimity of their officers — P« ^75

CHAP. xvn.

Mutinous proceedings at Portfmouth. — The Chief Mate
makes a complaint to General Pitt. — Sail for Torbay,
•^The mutineers difturb the Captain in mullering his
men. — Captain Wilcocks complains to General Fox,
who tranfmits his letter to the Duke of Portland.—
Lieutenant Colonel Grofe, the Commander of the New
South Wales corps, fent to infpeft them. — The fhips
receive damage from a ftorm, and are obliged to go in-
to harbour. — The Lady Shore fails, after the Captaift
had addreflcd the Miniftcr on the fituation of the troops,
to which the author alfo added his teftimony. — The
troops increafe in mutiny and difobedience p. i?5

CHAP.

CONTENTS. xvii

CHAP. XVIII.

The Lady Shore proceeds in fafety aimoft to Rio de J»-

niero.— The mutiny commences Enfign Minchin re-

fufes to a<ft.— The Captain mortally wounded. — The
author endeavours to pcrfuade the oificers of the troops
to rally, but in vain. — He offers a variety of pra;2:icable
plans, but without effcifl. — At the inftance of the Cap-
tain and Minchin, the author enters into a treaty with
the mutineers. — Minchin makes his fubmilTIon, and the
fhip is given up. — The officers who hid themfelves
brought to light. — The Captain's death.— The author
wifhes to leave the mefs, but at the folicitation of the
officers, continues with them. The officers endeavour
to procure a boat from the mutineers to carry them to
Rio Grande.— The author's ftratagem to procure leave
for himfelf and the Purfer to go in the boat p. 192

CHAP. XIX.

The officers and fome others are allowed the boat. — The
author procures leave for a boy committed to the Cap-
tain's care to go with them. — Obtains a knowledge of
the fhip's place by a ftratagem, — They embark, after
being fearched fox money. — Enfign Minchin's conduit
and good luck. — The boat fets fail, and meets with a
terrible gale. — She is near loft in the breakers as flie ap-
proached the coaft. — Thofe on board forced to throw
their trunks overboard ; v/hen, in the utmoft diftrefs,
they fee a boat coming towards them. They make the
harbour, and are hofpitably received. — Minchin refufes
the Purfer and Mr. Murchifon any affiftance.— Tiiejr
fend a report af their fituation to the Governor- General,

tvw CONTENTS.

—Are fent for to Port St. Pedro, where they are hof-*
pitably received. — Their fplendid entertainment by the
Governor-General. — A fecorid report made, in which,^
as well as the firft, the author did not join. — Holpi-
tality of the Commandant. — The author is prefented
with a fword by the Governor- General p. 207

CHAP. XX.

News comes of the Lady Shore being brought into Mon-
te Video on the Rio da Plata. — Enfign Minchin and the
Purfer fend each a report to the Spanifh Governor. — ■■
Enfig-n Prater's behaviour to the author, and the con-
fequences of it. — Prater, who was in difgrace, again
admitted to the General's table, at the author's inter-
ceffion. — Defcription of the Province of Rio Grande,
the manners of the inhabitants, and their uncommon
hofpitality. — Scandalous behaviour of the Englifii fol-
diers. — A child of one of the Englifh. foldiers chriftened
at Port St. Pedro. — The Governor and a lady of dif-
tin£lion ftand fponfors. — The author and his companions
prepare to leave Rio Grande. — Detained by contrary
wrinds. — The mode of catching wild cattle in that
country. — The author refolves to go over land to Rio
Janeiro, and obtains the Governor's leave for that pur-
pofe. — The fame favour refufed to Mr. Minchin p. 222

CHAP. XXI.

The author prepares for his journey, aceornpanied by Mr.

Black, Richards a boy, a Brazilian fervant, two dra-
'' goons, and two Indians. — Set out, and lay the firft night

at Tropa Velba, where the country begins to grow
• fertile. — Elegant entertainment there. — Dine at the hut
'-» of

CONTENTS. x«

of a poor farmer. — Sleep at the houfe of an officer of
auxiliary dragoons, where the entertainment is magni-
ficent.— Remarkable fituation of Moiftardio. — Manner
. of marking horfes on the royal farms. — Dexterity of the
Indians in the ufe of two very fingular weapons. — A
merry prank played on a farmer. — Torres, a fort on the
frontiers of the province of Rio Grande, defcription of
it ; vaft number of feals there. — Brazilian Cavalry.-—
Charadter of the inhabitants of Rio Grande. — Farinha,
a root ufed as a fubftitute for bread. — Difficulty in croft-
ing a large river. — A curious old Frenchman. — Extra-
ordinary mode of fifhing. — Mountains near Laguna.- —
Part with their former guides. — From Laguna the
road towards St. Catharine's very bad. — Stop at a whale
fifhery, and next day arrive at St. Catharine's p. 236

CHAP. XXII.

Arrival at St. Catharine's j honourably received there.—
The Portuguefe fleet from Rio de Janeir© laying in the
road of St. Catharine's, the author's arrival is announced
to the Admiral. — Superb ceremony at the Admiral's
landing. — Charafter of the troops there. — The curious
manner in which the Indians ride. — The author meets
with an old acquaintance. — Is moft kindly treated by the
Admiral. — He and Mr. Black go to dine with the Ad-
miral, and vifit the other Captains. — They pafs their
their time i~n every pleaCure. — The fail for Rio de Janei-
ro.— The author is treated with much diftin^lion by the
AdmiraL — He prefents his letters to the Adjutant-Ge-
• neral and the Viceroy. — The perfidy of Enfign Min-
chin, who gets into difgrace for it. — Minchin and Pra-
ter make appllcati^on to the Viceroy to be paid as in

England,

XH cd>rTENts.

England, which is refufedj — The author refufes to re-
ceive any money. — ^They prepare to depart, and the
author is fent on board the UlyfTes; — Mr. Mure hifon and
Mr. Blacic embark on board two South-fea whalers. —
All, except the author, ordered on board.— Enfign Min-
chin's humorous embarkation • — . p. 259

CHAP. XXIIL

Defcrlptlon of the town of Rio de Janeiro Military

eftablifnment there, — Uncommonly fine mulatto regi-
ment of militia.— Produce of the country. — Dcfcrip-
tion of the port. — The author fails from thence from
thence for Bahia de Todos os Santos. — Meets with an
honourable reception from the Governor. — Writes to
Enfign Minchin. — The efFedl of his letter. — Minchin
requefts to be left behind. — Refcues Drummond from an
attack made upon him by Prater and fome of his com-
panions. — Laughable adventure with a taylor. — Has a
fracas with a Portuguefe gentleman. — Is attacked by af-
faflins at night-time. — Character of the inhabitants of
Bahia de Todos os Santos — Defcription of the place. —
The author prevails with the Admiral to allow Minchin
to remain behind. — Singular theft on board one of the
fhips of war. — The fleet fails for Europe, and arrives at
Lifbon — — — p. 276

CHAP. XXIV.

The author arrives at Lifbon, writes to the Minifters, and
oiFers to furrender himfelf. — Is arrefted. — Applies to the
Conful-General for Madeira, who can obtain no fatisfac-
tory anfwer from the Intcndant of Police. — He learns
at length that his confiaement is owing to the quarrels

in

CONTENTS, xjd

in Eiazil. — Is fuddenly removed at midnight to a houfe
" tt Belem. — Is fent on board a lhip.-?!-Some account of
the city of Llfbon, and of the manners of the Porta-
guefe. — The Portu2;iiere army miferably bad.— rThe au-
thor fails for Gibraltar. — Unable to reach that port, they
make Tangier.— ^With a Lieutenant and fome of the
people of the Dorothea, the author gains Gibraltar.-^— The
parrow pfcape pf Captain Grey and his lady p, 298

CHAP. XXV,

The author arrives fafe at Gibraltar,— ris arrpfted on ac-?
count of the difcovery of a confpiracy there. — Dif-
charged from confinement. — Extraordinary exertions of
Earl St, Vincent.r-r-The author arrives at Tangier,
where he is moft kindly treated by the Conful-Genera!,
•— Rcfolves to wait there for the Duke of Portland's or-
ders.— Defcription of Tangier. — Manner of building
houfes there.—r-The gaiety occafioned by the prefence of
the Confuls. — Mofques.-r-Gates of the town. — Abject
ftate of the Jews. — Charafter of the Moors — Their
funerals. — Moorifti troops.— ^Their arms. — Their horfcs.
— Their cavalry. — Remark on horfes' bits. — Their
^evolutions. — Surprifed that any one could perform their
manoeuvres on a plain faddle. — The Moorifti mode of
{hoeing horfes.— The author procures a horfe to be fhoed
\n the European faftiion. — Barbarous manner of faften-
ing horfes in the ftable. —Manner of travelling in Bar*
bary ^ _ — p. 317

CHAP. XXVI.

Treatment of Chriftian flaves in Barbary.— The author
receives notice of the demand of the Britilh Court for

his

xxii CONTENTS.

his furrender. — Complies with it, and fails for Gibral-
tar.— His letter to the Governor, and the anfwer

Sails for Lifbon. — Politely received by the Britifh offi-
cers there. — Writes to the Britifh Envoy and Mr. Mur-
ray, with their anfwers. — Sails for Portfmouth. — His
letter to the Duke of Portland. — Sent for to town p. 338

CHAP. XXVII.

The author arrives in town, is fent to Tothil-fields Bride-
well.— Character of that prifon. — The author's exploits
with bailifFs.— -Conclufion — p. 358

APPENDIX -- «. ^ 371

p

r

ERRATA,

Page 65, Line §, /orwa?, re->J-vicrt.

89* 3> f°^ ^'gl^ juftice, read the executioner of

high juftice.
Qo, 9 from bottom, dele to them.

.«. -, after they, read all,

IOC i. It was not Maffena who commanded,

but another General whofe name I
cannot recollect.
\\z 4, for Brunfwic, read Orange.

iz\ S> f°'^ from, read for.

'26 J, /or drawn, rf*?^ driven.

S73 JO, dele and.

311 9 from bottom, efter they, r^<i^ therefore.

313 4) dele and.

314 4, after Xon^y t ead &'ca\u

jic 2, /cr friends, read my friends.

CHAPTER t

The author^ s birthy education^ and military dehul in
America in 1775. — Return to England in I777i
—Rencontre with the well known Mri. Gooch.—
Goes to Lifle in Flanders.— Adventure there y which
obliged him to go to Tournay, the frontier town of
the empire,

Among the throng of icribblers, who, with-
out any perfonal knowledge of me^ or my
family, have done me the honour to write my
hiflory, there is a prodigious variety of afler-
tion concerning my parentage. Some have af-
ferted that tny father was a farmer, fome a
tradefrtian, fome a clergyman, arid forhej I be-
lieve, will hardly all6w me any father at all.
Had my family no more reafon to be afhamed

B of

THE LIFE OP

of mc than I have of it, I might here produce
a long roll of honourable and virtuous anceftry :
fuffice it to fay, that my defcent is too well
known to every family of diftindtion of my
country to render it necefTary to refute the ca-
lumnies of anonymous libellers.

My education was what Jome of my biogra-
phers have condefcended to allow, of the gen-
teeleft fort ; and my friends gave me that en-
couragement which is naturally given to lads of
parts, an encouragement that too often leads
into unconquerable habits of expence and difli-
pation; and a too liberal fupply from my opu-
lent^ connexions made me equally carelefs and
extravagant. With the advantage of at leaft a
tolerable figure, great adivity, and a perfed
knowledge of all the polite manly exercifes, I
very early was initiated into the gay world.
My fkill in arms introduced me to the moft
celebrated pfTofeflbrs of that art; as a horfeman,
I likewife received the higheft praifes ; and na-
turally gay, fiery, and haughty, my vanity was
proportionably inflated, till it laid the founda-
tion ^f my fubfequent misfortunes and dif-
grace* '

It would be mere impertinence to take up
the time of my readers with details of juvenile
amufcments and juvenile amours : and it would
be downright cruelty to expofe names yet un-
polluted

kAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3

polluted by the peftilent breath of flander-; I
Ihall therefore confine rnyfelf to obferving, that
my military debut was made in America, in the
year 1775, at the age of fixteen.

My adventures there were not much varied
beyond thofe of my brethen of the fame rank. ^,
1 was, however, taken prifoner in 1776; but.*
Was relieved early in 1777, by* Lord Percy, whofe
retirement from the army his country may juft-
ly regret, and Sir Peter Pitker, theff com-
manding at Rhode Ifland, I was foon after
w ounded • and wis in confcquence fent home
from New York, in th6 Bridget of Liverpool,
Captain Gilbody.

I landed in Ireland, and came from thence ^
to Wales and to Bath; where I met with the
beautiful, but unfortunate, Mrs. Gooch. I
was in the rooms ; but 4s ^y wound rendered
dancing impofliblej £l party at picquet was pro-
pofed, which laid the' foundation of a connec-
tion that induced me to retire to Lifle in Flan-
ders. My ainour with Mrs. Gooch having been
related by the lady herfelf, in her Memoirs,
though not quite correSily^ I leave as it is t never-
thelefs, my reader may perhaps fmile with me
at her boaft of " then, and not till then, I fell,'* .
when they are informed that our joint ages did
iiot amount to fprty,

B 2 ' Had

4' THELIFEOr

Had Ihe not mentioned uncandidly a tranfac-
tion which I cannot think upon without regret,
I fhould have wilhed it to have been buried in
eternal filence; I mean where Mr. K. and
myfelf are reported by her to have ufed unfair
conduc!!: to a young Irifhman in a duel. The
young gentleman, who was about my own age,
undoubtedly fell; but nothing unfair took
place : the whole bufinefs palTed in the prefence
of Mr. D., a refped:able inhabitant of London,
who is yet alive; and him I exped and entreat
to expofe me as a villain if there was any foul
play on my fide, Befides, if there needs a
flronger proof of my condudl, I myfelf carried
the, unfortunate man to his lodgings, where, at
his own requefl-, I remained with him feveral
hours, till prudence obliged me to provide for
my own fafety from the effedls of the law, by
leaving Lille, and retiring to Tournay. The
procefs w^as carried on in Mr. K.'s abfence and
mine ; and we were, as Mrs. G. juftly relates,
hung in effigy, the form of declaring outlawry
there ; a ceremony which I was rafh enough to
come into Lifle to fee; a ralhnefs which had
nearly cofl me dear, for I was difcovered, and had
much difficulty to effeduate my retreat to the
Imperial territory : and after remaining fomc
time at Tournay, I went to BrulTels.

CHAP.

MAJOR SEMPL£ LISLE,

CHAP. II.

<loes to Brujfels. — Interview with Mr. Fitzherbert^
now Lord St. Helens. — Leaves Brujfels, and ac-
companies the army of Frederic the Greats and
the Emprefs ^een of Hungary to ihe field. —
Returns through Holland to England. — Marries*
-^Goes to France ; andfrojn thence ^ at ihe injiance
of the Duchefs of Kingjiony to Rujfia. — Adven-
ture at Riga in Livonia. — His arreft there. —
'4^oes to St. Peterfhurgi and is introduced to Prince
Potemkin and the Emprefs. — Curious particulars
of the Puchefs of K.'s family.

XIlt BruiTels, in the beginning of 1778, I met

with General Loekhai't and the Earl of F r,

by whom I was prefented to Mr. Fitzherbert,
now Lord St. Helens, then Refident at that
court. I remained in Brabant till Frederic the
Great marched againft Maria Terefa, the Em-
prefs Queen : I followed thefe armies during
that little war, which as the Germans them-
felves call the " Ka'rtoffel Kreigy' or Potatoe War,
I pafs over as of no importance to my readers.
I held no conliderable lituation at that time ;
but I gained fome experience by obferving the
manoeuvres of the King of Pruffia and the cele-
brated Laudhon.

B 3 In

t> THE LIFE OF

In 1779 I returned to England, by the way
of Holland ; and pafllng immediately again to
the continent, I met at Harwich with an amia-
ble and acicomplilhed young lady, of a highly
-refpedable family, then with her mother and
filter, going to the Hague: with her I formed
a connedion of the tenderell nature, which in
a fhort time terminated in our marriage, and
return to Britain. After fojourning fome
months in London, I went with my wife tp
France ; where I was prefentcd by her to the
Duchefs of Kingfton. I - remained in that
country fome time ; when being folicited by the
Duchefs to go to Ruflia, I confented to follow
her, as I was obliged, by affairs of my own, to
take a circuitous route to Pruflia ; from whence
I went through Courland to Riga, the frontier
town of the Ruflian territory, where I had let-
ters of recommendation to all the principal
merchants.

At Riga, according to my ufual bufy fate, I
met with an adventure worth relating, as it,
perhaps, fcrved as the foundation of my future
fortune in tjiar country. A perfon of the name
of Sauvage^ a Hanoverian, and who had been
employed by the Britifh government, during
the adminiftration of Lord North, to recruit in
Germany, was then in that city ; where he
paffed for a Major of the Britifh army, and

wore

m^

\

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 7

wore the uniform of the Guards. Owing to
fome improprieties of his conduft, which I
confidered as incompatible with the charadler of
a Britifh foldier, I found myfelf obliged to call
upon him for an explanation ; which he was not
only unable to give, but behaved with fuch in-
folence that I was reduced to appeal to the mi-
litary judicature of the fword. His wife, who
was in an inner apartment, (for this happened
in a large anti-chamber at an inn,) hearing
what was going forward, fprung out; and, with
all the fury of a tygrefs, entangled me in a no
very loving embrace. Swords being already
drawn, there was no time to trifle; fo, fome-
what roughly difengaging myfelf from the la-
dy's arms, I beckoned her hufband into the
flreet, and fairly locked her into the room. I
was making the bed of my way to the ramparts,
when he told me there was a fhorter cut ; on
which I followed him till he flopped oppofite
a guard, when, without further ceremony,
he began to roar out for afliftance. I went
home to my inn, where I had not long been
when the Deputy-Governor, (who commanded
in the abfence of the Governor-General of Li-
vonia, Brown,) fent a guard for me, at the in-
ftance of the Fort-Major, who was a country-
man of Sauvage's. The officer of the guard
adled with great politenefs ; and took my word

B -^ thap

Ji THE LIFE OF

that I would attend at the Governor's houfe : I
went accordingly, and found the Lieutenants
Governor talking with fome officers in the yard.
His behaviour to me was rude, which did not
produce any excefs of politenefs on rny lide ;
he did not take off his hat to me, and I refufe4
to do fo to him J ii> fine, without any examina-
tion had, I ^yas put under an arreft.

My recommendations to the Britifh mer-
chants had JDeen pf the ftfongeft kind; and they
no fooner heard of my adventure, than they
offered and became my fecurities until the Gor
vernor-General, who was daily expedled, Ihould
return. I then fent off an exprefs to the
Duchefs of Kingfton, at her feat near Narva in.
Livonia; and Sauvage's wife fet off in perfoiif
for St. Peterfburgh.

The Lieutenant-Governor, finding me fo re-
pedlably fupported, and that I was provided
with the neceffary pafTports for entering thp
country, made little objedion to leaving me at
large in the town until the Governor-General
fhould return. Mrs. Sauvage, who in the
fcuffle had received fome flight hurt in her face,
having procured recommendations from the
Fort Major, (who himfe|f began tp be appre-
henfive for his own fafety, from the fteps he hac}
taken againft me,) laid her complaint before
fhe Emprefs, through the Chancellor Count

Ofterman,

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. ^

Ofterman. The Empref^ heard it with atten-
tion; and as Mrs. Sauvage had fuiFered by the
froft in her journey, by which Ihe had nearly
loft one of her ears, fhe had an apartment or-
dered for her at an hotel ; and one of the £m-
prefTes phyiicians. Dr. Rogerfon, to attend her.
In the mean time, General Brown, the Gover-
nor-General, arrived, examined into the bulinefs
between Sauvage and myfelf, and fent a true
ftatement of the fads to the court ; the confe-
quence of which was, that Sauvage and his fa-
mily were conducfled out of the country, and I
received permillion to proceed to St. Peterf,-
burgh, which I immediately did ; and the
Duchefs of Kingfton's houfe laying in my way,
I paid my refped:s en paffant to her Grace.

On reaching the capital of Ruffia, I waited
on Sir James Harris, then his Majefty's Envoy
at that court, who had been made acquainted
with my adventure at Riga; and who was fo
pleafed with my condud, that he, without a
moment's delay, prefented me to Prince Po-
temkin. After fome converfation with that il-
luftrious general on my affair, and on general
military fubjeds, he afked me if I would fcrve
in the Ruffian army, which I confented to do;
and was that fame evening appointed Captain.
My appointment was extremely rapid, for the
Frince having called for his Secretary, fpoke a

few

JO THE LIFE OF

few words to him in Ruflian, which I did not
then underftand ; the latter retired, ^nd in a few
minutes returned with my commiflion ready
made out, which he handed to the Prince, who
immediately prefented it to me, acquainting me
at the fame time, that he had done me the
honour to place me in his fuite, and that he
gave mc two months leave of abfence to pre-
pare myfclf for the enfuing campaign.

I remained a.few days in town to be prefented
to her Majcfly the Emprcfs, and then returned
to the Duchefs of Kingfton to acquaint her with
my good fortune. I took with me Thomas
Mackenzie, Efq. Brigadier of Marines, and Cap-
tain of the RuHian navy, an officer who, both
as a private gentleman and a foldier, has ever
lield the highefl place in the efteem of all that
have the happinefs to know him; he had not
before been introduced to her Grace.

I was a good deal furprifed, that the Duchefs
did not receive the news of my fudden and
honourable appointment with all the warmth
I cxpecled ; but, as I afterwards found, that
ilie wifhcd to retain me about her perfon, the
myftery was cleared up. The night of our
arrival at the Duchefs's feat was fortunate to
Mackenzie ; for as we were enjoying our bottle,
a meffenger brought him down a brevet of
Rear-Admiral, and the intelligence that he was

appointed

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. II

appointed to command in the Black Sea : he
therefore immediately repaired to St. Peterf-
burgh, and foon afterwards to his ftation.

I continued with the Duchefs. In her com-
pany were a French lady Mad. de Porquet,
iifter to Monf. de Cocove, and a French Secre-
tary, whofe name I do not recoiled. At my
arrival, I found they had all quarrelled, and
were not upon fpeaking terms. Mad. de Por-
quet was in fad fo much chagrined, fhe kept
her room. On which the Duchefs, in all the
native violence of her difpofition, locked her />,
and adually detained her a prifoner in that
Itate for fome days, in fpite of all my remon-
ftrances.

The poor French Secretary was fo much ,
terrified at thefe tyrannical procedings, that
he ran away the fame night, without even
venturing to take a great coat with him. In
an almoft defolate country, in the dead of
■winter, and without the fmallefl: knowledge of
the language, he had to travel twenty miles to
the Baron Rofen's, who, in that dreary fpot, is
called a neighbour. He luckily overtook a
peafant with a fledge by the way, to whom,
by repeating the name of Rofen^ he fortunately
made known his wilhes ; and being placed in
the vehicle, and covered with a fheep fl^in, he,

at

12 THELIFEOF

St length, reached the Baron's more dead than
alive.

As foon as we arrived, the Baron fent a fer-
vant to me with a letter, wherein he ftates that
he could not refufc the poor Secretary the
rights of hofpitaliryj adding, that he could
wilh the Duchefs would abltain from fuch adls
of violence; and concluded, by defiring me to
endeavour to effect a reconciliation between
them. I laid this letter before the Duchefs,
who fent me to the Baron's ; but the French-
man would not lilien to the propofals I was
authorized to make, which were to pay him
his wages, but perfifted in his intention of going
to Pcterlburgh to intereft the French Minifler
in his caufe.

I returned next morning, and prevailed upon
the Duchefs to permit Mad. de Porquet to go
where fhe would. This lady, who, it feems,
had preconcerted m.atters with her lover, the
Secretary, went to St. Peterfburgh, and laid
her complaint before the Marquis de Verac,
the French Minifter there. The Marquis
apprifed the Duchefs of the complaint, and I
was fent to St. Peterfburgh to negotiate for
her with them ; the confequence of which was,
that the Duchefs was to pay Madame dc Por-
<quet fix hundred ducats in fpecie, on condition

of

MAJOR S E M P L E L 1 i L E. 1^

of immediately returning to France; and I was,
at the expence of the Duchefs, to condudl her
to Dantzic, whether I was going to meet my
own family, to bring them to the houfe which.
the Duchefs had given me on her eftate, within
a fhort league of that fhe inhabited.

The Duchefs had taken my receipt for the
money with which fhe had entrufted me to pay
Madame de Porquet on her arrival at Dantzic,
charging me to take her receipt there; a feem-
ing reconciliation then took place, and Ma-
dame de Porquet ftaid a few davs at her Grace's
feat to pack up her effeds. In the mean time,
the Duchefs ordered her ftevvard Mr. Wilkinfon
to prepare one of thofe carriages, which are
ufed in Ruffia in time of fnow, and which
refembles the body of a coach, only much long-
er, to be got ready. Thefe carriages are fur-
nifhed with beds; and when Mr. Vv^'ilkinfon
informed her Grace that the machine was ready
with two beds, fhe fmartly enough replied: —
" You have done well, Mr. Wilkinfon, but
" your precaution was unneceiTary ; I will an-
" fwer for it, one bed will ferve them before
** they reach Dantzic." —

Having obtained, with my commiflion, two
months leave of abfence, and permiflion to leave
the country, 1 fet forward without any further

application to court.

CHAP,

14 THB LIFE OF

CHAP. III.

The author performs his miffton to Dantzlc, and re^
turning is tnet by a mejfenger to hajien his journey,
''—Arrives at St. Peter/hurg, and is ordered to
wait the Emprefs's di/patches, — The Duchefs of
Kingfton^s conduSL — Determines to remove his fa-
mily to Narva^ on account of the Duchefs*s tyran-
nical difpojition. — Leaves the capital, with per-
^ . mijjion to go to the Duchefs*s houfe. — Laws re-
fpe^ling travellers in Ruffia, — parrels with the
Du chefs. — Removes his family to Narva, and
fets out for Cherfon.

1 PAID the money on my arrival at Dantzic to
Madame de Porquet, and took her receipt for
it, according to the Duchefs's diredions. My
family were waiting for me ; I however found
it neceflary to remain fome days there ; and I
was further fo delayed by the badnefs of the
weather and roads, that my two months had
fome time expired. In the mean time. Prince
Potemkin, finding himfelf obliged from cir^
<;umftances to fet off immediately for the army^
had applied to Sir James Harris to know where
I was. In confequence an exprefs was fent off
for mCj, (whom I met in Livonia^ about a hun-
dred

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I^

dred miles from the Duchefs's), to acquaint mc
with the Prince's orders, and to haften my
journey.

The inftant I met the courier I left my fa-
mily to come forward as their heavy carriages
would permit them ; and proceeded with the
utmoft rapidity to the Duchefii's houfe. She
exprefled much fatisfaclion at my arrival, and
the great anxiety the length of my abfence had
^iven her on account of the Prince's want of
me. Without more iofs of time I fet oif for
St, Peterlburgh. I immediately went to Sir
James Harris, who feemed hurt at my delay,
and told me that there were inftrudlions for me
at the War Office, but that Potemkin was gone:
he preffed my departure to follow the Prince,
adding, (for I will ufe his own words,) "You
^* may make your own terms with him ; he
** cannot do without you."

I went immediately to court, and received
inftrudiions to wait her~ Majefty's difpatches,
with which I was to follow the Prince to Cher-
fon, who had taken the circuitous road of
Warfaw. Having received thefe direcflions,
^nd not being able to leave St. Peterfburgh
without the commands of the Emprefs, I wrote
a letter to my wife, to endeavour to foothe the
feelings which an amiable, virtuous, and affec-
tionate woman mult naturaljy feel at the depar-
ture

i^ THE LIF6 OF

ture of the hufband fhe loved, and who doatea
upon her: nor was it an eafy talk to frame a letter
capable of producing fuch an effed, in a coun-
try where fhe knew not a face except the Du-
chefs, nor could make her delires known in thd
language of the place* I reprefented to her
that my ftay at the army would be but fhort ;
that my being in the fuite of the Prince would
infure me from much danger, even fuppofing
there lliould be any war, which I did not ima-
gine there would, for that certainly the Crimea
would^ be taken pofTefTion of without a fhot
being fired: finally, I promifed to fee her pre-
vious to my departure, and bring her to Narva,
where I had already fent to take a houfe.

The fame courier carried a letter to the Du-
chefs, in a fomewhat more military flyle : I
dwelt upon the valour of Potemkin, and his
turn for entcrprize ; I declared that, not con-
tented with following where he would lead, I
would endeavour to be foremoft in the field of
glory ; for that I was determined to fhew the
Ruflians that a Scot was neither their inferior in
fupporting fatigue, nor encountering danger.

The Duchefs betrayed the confidence I had
repofcd in her; for when my wife fhewed her
the letter fhe had received from me, and event
which was hardly enough to enable her to fup^
port my departure, her Grace^ with that hypo-
critical

ilAJOU SEAIPLE LISLE. i'J

Critical canit (he fo well knew how to aiTume,
inveighed againft my falfe reprefentations ; and,
by way of completing her cruelty, concluded
by fliowing the letter Ihe had received from
me.

The efFedt of this frightful eccIairciiTement,
upon the fenlibility of a delicate woman, may
be ealier conceived than expreifed. She wrote
a letter to Sir James Harris, and another to
myfelf, in the moft pathetic terms that affec-
tion could poffibly fuggeft. She expreffed the
moft anxious folicitude, left the impetuofity of
my temper fhould hurry me into unneceiTary
dangers ; in fine, fhe wrote, to ufe Sir James's
own words, *^ as none but an Englijhzvoman could

*^ write,'

It will be readily believed that the Duchefs's
behaviour to Mad Porquet had not contributed
to raife in my mind any high veneration for
her charadter; and the idea of leaving a wife
and children, whom I loved with the tendered
affedlion, in the power of a woman, who alrea-
dy had fported in the moft unfeeling manner
with her forrows, became unfupportable. I
had in fad dreaded fomething of the kind, and
had taken a houfe at Narva, diftant between
twenty and thirty miles from the Duchefs's
eftate, to ferve as a retreat to my family,- and I
now refolved, without lofs of time, to remove

C them

l8 THE LITE OF

them thither. I therefore wrote to my wife to
confole her as well as I was able, telling her,
that Sir James Harris had acquainted me with
fome palTages of her letter, and defiring her to
prepare for her departure without giving a hint of
it to the Duchefs, till I ihould come down. In
the courfe of a couple of days I was fent for to
court to receive the difpatches of the Emprefs
for Potemkin ; it was then evening : my orders
were to leave St. Peterfburg.h that night. A fum
of money was paid me by the Secretary of War
for the expences of fo long a journey, and a
Serjeant of the Guards (who bears the rank of
Lieutenant in the army,) and who fpoke the
French and German languages, was ordered to
attend me. My route to the army lying through
Narva, and my difpatches requiring no hafte
(as it was expedled I ihould be at Cherfon be-
fore the Prince got there,) on taking leave of
her Majefty, I folicited permiilion to go off my
road to the Duchefs's houfe for twenty-four
hours ; this favour was benevolently granted ;
and I went to take leave of Sir James Harris,
and then to the hotel where my carriage and
fervants were, from whence I meant to have fet
off immediately. While my equipage was pre-
paring, I was prevailed on by fome officers to
gamble ; at which we continued till it was an-
nounced to mc that all was ready. Unfortu-
nately

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I9

nately, however, 1 had not only loft all the Em-
prefs's money, but all my own ; and had no
other refource but to fend immediately to Sir
James Harris to acquaint him with my embar-
raflment ; who immediately, though he was then
in bed, difpatched his butler to me with five
hundred roubles. Thus reinforced, I inftantly

fet off.

When I reached Narva, I left there my mili-
tary equipage, and went in a fmall carriage of
the country to the Duchcfs's feat. I found my
wife and family already in the houfe her Grace
had given us. I then began to explain the mo-
tives of our intended removal ; I told her Grace
that, confidering the hazardous fervice I was
going upon, and that no military man who was
going to the field of acftion could ever fay his
return was certain, I thought it necelTary my
wife ftiould have fome eftablifliment to call a
home J that though Ihe could as often and as
long as fhc chofe take up her abode with her
Grace, ftill, fhould any thing happen to me,
Narva would always, particularly in the event
of the Duchefs leaving Ruflia, prove a retreat
where Ihe would find friends of her own na-
tion ; whereas, in her prefent fituation, llie was
an entire Itranger to every one, nor had xnore
than one fervant who underftood the language
©f the country. To this the Duchefs replied,

C 2 firft

20 THE LIFE OF

firft with a flood of tears, and a complaint that I
was depriving her of her only companion ; and
then (finding me unmoved) with a torrent ot
abufc that would have done credit to Billings-
gate, concluded with faying, we might both go
to the d — 1.

It is necelTary to inform my readers that, by
the laws of Ruffia, no perfon can travel from
the capital without a paffport defcribing his
route, which he is not at liberty to alter ; in the
country, travellers muft have a pafs from the
perfon whofe eflatc they may have been upon,
before they quit it, or no poft-maftcr dare lur-
nilli them with horfcs. On my application at
the poft-houfe, which was not above half a mile
from the Duchefs's, I was not only told that
they durfl not fupply me with horfes, but that they
had her Grace's exprefs prohibition to that ef-
fect. I anfwered the poft-mafter, that .1 fliould
remove that difficulty by taking his or her horfes
by force. . I inftantly removed my family to the
poft-houfe. I juft then recolle(5ted that I had
given the receipt I had obtained from Madame
de Porquet at Dantzic to the Duchefs, without
her Grace having returned me that which llie
required of me, when flie entrufled the money
to mv charge. I begun to be apprehenfive of
her making a bad ufe of it ; I therefore wrote
a note to Mr. Vvilkinfon her fteward, requeu-
ing:

MAJOR SEMPLE LIS IE. 21

ing my receipt. The Uuchefs lliuffled with ex-
"cufcs, that file could not come at it ; that fhe
would give it to my wife, and fuch like eva-
fions ; and inftantly jumping into her carriage*
drove into the woods, to prevent further appli-
cations on my part. I fent one of her own fer-
vants after her Grace to tell her, that unlcfs I
had my own receipt, or a difcharge from her in
one hour from that time, that I would force my
■way into her houfe, and carry off her cajjctte^
which I would lay at the Prince's feet, and in-
treat him to judge between us. In a few mi-
nutes, Mr. Wilkinfon brought me the receipt
I demanded, and I fet out for Narva, where I
refled fcarcely one moment before I proceeded
for Cherfon to join the Prince.

C 3 CHAP.

22 THELIFEOF

CHAP. IV.

The author arrives at Cher/on^ and delivers his dif-
patchcs to Prince Potemkin. — An exprefs arrives
from the Duchefs of Kingfion complaining of him
to the Prince ^ which is received and anfizered in a
lery mortifying manner. — Some ace omit of Cherfon.
—The Corfes Expulfes, a corps of them given to
the author to organize. — Jfonijhing atchievement
of the Emprefs in building fhips. — Mode of launch-
ing and na'ui gating them down the river Nieper. —
Admiral Mackenzie and Captain Taite, — Mili-
tary arrangements. — Mutiny among the Corfes
Expulfes.

In fpite of my delays, and the heavinefs of my
equipage, having with me all my baggage for
the field, I reached Cherfon in twelve days
from the time of my leaving St. Peterfburgh. I
there found the Prince, who had not arrived
many hours before me. I delivered to him the
packet I had received from the Minifter of War
Count Moufchkin Poufchkin, and the letter
from her Majefty, the contents of which was
not lefs plcafmg to myfelf than the Prince, as
the Emprefs fpeaking of me, concluded by fay-
ing, " May you in battle always have a mari

*' like

^ MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2^

^' like him by your lidc, and a friend like me
** wherever you go."

Next day an cxprcfs arrived from the Duchefs
for the Prince, \\'ith heavy complaints of my
condud: to her, my delays upon the road, and a
long firing of ^c.'s. This furnilhed matter of
amufement to the Prince, v\ ho could not en-
dure her ; for (he, partly through her ignorance
of the Kmprefs's permifiion for me to go out of
my route, and partly through malice, had (o
caricatured the flory, that it became the fubjedl
of laughter to all who heard it. To add to her
mortification, he made me not only read it to
him, but anfwer it forthwith ; which I did in
French to the following effe(^l:, fometime in the
month of July 1783: "' Madam, I had the ho-
** nour to receive your difpatch from his High-
** nefs ; I had aifo the honour to read it to him;
" and am, by his Highnefs's commands,
*' Madam, &c. &c. &c."
Cherfon is a town which the Emprefs built
on the river Nieper feveral leagues abave its
mouth, with the view of^ forming a new colony
there ; for this purpofe fne ilfued, by her Mini-
ftfer at Leghorn, a proclamation to the exiled
Corficans, by the title of Les Cor/es Expul/ts i
under which name perfons of ^U nations afTem-
bled at her rendezvous, and were tranfported by
the way of the Dardenellcs and Black Sea to

C ^ Cher foil.

24 THE LIFE OF ^

Cherfon. Of the real Corficans, about 250,
who were all military, flie formed a corps, dif-
tinguiflied by the appellation of Royal Corii-
cans, which I was directed to organize. Here
it was the Emprefs put in pradtice the exalted
fcheme of building fliips of war for the expedi-
tion on the Black Sea. They were conftru(5l"ed
upon a river fcarcely navigable for a fmall floop,
the wood and iron for their conftrudion brought
from a diftance of 700 miles up the country,
fome of it much farther, and every gun came not
r^iLich Icfs than 1000 miles by land. The mode of
launching and navigating thefe veiTeis down to
the fca was curious ; the Nieper, as before ob-
ferved, being extrepnely fhallow, and not very
broad, a fort of pool vvas firft formed in the bed
of the river oppolite to the dock, then two large
lafts, which were f:allcd Camels, were placed fo
as to receive the veffel as flie Aid from the
■flocks, from which ilie was eafed down without
much rapidity; being feated between the ca-
mels, as in a cradle, fhe was thus floated down
the river paft the Turkifh fortrefs of Ofchacow,
and into the Black Sea. Had not I been an
eye-witnefs to this ftupendous work, I Ihould
hardly have ventured to have related it ; it was
truly worthy the comprehenlivc mind of fuch a
fovereign ; it completely formed a maritime
{carrier againfl her troublefome neighbours the
^^ Turics,

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. Sg

Turks, and opened a channel for trade from her
territories to the Mediterranean.

Admiral Mackenzie, whofe name may trnly
be faid to have graced an early part of this nar-
rative, had gone round to the harbour of A6li-
are, now called Seballapole ; he had there, with
the rapidity which diflinguiflied all his move-
ments, begun to build a houfe for himfelf, ma-
rine barracks, hofpitaP, ftore-houfes, eredl bat-
teries, and put the harbour in a refpe(5lable ftatc
pf defence.

A vice-admiral remained at Cherfon with fe-
veral captains, among whom was Captain, now
Admiral Taite, who, at the time I am writing
this, is lying with a Ruflian fleet, which he com-
mands, at Yarmouth, a moft amiable man and
intelligent officer ; for whom, in common with
ail who knew him, I entertained the higheft ef-
teem ; an efteem which I exhibited in my ufual
imprudent manner, by vifiting him at a time
when we were directed not to go near his houfe,
becaufe he was fick (fuppofed to be of the
plague, which had broke out among us) a pre-
caution ufed to prevent the fpreading of the
infection : but, independent of his focial quali-
ties, he had another flrong claim on me, he is a
Scot. For this vifit I was feverely reprimanded
by the General of the day, SolticofF, and dared
pot to approach the Prince for feveral days.

T4ic

26 THE LIFE Of

The now well-known Field-Marfhall Suwar-
row, and Ramfay Count of Balmain, were al-
ready in the Crimea, whither Potemkin follow-
ed, leaving me behind to organize the corps of
Royal Corficans, and then to join him. The
Prince of Wirtemberg, whofe fifter was mar-
ried to the Grand Duke of Ruflia, arrived at
Cherfon about this time; he M'as then Lieute-
nant-General, and was left there by Potemkin
to command the referve.

My Corficans, though brave fine fellows,
were, as is^ their charadler, quite undifciplined ;
and, as they were the objects of curiofity to the
whole army, our manoeuvres were interrupted
by the numbers thus drawn together ; I there-
fore retired with them from the ground where
the Rudians lay to a little fpot on the other fide
of the town, between that and the Bifhop's pa»
Jace, where I daily trained them.

To fhew the turbulent difpofition of the Cor-
ficans, I fhall give the following inflance ; I
bad given them permifTion to fell fome old
flores and copper kettles which they had brought
with them in the fhips, and for which we had
no ufe. About the produce of thefe articles
they difagreed. One evening, while I was at
the Ruffian camp, on a vilit to the Command-
ing General, a letter was delivered to me from
the officer I had left on command, which I in^

•f inflantl)^

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. t^J

(lantly read. By this I was informed that my
camp was in confufion, and that the men were
firing upon each other. Without faying one
word to the general, I inftantly rofe from tabic,
and having previoufly requefleda colonel of in-
fantry, whofe regiment Jay nearefl: me, to fend
a detachment of his men before day-light to
furround my camp, I galloped home as faft as
I was able. The night was dark ; and I had a
valt open common to pafs : however, I reached
my camp, being partly guided by the fiaflies
and reports of the mulkets. On my arrival I
inftantly began to fire among them with my
piftols ; and, as my voice was perfedlly known,,
all was prefently quiet, and each in his tent.
I gave orders to be called at day-break; when
afking the officer of the guard if he faw any
thing near the camp, he told me there were
fome fmall bodies of infantry on three fides,
the fourth being covered by the river ; on
which I ordered the drums to beat to arms.
As foon as my men were on the parade, they
were difarmed, and the caufe of the quarrel en-
quired into ; when the kettles, &c. appearing
to be ALL they had fought about, the leaders
were feverely and infiantJy punillied : thus
tranquillity was refiored.

CHAP.

2^ THE LIFE OF

CHAP. V.

Improvements in the Rujfian army by the author. —
Remarks on military uniforms. — RuJJian peafants,
— Remarks on the proper ufe of the bayonet in
exercije. — A refutation of an anonymous libeller,
— 'The author having compleated the organization
of the Corfican^y fets off to the army in the Cri-
mea.— His fiat tering reception. — Character of the
commanders^ Potemkin and Suwarrow. — Rujfian
foldierSy their chara&er and hardinefs.

UuRiNG my firft converfations with Potemkin
at Peterfburgh, he had afked my opinion of the
Ruffian army; and I frankly told him that im-
provements might be made_, in both their drefs
and manoeuvres.

The Ruffian uniform confifled of a green
coat, lined and faced with red, very tight, and
fo long that it incommoded the wearer, by
beating on the calves of his legs ; the breeches,
which were alfo tight, did but barely cover the
knee-joint; and as the Ruffian foldiers, both
cavalry and infantry wear boots, though of a
different form, a vacancy between the knee-
welt of the breeches and the boots became una-
voidable; the hat was very fmall, and unfit for

» a

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2^

A covering in a cold country ; on which account
the foldiers added a piece of flannel on each
lide to cover the ears, and guard againft the fe-
verity of the weather. This cloathing being ve-
ry inconvenient, to fhevv the Prince my ideas
on the fubjetfl, I had drefTes made for myfelf
and a private, of the uniform which is ftill re-
tained, without any material alteration; and
which was allowed to be at once elegant, con-
venient, and well adapted to the feverities of
the climate. I muft here remark, that elegance
fhould always, in fome degree, be confulted in
the formation of a military uniform ; for if we
wifh the foldier to keep up that nicety of ap-
pearance which is fo becoming in military men,
we mufl make him proud of his own figure.
In Ruflia this was more than any where neceffa-
ry, for the peafantry, (who fupply the recruits
for the army), are the moft flovenly of mortals ;
their outlide drefs being made of fheep-fkin,
which they wear with the woolly lide inwards,
unlefs here and there, in the vicinity of noble-
men's feats, fome have them of coarfe cloth :
yet fuch is the effedl of making men pleafed
with themfelves, that at prefent the Ruffian ar-
my may vie with any in the world, for appear-
ance and fubordination. The Prince, thinking
to improve upon me, put in orders, (without my
knowledge) that the hair of the foldiers Ihould

be

36' THE LIFE or

be cropped, and that the bayonet Ihould only
be fixed when they were about to charge the
enemy. As I was the acknowledged author of
the alteration in the uniform, thefe novelties
were likewife attributed to me, and I was hearti-
ly abufed for all. The cropping of foldiers*
hair, (unlefs occafionally for a partifan's corps)
I always difapproved, as by giving an opening
to negligence, it ferves to introduce flovenli-
nefs ; and whoever will reflect for a fingle mo-
ment on the different poife of a mufket with
and without the bayonet fixed, as well as on
the abfolutc neceflity of learning to load and
fire with fixed bayonets, will, I truft, fuppofe
me incapable of proceeding on fo erroneous a
principle ; and will, with me, think that the
mufquet and bayonet fhould be infeparable.
Accordingly, in a few days, the crops were
fupplied with falfe tails ; but I had fome diffi-
culty to prevail upon the Prince to reinftate the
bayonet in its proper place.

I did not, till this moment, know what the
author of the Life of the Emprefs Catherine II.
(publiflicd by Longman of Pater-nofter Row,
and Dcbrett of Piccadilly) has thought proper
to fay of me (vol. iii. p. 20. 2d edit.) refpecfling
my fituation with Prince Potemkin and the Du-
chefs of Kingfton :

*' By h^'s advice the Prince introduced feveral

** new

tt
<c

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3I

** new regulations into the army, both in regard
" to drefs and manceuvres ; and had it not been
** for fome manoeuvres of another nature, fu.ch as
writing to the Duchefs of Kingfton, that he
would come by night with fome foldiers, and
break into her houfe, unlcfs Ihe fent him a
" certain fum of money, &c. there is not a
" doubt but he would foon have been raifed to
** the rank of a general officer, or appointed
*' conful at whatever place he chofe." — He
goes on to fay, that, " After his difmiflion from
" the confidence of Prince Potemkin, on his
way to England, Major Semple laid the mer-
chants of Peterlburgh, Narva, Riga, &c- un^
der contribution by a variety of impoftures.**
It is the eternal fate of falfhood to contradi<5l
itfelf : and though I have given in the preced-
ing pages an account of my affair with the Du-
chefs of Kingflon, which I challenge earth or
hell to contradid, (till, as this worthlefs fcrib-
bler, who would tremble at my very fhadow,
may gain credit with fome, I will, in one mo-
ment, point out his abfurdities. Had I dared
to have threatened the Duchefs of Kingfton, as
he has afierted, a well-founded complaint (to
which my own letter muft have given an irre-
liftible weight,) would have procured me a ba-
nifhment for life to Siberia ; befides, this quar-
rel happened before I joined the Prince at Chcr-

fon ;

c<
«

^2 THE LIFE OF

fon : and was it, I will afk, probable, that he woulcj
have received me into his favour, intruded me
■with the organizing of a new corps, and after-
wards treated me as will appear hereafter, had I
been flained with robbery ? As to my frauds
on the merchants, while I was in favour^ they
might have been pofTible ; but, for a man difgra-^
eedy they would have been an utter impofTibility.
Belides, I (did not pafs through, or near Riga ;
for I went from Petersburgh to Narva, where I
embarked, and went down the Eaft Sea to Co-
penhagen.

Such peRilent libellers are unfit to be fufferecl
in the world. Such have been my ruin ; and
the author of the above, who, I am informed,
is a prieft, certainly affords a Ihocking proof
of that depravity which perhaps may, if ever I
live to meet him, render his gown but an
infecure protecflion. If he has any honour, let
him contradid. his unfounded affertlons: but
why ihouid I afk him ? Had he any honour, he
would not have wrote it. One good, however,
refults from his fcurrility : I am enabled by
thefe anecdotes of myfelf, to judge of the au-
thenticity of thofe parts of his hiftory which I
have not yet had time to look at.

Having trained and difciplined my Corficans,
I proceeded to the army, and joined the Prince
>n the heights above the town of Karafu-bafar.

in

Major semple lisle, ^3

in the Crimea; where my pride was not a little
flattered by feeing the uniform of which I had
given the model worn by an immenfe army,
and my manoeuvres adopted and applauded.
I was then about twenty-five, and with my
natural vanity^ this diftindion almoft turned
my brain, as it perhaps might have done to
men much older and wifer then myfelf ; and if
I had no very great fhare of prudence in pecu-
niary matters before, this made me quite re-
gardlefs of them.

I was now at the Prince's right-hand day and
night ; he loaded me with honours, and I left
nothing in the line of duty undone to deferve
them. Potemkin was juftly placed among the
firfl charadlers of this or any other age; brave,
open, rough, and impetuous, he was firfl in
every exploit of danger ; fudden in his manoeu-
vres, his plans were conceived and executed
with unparalleled rapidity ; in the field he knew
no charadler but a foldier, nor could age or
rank plead with him any excufe for relaxation
from the rules of duty.

Suwarrow was with us, already ading a
diftinguifhed part. Bold and impetuous as
his commander, he was indefatigable in duty,
and feemed to afpire, by copying fo great a
mafler, at that rivallhip of glory to which he
has now arrived.

D The

34 THE LIFE OF

The Ruffian foldiers fcem fitted by nature
for war; their hardinefs is unparalleled, as
eafily may be imagined from the manner in
which they live. Their magazines are not as
with other armies, depofited with even a finical
care; their proviiion, which is rye meal, is
piled up like pyramids in bags in the open
air, where, by alternate expofure to rain and
fcorching fun, I have feen it fo baked toge-
ther that it was obliged to be hewed out wi^th
axes. The raw meal is ferved out to the com-
panies ; and where they have no wood, (as was
the cafe with us while in the environs of Cher-
fon where no Vvood grows, (and the chips of
the dock-yard hardly fupplied the hofpital
and General Officers,) they colled: weeds and
the dung of the cattle, with which they heat
it as well as they are able, and eat it half raw.
They are not lefs hardy in their tents than
in their eating ; ll:raw or blankets are never
thought of by a Ruffian foldier : his cloak
ferves him at once for bed and for covering i
and wrapped up in this, he lies down con-
tented on the bare cold ground. As an inftance
of their contempt for thefe luxuries ^ I had en-
trufted a foldier with the care of a conliderablc
number of valuable articles, at a time when I
was at a diftance from the Prince. I had got
a trench dug in the earth to ferve as my cellar ;

and

ilAJOk SEMPLE LISLE. £5

atid ovet It a tent was erected, 'J)artly to ferve
as a ftorehoufe, and partly as an habitation
for the faithful veteran who was to guard my
Itores. Willing to make him in love with
his duty, I had got raifed for him a wooden
bench, with a mattrafs to fleep on, which in-
deed, though a moft vile one, coft me no fmall
trouble to procure; but bad as it was, I con-
cluded that he would efteem it a luxury. I
was however miftaken ; for about a week after,
going to look at my waggons, &c. I faw a
mattrafs laying like a piece of lumber. En-
quiring how it came there, I was informed,
that it belonged to the foldier I had placed oi\
my cellar, whom I inftantly fent for. Upon
afking him how he came to throw away his
mattrafs, he cooly faid, that it was no: fit for
a foldier, and that he could not fleep upon it.
I then went to fee what he had fubftituted
for this defpifed couch, and found a hard
common ftraw mat of his own twilling.

Such is the real charader of a Ruffian fol-
dier, and to the portrait I can only add, that
their fidelity is equal to their other qualifi-
cations, for defertions are hardly known among
them; they are in fhorc formed by nature and
education for the trade of war : for while they
acquire hardinefs by their ufual mode of living,
their minds are not eftranged frorn the paths

D 2 pf

3^ THELIFEOS"

of obedience by thofe fmatterings of knowledge*
which only ferve to lead to infubordination
and mutiny.

CHAP. VI

Mr. Fitzherherty nozv Lord St. HelenSy arrives at
St. Peterjhurgh. — 'The author fent from Karazu^
bazar to Affiare^ where he again meets Admiral
Mackenzie. — Vifits a curious old building there.
— Mackenzie and he receive prcfentsfromfome
of the Tartar Chiefs. — Returns to head-quart ers,

^ and has a narrow efcape. — Potemkin retires to
Krementchuck on account of his health. — The ar-
rival of a Circajftan Prince there as hoftage,
— Plain where the battle of Pultowa was fought.
— Splendour of the Viceroy of Mofcow. — Anec-
dotes of PotemkiUy the Emprefs Catharine, and
other remarkable perfons. — The author prepares
in leave Ruffia ; quits the Ruffian fervice, and
fails for Copenhagen,

As it is my intention hereafter to publiih a
hiftory of my campaigns, I Ihall hear fay
very little on that fubjedl. Some time in
Auguft 1783, we learnt at the army that
Mr. Fitzherbert, (now Lord St, Helens,) had

arrived

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 37

lirrived at St. Peterfburgh to replace Sir James
Harris. The Prince was moft particularly cu-
rious to know his character, and I had many
converfations with him on the fubjed: ; for Sir
James had been among the moft peculiar friends
;ind intimates of Potemkin. No ceremony, no
drefs, no etiquette was obferved, however much
the Prince might be engaged. Sir James in
his pelice and cap always found immediate
accefs, even though other foreign minifters had
been fome time in the anti-chamber, and per-
haps after all could not obtain an audience.

From Karazu-bazar, I was fent on military
bufinefs to A6tiare, where I met my old friend
Admiral Mackenzie, with his little fleet. His
fortifications and other works were in great
forwardnefs, and every thing bore the afpedl
of improvement. We went to vifit an antient
building, called, I think, the antient Cherfo-
nefe, which is near Acfliare, and lays in a cove
almoft inacceflible. We in vain endeavoured
to reach it by fea, the rocks were fo perpendi-
cular that they defied our attempts, and with
much difficulty we fcrambled over the top of
them from the land lide. The building, if it
can be fo called, is compleat, and is almoft in-
tirely cut out of the rock ; but it is uninhabited,
except by one man ; and whether he lives there
Crorn motives of religion, or of concealment, I

D 3 cannot

3^ THE LIFE OF

cannot fay. The few remaining natives however
fliewed him much refped., and fupplied him
with all necefTaries; and Admiral Mackenzie
gave ftrid orders that he fhould nop be mo-
lef^ed.

While I was at Adiare, Mackenzie and my-
felf received the compliments offome of the
Tartar Chiefs of that country, together with
a prefent of each a horfe. Mine wa» very richly
caparifoned indeed, but his was almoft covered
with filver. The faddle was of purple clothj,
all iliidded over with filvcf nails, and from
each fide depended a huge ftirrup of the fame
metal, made, as is the fafliion of the country,
the fize and fhape of the fole of the foot ; nor
were the crupper and bridle left without their
due fhare of ornaments, which at every flep
made almoft as much noife as the fore-horfe
of an Engliih waggoner's team. Mackenzie
eyed the gavvdy beafb with much pleafure, and
in the prefence of the whole company jogged
my elbow, and, polling a ftirrup in his hand,
fiid, *• Take you the horfe, 1 will have the
" ftirrups, by G — d ; each of them will make
" a pair of candlefticks:" had he faid two pair,
I do not think his calculation would ha.ve been
extravagant.

I had been taken ill at A(5liare with a fort
of ague, which prevailed in the army, and on

my

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLEC gg

my return to Karazu-bafar, my diforder was
very much increafed ; however, as I found the
Prince juft changing his pofition, great part
of the army, and moft of my own baggage al-
ready gone, I determined not to be left behind.
Being too ill to mount my horfe, I got a bed
put into one of thofe carriages which are com-
monly ufcd there, and ordered horfes. I could
get none but thofe of the irregular Coflacs, which
were totally wild, and had hardly ever feen, much
lefs drawn, a carriage before. My harnefs was
of rope, fuch as I could pick up, and I was to
be driven by a fellow^ equally unufed to his
bufmefs. My curious equipage had nearly made
me violate a general order, by which we were
forbidden to enter any houfe or town on account
of the plague; for being laid in my bed with my
valer, (an honcfl faithful Wirtemburgher, whom
I had from the prince of that name, then along
with us,) our cattle fet off at a moft furious
rate. For fome time they galloped along the '
precipice that almoft overhangs the town of
Karazu-bazar, till at length the carriage over-
turned, and we all tumbled down the fteep ;
and had we gone a little further, fhould have
fairly tumbled into the town. Of three horfes
M-hich drew the carriage, two were killed on
the fpot, and my poor valet de chambre broke
his arm ; I efcaped by being fairly turned out

•D 4 with

40 THELIFEOF

with my bed into a bufh ; my Ruflian driver, who
had received no hurt, comforted me, as he would
have done, had we all broken our necks, with
Nebos ! Nebos ! 'tis nothing ! 'tis nothing ! The
Coflacs galloped on without taking the leaft
notice, and fuppofing we muft be all infallibly
killed, cooly informed the officers at head-
quarters, that the Englifli Adjutant with his
Kebeetky had fallen down the precipice. This
news reached the Prince's cars, and an officer
with one of his Highnefs carriages was fent to
my affiftance. I met the officer upon the road ;
for, refolved to fliew the Ruffians that I was as
indifferent to accidents as themfelves, I lay
quietly in the bufli till a new carriage could
be procured, and then remounting with my
unfortunate valet, I refumed my journey with
all l\\Qfangfroid I could mufter.

In the end of the winter of 1783 the Prince,
whofe fatigues had much exhaufted him, retired
from the Crimea to Krementchuck, to recruit
his flrength. In the mean time. Prince Alex.
Potemkin, who had been fent againft the Circaf-
fians, forced them to conclude a^peace. They
had, together with other petty flates, been
waging a pilfering war againfl Ruffia ; but were
now compelled to fend the young Prince, fon
to the reigning Prince, to Potemkin as a hoft-
«^gc. He was accordingly put under the care

of

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 41

of an officer of dragoons, and condu6ted to-
wards Krementchuck, near which place I was
appointed to receive him. On meeting him,
then a boy, feven or eight years old, I informed
him, through the medium of the interpreter,
that the Prince-General, though much indif-
pofed, and even confined to bed, meant to fee
him on his arrival ; adding fuch other blandifh-
ments as were likely to foothe his mind. As
we approached his Highnefs's quarters, which
I pointed out to him, this young Circaflian
feemed quite diftreffed at the noife of the bell,
worn by the fbaft-horfe of his carriage; and
which is the diftinguifhing mark of an officer
and the Imperial poft. The amiable boy had
no fervant near him, and was too mild to afk
fuch a thing of me; he therefore requefted, by
the interpreter, that I would allow him to
alight and rake off the bell, leaft it might dif-
turb the Prince who was fick. Immediately on
my arrival I related this puerile anecdote to the
Commander, who inltantly received the young
Tartar into his favour; and continued to fliew
him every mark of regard and attention. ^

We remained at Krementchuck fome time in
cantonments ; when the affairs of the Crimea
being fettled, Potemkin returned to the capital.
As I wilhed to vilit fome parts of the country,

he

42 THE LIFE ©F

he gave me leave to proceed as I pleafed. Iri
my progrefs I again pafTed through Pultowa ;
and being more at leifure than when I came to
the armv, I vifitcd with increafed intereft and
attention the plain where the famous battle was
fought between the Czar Peter the Great and
Charles of Sweden. The mound ftill remains
that was built with the bodies of the flain. On
being dug into, it exhibits an awful melange of
fkcletons of men and horfes, with the iron heels
of boots, rufty fpurs, and broken weapons.

Here it was that Charles XII. difmounted to
charge a body of Ruffians, at the head of his
own regiment of infantry. His orders were
not to fire till he fhould command them; how-
ever, on approaching the enemy, they fired :
but, though fuccefsful, the Swcdifh hero was
fo mortified at their difobedience, that he
mounted his horfe, and rode away without
fpeaking one word.

On my arrival at Mofcow, I paid niy refpedts
to Count Chernecheff, the Viceroy, who lived
in a flyle of incredible magnificence. I had the
honour of dining with him the day after my
arrival. About a hundred guefts fat down to
table, behind each of whom flood one of the
Count's own fervants, in very fpleiidid liveries ;
he himfeU' was furrounded by a hoft of upper

fervants.

MAjaR SEMPLE LISLE. 43

fervants, drelTed in the mofl fuperb manner :
indeed, befide a body guard, he kept no lefs
fhan three hundred domeftics.

At Mofcow I met feveral cart-loads of Eng-
lifli midfhipmen; who being thrown out of
employ by the conclufion of the American war,
had entered into the Rullian fervice. They
were ynder the care of a ferjeant and two ma-
rines, and were going to join Admiral Macken-
zie on the Black Sea.

After having fpent a few days at Mofcow, I
continued my route to St. Peterlburghj and,
having taken up my family at Narva, I reached
the capital about the beginning of the fum-
mer 1784.

As it may probably intereft my readers to
learn a few authentic particulars of the great
Potem.kin, I fhall here prefent them with fome
which are not known to the common herd of
fcribbling travellers, but my fituation in his
fuite enabled me to colled:.

His levee commenced about eight in the
morning; at which time a little fliabby anti-
chamber, and a billiard room adjoining, were
crowded with general-officers. Thefe apart-
ments, with a bed-room, were all he ufually
inhabited, though he had feveral magnificent
ones in the fame houfe : the way to thofe he
occupied led through a fuite of large rooms.

The

>J4 '^"^ LIFE OF

The firfi enquiry^rnade by thofe who appeared
m the anti-chamber was, " In what humour is the
Prince?" I fit was known he was out of temper, it
was not unufual for many of the vilitors to de-
part immediately, well knowing that no good was
to be done that day. Prince Serge Galitzin,
•who married one of the Prince's nieces, had
the greateft influence; for his great livelinefs,
added to the high favour in which he flood,
and which enabled him, like Sir James Harris,
to make a viiit anv hour without ceremonv,
feldom failed to cure the g^Ioom of Potemkin.

Nor was the drcfs of this renowned comman-
der on thefe occafions lefs extraordinary than
his apartments. It conlilied of a loofe roi^e de
cbambrcy which in winter he wore of velvet, and
in fummer of filk or chintz, flowing round
him; his neck and breaft were bare; and his
lilk {lockings hung about his heels. No High-
lander had a more cordial hatred to a pair of
breeches ; thefe he never wore but when he drelT-
cd. His hair flowed about his head in a mod dif-
orderly ftate ; and in this naked flovenly trim he
would fit down to table with all the princes or
general ofiiccrs of Ruffia,

His behaviour at table was as far remiOved
from the common road of life as his drefs ;
Ibmetimes he would lit fullenly without faying
d. word ; and this was not without its due effed:

OH

MAJOR SEWPLE LISLS. 4^

on the countenance and appetites of hh guefls :
at others he was all gaiety, and kept the table
in a roar, fo that nobody could eat for laugh-
ing ; and I have feen him more than once, after
eating a few morfels, fuddenly ftart up, as if
fome important idea had flruck him, and go
into his bed-room. This was the fignal for
riling from table, for no one would fit when he
he was up; and the guefls were expefted to fol-
low the Prince to take coffee : very often, in-
deed, when he retired with a louring afpecl,
many of his vifitors had not courage to follow,
but took coffee in the anti-chamber ; his fa-
vourites, however, never failed to ftick clofe to
him.

He was paffionately fond of mimicry, and
was himfelf a tolerable mimic. He adluallj
raifed a genius of this kind from Lieutenant to
Lieutenant-Colonel for no other merit. This
man was conftantly kept attcndir^g in the anri-
chambers; and was occafionally called upon to
divert his patron by takhig off^ as the phrafe is,
all his acquaintance. I alone efcaped ; for ha-
ving plainly told the filly buffoon, that if he
prcfumed to take any liberties with me, I would
chaftife him, he prudently abftained, even
though the Prince, (who had heard of my me-
naces, and wifhed to get him into a fcrape,)
often delired him.

He

THE LIFE OP

of mc than I have of it, I might here produce
a long roll of honourable and virtuous anceflry:
fuffice it to fay, that my defcent is too well
known to every family of diflinftion of my
country to render it neceflary to refute the ca-
lumnies of anonymous libellers.

My education was what Jome of my biogra-
phers have condefcended to allow, of the gen-
teeleft fort ; and my friends gave me that en-
couragement which is naturally given to lads of
parts, an encouragement that too often leads
into unconquerable habits of expence and difli-
pation; and a too liberal fupply from my opu-
lent* connexions made me equally carelefs and
extravagant. With the advantage of at leaft a
tolerable figure, great adivity, and a perfedl
knowledge of all the polite manly exercifes, I
very early was initiated into the gay world.
My Ikill in arms introduced me to the moft
celebrated pfiofeirors of that art; as a horfeman,
I likewife received the higheft praifes ; and na-
turally gay, fiery, and haughty, my vanity was
profportionably inflated, till it laid the founda-
tion of iny^ fubfequent misfortunes and dif-
grace. ^ ^ '

It would be mere impertinence to take up
the time of my readers with details of juvenile
amufcments and juvenile amours : and it would
be downright cruelty to expofe names yet un-
polluted

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3

polluted by the peftilent breath of flander-; I
Ihall therefore confine myfelf to obfeirving, that
my military debut was made in 4^erica, in the
year 1775, J^t the age of fixteeii.

My adventures there were not much varied
beyond thofe of my brethen of the fame rank. ^.
1 was, however, taken prifoner in 1776; but *
Was relieved early in 1777, by* Lord Percy, whofe
retirement front the army hiscountry may juft-
ly regret, and Sir Peter Parker, then" com-
manding at Rhode I Hand, I was foon after
w^ounded • and w^s in confcquence fent home
from New York, in th6 Bridget of Liverpool,
Captain Gilbody.

I landed in Ireland, and carne from thence ^
to Wales and to Bath j where 1 met with the
beautiful, but unfortunate, Mrs. Gooch. J
was in the rooms ; but ^ 'Iny wound rendered
dancing impoffible^ i party at picquet was pro-
pofed, which laid the' foundation of a connec-
tion that induced me to retire to Lifle in Flan-
ders. My amour with Mrs. Gooch having been ^
related by the lady herfelf, in her Memoirs,
though not quite cofreUly^ I leave as it is t never-
thelefs, my reader may perhaps fmile with me
at her boaft of " then, and not till then, I fell,'* .
when they are informed that our joint ages did
not amount tQ forty,

B 2 ' Had

4' THE LIFE or

Had fhe not mentioned uncandidly a tranfac-
tion which I cannot think upon without regret,
I fhould have wifhed it to have been buried in
eternal filence; I mean where Mr. K. and
myfelf are reported by her to have ufed unfair
condu(fl to a young Irilhman in a duel. The
young gentleman, who was about my own age,
undoubtedly fell; but nothing unfair took
place : the whole buiinefs paffed in the prefence
of Mr. D., a refpe6lable inhabitant of London,
who is yet alive; and him I expedl and entreat
to expofe me as a villain if there was any foul
play on my fide. Befides, if there needs a
llronger proof of my conduit, I myfelf carried
the, unfortunate man to his lodgings, where, at
his own requefl, I remained with him feveral
hours, till prudence obliged me to provide for
my own fafety from the effedls of the law, by
leaving Lifle, and retiring to Tournay. The
procefs was carried on in Mr. K.'s abfence and
mine ; and we were, as Mrs. G. jufily relates,
hung in c&igy, the form of declaring outlawry
there; a ceremony which I was rafh enough to
come into Lifle to fee; a raflinefs which had
nearly coft me dear, for I was difcovered, and had
much difficulty to effeduate my retreat to the
Imperial territory ; and after remaining fome
time at Tournay, I went to Bruficls.

CHAP.

MAJOR SEMPLi; LISLE,

CHAP. 11.

<ioes to Briijfek. — Interview with Mr. Fitzherbert.y
now Lord St. Helens, — Leaves BruJJ'elsy and aC"
companies the army of Frederic the Greats and
the Emprefs ^een of Hungary to the field. —
Returns through Holland to England. — Marries*
— Goes to France ; and from thence ^ at the infiance
of the Duchefs of Kingjion^ to Rujfia. — Adven-
ture at Riga in Livonia. — His arreji there. —
4^oes to St. Peterfburgi and is introduced to Prince
Potetnkin and the Emprefs. — Curious particulars
of the Puchefs of K.'s family.

-A-T BruiTels, in the beginning of 1778, I met

with General Lockhai't and the Earl of F r,

by whom I was prefented to Mr. Fitzherbert,
now Lord St. Helens, then Relident at that
court. I remained in Brabant till Frederic the
Great marched againft Maria Terefa, the Em-
prefs Oueen : I followed thefe armies during
that little war, which as the Germans them-
felves call the " Ka'rtoffel Kreigy' or Potatoe War,
I pafs over as of no importance to my readers.
I held no confiderable lituation at that time;
but I gained fome experience by obferving the
manoeuvres of the King of Pruflia and the cele-
brated Laudhon.

B 3 In

6 THE LIFE OF

In 1779 I returned to England, by the way
of Holland ; and pafllng immediately again to
the continent, I met at Harwich with an an^ia-
ble and aCcomplilhed young lady, of a highly
-refpe6lable family, then with her mother and
lifter, going to the Hague : with her I formed
a connexion of the tendereft nature, which in
a fhort time terminated in our marriage, and
return to Britain. After fojourning fome
months in London, I went with my wife tq
France j where I was prefentcd by her to the
Duchefs of Kingfton. I - remained in that
country fome time ; when being folicited by the
Duchefs to go to Ruffia, I confented to follow
her, as I was obliged, by affairs of my own, to
take a circuitous route to Pruflia; from whence
I went through Courland to Riga, the frontier
town of the Ruffian territory, where I had let-
ters of recommendation to all the principal
merchants.

At Riga, according to my ufual bufy fate, I
met with an adventure worth relating, as it,
perhaps, fcrved as the foundation of my future
fortune in tjiat country. A perfon of the name
of Sauvage^ a Hanoverian, and who had been
employed by the Britifti government, during
the adminiftration of Lord North, to recruit in
Germany, was then in that city ; where he
palTed for a Major of the Britifh army, and

wore

t

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 7

wore the uniform of the Guards. Owing to
fome improprieties of his conduct, which I
coniidered as incompatible with the charadter of
a Britifh foldier, I found myfclf obliged to call
upon him for an explanation ; which he was not
only unable to give, but behaved with fuch in-
folence that I was reduced to appeal to the mi-
litary judicature of the fvvord. His wife, who
was in an inner apartment, (for this happened
in a large anti-chamber at an inn,) hearing
what was going forward, fprung out; and, with
all the fury of a tygrefs, entangled me in a no
very loving embrace. Swords being already
drawn, there was no time to trifle; fo, fome-
what roughly difengagingmyfelf from the la-
dy's arms, I beckoned her hufband into the
flreet, and fairly locked her into the room. I
■was making the beft of my way to the ramparts,
when he told me there was a fhorter cut ; on
which I followed him till he flopped oppofitc
a guard, when, without further ceremony,
he began to roar out for afliftance. I went
home to my inn, where I had not long been
when the Deputy-Governor, (who commanded
in the abfence of the Governor-General of Li-
vonia, Brown,) fent a guard for me, at the in-
ftance of the Fort-Major, who was a country-
man of Sauvage's. The officer of the guard
adlcd with great poljtenefs; and took my word

B 4 thaf

^ THE LIFE OF

that I would attend at the Governor's houfe : I
went accordingly, and found the Lieutenant^
Governor talking with fome officers in the yard.
His behaviour to me was rude, which did not
produce any excefs of politenefs on jny fide ;
he did not take off his hat to me, and I refufe4
to do fo to him J ii) fine, without any examina-
tion had, I was put under an arreft.

My recommendations to the Britiih mer-
chants had JDeen pf the ftrongeft kindj and they
no fooner heard of my adventure, than they
offered and became my fecurities until the Go-
vernor-General, who was daily expedled, fhould
return. I then fent off an exprefs to the
Duchefs pf Kingfton, at her feat near Narva in.
Livonia; and Sauvage's wife fet off in perfoi)
for St. Peterfburgh.

The Lieutenant-Governor, finding me fo re-

pedably fijpported, and that I was provided

with the necelTary palTports for entering thp

country, made little objedion to leaving me at

large in the town until the Governor-General

fhould return. Mrs. Sauvage, who in the

fcuffle had received fome flight hurt in her face,

having procured recommendations frqm the
... •*

Fort Major, (who himfejf began tp be appre-
henfive for his own fafety, from the f^eps he ha^
taken againft me,) laid her complaint before
fhe Emprefs, through the Chancellor Count

Ofterman,

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. ^

Ofterman. The Empref3 heard it with atten-
tion ; and as Mrs. Sauvage had fufFered by the
froft in her journey, by which fhe had nearly
loft one of her ears, fhe had an apartment or-
dered for her at an hotel ; and one of the Em-
prefles phylicians. Dr. Rogerfon, to attend her.
In the mean time, General Brown, the Gover-
nor-General, arrived, examined into the bulinefs
between Sauvage and myfelf, and fent a true
ftatement of the fads to the court ; the confe-
quence of which was, that Sauvage and his fa-
mily were condu(5led out of the country, and I
received permiflion to proceed to St. Peterf-
burgh, which I immediately did ; and the
Duchefs of Kingfton's houfe laying in my way,
I paid my refpeds en pajfant to her Grace.

On reaching the capital of Ruflia, I waited
on Sir James Harris, then his Majefty's Envoy
at that court, who had been made acquainted
with my adventure at Riga; and who was fo
pleafed with my condud, that he, without a
moment's delay, prefented me to Prince Po-
temkin. After fome converfation with that il-
luftrious general on my affair, and on general
military fubjeds, he alked me if I would ferve
in the Ruffian army, which I confented to do ;
and was that fame evening appointed Captain.
My appointment was extremely rapid, for the
J'rince having called for his Secretary, fpoke a

few

JO THE LIFE OF

few words to him in Ruffian, which I did not
then underftand ; the latter retired, ^nd in a few
minutes returned with my commiflion ready
made out, which he handed to the Prince, who
immediately prefented it to me, acquainting me
at the fame time, that he had done me the
honour to place me in his fuite, and that he
gave mc two months leave of abfence to pre-
paFC myfclf for the enfuing campaign.

I remained a-few days in town to be prefented
to her Majcfly the Emprefs, and then returned
to the Duchefs of Kingfton to acquaint her with
my good fortune. I took with me Thomas
Mackenzie, Efq. Brigadier of Marines, and Cap-
tain of the Rullian navy, an officer who, both
as a private gentleman and a foldier, has ever
held the highefl place in the efleem of all that
have the happinefs to know him; he had not
"before been introduced to her Grace.

I was a good deal furprifed, that the Duchefs
did not receive the news of my fudden and
honourable appointment with all the warmth
I expeded ; but, as I afterwards found, that
flie wifhed to retain me about her perfon, the
myftery was cleared up. The night of our
arrival at the Duchefs's feat was fortunate to
Mackenzie ; for as we were enjoying our bottle,
a meffi^nger brought him down a brevet of
Rear-Admiral, and the intelligence that he was

appointed

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 11

appointed to command in the Black Sea : he
therefore immediately repaired to St. Peterf-
burgh, and foon afterwards to his ftation.

I continued with the Duchefs. In her com-
pany were a French lady Mad. de Porquet,
filter to Monf. de Cocove, and a French Secre-
tary, whofe name I do not recoiled. At my
arrival, I found they had all quarrelled, and
were not upon fpeaking terms. Mad. de Por-
quet was in fad: fo much chagrined, Ihe kept
her room. On which the Duchefs, in all the
native violence of her difpolition, locked her /;/,
and adlually detained her a prifoner in that
ftate for fome days, in fpite of all my remon-
llrances.

The poor French Secretary was fo much ,
terrified at thefe tyrannical procedings, that
he ran away the fame night, without even
venturing to take a great coat with him. In
an almofl: defolate country, in the dead of
winter, and without the fmallell knowledge of
the language, he had to travel twenty miles to
the Baron Rofen's, who, in that dreary fpot, is
called a neighbour. He luckily overtook a
peafant with a fledge by the way, to whom,
by repeating the name of Rojen^ he fortunately
made known his wilhes ; and being placed in
the vehicle, and covered with a fheep fkin, he^

at

12 THE LIFE OF

at length, reached the Baron's more dead than
alive.

As foon as we arrived, the Baron fent a fer-
vant to me with a letter, wherein he ftates that
he could not refufc the poor Secretary the
rights of hofpitality; adding, that he could
wifh the Duchefs would abftain from fuch adls
of violence; and concluded, by defiring me to
endeavour to effecl a reconciliation between
them. I laid this letter before the Duchefs,
who fent me to the Baron's ; but the French-
man would not liften to the propofals I was
authorized to make, which were to pay him
his wages, but perlifted in his intention of going
to Peterfburgh to intereft the French Minifter
in his caufe.

I returned next morning, and prevailed upon
the Duchefs to permit Mad. de Porquet to go
where fhe would. This lady, who, it feems,
had preconcerted matters with her lover, the
Secretary, went to St. Peterfburgh, and laid
her complaint before the Marquis de Verac,
the French Minifter there. The Marquis
apprifed the Duchefs of the complaint, and I
was fent to St. Peterfburgh to negotiate for
her with them ; the confequence of which was,
that the Duchefs was to pay Madame dc por-
quet fix hundred ducats in fpecie, on condition

of

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. , ij

of immediately returning to France; and I was,
at the expence of the Duchefs, to condud her
to Dantzic, whether I was going to meet my
own family, to bring them to the houfe which
the Duchefs had given me on her eftate, within
a fhort league of that fhe inhabited.

The Duchefs had taken my receipt for the
money with which fhe had entrufted me to pay
Madame de Porquet on her arrival at Dantzic,
charging me to take her receipt there; a feem-
ing reconciliation then took place, and Ma-
dame de Porquet ftaid a few days at her Grace's
feat to pack up her effedls. In the mean time,
the Duchefs ordered her fteward Mr. Wilkinfon
to prepare one of thofe carriages, which are
ufed in Ruffia in time of fnow^, and which
refembles the body of a coach, only much long-
er, to be got ready. Thefe carriages are fur-
niflied with beds; and Vv'hen Mr. Vv^ilkinfon
informed her Grace that the machine was ready
with two beds, fhe fmartly enough replied: —
" You have done well, Mr. Wilkinfon, but
" your precaution was unneceffary ; I will an-
" fwer for it, one bed will ferve them before
** they reach Dantzic." —

Having obtained, with my commiflion, two
months leave of abfence, and permiffion to leave
the country, I fet forward without any further

application to court.

CHAP,

14 1"HB LIFE OF

CHAP. III.

The author perfonns his m[(fion to Dantzic^ and re^
turning is met by a mejjenger to hajien his journey.
-^Arrives at St. Peterjburg^ and is ordered to
wait the Emprefs's difpatches, — The Duchefs of
Kingfton's conduct. — Determines to remove his fa^
mily to Narva^ on account of the Duchefs' s tyran-
nical difpofttion. — Leaves the capital, with per-
mijjion to go to the Duchefs' s houfe. — Laws re-

f peeling travellers in Rujfia. — parrels with the
Duchefs. — Removes bis family to Narva, and

fets out for Cherfon,

1 PAID the money on my arrival at Dantzic to
Madame de Porquet, and took her receipt for
it, according to the Duchefs's diredlions. My
family were waiting for me ; I however found
it neceffary to remain fome days there ; and I
was further fo delayed by the badnefs of the
weather and roads, that my two months had
fome time expired. In the mean time, Prince
Potemkin, finding himfelf obliged from cir-
cumftances to fet off immediately for the army^
had applied to Sir James Harris to know where
I was. In confequence an exprefs was fent off
for me^ (whom I met in Livonia^ about a hun-
dred

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, I^

dred miles from the Duchefs's), to acquaint mc
with the Prince's orders, and to hailen my
journey.

The inllant I met the courier I left my fa-
mily to come forward as their heavy carriages
would permit them ; and proceeded with the
utmolt rapidity to the Duchefs's houfe. She
exprefled much fatisfadlion at my arrival, and
the great anxiety the length of my abfence had
^iven her on account of the Prince's want of
me. Without more lofs of time I fet off for
St. Peterfburgh. I immediately went to Sir
James Harris, who feemed hurt at my delay,
and told me that there were inftrucilions for me
at the War Office, but that Potemkin was gone:
he prelTed my departure to follow the Prince,
adding, (for I will ufe his own words,) "You
" may make your own terms with him; he
** cannot do without you."

I went immediately to court, and received
inftrudlions to wait her~ Majefty's difpatches,
with which I was to follow the Prince to Cher-
fon, who had taken the circuitous road of
Warfaw. Having received thefe dire(5lions,
and not being able to leave St. Peterfburgh
without the commands of the Emprefs, I wrote
a letter to my wife, to endeavour to foothe the
feelings which an amiable, virtuous, and affec-
tionate woman mufl naturaljy feel at the depar-
ture

i^ THE LIFE OF

ture of the hufband fhe loved, and who doated
upon her: nor was it an eafy tafk to frame a letter
capable of producing fuch an eifed, in a coun-
try where fhe knew not a face except the Du-
chefs, nor could make her defires known in thd
language of the place. I reprefented to her
that my ftay at the army would be but fliort j
that my being in the fuite of the Prince would
infure me from much danger, even fuppofing
there fliould be any war, which I did not ima-
gine there would, for that certainly the Crimea
would be taken pofTeffion of without a (hot
being fired; finally, I promifed to fee her pre-
vious to my departure, and bring her to Narva,
where I had already fent to take a houfe.

The fame courier carried a letter to the Du-
chefs, in a fomewhat more military flyle : I
dwelt upon the valour of Potemkin, and his
turn for enterprize ; I declared that, not con-
tented with following where he would lead, I
would endeavour to be foremoft in the field ^f
glory ; for that I was determined to fhew the
Ruffians that a Scot was neither their inferior in
fupporting fatigue, nor encountering danger.

The Duchefs betrayed the confidence I had
repofcd in her; for when my wife fhewed her
the letter Ihe had received from me, and even
which was hardly enough to enable her to fup-
^, port my departure, her Grace, with that hypo-
critical

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. i^

Critical cant flie fo well knew how to afiume,
inveighed againft my falfc rcprefentations ; and,
by way of completing her cruelty, concluded
by lliowing the letter llie had received from
me.

The effedt of this frightful eccLiirciiTement,
upon the fenfibility of a delicate woman, may
be eafier conceived than expreifed. She wrote
a letter to Sir James Harris, and another to
myfelf, in the moft pathetic terms that affec-
tion could poffibly fuggeft. She expreifed the
inoft anxious folicitude, left the impetuofity of
my temper fhould hurry me into unneceffary
dangers ; in fine, fhe wrote, to ufe Sir James's
own words, *^ as none but an KngliJJjzvoman could
*' write."

It will be readily believed that the Duchefs's
behaviour to Mad Porquet had not contributed
to raife in my mind any high veneration for
her charadlerj and the idea of leaving a wife
and children, whom I loved with the tendereli
affedlion, in the power of a woman, who alrea-
dy had fported in the moft unfeeling manner
with her forrows, became unfupportable. I
had in fad: dreaded fomething of the kind, anci
had taken a houfe at Narva, diftant between
twenty and thirty miles from the Duchefs's
eflate, to ferve as a retreat to my family; and I
now refolved, without lofs of time, to remove

C them

1% THE LIFE OF

them thither. I therefore wrote to my wife to
confole her as well as I was able, telling her,
that Sir James Harris had acquainted me with
fome pafTages of her letter, and deliring her to
prepare for her departure without giving a hint of
it to the Duchefs, till I fhould come down. In
the courfe of a couple of days I was fent for to
court to receive the difpatches of the Emprefs
for Potemkin ; it was then evening : my orders
were to leave St. Peterfburgh that night. A fum
of money was paid me by the Secretary of War
for the expences of fo long a journey, and a
Serjeant of the Guards (who bears the rank of
Lieutenant in the army,) and who fpoke the
French and German languages, was ordered to
attend me. My route to the army lying through
Narva, and my difpatches requiring no hafle
(as it was expedled I Ihould be at Cherfon be-
fore the Prince got there,) on taking leave of
her Majefty, I folicited permiOion to go off my
road to the D u chefs 's houfe for twenty-four
hours; this favour was benevolently granted;
and I went to take leave of Sir James Harris,
and then to the hotel where my carriage and
fervants were, from whence I meant to have fct
off immediately. While my equipage was pre-
paring, I was prevailed on by fome ofhcers to
gamble ; at which we continued till it was an-
nounced to me that all was ready. Unfortu-
nately

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I9

nately, however, I had not only loft all the Em-
prefs's money, but all my own ; and had no
other refource but to fend immediately to Sir
James Harris to acquaint him with my embar-
raflment ; who immediately, though he was then
in bed, difpatched his butler to me with five
hundred roubles. Thus reinforced, I inflantly

fet off.

When I reached Narva, I left there my mili-
tary equipage, and went in a fmall carriage of
the country to the Duchcfs's feat. I found my
wife and family already in the houfe her Grace
had given us. I then began to explain the mo-
tives of our intended removal ; I told her Grace
that, confidering the hazardous fervice I was
going upon, and that no military man who was
going to the field of action could ever fay his
return was certain, I thought it neceflury my
wife fhould have fome efiablifliment to call a
home; that though fhe could as often and as
long as fhe chofe take up her abode with her
Grace, ftill, fhould any thing happen to me,
Narva would always, particularly in the event
of the Duchefs leaving Ruffia, prove a retreat
where fhe would find friends of her own na-
tion ; whereas, in her prefent fituation, llie was
an entire Granger to every one, nor had jnore
than one fervant who underflood the language,
©f the country. To this the Duchefs replied,

C 2 fiffl

20 THE LIFE Of

firft with a flood of tears, and a complaint that I
was depriving her of her only companion ; and
then (finding me unmoved) with a torrent of
abiifc that would have done credit to Billings-
gate, concluded with faying, we might both go
to the d — 1.

It is ncceffdry to inform my readers that, by
the laws of Ruffia, no perfon can travel from
the capital without a pafTport defcribing his
route, which he is not at liberty to alter ; in the
country, travellers mud have a pafs from the
perfon whofe eflate they may have been upon,
before they quit it, or no poft-maftcr dare fur-
nifh them with horfes. On my application at
the poft-houfe, which was not above half a mile
from the Duchefs's, I was not only told that
they durfl: not fupply me with horfes, but that they
had her Grace's exprefs prohibition to that ef-
fetft. I anfwered the poft-mafter, that .1 fhould
remove that difficulty by taking his or her horfes
by foi ce. . I inftantly removed my family to the
poft-houfe. I jufl then recolleded that I had
given the receipt I had obtained from Madame
de Porquet at Dantzic to the Duchefs, without
her Grace having returned me that which flie
required of mc, when flie entrufled the money
to my charge. I begun to be apprehenfive of
her making a bad ufe of it ; I therefore wrote
a note to Mr. Wilkinfon her fleward, requeft-

ing

MAJOR S E M P L E L I S I E . 21

ing my receipt. The Duchefs lliuffled with ex-
cufes, that Hie could not come at it ; that fhe
would give it to my wife, and fuch like eva-
fions ; and inftantly jumping into her carriage>
drove into the woods, to prevent further appli-
cations on my part. I fent one of her own fcr-
vants after her Grace to tell her, that unlcfs I
had my own receipt, or a difcharge from her in
one hour from that time, that I would force my
way into her houfe, and carry off her cajfette^
which I v.ould lay at the Prince's feet, and in-
treat him to judge between us. In a few mi-
nutes, Mr. Wilkinfon brought me the receipt
I demanded, and I fet out for Narva, where I
relied fcarcely one moment before I proceeded
for Cherfon to join the Prince.

C 3 CHAP.

22 THELIFEOF

CHAP. IV.

The author arrives at Cher/on^ and delivers his dif-
patches to Prince Potemkin. — An exprejs arrives
from the Duchefs of Kingfion complaining of him
to the Prince ^ which is received and anfwered in a
very mortifying manner. — Some acconnt of Cherfon.
— 77>f Corfes Expulfes, a corps of them given to
the author to organize. — Afionifhing atchievement
of the Emprefs in building fhips. — Mode of launch-
ing and na'uigating them down the river Nieper. —
Admiral Mackenzie and Captain Taite, — Mili-
tary arrangements. — IS/lutiny among the Corfes
jLxpuIfes.

In fpite of my delays, and the heavinefs of my
equipage, having with me all my baggage for
the field, I reached Cherfon in twelve days
from the time of my leaving St. Peterfburgh. I
there found the Prince, who had not arrived
many hours before me. I delivered to him the
packet I had received from the Minifter of War
Count Moufchkin Poufchkin, and the letter
from her Majefty, the contents of which was
not lefs pleafing to myfelf than the Prince, as
the Emprefs fpeaking of me, concluded by fay-
ing, " May you in battle always have a man

" like

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2^

*' like him by your fide, and a friend like me
** wherever you go."

Next day an cxprcfs arrived from the Duchefs
for the Prince, \vith heavy complainis of my
condud: to her, my delays upon the road, and a
long firing of &c.'s. This furnilhed matter of
amufement to the Prince, v\ ho could not cn-^
dure her ; for (he, partly through her ignorance
of the Kmprefs's permifiion for me to go out of
my route, and partly through malice, had (o
caricatured the ftory, that it became thefubjedl
of laughter to all who heard it. To add to her
mortification, he made me not only read it to
him, but anfvver it forthwith; which I did in
French to the following effed, fometime in the
month of July 17S3: '' Madam, I had the ho-
** nour to receive your difpatch from his High-
** nefs ; I had alfo the honour to read it to him;
** and am, by his Plighnefs's commands,
'* Madam, &c. 8>zc. &c."

Cherfon is a town which the Emprefs built
on the river Nieper feveral leagues above its
mouth, with the view of fornnjng a new colony
there ; for this purpofe fne ilfued, by her Mini-
ftfer at Leghorn, a proclamation to the exiled
Corficans, by the title of Les Corfes Expuljes \
under which name perfons of gill nations alTem-
bled at her rendezvous, and were tranfported by
the way of the Dardenelles and Black Sea to

C 4 Cherfoij.

24 THE LIFE OF ^

CheiTon. Of the real Corficans, about 25Q,
who were all military, flie formed a corps, dif-
tinguifhed by the appellation of Royal Corfi-
cans, which I was directed to organize. Here
it was the Emprefs put in practice the exalted
fcheme of building iliips of war for the expedi-
tion on the Black Sea. They were conftrucfled
upon a river fcarcely navigable for a fmall floop,
the wood and iron for their conftru(!:l:ion brought
from a diftance of 70Q rniles up the country,
fome of it much farther, and every gun came not
I77,uch Icfs than 1000 miles by land. The mode of
launching and navigating thefe veffeis down to
the fca was curious ; the Nieper, as before ob-
fervcd, being extremely (hallow, and not very
broad, a fort of pool was firft formed in the bed
of the river oppolite to the dock, then two large
lafts, which were palled Came/s, were placed fo
as to receive the veffel as flie Aid from the
flocks, from which ilie was eafed down without
much rapidity ; being feated between the ca-
mels, as in a cradle, ihe was thus floated down
the river paft the Turkifh fortrefs of Ofchacow,
and into the Black Sea. Had not I been an
jCye-witnefs to this ftupendous work, I fhould
hardly have ventured to have related it ; it was
truly worthy the comprehenlive mind of fuch a
fovereign ; it completely formed a maritime
|)arrier againll her troublefome neighbours the

Turks,

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. Sg

Turks, and opened a channel for trade from her
territories to the Mediterranean.

Admiral Mackenzie, whofe name may truly
be faid to have graced an early part of this nar-
rative, had gone round to the harbour of Adli-
are, now called Sebaftapole ; he had there, with
ihe rapidity which dillinguiflied all his move-
inents, begun to build a houfe for himfelf, ma-
rine barracks, hofpitalv ftore-houfes, erecl bat-
teries, and put the harbour in a refped:able ftatc
pf defence.

A vice-admiral remained at Cherfon with fe-
veral captains, among whom was Captain, now
Admiral Taite, who, at the time I am writing
this, is lying with a Ruffian fleet, which he com-
mands, at Yarmouth, a moft amiable man and
intelligent officer; for whom, in common with
ail who knew him, I entertained the higheft ef-
teem ; an efteem which I exhibited in my ufual
imprudent manner, by viliting him at a time
when we were directed not to go near his houfe,
becaufe he was fick (fuppofed to be of the
plague, which had broke out among us) a pre-
caution ufed to prevent the fpreading of the
infection : but, independent of his focial quali-
ties, he had another flrong claim on me, he is a
Scot. For this vilit I was feverely reprimanded
by the General of the day, Solticoff, and dared
fiOt to approach the Prince for feveral days.

26 THE LIFE Of

The now well-known Field-Marlhall Suwar-
row, and Ramfay Count of Balmain, were al-
ready in the Crimea, whither Potemkin follow-
ed, leaving mc behind to organize the corps of
Royal Corficans, and then to join him. The
Prince of Wircemberg, whofe fifter was mar-
ried to the Grand Duke of Ruflia, arrived at
Cherfon about this time; he Mas then Lieute-
nant-General, and was left there by Potemkin
to command the referve.

My Corficans, though brave fine fellows,
were, as i^ their character, quite undifciplined;
and, as they were the objects of curiolity to the
whole army, our manoeuvres were interrupted
by the numbers thus drawn together ; I there-
fore retired with them from the ground where
the Ruflians lay to a little fpot on the other fide
of the town, between that and the Bifhop's pa-
lace, where I daily trained them.

To Ihew the turbulent difpofition of the Cor-
ficans, I fhall give the following inflance ; I
had given them permiilion to fell fome old
fiores and copper kettles which they had brought
with them in the fhips, and for which we had
no ufe. About the produce of thefe articles
they difagreed. One evening, while I was at
the Ruffian camp, on a vifit to the Command-
ing General, a letter was delivered to me frona
the officer 1 had left on command, which I in-

inflantl)^

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. fi^

flantly read. By this I was informed that my
camp was in confufion, and that the men were
firing upon each other. Without faying one
word to the general, I inftantly rofe from tabic,
and having previoufly requefteda colonel of in-
fantry, whofe regiment lay neareft me, to fend
a detachment of his men before day-light to
furround my camp, I galloped home as faft as
I was able. The night was dark ; and I had a
vaft open common to pafs : however, I reached
my camp, being partly guided by the Rallies
and reports of the mufkets. On my arrival I
inflantly began to fire among them with my
piftols ; and, as my voice was perfedly known,,
all was prefently quiet, and each in his tent.
I gave orders to be called at day-break; when
afking the officer of the guard if he faw any
thing near the camp, he told me there were
fome fmall bodies of infantry on three fides,
the fourth being covered by the river ; on
which I ordered the drums to beat to arms.
As foon as my men were on the parade, they
were difarmed, and the caufe of the quarrel en-
quired into ; when the kettles, &cc. appearing
to be ALL they had fought about, the leaders
ivere feverely and infiantly puniHied : thus
tranquillity was reftored.

CHAP.

ZS THE LIFE OP

CHAP. V.

Improvements in the Rujfian army by the author. —
Remarks on viilitary uniforms. — RuJJian peafants,
— Remarks on the proper uje of the bayonet in
exercife. — A refutation of an anonymous libeller.
— T^he author having compleated the organization
of the CorJicanSy fets off to the army in the Cri-
mea.— His flattering reception. — Chara£ler of the
eommandersy Potemkin ajid Suwarrow. — Ruffian
foldiersy their character and hardinefs.

xJuRiNG my firft converfations with Potemkin
at Peterfburgh, he had afked my opinion of the
Ruffian army ; and I frankly told him that im-
provements might be made^ in both their drefs
and manoeuvres.

The Ruffian uniform confifted of a green
coat, lined and faced with red, very tight, and
fo long that it incommoded the wearer, by
beating on the calves of his legs ; the breeches,
which were alfo tight, did but barely cover the
knee-joint; and as the Ruffian foldiers, both
cavalry and infantry wear boots, though of a
different form, a vacancy between the knee-
welt of the breeches and the boots became una-
voidable; the hat was very fmall, and unfit for

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2^

A covering in a cold country ; on which account
the foldiers added a piece of flannel on each
lide to cover the ears, and guard againft the fe-
verity of the weather. This cloathing being ve-
ry inconvenient, to lliew the Prince my ideas
on the fubjccfl, I had drelTes made for myfelf
and a private, of the uniform which is ftill re-
tained, without any material alteration ; and
which was allowed to be at once elegant, con-
venient, and well adapted to the feverities of
the climate. I muft here remark, that elegance
ihould always, in feme degree, be confulted in
the formation of a military uniform ; for if we
wilh the foldier to keep up that nicety of ap-
pearance which is fo becoming in military men,
we muft make him proud of his own figure.
In Ruflia this was more than any where necefla-
ry, for the peafantry, (who fupply the recruits
for the army), are the mofl: flovenly of mortals ;
their outfide drefs being made of fheep-fkin,
which they wear with the woolly fide inwards,
unlefs here and there, in the vicinity of noble^
men's feats, fome have them of coarfe cloth :
yet fuch is the effed of making men pleafed
with themfelves, that at prefent the Ruffian ar-
my may vie with any in the world, for appear-
ance and fubordination. The Prince, thinking
to imprpveupon me, put in orders, (without my
knowledge) that the hair of the foldiers fhould

be

30 TftB LIFE or

be cropped, and that the bayonet Ihould on]y
be fixed when they were about to charge the
enemy. As I was the acknowledged author of
the alteration in the uniform, thcfe novelties
were likewife attributed to me, and I was hearti^
ly abufed for all. The cropping of foldiers*
hair, (unlefs occafionally for a parcifan's corps)
I always difapproved, as by giving an opening
to negligence, it ferves to introduce flovenli-
nofs ; and whoever will reflect for a fingle mo-
ment on the different poife of a mulket with
and without the bayonet fixed, as well as on
the abfolutc neceility of learning to load and
fire with fixed bayonets, will, I truft, fuppofe
me incapable of proceeding on fo erroneous a
principle ; and will, with me, think that the
mufquct and bayonet fhould be infeparable.
Accordingly, in a few days, the crops were
fupplied with falfe tails ; but I had fome diffi-
culty to prevail upon the Prince to reinftate the
bayonet in its proper place.

I did not, till this moment, know what the
author of the Life of the Emprefs Catherine II.
(publiilied by Longman of Pater-nofter Row,
and Dcbrctt of Piccadilly) has thought proper
to fay of me (vol. iii. p. 20. 2d edit.) refpecling
my fituation with Prince Potemkin and the Du-
chefs of Kingfton :

*' By his advice the Prince introduced feveral

** new

tt
<c

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3I

** new regulations into the army, both in regard
" to drefs and manoeuvres ; and had it not been
** for fome manoeuvres of another nature, fach as
writing to the Duchefs of Kingflon, that he
would come by night with fome foldiers, and
" break into her houfe, unlefs fhe fent him a
" certain fum of money, &c. there is not a
" doubt but he would foon have been raifed to
** the rank of a general officer, or appointed
" conful at whatever place he chofe." — He
goes on to fay, that, " After his difmiilion from
" the confidence of Prince Potemkin, on his
way to England, Major Semple laid the mer-
chants of Peterfburgh, Narva, Riga, &c. un--
der contribution by a variety of impoftures.**
It is the eternal fate of falfhood to contradiifl
itfelf : and though I have given in the preced-
ing pages an account of my affair with the Du-
chefs of Kingflon, which I challenge earth or
hell to contradict, flill, as this worthlefs fcrib-
bier, who would tremble at my very fliadow,
may gain credit with fome, I will, in one mo-
ment, point out his abfurdities. Had I dared
to have threatened the Duchefs of Kingflon, as
he has alTerted, a well-founded complaint (to
which my own letter mufl have given an irre-
liftible weight,) would have procured me a ba-
nifhment for life to Siberia ; befides, this quar-
rel happened before I joined the Prince at Cher-

fon ;

«

Cf

.^2 THE LIFE OF

fon : and was it, I will afk, probable, that he would
have received me into his favour, intruded me
with the organizing of a new corps, and after-
wards treated me as will appear hereafter, had I
been flained with robbery ? As to my frauds
on the merchants, ivhile I zvas in favour^ they
might have been poflible ; but, for a man difgra-^
eedy they would have been an utter impoflibility.
Belides, I did not pafs through, or near Riga ;
for I went from Petersburgh to Narva, where I
embarked, and went down the Eaft Sea to Co-
penhagen.

Such pedilent libellers are unfit to be fuffered
in the world. Such have been my ruin ; and
the author of the above, who, I am informed,
is a pried, certainly affords a Ihocking proof
of that depravity which perhaps may, if ever I
live to meet him, render his gown but an
infecure protecftion. If he has any honour, let
him contradid his unfounded affertions: but
why ihould I afk him ? Had he any honour, he
would not have wrote it. One good, however,
refults from his fcurrility : I am enabled by
thefe anecdotes of myfelf, to judge of the au-
thenticity of thofe parts of his hiftory which I
have not yet had time to look at.

Having trained and difciplined my Corficans,
I proceeded to the army, and joined the Prince
>n the heights above the town of Karafu-bafar,

in

Major semple lisle. 33

in the Crimea; where my pride was not a little
flattered by feeing the uniform of which I had
given the model worn by an immenfe army,
and my manoeuvres adopted and applauded.
I was then about twenty-five, and with my
natural vanityj^ this diftindion almoft turned
my brain, as it perhaps might have done to
men much older and wifer then myfelf j and if
I had no very great fliare of prudence in pecu-
niary matters before, this made me quite re-
gardlefs of them,

I was now at the Prince's right-hand day and
night ; he loaded me with honours, and I left
nothing in the line of duty undone to deferve
them. Potemkin was juftly placed among the
iirft charadlers of this or any other age; brave,
open, rough, and impetuous, he was firft in
every exploit of danger ; fudden in his manoeu-
vres, his plans were conceived and executed ,,
with unparalleled rapidity ; in the field he knew
no charader but a foldier, nor could age or
rank plead with him any excufe for relaxation
from the rules of duty.

Suwarrow was with us, already adling a
dillinguiflied part. Bold and impetuous as
his cornmander, he was indefatigable in duty,
and feemed to afpire, by copying fo great, a
mafter, at that rivalihip of glory to which he
has now arrived.

D The

34 THE LIFE OF

The Rufiian foldiers fcem fitted by nature
for war; their hardinefs is unparalleled, as
eafily may be imagined from the manner in
which they live. Their magazines are not as
with other armies, depolited with even a finical
care j their provifion, which is rye meal, is
piled up like pyramids in bags in the open
air, where, by alternate expofure to rain and
fcorching fun, I have {e^n it fo baked toge-
ther that it was obliged to be hewed out with
axes. The raw meal is ferved out to the com-
panies ; and where they have no wood, (as was
the cafe with us while in the environs of Cher-
fon where no Vvood grows, (and the chips of
the dock-yard hardly fupplied the hofpital
and General Officers,) they colled: weeds and
the dung of the cattle, with which they heat
it as well as they are able, and eat it half raw.
They are not lefs hardy in their tents than
in their eating ; draw or blankets are never
thought of by a Ruffian foldier : his cloak
ferves him at once for bed and for covering 5
and wrapped up in this, he lies down con-
tented on the bare cold ground. As an inftance
of their contempt for thefe luxuries^ I had cn-
trufted a foldier with the care of a conliderabic
number of valuable articles, at a time when I
was at a diftance from the Prince. I had got
a trench dug in the earth to ferve as my cellar ;

and

MAJok SEMPLE LISLE. 35

atid over it a tent was erefted, "j^artly to ferve
as a ftorehoufe, and partly as an habitation
for the faithful veteran who was to guard my
llores. Willing to make him in love with
his duty, I had got raifed for him a wooden
bench, with a mattrafs to fleep on, which in-
deed, though a mofl vile one, coft me no fmall
trouble to procure; but bad as it was, I con-
cluded that he would efteem it a luxury. I
was however miftaken ; for about a week after,
going to look at my waggons, &c. I faw a
mattrafs laying like a piece of lumber. En-
quiring how it came there, I was informed,
that it belonged to the foldier I had placed on.
my cellar, whom I inllantly fent for. Upon
alking him how he came to throw away his
mattrafs, he cooly faid, that it was not fit for
a foldier, and th?it he could not fleep upon it.
I then went to fee what he had fubflituted
for this defpifed couch, and found a hard
common fl:raw mat of his own twifting.

Such is the real character of a Ruffian fol-
dier, and to the portrait I can only add, that
their fidelity is equal to their other qualifi-
cations, for defertions are hardly known among
them: they are in fhort formed by nature and
education for the trade of war : for while they
acquire hardinefs by their ufual mode of living,
their minds are not eftranged frorp the paths

D 2 pf

3*6^ THE LIFE 05"

of obedience by thofe fmatterings of knowledge
which only ferve to lead to infubordination
and mutiny.

CHAP. VI

Mr, Fitzherhert y now Lord St. Helens y arrives at
St. Peterjhurgh. — 'The author fent from Karazu-
bazar to A^iare^ where he again meets Admiral
Mackenzie. — Vifits a curious old building there.
— Mackenzie and he receive prcfentsfromfome
of the Tartar Chiefs. — Returns to head-quart ers,

^ and has a narrow efcape. — Potemkin retires to
Kremenichuck on account of his health. — The ar^
rival of a Circajftan Prince there as hojlage*
— Plain zvhere the battle of Pultowa was fought.
— Splendour of the Viceroy of Mofcow. — Anec^
dotes of PotemhUy the Emprefs CatharinCy and
other remarkable perfons. — The author prepares
t9 leave RuJJia ; quits the RuJJian fervice, and
fails for Copenhagen.

As it is my intention hereafter to publifh a
hiftory of my campaigns, I Ihall hear fay
very little on that fubjedl. Some time in
Auguft 1783^ we learnt at the army that
Mr. Fitzherbert, (now Lord St. Helens,) had

arrived

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 37

arrived at St. Peterfburgh to replace Sir James
Harris. The Prince was moft particularly cu-
rious to know his charadler, and I had many
converfations with him on the fubjed ; for Sir
James had been among the moft peculiar friends
and intimates of Potemkin. No ceremony, no
drefs, no etiquette was obferved, however much
the Prince might be engaged. Sir James in
his pelice and cap always found immediate
accefs, even though other foreign minifters had
been fome time in the anti-chamber, and per-
haps after all could not obtain an audience.

From Karazu-bazar, I was fent on military
bufinefs to A6tiare, where I met my old friend
Admiral Mackenzie, with his little fleet. His
fortifications and other works were in great
forwardnefs, and every thing bore the afpedl
of improvement. We went to vifit an antient
building, called, I think, the antient Cherfo-
nefe, which is near Adiare, and lays in a cove
almoft inacceffible. We in vain endeavoured
to reach it by fea, the rocks were fo perpendi-
cular that they defied our attempts, and with
much difficulty we fcrambled over the top of
them from the land fide. The building, if it
can be fo called, is compleat, and is almoft in-
tirely cut out of the rock; but it is uninhabited,
except by one man; and whether he lives there
ifforn motives of religion, or of concealment, I

D 3 cannot

38 THELIFEOF

cannot fay. The few remaining natives however
file wed him much refped, and fupplied him
with all necelTaries; and Admiral Mackenzie
gave ftriit orders that he Ihould not be mo-
lelied.

While I was at Adiare, Mackenzie and my-
felf received the compliments offome of the
Tartar Chiefs of that country, together with
a prefent of each a horfe. Mine wa» very richly
caparifoned indeed, but his was almoft covered
v/ith filver. The faddle was of purple cloth,
all nodded over with filver nails, and from
each fide depended a huge ftirrup of the fame
metal, made, as is the fafiiion of the country,
the fize and Ihape ofthefole of the foot; nor
were the crupper and bridle left without their
due fhare of ornaments, which at every fi:ep
made almoft as much noife as the fore-horfe
cf an Englifh waggoner's team. Mackenzie
eyed the gavvdy beaft with much pleafure, and
in the prefence of the whole company jogged
my elbow, and, poifing a flirrup in his hand,
faid, " Take you the horfe, I will have the
*• ftirrups, by G — d; each of them will make
*' a pair of candleflicks:" had he faid two pair,
I do not think his calculation would have been
extravagant.

I had been taken ill at Acliare with a fort
of ague, which prevailed in the army, and on

my

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLEC gg

xny return to Karazu-bafar, my diforder was
very much increafed ; however, as I found the
Prince juft changing his pofition, great part
of the army, and moll of my own baggage al-
ready gone, I determined not to be left behind.
Being too ill to mount my horfe, I got a bed
put into one of thofe carriages which are com-
monly ufed there, and ordered horfes. I could
get none but thofe of the irregular Coflacs, which
were totally wild, and had hardly ever feen, much
lefs drawn, a carriage before. My harnefs was
of rope, fuch as I could pick up, and I was to
be driven by a fellow equally unufed to his
bufmefs. My curious equipage had nearly made
me violate a general order, by which we were
forbidden to enter any houfe or town on account
of the plague; for being laid in my bed with my
valet, (an honefl faithful Wirtemburgher, whom
I had from the prince of that name, then along
with us,) our cattle fet off at a mod furious^
rate. For fome time they galloped along the '
precipice that almoft overhangs the town of
Karazu-bazar, till at length the carriage over-
turned, and vve all tumbled down the fteep ;
and had we gone a little further, fhould have
fairly tumbled into the town. Of three horfes
which drew the carriage, two were killed on
the fpot, and my poor valet de chambre broke
his arm ; I efcaped by being fairly turned out

^ 4 with

40 THE LIFE OF

with my bed into a bufh ; my Ruflian driver, who
had received no hurt, comforted me, as he would
have done, had we all broken our necks, with
Nebos ! Nebos ! 'tis nothing ! 'tis nothing ! The
Coflacs galloped on without taking the leaft
notice, and fuppofing we muft be all infallibly
killed, cooly informed the officers at head-
quarters, that the Englifli Adjutant with his
Kebeetky had fallen down the precipice. This
news reached the Prince's ears, and an officer
with one of his Highnefs carriages was fent to
my afliftance. I met the officer upon the road i
for, refolved to flievv the Ruffians that I was as
indifferent to accidents as themfelves, I lay
quietly in the bufli till a new carriage could
be procured, and then remounting with my
unfortunate valet, I refumed my journey with
all thtfangfroid I could mufter.

In the end of the winter of 1783 the Prince,
whofe fatigues had much exhaulled him, retired
from the Crimea to Krementchuck, to recruit
his flrength. In the mean time. Prince Alex.
Potemkin, who had been fent againft the Circaf-
lians, forced them to conclude a peace. They
had, together with other petty dates, been
waging a pilfering war againft Ruffia ; but were
now compelled to fend the young Prince, fori
to the reigning Prince, to Potemkin as a hoft-
age. He was accordingly put under the care

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 4t

of an officer of dragoons, and conduced to-
wards Krementchuck, near which place I was
appointed to receive him. On meeting him,
then a boy, feven or eight years old, I informed
him, through the medium of the interpreter,
that the Prince-General, though much indif-
pofed, and even confined to bed, meant to fee
him on his arrival ; adding fuch other blandilh-
ments as were likely to foothe his mind. As
we approached his Highnefs's quarters, which
I pointed out to him, this young Circaflian
feemed quite diftrefled at the noife of the bell,
worn by the Ihaft-horfe of his carriage; and
which is the diftinguilhing mark of an officer
and the Imperial poft. The amiable boy had
no fervant near him, and was too mild to afk
fuch a thing of me; he therefore requefted, by
the interpreter, that I would allow him to
alight and take off the bell, leaft it might dif-
turb the Prince who was fick. Immediately on
my arrival I related this puerile anecdote to the
Commander, who inftantly received the young
Tartar into his favour ; and continued to fiiew
him every mark of regard and attention. '

We remained at Krementchuck fbme time in
cantonments ; when the affairs of the Crimea
being fettled, Potemkin returned to the capital.
As 1 wifhed to vilit feme parts of the country,

he

42 1HE LJFE ©r

he gave me leave to proceed as I pleafed. lr\
my progrefs I again paffed through Pultowa ;
and being more at leifure than when I came to
the army, I vifitcd with increafed interefl: and
attention the plain where the famous battle was
fought between the Czar Peter the Great and
Charles of Sweden. The mound ftill remains
that was built with the bodies of the flain. On
"being dug into, it exhibits an awful melange of
ikeletons of men and horfes, with the iron heels
of boots, rufty fpurs, and broken weapons.

Here it was that Charles XII. difmounted to
charge a body of Ruffians, at the head of his
own regiment of infantry. His orders were
not to fire till he fhould command them ; how-
ever, on approaching the enemy, they fired :
but, though fuccefsful, the Swedifh hero was
fo mortified at their difobedience, that he
mounted his horfe, and rode away without
fpcaking one word.

On my arrival at Mofcow, I paid my refpecTcs
to Count ChernechefF, the Viceroy, who lived
in a flyle of incredible magnificence. I ha^ the
honour of dining with him the day after my
arrival. About a hundred guefts fat down to
table, behind each of whom flood one of the
Count's own fervants, in very fplendid liveries;
he himfelf was furrounded by a hofc of upper

fervants.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 43

fervants, drelTed in the mod fuperb manner:
indeed, befide a body guard, he kept no lefs
fhan three hundred domeftics.

At Mofcow I met feveral cart-loads of Eng-
lilli midfhipmen; who being thrown out of
employ by the conclufion of the American war,
had entered into the Ruffian fervice. They
were ynder the care of a ferjeant and two ma-
rines, and were going to join Admiral Macken-
zie on the Black Sea.

After having fpent a few days at Mofcow, I
continued my route to St. Peterfburgh; and,
having taken up my family at Narva, I reached
the capital about the beginning of the fum-
jiier 1784.

As it may probably intereft my readers to
learn a few authentic particulars of the great
Potem-kin, I fhall here prefent them with feme
which are not known to the common herd of
fcribbling travellers, but my fituation in his
fuite enabled me to colledt.

His levee commenced about eight in the
morning; at which time a little fliabby anti-
chamber, and a billiard room adjoining, were
crowded with general-officers. Thefe apart-
ments, with a bed-room, were all he ufually
inhabited, though he had feveral magnificent
ones in the fame houfe : the way to thofe he
occupied led through a fuite of large rooms.

The

44 '^^^^ LIFE OF

The firil: etiquiry^made by thofe who appeared
rn the anti-chamber was, '* In what humour is the
Prince?" I fit was known he was out of temper, it
was not unufual for many of the vifitors to de-
part immediately, well knowing that no good was
to be done that day. Prince Serge Galitzin,
■who married one of the Prince's nieces, had
the greateft influence; for his great livelinefs,
added to the high favour in which he flood,
and which enabled him, like Sir James Harris,
to make a vifit anv hour without ceremonv,
feldom failed to cure the gloom of Potemkin.

Nor was the drefs of this renowned comman-
der on thefe occaiions lefs extraordinary than
his apartments. It confined of a loofe roi^e de
chamhrcy which in winter he wore of velvet, and
in fummer of filk or chintz, flowing round
him; his neck and breafr were bare; and his
lilk {lockings hung about his heels. No High-
lander had a more cordial hatred to a pair of
breeches ; thefe he never wore but when he dreff-
ed. His hair flowed about his head in a mofl: dif-
orderly iiatc ; and in this naked flovenly trim he
would fit down to table with all the princes or
general officers of Ruffia,

His behaviour at table was as far removed
from the common road of life as his drefs ;
fometimes he would lit fulienly without faying
a word^ and this was not without its due effect

OH

MAJOR S EM PLE LIS L£. 45

on the countenance and appetites of his guefts:
at others he was all gaiety, and kept the table
in a roar, fo that nobody could eat for laugh-
ing ; and I have feen him more than once, after
eating a few morfels, fuddenly ftart up, as if
fome important idea had flruck him, and go
into his bed-room. This was the fignal lor
riling from table, for no one would fit when he
he was up; and the guefts were expected to fol-
low the Prince to take coffee : very often, in-
deed, when he retired \vith a louring afpecl,
many of his vifitors had not courage to follow,
but took coffee in the anti-chamber ; his fa-
vourites, however, never failed to ftick clofe to
him.

He was paflionately fond of mimicry, and
%vas himfelf a tolerable mimic. He adtuallj
raifed a genius of this kind from Lieutenant to
Lieutenant-Colonel for no other merit. This
man was conftantly kept attending in the anti-
chambers ; and was occafionally called upon to
divert his patron by tak'mg offy as the phrafe is,
all his acquaintance. I alone efcaped ; for ha-
ving plainly told the filly buffoon, that if he
prefumed to take any liberties with me, I would
chaftife him, he prudently abflained, even
though the Prince, (who had heard of my me-
naces, and wifhed to get him into a fcrape,)
often delired him,

H^

4^ THE LIFE Ot

He had an extraordinary and whimfical man-
ner of punifliing his aides de camp, when they
exhibited any thing unmilitary in their drefs
and behaviour. Inftead of verbal reproof, he
ufed to fend them long difagreeable journeys;
and would take care they fhould fet off when
lead: prepared. As an inftance, a young gen-
tleman who had lately been appointed, and who
had no other recommendation than his being
protedied, appeared at dinner drelTed in all the
frivolity of a coxcomb : Potemkin looked at
him with a louring obliquity of countenance,
and ordered his fecretary to prepare fome dif-
patches. When thefe were ready, and before
dinner was ended, the young beau was called
for, and commanded inftantly to flep into a
carriage that was waiting to carry them to the
Viceroy of Mofco\v„ There was no refufmg or
hefitating; and without even the necelTary
cloathing for the feafon, he had fcven hundred
verfles, (live hundred Englifli miles) to travel in
the dead of winter.

After the Prince's return from the Crimea,
the firfl: of the nobility gave him entertain-
ments, in which invitation, his fuite was always
fuppofed to be included. The Duchefs of
Kingfton, willing to immitate thofe of the mofl
diftinguiflied rank, and wifhing at the fame time
%o affront mc, fent an invitation to Potemkin ;

but

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE ^"f

but inftead of faying nothing about his fuitc,
Ihe fent letters of invitation to every indivi-
dual officer except myfelf.

The Prince, who hated her, was refolved to
take the fame opportunity to mortify her that
fhe had deftined to gratify her malice to me;
fo contriving that I fliould be on his duty that
day, he told me he would give me my revenge,
for I Ihould not only go with him, but I fhould
lit next her at table.

Being on duty, I was obliged to attend him
every where, and accordingly attended him to
the Duchefs's, where I, with the reft, proceeded
to pay our compliments to her Grace. My bro-
ther officers fhe received with politenefs, but when
I approached to make my bow, Ihe turned
afide from me. When we went to be featcd at
table, the Prince, under pretence of fpeaking
to me on buiinefs, kept me near him, and fo
arranged, that he feated me at the Duchefs's
elbow. It would be difficult to depicT: the
manner in which fhe fate fretting and fuming
all the time of dinner ; havvever I was feated,
and fhe could not move ; fhe had therefore
jdothing to do but conceal her anger, and that.
to a woman of her violence, was no eafy tafk.

Though Potemkin had long ceafed to be the
lover of the Imperiar Catherine, he ftill con-
tpue4 to govern j and though he was no longer

4^ TllE LliTE OF

an inhabitant of the palace, his houfc had it
private communication with the Emprefs's a-
partments. Potcmkin had fucceeded Orloff in
her affedions ; and Lanlkoi, who had been a
Chevalier Garde, with the intervention of a few
fhort lived favourites, fucceeded Potemkin. It
would however be an endlefs tafk to enume^
rate all the lovers, who fucceflively occupied
the favourite's apartments. Thefe confift of
a fuite of rooms on the entre fol, very magni-
ficent, in which the Favourite (for fo he is always
called,) is little better than a ftate prifoner,
as he cannot mix in fociety, and all his mo-
tions are clofely watched.

Such was the afcendancy of Potemkin, that
I have feen him tear an order ligned by the
' Emprefs, and which only wanted his fignature,
becaufe it had not been obtained by his means.
The Emprefs frequently vifited him in his own
apartments, at which time we, (the officers of
his fuite) were ordered to attend in the anti-
chambers ; fome times flie came unawares, and
then all fled hclter-flvelter, and, without waiting
orders, repaired to our polls.

Bcfides the houfe where he ufually lived, he
had fcvcral rich palaces in the town, to which
he occafionally went, and where he kept fer-
vants ; he had alfo fome fplcndid apartments
in the houfc I have jull defcribed, but thefe he

feldom

MAJOR SEMPLE LlSLES 4g

ftl'Idom ufcd ufllcfs by chance in an evening,
when he meant to receive vifits in fome fort
of form, but R'lW fans cuiloltcs.

Notwithftanding he treated officers in general
very roughly, I always experienced politenefs
from him, nor was he even offended with me
when I out-manceuvred him, which I once did
as follows.

A Colonel who wiflied to have his regiment
removed from the place where it was, to an-
other province, applied to the Prince for an
order, the Prince who had no favourable opi-
nion of the Colonel, felt no wifli to oblige him;
neverthelefs he told him to dire(5l the fecretaries
in the office to make out the order; this was ac-
cordingly done, and, in the routine of bufinefs^
prefented with a mafs of other papers to the
Prince for his fignature, which his i<ighnef$
however evaded, and continued to do fo for
feveral months together, till at length it begun
to look fomewhat dirty and was eafily diftin-
guifhed.

When papers of this nature were brought
before the Prince, it was cuftornary with the
officers to arrange them in fuch manner as they
thought fit J and as the Colonel had applied ta
me, I endeavoured to place it uppermoft; but
the Prince continually difappointed me, by
ihuffling the papers together like a pack of cards,

E and

50 THELlFEOf

and whenever he came to this, he always threw it
alide unfigned.

Anxious to ferve the gentleman who had fo
long waited for it, I procured it to be new
drawn out and fomewhat altered in form ; when
placing it near the top, I prefented the whole
together. The Prince fhuffled them as ufual,
but not expedling to fee his old friend with a
new face, and it happening to fall into his hands,
he figned it without difcovering what he had
done; nor was he difpleafed when I told him
(which I did fome time after) how he had been
tricked.

- I was likewife treated with much diftinclion
by the Emprefs, from whom I received many
prefcnts; one in particular I mention, not from
its value, but becaufe it does away every idea of
my having left Ruflla in difgrace ; fhe gave me,
for fome little fervices I had rendered, a prefent
of i;oo ducats of Holland in fpecie, a very few
days before my departure. The court of the
Emprefs was very fplendid, but fhe was herfelf
a wonder of regularity and exertion. Every morn-
ing at five her Secretary (Befborodko) attended
her, at fix the intendant general of police and
Giihers had their audience and received their
orders. She dined precifely at twelve, and every
evening at nine there was a fupper for the party
at court. The Emprefs amufed herfelf with

walking

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 5 1

Walking about, till flie faw theguells feated, and
then retired without faying a word or being ob-
ferved by the company* ■ .

The great encouragement I had- hitherto re-
ceived, had naturally encouraged me to fplendid
living; few can bear the idea of retrenching,
and I am unfortunately not one of that felf-de-
nying clafs. While I -had the Duchefs of
Kingfton's houfe, it faved me much money, but
now, though I myfelf had a lodging and table at
the Prince's, I was obliged to provide quarters
for my family at an enormous expence, for
houfes are not eafily to be hired at St. Peterf-
burgh. Befides, the day of adive fervice was
over, and the Prince, though he treated
me with much politenefs, did not find me the
indifpenfible officer I once was; I therefore ob-
tainedleave to retire to Narva, and foon after
from the fervice.

I immediately failed from Narva to Copen-
hagen, furnifhed with letters of recommenda-
tion for Pruffia from feveral of the moft diflin-
guifhed charaders at the Ruffian court; parti-
cularly from the Count de Goertz, minifter from
Berlin, to his brother, then Major-General of
cavalry and Aid-du-Camp General to Frederic
the Great.

E a CHAP.

52 THE LIFE O'f

CHAP. VII.

The author arrives at Copenhagen juj} after the re^
•volution there. — Anecdotes of the King of Den-
mark. — Goes to Pruffta. — Ceremony of entering Potf-
dani. — Frederic the Great's mode of receiving re^
ports, — IFaits on Comte de Goert7:>. — Etiquette of
prefentation to the King. — Meets fever al dijlin^
guifhed charaHers. — TbeHereditaryPrince' s apart-
ments defcribed. — Receives permiffion from the
King to attend his manceuvres. — Prefented to the
^leen, at the palace of Shoen Haufen^ near Ber-
lin.— Accompanys the Prince onfome private ex-
peditions.— Is ordered to leave Potfdam. — 'The
order revoked next day. — Defcription of Potfdam.,
— Defcriptions and afiecdotcs of Frederic the Great.
— Excellence of the Pruffian troops.

I ARRIVED at Copenhagen in September 17S4,
and was received in a very flattering manner by
ftrveral perfons of difl-ind:ion ; here I met that
worthy and exalted character, Hugh Elliot,
Kfq. the Britifli Minifter at the court of Den-
mark. To this gentleman's friendfhip I have
the higheft obligations ; his praifes I need not
write, they are in the mouths of all who knew
hims but I fhould be even more loft to honour

and

MAJOR S£MPLE LISLE. 53

and gratitude than calumny has dared to rcprc-
ieiu me, did I not here in the moft public man-
ner return him my mod fincere thanks for the
almofi: innumerable favours h^ has done me,
though I will not pain his generous mind by a
recapitulation of them.

The lijttle revolution of Denmark, if indeed
it merits that name, had juft taken place, and
the Oueen-Mother, to vvhofe tyranny the late
Oueen owed her misfortunes, had been banifh-
ed to an eftate fome miles from Copenhagen.
Affairs had been placed in the hands of the cele-
brated Bernfdorff, and a law was palTed (on ac-
count of the King's weaknefs, which had indu-
ced him to give his lignature to any thing laid
before him) that no cdid: (liould be valid unlef^i
counterligned by the Prince Royal.

The King vvhofe derangement had rather re-
duced him to :the ftateof boyhood than deprived
him of reafon, did not much relifli this arrange-
ment, though he knew it would be in vain co
make complaints. He however contxi:/cd io
fhew his diflatisfaclion; for one evening having a
number of papers to lign, he defired they might
be left till morning, when rhey fhould be ready. .
In the morning the MiRiller went to receive
them, but to his great furprize, he found the
King had fomewhat exceeded his promife; the
papers were indeed figned, but his Majefty had

E 3 madp

54 THE LIFE OF

made an addition to his name, and iigned theni
Chriftian and Company. A thoufand droll anec-
dotes might be related of this monarch, but I
cannot confent to raife a laugh at the expenfe of
fallen worth and greatnefs.

Having palTed fome time at Copenhagen, and
the time of the King of PruHia's evolutions being
at hand, I fet off for Berlin. I croffed the Belt,
and went through Pomerania to Potfdam, the
relidence of Frederic the Great.

Knowing the cuftomary mode ofprefentation
and the difcipline pradlifed here, I was not fur-
prifed at the ftridlnefs with which I was ex-
amined at the gate of the garrifon. Every flfan-
ger is afked his name, his age, to whom recqm-
mended, his bulinefs in the garrifon, and feveral
other queflions of the fame nature. On being
afked " What are you ?" I anfwered " A Scots
Highlander." " Whence came you.'"' "From
the Black Sea." " What is your rank?'* '' Ma-
jor of the Ruffian Army and Aid-du-camp to
Potemkin." ''What is your bufmefs here?"
^* To compleat my education as a foldier under
the firil mafter in the world, your King." ** Have
you any letters for the King?" " Nq; but I
have for feveral officers, particularly Count de
Gocrtz, his Majefty's Aid-du-Camp General."
" What inn do you go to?" Having anfwered
all thefe queftions, I was fuffered to proceed.

The

1

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE* 55

The accounts given by all ftrangers are laid
before the King; and are, if there is any thing
extraordinary in the report or perfon, noticed
by his Majefty. The old warlike monarch ufed
to receive reports in the moft perfed military
Ityle; for however engaged in ftudy or bulinefs,
his paraphernalia of fword, cane,'hat, and gloves,
always lay fo that he could reach them in a
moment. A fingle page waited in the anti-
chamber; and when any reports were brought,
announced them to the King, who putting on
his hat, cane, and gloves, and flicking his
iword by his lide, made a military hobble, (for
age at that time prevented him from raifing his
boots,) into the anti-chamber. Here the great
Frederic, with all martial form, flood with his
hat in his hand till the officer had made his re-
port ; and then facing about, he retreated in the
fame manner he had before advanced.

As foon as I had drefled myfelf, which in
compliment to the King, I did in the Pruflian
ftyle, with boots half way up my thigh, and a
queue down to my rump, I waited on thofe to
whom I had letters, particularly the Count de
Goertz, his Majefly's Aid-du-Camp. I aflced
him how I might accomplifli the obje(5l of my
voyage to Potfdam. He informed me, that for
perfons who came recommended it was the eti-
quette to write to the King, and alk his per-

E 4 . million

5^ THE llfE OF

milTion to be prefentcd to him, and to appear
at his parades and man ceu vres.

I immediately went home, wrote a few lines
to the King, addreffcd, (as the Count de Goertz
had inilruclcd me,) fimply an Roi ; and fent my
letter by my own fervann, in the ufual way.
Next morning, at fix o'clock, I received an
anfvver, brought to me at my hotel by the King's
running footnian. The letter was in amount
^s follows;

<f

Major Semple,

" It is with pleafure I permit you to
follow me to the manoeuvres of my troops. As
to the prefentation, you muft addrefs yourfelf
to Count de Goertz, my Aid-du-Camp General,
who is charged with fuch affairs. Upon which,
(Major Semple) I pray God tp have you in his
Jioly keeping.

t(

FRf-DERIC.'*

This laconic epiflle was fomewhat curious in
its form, for it was begun fo clofe to the top of
the paper that there was hardly room for the
Jetters. About an hour after it reached me, I
received a vifit from Count de Goertz, to whom
his Majcfty had wrote concerning me, fignify-
ing his intention of receiving me that fame day,

at

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. £7

at eleven o'clock; and at the parade I was pre-
fented to the Prince.

When thefe prefentations were over, and the
parade ended, the King's running footman met
me in my way, giving me an invitation to dine
with the Prince. This was the etiquette at
Potfdam ; for though you are entertained at the
Prince's, the invitation is really the King's.
The Marquis de Bouille, Monfieur De Cuftine,
{fince guillotined at Paris,) and feveral other
officers were the fame day prefented, and receiv-
ed fimilar invitations.

Notwithftanding the King had feveral empty
palaces, the Prince was obliged to content nim-
felf with a lodging at a brewer's houfe. Here
we all met, in a fmall dining-room : where we
had an elegant entertainment, very handfomely

ferved.

This fuite of apartments might be called the
Prince's q/le?i/Il^Ie lodgings ; but he had extended
them far beyond the brewer's houfe, by occu-
pying parts of two or three adjacent houfes.
His Majefty was equally niggardly with refpeft
to fcrvants, of which he allowed the Prince
very few ; but feveral handfome young fellows,
who had no warlike inclmations, were glad to
purchafe the Prince's livery, and wear it with-
out wages, as a protedlion from being forced
into the army. Though the enlargement of the

apartments

^8 * THE LIFE OF

apartments might pofTibly be concealed, forty
or fifty ftout handfome domeftics could not
efcape the penetrating eye of Frederic : he knew
in fait every body in Potfdam; and when he
jnet any of thefe volunteer lacqueys, never
failed to beftow reproachful epithets on them.

The King, whofe curiofity was raifed by the
exploits of Potemkin in the Crimea, honoured
me with fome marks of attention ; and thus I
obtained a fort of indired: leave to relide at
Potfdam, (a favour very rarely granted, parti-
cularly to military men) ; nor was I unnoticed
by the Prince, at whofe parties I frequently
made one. Having {cen the King, and having
attended different manoeuvres where that in-
imitable foldier commanded in perfon, I was
recommended by my friends to go to Berlin, in
order to be introduced to the Oueen.

I went accordingly ; and Prince Dolgorouki,
the Ruffian Envoy there, having introduced mc
to the reft of the foreign minifters, I was on the
firft public day prefented to her Majefty, by her
firft Chamberlain, Pritwitz. It was on this
vifit to Berlin that I had the good fortune to
become acquainted with the amiable Duke
Frederic of Brunfwick, and General MoUen-
dorff. Governor of the capital.

After having remained a few days to enjoy
the pleafures of Berlin, I returned to Potfdam,

not

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. g^

not without feeling fome reludance at leaving
certain connexions I had formed. On my re-
turn to Potfdam I waited on the Prince/ who
now admitted me more frequently into his pri-
vate parties. The Prince coi)fl;antly attended
the King's military manoeuvres, and I always
accompanied him: his Royal Piighnefs hacj,
however, certain private 7?iann^uvres of his own,
at which I alfo attended, and with which the
King was not acquainted. The great Frederic,
as is perfe<5lly known, had no high veneration
for the fair fex in general j while the Prince
Frederic William was, like myfeif, their devo-
ted flave. Though it \\ as no eafy matter to
elude the vigilance of the old warrior, the
Prince, Baron Groorhaufcn, and myfelf, con-
trived now ^nd then to fteal to Berlin without
his knowledge.

Though thefe fallies v.erc fome time conceal-
ed from the brave old King, it was impoffible
they fhould be hid for ever ; in fa^vft they were
detedled, qind I had the honour of an intimation.
from the Governor of Potfdam, acquainting
me that my prefence was no longer necelfary in
that garrifon. He would in fadl have ufed his
oldefl: general the fame way or worfe. This
happened on the parade, in the prefence of the
Prince, of whom I immediately took leave;
and repaired to my hotel, in order to prepare

for

6p THE LIFE OF

for my journey. The Prince, well acquainted
"with my extreme extravagance, and fufpedling
I might want money, though he feldom had
fufficient for his own purpofes, fent a fervant
to me with a handfofne fupply. I then took
horfe, and^ attended by one fervant, left Potf-
dam.

I flopped at the houfe of a friend, with the
intention of palling the night, and waiting the
arrival of my baggage and fervant. I wrote
from hence, by a xncfTcngQry to the Governor,
acquainting him that I had obeyed his Majedy's
orders with the alacrity and difpatch I owed
to fo great a monarch ; that I hoped he would
facilitate the departure of my fervant, by furnifh-
inghim the necefTary pafTport : I added, that the
keys of Spandau * had made a man tremble
who would ftand undaunted before all the ar-
tillery of the Houf€ of Brandenburgh.

The Governor granted my rcqued, inti-
mating at the fame time that I might, when I
pleafcd, return to Potfdam. After pafling fome
time at Berlin, where I had now a numerous
acquaintance, I accepted the invitation, and
returned to that grand military academy, though
not as a permanent refidence.

* Spandau is a garrifon not far diftant from Potfdam, where
Frederic the Great frequently fent officers who gave him of-
fence, and kept them as long as he thought proper.

Potfdam^

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 6i

Potfdam, though certainly the firft fchool for
war, was in fad: no very pleafant place to ih-
habit. The ftricflnefs of the difcipline rendered
every man no better than a flave ; nobody could
pafs or repafs the gates witliout being reported ;
and to the very garrrfon it nearly was intolera-
ble, as the foldiers had there no opportunity,
as elfewhere, of earning any thing by their la-
bour, as there was no trade or commerce what-
ever in that town, its inhabitants being, to a
very few exceptions indeed, military.

The King endeavoured to amend their con-
dition, by ordering numbers of houfes to be
built every year : ftill the foldiers were mifcra-
ble ; bur, though fuicide was frequently the re-
fult of diflrefs, the veteran monarch was abfo-
lutely idolized by them.

Frederic the Great had in his younger days
been a very adive man ; but when I faw him,
he had upon him much of the infirmity of age*
That fliarp, penetrating look, which would have
marked him as an extraordinary man, even at a
glance, ftill remained ; but he flooped much,
and his legs were fcarcely able to fupport his
weight, which, however, was not enormous.

He wifhed, as far as poflible, to conceal every
appearance of decay ; and would have felt
himfeif hurt had any one obferved him mount-
ing his horfe. Unable to vault into his faddle

as

THELIFEOF

as he ufed-to do, he always got between his
horfc and a wall. This was a fignal for all, ex-
cept thofe employed in mounting him, to look
another way. As foon as he had got his foot into
the ftirrup, a powerful huzza r, in. a twinkling,
hoifted his Majefty into his faddle; once there,
he galloped off immediately.

Perhaps, hnce the time of Charles XII. of
Sweden no prince ever paid lefs attention to
drefs than Frederic the. Great. His coat was
always military, and feldom, I believe, had its
nap difturbed by the officious intrufion of a
brufh : this he wore buttoned tight round him i
and his legs were cafed in a pair of large ftrong
boots. Thefe laft, the date of whofe antiquity
I am not chronologift enough to fix, had been
held facred from brufh and blacking; but when,
overloaded with mud, having been wafhed with
a fponge, had gradually deferted the fable, and
alTumed a mahogany hue.

His hat was no way calculated to put the reft
of his drefs out of countenance ; it feemed their:
coeval fellow-foldier, and was fharp before.- As
he never fpoke, even to a private foldier, with-,
out uncovering and holding it in his hand, the
right corner, by which he always held it, ihew-
ed evident marks of hard duty.

His fnuff-box, the only gaudy thing about
him, was of gold, of an enormous fize, and to

this

MAJOR S E MP LE LISLE. 63

this he was almolt perpetually reforting, not for
pinches, but, I had almoft faid, handfulls.

Such was the exterior of Frederic! In fuch
a homely cafket was contained a foul capable of
conquering and governing tie univerfe! This
was the truly great man who, amidft all the
hurry of war, cultivated arts at home! The
companion of a Voltaire, the avowed enemy of
kings J he efteemed this philofophical republi-
can, and was beloved in his turn by philofo-
phers of all defcriptions. This was he who in
the midft of difafters, rofe in proportion to his
fuffcrings, and not only refcued his kingdom
from ruin, but raifed it to a pitch of greatnefs
unparalleled in Europe! Invincible in war,
indefatigable in exertions, and inflexible in juf-
tice, he never had a fuperior, hardly an equal.

At Potfdam this incomparable Prince occu-
pied but three fmall apartments, and thofe in a
corner of the vaft palace there. They confifted
of a Salle a Manger, which ferved like wife as an
anti-chamber, a bed-chamber and a library;
thefe, like all the other apartments he ufed, were
hung with blue fatin. It muft be confelTed that
the hangings were fomewhat worfe for wear,
the moths having made free with fuch parts as
bed fuited their palates; the very curtains of
the King's own bed were fo full of holes, that
he might have pretty tolerably reconnoitred the

approach

64 THE LIFE or

approach of a vifitor, without the trouble 0/
withdrawing them.

He lived however but little in this palace, as
his principal relidence was at Sajis Souci^ a fhorc
diftance from the gates of Potfdam. Here was
his favourite retirement ; here he unburthened
himfelf from the cares of ftate; here he was the
philofopher, the poiilhed fcholar, and he may be
properly ftyled the father of the Pruflian helles
iettres. His company at Sans Souci was ex-
tremely feledj it confifted of the firft literary
charad:ers and a few diftinguifhed generals;
with thefe he palTed his time in converfation
and mufic, in which his excellence, both as a
compofer and performer, is admitted by all the
world.

While I was in Pruffia, his Majefty had a
violent illnefs, a little before the time appoint-
ed for the Silelian manoeuvres; his attendance
was thought to be impoflible, a circumftance
the more remarkable, as, during his long and
glorious reign, he had never been difappointed
of any military operation for which he had fixed
the time, either by fickncfs or bad weather.

However, juft as the feafon approached, and
as if fuch was decreed to be the unchangeable
fortune of the Great Frederic, he recovered;,
contrary to all cxped:ation, and was perfedly
able to review his gallant troops as uAial.

During

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 6^

During his illnefs he was fo reduced, that a
lufty ftrong huzar was obliged to lift him from
his bed to his chair, and back again. One day,
when this faithful domeftic was lifting his royal
mafter from his bed, the iron heel of his boot
flipped on the wax-rubbed boards, fo that he
found he muft unavoidably fall ; he had however
the prefence of mind to tofs his Majefty on the
bed, Avhile he himfelf meafured his length on
the floor. Frighted to death, the huzar did not
venture to raife his head, and the King who was
hardly able to fpeak from debility, was rendered
perfedly fpeechlefs with laughter at the droll
accident. As foon as he recovered his fpeech^
he encouraged the honclt foldier to rife, and
conceived fuch a liking to him for his fudden
refource of thought, that he never would part
with him from about his perfon.

From Sans Souci, the King ufed to gallop al-
moll full fpeed to Potfdam to the parades,
which he feldom miffed ; he was attended only
by two pages, who not being fo well mounted,
had frequently much difficulty to keep up with
him. When he arrived there, he rode brifkly
along the line, fometimes without fpeaking a
word, and fometimes he would converfe with
the Governor, the other general officers, and
fuch ftrangers as had been prefented,

F It

66 THELIFEOF

It is impoflible, without having feen the Pruf-
lian troops, to form an idea of their appearance
and difcipline; no miftakes ever happen, no
awkwardnefs is to be feen; they feem rather dif-
ferent branches of the fame grand machine than
dillindl beings. Every thing is perfedt, every
thing is in a ftate of readinefs ; fo that were it
neceffary to fend the whole army to the frontiers,
or further, in an inftant they would begin their
march.

The Great Frederic ufed to pay vifits on horfe-
back, with little ceremony ; of which an inftance
happened, in the beginning of the winter 1784,
when the then reigning Duke of Courland came
to Potfdam, to pay his refpedls to his Pruflian
Majefty. The Duke had taken up his refidence
at an hotel clofe to the parade, but by no means
the bcfl: in the place. Here in a little, fliabby
parlour, was his Serene Highnefs, dreffed in the
moll fplendid ftylc, blazing with diamonds, and
covered with the richefl: embroideries. In this
place, immediately on his arrival, he had the
honour of a vifit from the King, who in his old
uniform coat and other ufual accoutrements,
'rode up to the door of the hotel, alighted in a
mom.ent, and without further ceremony went
into the parlour; he flopped a few minutes in
converfation, when he took leave, remounted his

horfe.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 67

horfe, and rode away with as little ceremony aS
he had approached.

The Prince and Princcfs was kept under fuch
reftraint by the King, that it was next to impof-
lible for them to enjoy any picafure. But when
his Majefly was gone to any diilance, which pre-
cluded the pofTibility of his return for a day or
two, the Princefs never failed to give a ball, at
the palace of Charlottcnburgh, in the park of
Berlin. To thefe aflemblies, which were very
gay, thQ officers of the Gens d'Armes^ and variety
of the mod falhionable and noble perfonages
were admitted ; but the Princefs was obliged to
be at home before the King's return to Potf-
dam.

CHAP. VIII.

The author leaves PruJJia and returns to Denmark. —
Sets out for England, inhere he arrives in Decern^
her 1784. — Frequently vijits the Continent in the
courfe of the two following years. — Bef peaks d
travelling pojl-chaife of Mr. Lycet. — Mr. Lycet,
not being able to arreji him for the debt, twelve
months after the delivery of the carriage , proceeds
CRIMINALLY againjl him. — The unhappy confe-
quences. — Sends a model of a f addle and accoutre^

F 2 , ment

68

TH£ LIFE OF

meni to the King of Prujfia. — Obtains his pardon,
and goes to France. — Forms an intimacywith fome
of the mojl dijiingtiifhed charaEiers there. — Pro-
ceedings of the Con'uentiont and anecdotes of the per -
fans principally concerned in the maffacre of the
King, 'zcu'th the proceffion to his trial.

In November 1784, I left Prudia, and by the
way of Lubeck, went again to Copenhagen;
here I flaid a few days. I then fet out for Eng-
land, charged with letters for government from
Mr. Elliot, and arrived on the 23d of Decem-
ber. I delivered the packet, with which I was
intrufted, according to inftrudlions, and having
fpent fome little time in London, I returned to
the Continent, partly to gratify my turn for
military operations, and partly on confidential
bufinefs. I continued to go backward and for-
ward as bufinefs or inclination led me, till an
event took place, which firft fitted my name for
the mouth of calumny, and which has humbled
me in my own ty^^, more than in thofe of the
public. Though this has been told and retailed
a thoufand' times, and though I am far from ac-
cufing either a judge or a jury, of willing injuf-
tice, ftill will I boldly affirm, that it is not only
poflible for both to be mifiaken, but that it is
often impofllble for any but the man himfelf to
judge of his own ititentms. The cafe flood thus

with.

-MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 69

with me: I had befpoke a travelling poft-chaife
of a coach-maker, Mr. Lycet. It was ordered
to be finifhed on a particular day, and on that
day he fent it home. My then fituation render-
ed fuch a carriage neceffary for me, and I w as
at that time able to pay for it ; but my fatal
turn for extravagance foon put that out of my
power. After remaining fome time in town, I
went again to the Continent, and during twelve
months, paffed and repaffed very frequently; on
which occalions feveral attempts were made to
arrejl vie for the debty nor was there any idea of
calling it a fraud, till a year after the carriage was
delivered to me at 7ny lodgings at Knights-Bridge.
I am far from vindicating the non-payment ofa
jufl: debt, but I folemnly declare that I had not
the fmalleft idtfa of defrauding the coach-maker,
I had occaiion for a carriage; I was in a good
fituation, though very carelefs and extravagant.
But were every fafhionable young man, who buys
a pofl-chaife, without conlidering how it is to
be paid for, as ftridly dealt by as I was, the
Newgate Calendar would, I fear, become an al-
moft indifpenfible fupplement to the Red Book.
It is true, Mr. Lycet fwore that I had hired
the carriage only for a week; but had he ruot
fworn it, would it have appeared credible, that
he would fit up a new carriage for a week's hire?
The attempt to arreft me was admitted; befides,

F 3 in

yO THELIFEOF

in his books there appeared an erafurey where
the word hired was. Had it been originally fo,
what need to alter it? If it was not, fome
other word mull have- occupied that place.
What that word was, or when erafed, Mr. Ly-
cet befl: knows.

It is further remarkable, that he produced
po perfon in court to whom he had complained
of the robbery ; he had applied to no magiftrate,
jior had he even entertained an idea of commen-
cing a criminal profecution, till, as himfelf
confelTed, he had been advijcd to it. Contrary
however to the expedation of every Lawyer in
court, the judge who tried me, was of opinion
that the jury fhould find me guilty oi a felonious
intention. »

After fuch a charge delivered by the Judge,
it cannot excite much furprife, that I was found
guilty, and that I was fentenced to feven years
tranfportation.

Notwithftanding this had been the opinion of
the Judge^ and the determination of the Jury^
\t weighed very little with thofe who knew me,
and who exerted themfelves to extricate me
from my difficulties.

I was of courfe committed to the charge of
the keeper of Newgate, by whom I was lodged
in the flate apartments of that prifon. Here I
jiiad a room to myfelf; and having much fpare

time.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 7I

time, I invented a faddle and accoutrement for
cavalry, which faddle I find recently adopted
in the Britifh army, with little alteration.

My model I fent to his Majefty Frederic
William of PrulTIa, who had then jufl fucceeded
the immortal Frederic the Great, accompanied
by a letter, of which atranflation is here annex-
ed, and which, at that time, appeared in moft of
the periodical prints, in French and Englifh.

(TRANSLATION.)

(The original being wrote in French.)

"To THE KING. Potsdam.

♦' SIRE,

" When I had the honour of being
prefented to your Majefty, on my return from
the invafion of the Crimea, the gracious recep-
tion which I met withj and the ftrong proof
which your Majefty deigned to give me, (in a*
moment of difgrace,) of your uncommon gene-
roiity and condefcenlion, rivetted thofe chains,
by which, as a man devoted to the profellion of
war, I was already attached to your perfon.

* See Page 60.

F 4 « Such

72 THE LIFE OF

" Such, Sire, is my paffion for martial affairs,
and fuch my vcneraiion for the PruHian arms,
that even in difgrace and bondage, while afflic-
tions are dealt to me with more than common
liberality, flill my whole foul is occupied by the
glorious fcenes I have feen, and ftill my diftrad-
ed imagination holds to my view your Majefly's
godlike troops. • ;.

*' Your cavalry, the fineft in the world, I
have often gazed on with rapture, and the par-
ticular attention which I payed to their accou-
trements, occaiioned me to make fome remarks,
which I now beg leave, with the moil: refpedlful
fubmiflion, to lay before your Majefly, along
with an accoutrement for light-horfe, an in-
vention of my own, and which I had prepared
to lay in perfon at your Majefty's feet, when I
was prevented by the difgrace and deftrudlion,
into which I was plunged, by unbounded extra-
vagance, and ungoverncd paflions. Unable to
adorn my tale, I will without further apology,
proceed in the plain language ofafoldier, to
point out the difadvantages which your Majef-
ty's, and indeed all the cavalry on the Conti-
nent of Europe, labour under by the prefent
mode of faddling.

" It is an eftablifhed cuflom in your Maje-
fly's cavalry to place the faddle on the fhoul-

der

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. ' 73

der of the horfe, by which means he is confined
in his movement, travels with great inconve-
nience to himfelf, is foon fatigued, is fubjedt to
have fiftulas from the continual motion of his
Ihoulders under the faddle; and, when he be-
comes fatigued, having the weight of his rider
fo much forwards, is fubjecl to ftumble. Was
the faddle placed in fuch manner as to expofe
entirely to view the fhouldcr, it would add
grace to the appearance, give eafc to the horfe,
render him more aciivc, lefs fubjed to an ulce-
rated back, lefs apt to ftumble, and when he
did ftumble, would be eafily recovered by his
rider, who, being feated about the middle of his
horfe's back, would fit firm, and have great
command.

*' My prefent lituation renders it impradii-
cable for me to convey my accoutrem.ent for
light-horfe to your Majcfty by any other means
than that of your Majcfty's Minifter at London.
To enter into a defcription of this accoutre-
ment would exceed the bounds of a letter. My
earneft prayer is, that your Majcfty would faftcr
it to be laid before you, when I hope its ap-
pearance will fay more in its favolir than I could
fay in a volume. I will, however, fo far ob-
ferve, that it is well calculated for parade, for
(Cafe, for fervice, and to encourage the men to
clofe to the enemy, the only means by which

cavalry

74 "^KE LIFE OF

cavalry can be redoubtable or fuccefsful. Should
in meet with your Majefty's approbation, and
Ihould it be found to poffefs the qualities which
I have attempted to defcribe, I fhall efteem
myfclf the moft fortunate man on earth.

*' The hour in which I mufl: be liberated, though,
alas! 'tis too diftant, neverthelefs advances ; and
as it approaches, I tremble for the difficulties
which I fhall have to encounter: that averfion
which mankind in general have for the unfor-
tunate, will throw unfurmountable difficulties in
my way, unlefs your Majefly, as confpicuous for
compadion as for military talent, will fuffer me
to (land as a volunteer in the ranks with your
grenadiers ; there I may find an opportunity of
periihing as I ought ; further I do not expedl.
I have forfeited all claim to confidence, of
couife, to command; and only feck fuch a grave,
as (in fpite of my prefent difgrace) the hard fer-
vice which I have feen, and the dangers which I
have braved, give me fome title to demand.

" If it is a fad, Sire, that men of courage are
ever pofTefTcd of the moft tender feelings, I can
no where look for compaffion, for pity, or par-
don, with fuch hopes of fuccefs, as to your Ma-
jefly, and your gallant army ! Have mercy on
me, Sire, and command your brave General de
Mollendorff to announce to me, that you will
fuffer me to carry armiS with your Majefty's

grenadiers.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 75

grenadiers, I lliall be happy ! will wait the
hour of my enlargement with refignation, and,
when it comes, fly to your ftandard.

** With anxious impatience I attend the fen-
tence which your Majefty will pronounce. On
it depends my fate !

'* I have the honour to be. Sire, with all that
enthuiiafm which fo great a Captain as your Ma-
jefty can infpire in the foul of a foldier.

Sept. 1790*

" Your Majesty's
" Moft humble,
** Faithful and devoted fervant.'*

I remained a prifoner in the ftate apartments
of Newgate a confiderable while. I was then
fent to Woolwich, where, after fome time, I
received his Majefty's pardon, on condition of
going abroad.

The encouragement I had formerly received
on the Continent, and the protedlion that I had
fome reafon to exped from the King of Pruflia,
inclined me to go to Germany ; but my friends
advifed me rather to go to France, then at pea<"e
with, and receiving fupplies of every thing from
England. They very properly fupporteJ .ncir
arguments by truths which I could not deny ;

ti.ut

Jb THE LIFE or

that the bare pay was too fmall for my turn of
mind, and that France then deprived of her befl:
officers wanted men of tried fkill and experience,
and therefore held out a fairer profped to me. I
yielded to thefe reafons and went to France,
where I remained fome time an inadtive fpecfta-
tor, till want of fubliftence forced me to apply
to the Committee of War for employment. But
already difgufted by their villainous proceedings,
I declined accepting any fituation, though my
advice was frequently taken refpeding the new
corps they were forming. Curious however to
fee the event of the King's trial, I determined
to remain on the fpot until that was over, and
was accordingly obliged to conceal my fenti-
mcnts.

I had now formed a ftrid intimacy with
General Beruyer, Commandant of the interior,
a fituation often miftaken for that of Comman-
dant of Paris, whereas in truth they are very
diifcrent: the General has the command of all
the troops in the interior, but the Commandant
of Paris has only the command of the national
guard in that city ; the former, Beruyer, was an
old and excellent foldier ; the latter, Santerre,
was a brewer. With Beruyer I went upon all
his little excurfions. I was likewife very inti-
mate with Pache, the minifler of war, Pethion^

Roland

MAJOR SEMPLE LISIE. 77

Roland, and feveral others of the then leaders of
France, moft of whom have lince been guillo-
tined.

During my abode in Paris, I was an eye-wit-,
nefsofmany fhocking malTacres, and I cannot
help wondering at my own efcapes; for at a
time when liveries were forbidden to all but the
foreign minifters, and brilliant equipages wholly
out of ufe, I had both of the moft fplendid
kind, and was generally called an arifiocrate^ a re-
proach I did not take much pains to contradid:.
The time fixed fbr the trial of the unfortunate
Louis now drew near, and vaft preparations
were made for that purpofe. During this time
the violence of the Jacobin party daily increafed,
though it had not then reached its height of
wanton and indifcriminate murder.

When the day arrived for the King to appear
before the Convention, I, with Mr. Maxwell,
went in the fuite of Beruyer, to fetch him; the
whole way was lined with troops, and the con-
courfe of people was immenfe. The unhappy
monarch was found drefled in a morning- coat
of grey Bath coating, a v/aiftcoat, and, I think,
breeches of the fame; his hair rolled up, and his
beard long, not expecting, as we imagined, a

vifit of that kind.*

A lingular

* Clery fays that the King ^<7<^ received private intelligence,
and defcribes the means by v/hich fugh intelligence was ob-
tained.

^8 THE LIFE OF

A lingular delay happened, and for a time re-
tarded the procefTion. The * decree of the Con-
vention, ordering the King to be brought before
them, had been forgotten ; a meffenger was there-
fore d-ifpatched for it, and on his return it was
read to his Majefty, who bowed and complied.
Though there had elap fed fufficient time from
the hour of Chambon's arrival at the Temple
for him to have changed his cloaths, he went
dreffed as I have juft defcribed.

From the King's wavering condudl, in his
attempt to efcape from the country, and on
other occafions, I had formed the idea of his
being a very weak and irrefolute charader ; but
I was far miflaken, for his examination con-
vinced me, that he wanted neither courage nor
talents, and indeed from that day I became de-
voted to him.

With the utmoft coolnefs and intrepidity, he
anfwered interrogatories, which he could not
pofiibly forefee, and while his whole conduct

talned. But at that time this circumftance was unknown to
any except thofe immediately concerned.

* Clery mentions, that though Chambon, Maire of Paris,
was announced before eleven o'clock, as being with the coun-
cil below, and coming up immediately to fpeak with the King,
he did not appear before one ; as the caufe of this delay was
only whifpered among the general ftaff, it could not well come
to Mr. Clery 's knowledge.

evinced

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 79

evinced firmnefs of mind, his anfvvcrs ihev*'ed
that he poiFefled a clear underftanding, far above
the ftandard of mediocrity.

When the King arrived at the hall of the
Convention, he alighted from his carriage, and
the general-officers quitted their horfes. San-
terre and the municipal officers led the van ;
the King walked next, clofe followed by Be~
ruyer. They paiTed along the Corridor till they
came oppofite a fmall chamber, into which
Santerre informed the King he muft go, while
his arrival was announced to the Convention.

The King then addreffing himfelf to Beruyer,
who always treated him politely, defired to
have fome refreffiment ; on which the General
told him he might have bread and wine, and he
immediately fent for a bottle of the beft claret,
*' vin de la fete.'*

His Majelly had drank a goblet of wine,
eaten a morfel of bread, and was filling his glafs
again, when Santerre entered the room, faying,
*' Louis Capet! la Convention Nationale vous de-
mande a fa harre.'" To this rude addrefs the
King replied with a bow, and inftantly obeyed.

The firm conduct of this unfortunate mo-
narch I have already remarked : it was fuch as
difarmed many of his enemies ; and every friend
to humanity entertained hopes of the moft fa-
vourable kind. The examination ended, the

King

8o t:helifeof

King returned with the fame guards. The
whole was, however, thrown into confufion, by
fome battalions refufing to let Santcrre, (who
had been delayed at the hall of the Convention,)
pafs them, in order to get into his proper
place, next to the King's carriage. Santerre
rode very badly ; and the guards, who were
without difcipline, were afraid of his horfe,
they therefore, after great diforder, obliged him
to difmount, and, with much ado, permitted
him to force his way through the mob, leading
his charger.

The confufion ftill continuing, he no fooner
got near the carriage of the King, than, with a
fquadron of the regiment of the Dragons de la
Repiiblique^ and a battalion of artillery, he rode
off with his royal prifoner, leaving the guards
to follow as they could. This procured him a
public reprimand, as it was alledged that he
might, for vant of flrength, have had his charge
taken from him by fuperior force.

The King was left fome time before he was
brought up X.O make his defence, of which he had
regular notice : counfcllors were alfo allowed
accefs to him, and he chofc MaJJherbes and
Tronchet to defend him; De Seze\v2.& afterwards
added. Target had been applied to, but infa-
moudy rcfufed.

On the 26th of December the King was

again

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE'. Ut

again brought to the Convention, with the fame
ceremony as before ; but as he was apprifed of
it, he appeared drefled, though very plainly.
About ten in the morning he left his prifon. I
had, however, feparated from General Beruyer,
in order to introduce the Princefs Alexandre
Luboumerlky and Mr. Ellis, an Englifh gen-
tleman, into the hall of the Convention, which
was at that time a matter of no fmall difficulty.
"When I had placed them, I took, together with
Mr. Maxwell and two fervants, the Ihorteft cut
acrofs the city to join the line of march ; but
coming to a ftreet that opened into the Boule-
vards, we were flopped by a cannon and a fe-
male cannonier, who guarded the pafs. As I
knew it was to little purpofe to argue with a
poijD'ardey I turned my horfe, and pafled through
another ftreet. Having gained the rear of thofe
who lined the road, I made up to the Com-
mander, and defired leave to pafs his line when
the head of the march fliould reach him : he in-
ftantly confented ; but in the mean time, and
to cool our horfes, we walked them about in
the rear. Here I was accofted by a patrol,^
who afked me who I was? I told him, an
Engliftiman, waiting to join the Generaf
Staff, with whom I had permiflion to ride, but
had been left behind. He anfwered, ** You arc
not, you are a Ci-devant i** and pointing a muf-

G ket

S2 THE LIFE OF

ket at me, we were iiiftantly furrounded by a
crowd of pikes, and a general outcry of " Ce
font des ci-devant s."

All we could fay availed nothing ; we were
carried before the CommifTaries of the fedion of
the Temple ; but not being able to fatisfy them,
I was obliged to write to Beruyer in their pre-
fence, who no fooner received my note than he
came,, with his whole General Staff, and deli-
vered us,

A very pacific perfon, not yet m.entioned, who
was impelled by curiofity alone, was involved
in this adventure, which, as Beruyer obferved,
made him haften to my afUltance, lead, by the
fmalleft delay, he might have met my head on
a pike. This was no other than Mr. Newcomb^
the Boot-maker, mounted on my bejl charger, which,
at his own requeft, I had lent him, that he
might follow me to fee the proceilion of the
unhappy monarch to that tribunal which even-
tually deprived him of life.

In his way to his former attendance the King
had received fome, though not much infult, yeC
enoup^h to diforrace, before all mankind, the un-
feeling wretches who could be bafe enough to ufe
it; but now^a gang of fervants belonging to that

UNIVERSALLY DETESTED ARCH TrAITOR,

Orleans, together with a hireling crew devo-
ted to him, uttered fuch Ihocking abufe, fuch

inhuman

Major semple lisle. 83

inhuman taunts, as could not fail of exciting
ho'rror in any bdfom not callous to every fenfe
of mercy and decency.

So much has been faid on the fubjed of the
King's trial and defence, that I fliall be fi-
lent upon it, farther than that I was individu-
ally prefent. I fhall therefore proceed to the
time of his execution, wifhing only to lay be-
fore my readers particulars that are not gene-
rally known.

C H A P. IX.

^he Convention orders that the decree pronuncing the
King's death Jhould be made known to him within
twenty-four hours. — His counfellors refufed admif-

Jion to him. — His fentence announced to him. — .
Proceedings the evening previous to his execution'.
— The author attends at the Temple with General
Beruyer. — Santerre's brutal behaviour at the Tem-
ple the morning of the King's death. — Th: ^teen
and Royal Family refufed to fee the Kingy by the
Cofnmiffaries, with an explanation of the reafon. —
Santerre's fpeech to his Majejiy when he came to

^fetch him, not related by^ Clery. — More brutality
of Sant€rre< — A man 7nurdered for pitying the

Q 2 King,

THE LIFE OF

King. — Treparations at the place cf cycutlon. — '
*The King's behaviour^ and the involunUiry rcjpm
paid to him. — New injults of Santcrre. — 'The
Ring*s death and burial.

It had been decreed by the Convention, on Sa-
turday January 19th, 1793, that the executive
body Ihould, within twenty-four hours, announce
the King's fate to him. This, however, was not
done till the latefh hour of the time limited,
though the Municipality did not negle6l to take
an account of the few trifles then remaining in
the pofTedion of a once great fovcreign, even
before the decree was paffed.

For many days the fufferings of the unfortu-
nate Louis had been wantonly aggravated by a
feries of unnecellary and unprovoked cruelties;
the Queen, his children, and lifter had been in-
humanly torn from him; but now even his
counfellor, the venerable Malefherbes, v\as re-
fufed admiflion.

On Sunday the 20th of January the decree of
the Convention was brought to the King, with
equal formality and rudenefs : it was bluntl/
announced by Garat, Minifter of Juftice, and
read by Crouvelle^ Secretary to the Council,
who, 1 have been alTured by thofe prefent, feem-
ed more terrified at i;* contents than the royal
fufferer.

The

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 85

The King bad prepared a paper, which he
delivered to Garar, deliring three days delay in
the execution of the fentence, that he might
prepare himfelf for the awful fcene he was to
undergo; he alfo requefted to have a catholic
clergyman, of his own chufing; to be freed
from incelTant infpedion, and to fee his family
without witnefles. He added an earned: en-
treaty for permidion to his family to go where-
ever they would ; and that the nation would
confider the cafes of fome diftrelTed perfons,
chiefly old people^ widows, and children, for-
merly fupported by his bounty.

The fame evening, about fix, the Convention
returned an anfwer to this requeft of the King,
purporting that he fhould fend for any clergy-
man he pleafed ; that he Ihould fee his family
freely, and without witnefs ; that they fhould be
taken into confideration ; that the creditors of
his houfehold fliould be indemnified ; but the
delay of three days was poflitively refufpd.

Before the clofe of the evening drums went
through the feveral diftri(51"s, with the Sedlional
CommifTaries, who publicly read a proclama-
tion ordering all windows to be fhut next day;
that no women occhildren ihould be feen in the
flreets ; and that the men Ihould repair to their
refpedlivc fedions : they alfo vilited hotels
where Grangers took up their rsfidence, order-

G 3 ing

86

THE LIFE OF

ing them either to march with the fedion, or
to remain at home; queftioning them at the
fame time concerning their fituation, employ-
ment, and bufmefs in town. Among others
they came to me, when I told them, that I had
obtained General Beruyer's leave for myfelf and
Mr. Maxwell to march with his Staff; and that
I was to hold myfelf in rcadinefs at his quarters
at four next morning.

I attended as was appointed, and rode with
the General to the Temple. During our march
he feveral times obferved to me, that he was
furpriled at my curiofity ; that, for his own part,
were he not apprehenfive that his declining to
attend, (though no part of his duty,) would en-'
danger his own head, he could not have been
induced to be witnefs of fo awful a fcene. I
repeat this in refpedl to the m.emory of the
amiable Beruyer, who fince paid his life as the
price of his unfhaken loyalty; and who, though
forced to difguife his thoughts, was ever in his
heart the devoted advocate of the King. When
I add that he had a wife and fix children, and
no fortune, his difguife will be thought very
excufeable.

Though I had hitherto avoided going into
the prifoa of the Temple, I now went with
Beruyer and his Staff into the apartment where
the Committee of the Commune was fitting. In

a little

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE tf

a little time the Municipal Officer then on du-
ty with the King entered, with a requeft from
his Majcfty that he might have a pair of fciflars
allowed him to cut his hair, as he expecfled
every moment to be led forth. No oppolition
was made by any of the Council, only one mem-
ber afked the officer who brought the meffage, if
he thojght the King might fafcly be trufted
with them ? On his anfwering in the affirma-
tive, and that it was impoffible for any man to
be more calm or coUecfled, the voice of every
member concurred without heiitation in grant-
ing this requeft.

Santerre, however, who, with his Staff, was
prefent, but had no fort of concern or authori-
ty in the affairs of the council, as foon as he
heard the permiflion granted, brutally exclaim-
ed, " I oppofe that ! he wants to cut his hair
" to give it to his confeffor, to be handed about :
" I will not have a relic of the tyrant left."
The Committee, over-awed by the opinion of
the General, adopted his decifion ; and the
Commiffary, laying down the fciffars, returned
to his duty.

Some time after a Commiffary came down to
the Council with a meffage from the Oueen,
purporting, (to ufe his own words) that the
•women wanted to fee Louis Capet. The decree of
the Convention, allowing the King to fee his

G 4 family

SS THE LIFE or

family vjhenhe pleafed^ was then read ; but being
found not to enjoin that they might fee him when
they pleajedy the Council pafTed to the order of
the day. The Prelident, as foon as this was
fettled, probably willing in compalTion to evade
the decree, afked if the king had exprefled any
defire to fee them j the officer faid he had Jiot^
(a circumftance confirmed by Clery,) and there
the bufmefs ended.

About half-pafi: eight Santerre went up fl-airs
to bring his Majefty down; he was attended by
feveral municipal officers and foldi.ers, fome of
whom entered the King's apartment, while
others took their ports upon the flairs. I fol-
lowed them, and went fo far that I could,
through the legs of thofe that were at the door,
fee all that pafTed between Santerre and the
royal prifoner.

His Majefty appeared as if coming out of an
inner apartment, with two perfons behind him,
whom I was told were his confefTor and Clery.
Santerre immediately addreffed him to this ef-
fecft : *" Louis Capet, I am come by order of
" the National Convention to take you to the
." Place de la Revolution^ formerly Place de Louis

* Clery fays nothing of this addrcfs ; but the anguifh and
confufion of that faithful and affedionate fervant might well
prevent him from attending to the dilcourfe of thofe from
whom he had nothing but barbarity,

** ^iinzey

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 89

^* ^hize, there to deliver you into the hands of
" high juflice.'* I did not hear his Majelly
fay a word.

Before Santerre went up to bring down the
King, he had propofed to the Council of the
Commune, to tie him ; but this was rejeded, and
one of them exclaimed, " Why fhould we tie
" him, are we not all his enemies." Santerre
vexed at having his cruelty thus difappointed,
told them, that lince they had refufed to tie him,
inftead of two Commiflaries, he fhould put two
gens d' armes^ in the coach with him.

Before his Majefty reached the carriage, he
had to pafs through the garden of the Temple,
and along a narrow pafTage, at the end of which
Chambon's Ihabby old coach was waiting for
him. On reaching this he looked round, as for
, fome one to give him a hand to help him in;
but no one came near, and the infulted, fallen
monarch, was forced to get in without afiift-
ance.

Santerre performed his promije; for he put
two gens d' armes into the coach, while the Com-
miflaries, whofeduty it was to guard the King,
were obliged to follow on foot as well as they
could ; this was however only the prelude ro
thofe fcenes of anarchy when no fafety was to be
found, and when nothing was more ufual than

for

go THELIFEOF

for the tyrant of yefterday, to become the vic-
tim of to-day.

The proceffion went on very flowly, with
little infult; yet there v/ere not wanting, fome
whom this awful fcene could not foften into
decency, a decency due to the feelings of even
the worft of criminals. In the principal flreets,
through which the fad proceffion was to pafs,
not a window was open, and fome perfons who
imprudently looked out at windows in the bye
flreets, were inflantly fired at.

After we had proceeded fome diflance, a
fliocking affair took place, which mull have fil-
led with horror any heart, not loft to humanity.
A man as the King palTed, exclaimed " ^lel
irijie changement /" '' what a fad change 1" He
had no fooner uttered the words, than he was
literally torn to pieces, and parts of his mang-
led body held upon pikes before the carriage,
to flievv the unhappy Louis, the end of what
they arrogantly called the laji of his friends.*

The * proceffion met with no more interrup-
tion, till VvC arrived at the place, de la Revolution,

* The ftrcets were compleatly lined with foldiers, cannon
were placed at every avenue, leading into the line of march,
field pieces and heavy artillery were likewife drawn in the
proceffion, both before and behind the carriage, and the guards,
V/ho led and clofcd the whole, were immenfely numerous.

the

MAJOR SiEMPLE LISLE, 91. •

the deftined theatre of regicide. Here the fatal
machine was erected in fuch a manner, that the
ilkiftrious fufferer, could, from the fcaffold fee
at one view, the once pleafing palace of the
Tuiileries, and the pedeftal and fragments of -
his predeceflbr's ftatue.

The guillotine was furroundcd by troops, of
which the Marjeillois held the moft confpicuous
fituation, as it was between them and the fcaf-
fold that the King muft pafs. A place on the
right was kept open for the General Staff, and
the cannon filed round into the front of the ma-
chine, where they w-ere kept primed, with mat-
ches lighted, and one in particular was pointed
at the place of death, with orders on the fmalleft
cry for mercy from the people, to lire and put
at once an end-to all hopes.

When the carriage drew up oppofite the
ladder of the fcaffold, M. de Frimont the
King's confeffor alighted, and his Majcdy was
likewife preparing to do fo, but was flopped as
foon as he put his head out of the door by San-
terre, who imperioufly bade him g^o back ; this
order was inftantly obeyed, and the King being
heavy, fnook the coach when he face down;
hence arofe the report that he had famted on
feeing the machine, than which nothing could
be more falfe.

Santcrre

•^2 1 HE LIFE OF

Santcrre then called to fome of the gens
d' armc&t and ordered fix of them to draw up,
three on each fide of the way, from the coach
door to the ladder, which was not more than
two yards diftant. In this place, the King who
had been made to alight as foon as thefe gens
d" armes were polled, undrefled himfelf; firfl
throwing off his hat, which was inftantly cut to
pieces afid diflributed among thofe prefent ; he
then threw off his coat, which was treated i<n
the fame manner, nor did he receive any affift-
ance, except that fome perfon folded his ftiirt
under the collar of his waiftcoat, which feemed
to me to be of white cotton flannel.

He then prepared to afcend the fcaffold, but
was told that his hands mufi: be tied; to this he
quietly fubmitted, only faying it was not necej-
fary. Mr. Frimont was going along with him to
adminifter the iafi: offices of religion, but he was
torn away, and another priefl, a meer raggamuf-
fian in appearance, was put in his place, as a
parting infult to the dying monarch.

Whether he had thus far attempted to fpeak,
I cannot fay; for the drums and trumpets,
which by the exprefs order of Santerre, were
placed in immenfe number in the front of the
guillotine, to ufe his language, '* to prevent Louis
" Capet from beingheardjjjouldhe attempt io Jpcak^'^

made

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 93

made fuch a noife as rendered it impofiible to
hear a word. As foon as the King came upon
the fcaffold, he looked at the fatal machine, and
then walked towards the front, bowing to the
people as if he meant to ifpeak. Notwithftand-
ing the drums and trumpets had been placed
for the purpofe of drowning his voice, no fooner
did his Majefty appear to be preparing to ad-
drefs the fpe(fl:ators, than the noife ceafed in an
inftanr, and the moft profound and folemn li-
lence prevailed. He attempted to fpeak, but
inflantly Santerre called to the executioner to
do his duty, who going behind his Majefty, at-
tempted to pull him away by the arms ; but
not being able, his affiftant got before him, and
pufliing againft his breaft, they together forced
him near to the centre of the fcaffold, in a line
with the guillotine, he likewife called immedi-
ately to the drums ,and trumpets, v/ho again
began to make a noife.

The pried now approached; but the King
faid fomething to them, on which they retired
a ftcp, and he continued uttering, probably a
prayer, for a few feconds. He then laid him-
felf voluntarily on the board of the guillotine,
uhich was inftantly put in its place; the execu-
tioner immediately proceeded to tie him, and
his alliiiant to fix the collar that was to fecure
his neck. While he was doing this with one

hand

g4 THELIFEOJ?

hand, and before his mafler had done his partj
he with the other hand held the firing that was
to difcharge the machine, and ere the collar was
faftened, pulled it, and put a period to the fuf-
ferings of the once great fovereign of France,
who fo lately, and fo juftly was idolized by ail
the people of that nation.

No fooner had the guillotine performed its
dreadful office, than the executioner made a
pretext to prefs the knife down, as if it had not
gone quite through the neck, and that the head
was taken off by his hands; but this was unne-
cefTary, as the fall of the machine did its duty
compleatly.

The aflirlant caught up the bleeding head, as
foon as it was fevered from the body, and hold-
ing it by the hair, expofed it to view on every
fide of the fcaffold, crying out, ** Five la repub^
*^ liqiie^ le tiran n'eji plus;" he then threw it down
at his ^tcty and went to affifl- his mafter to put
the body into a long balket, which was already
bloody with the gore'of numerous vidims. The
ruffian then again held up the head as before,
and after expofing it fome little time, flanding
a few paces from the bafket, tolTed it in with an
air of difdain.

Many now prefTed round to dip their hand-
kerchiefs in the King's blood, and the city re-
founded with fnouts of '' vive la repuhlique:''' nay,

fo

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 95

fo eager v^txt fome for blood, that (I blufli to
relate itj thefon of an eminently rich Yorkdrnre
clothier gave to a Marjeillois fifty crowns, to
Hain his handkerchief in that of the murdered
King.

The body of the unfortunate Louis was then
taken to the church-yard of St. Magdalen,
where it was put into a hole fifteen feet deep,
amidft a large quantity of quick-lime; a guard
was fet over it for feveral days, that (to ufe their
own expreflion,) not a relique of royalty might be
left.

wAmn^W'itwi

CHAP. X.

S ant err e fends a letter to the Convention^ announcing
the King's death, which the Prefident declined
reading aloud. — Hhe city overwhelmed with for-
row. — The author fends an account of the King*s
death to London. — Refohes to leave France^ and
receives a pajfport for that purpofe. — In danger
of being arrefied as a fpy. — Makes his efcape
from Far is. — Pajfes feveral garrifcn towns by fir a-
tagem, and reaches Brujfels. — Difficulty of pafftng
the Cordon, and the method he took to avoid Ant-
iverp, where Dumourier then was. — Arrives at
Hoogflraten. — Stops for refrefhmejtt at Baal-Her"

tog.

g6 THELIFEOF

tog. — Reaches Bois le Due. — Propofes an enter^
prize which is approved^ and occafions him to go
to the Hague. — Returns with power to carry his
plan into execution.

i^ANTERRE difpatchcd one of his Aides-du-
Camp to announce to the Convention the death
of the King, as foon as his head was flruck off;
he himfelf ftaid to fee the body interred, and
then rode to the hall of the Convention.

The letter he 'had fent by his Aid-du-Camp
contained fo many boafls of his own fliocking
brutalities, that the Prefident refufed to read it
aloud, and contented himfelf by announcing the
event to the Convention. The whole city feem-
ed quite melancholy : for fome days hardly any
one was to be (ten in the flreets, and the few
that flirred out, wore evident marks of grief
and difmay in their countenances. On the night
of the King's death I went into feveral of the
theatres : they were empty; and I am well con-
vinced that nine-tenths, not only of the people
of Paris, but of all France, at that time were
flill devoted to their fovercign, but they wanted
a leader and confidence in each other, to enable
them to prevent, or to avenge his fall.

Mr. Ncwcomb, before-mentioned, who had
only waited in Paris to fee whether the Con-
vention would dare to put their threat in exe-
cution.

filAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. ^

Cution, remained with me that night till I wrote
an account of the fhocking bufinefs, with which
he and his fon immediately fet OjfF for London.

The following evening, the theatres Hill con-
tinuing empty, the traiterous Orleans hired a
mob to fill them^ and to give to the place the
air of chearfulnefs J but all was in vain; an
evident gloom overfpread the once gay metro-
polis, nor was it till feveral days had elapfed
that joy re-appeared.

Difgufted to the high^ft degree with the ex-
ceiTes I daily witnefTed in a country to which I
had gone merely by the advice of my friends^
and expelling war to be declared by my own
fovereign, I determined to join the allies. I
therefore addrelTed the Convention, telling them
that my circumftances had induced me to offer
them my fervices when they were at peace with^
and receiving fuccours from my country ; but
that as firmly devoted to Britain as Frenchmen
were to France, and perceiving war* at the eve

* I was fo far right in my prediction, that before I had time
to leave Paris, the Convention declared war, (to ufe their owa
Wordsjj *' Non contre le peuple Anglais et Hollandois^ mais
*' contre les tirans George et le Stathouder." Neverthelefs,
they commenced by waging war againft the people, for they
immediately laid an embargo on all Britifh veffels, feized all
Britifh propert}"- ia France, and in every way harrafled and im-
prifoned fuch of his Majefty's fubjeds as had not left the
country,

H of

9* THE LIFE OF

of breaking out, I begged they would grant ms
a pafTport, that I might hafte to my pofl.

This requeft they complied with, and even
Teemed plcafed with my boldnefs. I was, not-
withftanding, under fome apprehenfion of being
arretted as foon as I fliould begin my journey,
and therefore refolved to depart unawares. In
the mean time I paid vifits to all my friends,
telling them that I fhould leave France in ten
or twelve days.

The precautions I took were not without
reafon; for the fame day, while dining at the
houfe of a lady where it was known I paft all
my leifure moments, a perfon belonging to the
Convention, whofe fole ftudy has invariably
been to do good, and to whofe kind offices many
fubje<fls of all nations owe their exiftence, came
in difguife, and acquainted me that I was de-
nounced to the Committee of Public Safety as
a fpy, and as going to join the enemy, by Max-
well *, Le Brun, and my landlord ; and that the

order

* This gentleman, I afterwards learned, was the Dr. Max-
wcli who had tied from Portland Road, on account of fome
improper meetings held al his houfe. 1 firft met him at Pache's
office. He attended there for months, offering fome rifle bar-
rels, which he brought from England, and foliclting the com-
mand of a company of rifle-men. He had been protedcd by
Scrvan, the former Miniiler of War; but Servan having refu-
med the poft of General, Maxwell's intereft wasat an end; and

the

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 99

order for my arreflation had juft been ifTued.
I talked of furrendering myfelf, but he ftrong-
\y dilfuaded mc, as fadlion, not juftice, then
prevailed. As I had for fome days been pre-
paring to fct off from that lady's houfe, I had
removed nearly all my baggage thither piece-
meal ; and had ordered my valet, who remained
at home, and on whofe fidelity I could depend,
to leave fome of my cloaths, maps, arms, &c.
in confufion, as if I had, as ufual, gone out;
and to fay to any one that might enquire for
me, that he could not tell when I fhould come
in, but that I might certainly be found, as was
my common pradlice, at eleven the next morn-
ing. It was, however, my intention to have
fet out that night, and to have taken him with
me.

A groom whom, from not fufliciently know-
ing, I had fufpeded to be capable of betraying
me, I kept conftantly near me ; I would not fufFer
him to go out of the lady's houfe ; and when her
fervant had prepared her cahriohy with which I
meant to efcape, I made him get into it, and
then followed myfelf. I drove to St. Dennis ;
where I told the Poft-Mafter that I was going
upon military duty, defiring him to furnilh me

the firft Secretary having introduced him to me as my coun-
trymen, I recommended him, and his fervices were accepted,

H 2 with

lOO THE LIFE O*

■with horfes, and to take care of mine until I
came back; with which requ-ft he co'T'p'ied.
I then judged it proper to explain myfeit to my
fervant, who decKired himfelf determined to fee.
me fafe over the frontiers, or to die by my fide.
By ftratagem I paffed Cambrai and Valen-
ciennes. Arriving at the gates, I called loudly
for the officer of the guard, and telling him
that I came from Paris on urgent bulinefs, I
demanded, in great feeminghafte, that he would
give me one of his guard to condudt me to the
Commandant's houfe ; and leaping out of my
chaife, directed my fervartt to drive to the poft,
and get frefh horfes put to the carriage immedi-
ately. By this means I prevented interrogation
at the gates ; and when we came to the Com-
mandants, who were then men without military
knowledge or experience, I pretended to have
been ordered to join the army of the North by
the Convention, and to inform him that fome
troops of the line were on march to join Du-
mourier, whom he might expedt in his garrifon
in a few days.

A plaufible ftory was all that was neceflary;
and, inftead of demanding my pafs, I was only
afked queflions about the death of the King
while the horfes were preparing.

Thus I reached BrulTells, where I confidered
myfelf as fafe, having fo many acquaintances j

but

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. IQI

but the greateft difRculty lay in palling the cor-
don formed by the army : I therefore applied to
Prince Louis d'Aremberg, who accompanied
^e to the quarters of General Moreton, then
commanding at Bruflells.

From Moreton I folicited a paflport, which
he readily gave me, but informed me at the
fame time that his pafs was but of little ufe,
for that an Englifh General, to whom he had giVbn
one fome little time before, had, neverthelefs,
been detained at Oftend. Upon confulting with
D'Aremberg it was refolved, that I Ihould pur-
chafe a couple of horfes, and endeavour to go
round Antwerp, a« Dumourier, with a large
body of his army, was then there ; and I was
well known to that General and moft of his
officers.

I immediately purchafed the horfes, and fet
out in a few hours from my arrival, contriving
to reach Antwerp a little after the gates were
fhut. This precaution was neceflary, to furnifh
me a pretext for flopping in the village; for
had I arrived there before the gates were lock-
ed, I muft either have gone in, or have made
myfelf the objed of fufpicion, by remaining at a
paltry cabaret when I might have been elegantly
accommodated in the town. To have reached the
gates any confiderable time after their being
fhut would have excited as much fufpicion as

H 3 to

102 THE LIFE OF

fo have {lopped in the village while the town
was open : I was therefore obliged to calculate
very nicely, and to afTume the appearance of
having rode furioufly to reach the town in time.
I managed this manoeuvre fo fuccefsfully that
the inhabitants of the fuburbs, concluding that
I was in as great hafie as I appeared to be, of-
ficioufly called to me as I palled, that I might
ntbderate my fpeed, for that I was too late to
pafs the gates. I however galloped on,
with feeming anxiety, to the barrier, which I
found fhut. This was what I wanted ; fo, with
apparent difappointment, I returned to the
fuburbs, and went into tho firft public-houfe I
faw.

Here I ordered refrefliment for my horfes and
myfclf, pretending that I mull' be ready to go
into the town as foon as I could obtain admif-
fion; but having during the evening met with a
perfon who had formerly fervcd me', and in
whom I could place confidence, I opened my
mind to him, and he confented to be my guide
round the town. In the dead of night there-
fore, when all was quiet, I again mounted my
horfc, and fet out, acconipanied by my guide,
who conduded me fo well, that before day-light
Jfie left me within fight of my dired road.

As the day approached, I confulted with my
fervant, when we determined, that if we fell in

with

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, lOJ

with a ccntincl of the troops of the line, we
Ihould endeavour to approach and flioot him;
but if he were a Garde Nationale^ (whom we
knew at that time to be whoJly unacquainted
•with the bufinefs of fcrvice, and whom we could
at once diftinguilh from the ftriking difference
of the uniform,) that I Ihould endeavour to get
the counterfign from him; fortunately the firlt
we encountered was a Garde Nationale. He
challenged me; I anfwered that I was of the
General Staff, fent to vifit the polls, and to ex-
amine the centinels, fome of whom had fuffered
Auftrian fpies to pafs, and were fuppofed to
have forgot the counterfign. He replied that it
was not him, and after fome altercation gave it
to me. I thereupon pretended great fatisfadion,
and exprefling the uneafinefs it would have given
me, to have been obliged to have ordered fo
fine a young man to have been fh9t, I rode on.
Having obtained this, I had no difficulty to pafe
another centinel, whom I foon afterwards met,
and. early in the forenoon, found myfelfin the
Dutch village of Hoogfiraaten^ which lies about
half- w^ay between Antwerp and -S^/V /<? Dur,- hi-
ther I learnt the enemies parties frequently came,
even before the declaration of war.

My flay in this village was confequently very
fhort; and fromthence I went toBa^rle-Hertog,

H 4 but

104 THE LIFE or

but even here I was told I was by no means
fafe. However both my horfes and myfelf being
much fatigued, I went to fleep in a part where
I thought I fhould not be readily found: my
horfes were likewife difpofed of fo as not to be
jeaiily come at, and I had direded my fervant^^
in cafe of alarm, to turn them adrift. After a
. few hours reft, but before day-light, I again
fet forward, and without any interruption, ar-
rived at Bois le Due the fame forenoon.

The whole appearance of this place indicated
nothing but the profoundeft peace; the Gover-
nor, the reigning Prince of Hefle Phillipfthal,
and the Commandant, Major General Douglas,
feemed unconfcious of the prefence of war. The
French army, which under Dumourierhad inva-
ded the empire, had juft been defeated near Aix
la Chapelle, by Saxe Coburgh, and the Duke
Frederic of Brunfwick, the former of whom
purfued the flying army into the country, be-
tween Maeftricht and Leige^ while the latter with
his ufual promptnefs, marched immediately
from Aix into HoUaqd by the way of the Rure,
and was then advancing towards Bois le Due, to
prevent it from falling into the hands of the
enemy, an event which the garrifon did not
feem to apprehend, though they were not pre-
pared to refifl:, and though a large army of the

French

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. IO5

French under General Maflena, lay at Ant-
werp, and were already preparing to attack
Williamftadt and Breda.

This was not a time for a man of any acT:ivity
Xo be idle. I had not paffed the French lines
without making fome obfervations on their po-
fitions. I therefore immediately propofed an
enterprize, which was highly approved by the
Governor and Commandant of Bois le Due. I
was indeed received and attended to by them
with the utmoft refpcc5t, as the Hereditary
Prince of Hejfe Phillipfihaly fon to the Governor,
had ferved in Ruilia, and had conceived a high
regard for me, and a favourable opinion of my
talent as a foldier.

This enterprife which was deemed practica-
ble by all the military men of experience, was
to furprife one of the enemy's Generals, and
carry him off from his quarters, a bulinefs
which only wanted a fmall Ihare of refolution
and fome ingenuity; for that General, at that
period, expofed himfelf to fuch an accident, by
placing his quarters in a fituation totally de-
tatched from his army, and having no other
guard than a few orderly comrnillioned, and
non-commiflioned officers.

The Governor and Commandant not having
the power to carry my propofal into efFed:,
neverthelefs judged it proper to lay it before the

Stadtholder.

i06 THE LIFE OF

Stadtholder. This delay though probably fhort ,
was too much for my impatience, and I was on
the eve of fetting out to join the Duke Frederic
of Brunfwick, when I received a letter direding
me to proceed immediately to the Hague.

I accordingly fet off without delay, and had
an interview with the Stadtholder, and fome of
his Generals, who finding my plan pratfticable,
gave me an order to the Prince of Hcffe Phil-
Jipfthal, inftruAing him to give me from the
Cavalry, in the gar rifon of Bois le D/ic, fuch a
detatchment as I might judge neceffary.

CHAP. XL

Change in the operations of the Frcnchy which defeats
the author's plan. — He goes to cut off fome forage
I clanging ic the French ^ in the vicinity of Alphen.
— Perfefily fueceeds. — Employs a bold Jlratagem
to reconnoitre Breda. — Finds the Duke Frederic
of Brunfvjick jufi leaving BoisleDuc, and follows
him to the village of Oofterfvyk. — JVithout time to
reft or take refrefljmenty dif patched to Saxe Co-
lourgh. — Is prefent at the memorable battle of St.
Tronde, which lafted three days. — The defperate
taking ofOoflmaal. — Account of the battle ^ with an
anecdote of the Arch Ditke. — Returns to the Duke

of

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. IO7

of Brunfwick^ afiera mojl extraordinary journey of
fatigue and danger. — Without Jloppng proceeds to
the Hague y and gives a defcription of the battle to
the Stadtholder.

JL/uRiNG my abfence from that city, the
French had inverted Williamjladt. Breda had
furrendcred to them without a blow, and the
Duke Frederic of Brunfwick, at the head of a
fmall Prufiian army, had already reached Bois
le Due. The approach of this Prince, induced
the French to be fomewhat more circumfpeft,
and to make a retrograde movement ; by this
change of affairs, my plan neceffarily fell to the
ground. Neverthelefs, I had no fooner ex-
plained xvi'jitii, with the illuftrious Prullian,
General, whom I found in the houfe of the Prince
of HefTe Phillipfthall, than he difpatched me at
the head of a detatchment of huzzars, to pene-
trate as far into the country as I could, and to
prevent, ifpoflible, the tranfport offome forage,
which the French had collated near Alphen,
into Breda.

I left Bois le Due,' with my detatchment, on
the night of the 13th of March 1793, diredling
myfelf upon Tilbourgh, a Dutch village,
where, though only three leagues from the gar-
rifon I had left, I found the tri-coloured
cockade difplayed, I collected the magiftrates,

and

108 THE LIFE or

and ordered themtopublilh immediately through
the town, that wherever I found the cockade of
the French, in one hour from that pioment, X
would treat it aS an enemy.

I here learnt that the French General, com^
manding in Breda, had fent out detatchments
into the country, towards Hoogfir oaten, to force
the farmers to fend all their waggons during that
night to Baerle-Hertog, for the purpofe of tranf-
porting, on the following day, the forage they
had been able to colle6l into the garrifon. This
appeared a meafure of too great importance to
be overlooked : notwithftanding therefore there
was much to rifque, by penetrating fo far into
the country, ftill the object was worthy an at-
tempt, even though I was forced to pafs the
garrifon oi Breda, and confequently expofe my-
felf to the danger of being cut off. After having
dctatched an officer, withfome huzars to Kaam
to deftroy fome forage I could not carry off, I
m^irched by Reil to Alphen, a league from Baerle-
Hertog. Here I lay upon my arms, till about
two o'clock in the morning, watching the vil-
lage, leaft intelligence of my approach fhould
go to the enemy ; leaving an officer and fome
huzars to occupy Alphen. I then proceeded to
Baerle-Hertog, where I knew the Commiflaries
had direded the waggons and carts to affemble
the preceeding night. I reached that village

early

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. IO9

early in the morning, which I entered full fpeed
in almoft every diredion.

The effe(5ls of this well concerted furprize
were fuch as I expeded; the Commiffaries and
their guard fled with the greateft precipitation
towards Breda^ infomuch that I was only able to
take two prifoners of the huzars de la libertd,
I however prevented the waggons from putting
in execution the bufinefs for which the French
had collected them; and after cutting down the
Bonnet Rouge planted by the regicides, I began
my retreat in the forenoon of the 15th of March
towards Bois le Due. When I left Tirlebourgh
on the 14th, I had difpatched a meflenger to
the Due Frederic, acquainting him that I found
it neceflary to go on to Alphen that day, and
might perhaps be obliged to go on ftill further;
I therefore folicited his Serene Highnefs to fend
out a detatchment of infantry to fecure my re-
treat, otherwife my return would become prob-"
lematic. I delayed no time in regaining the
village of Alphen, where I found the detatch-
ment I left there form in 2[ en hattaille. in confe-
quence offome of the enemy's fcouts having ap-
'peared at a diftance.

After having reconnoitred the country and
given fome refrelhment to my huzars, I con-
tinued my march under fome anxiety, uling
every precaution to prevent furprife by the

enemy,

ItC^' THE LIFE or

enemy, who I was confident rnufl have learnt
the nature of my expedition, and the fmallnefs
•of my force, and would probably attempt to cut
off my retreat* I had not however proceeded.
far on my route, when I Was met by a mefien-
ger, whom the Duke Frederic had fent to re^
call me, and to inform me that that very morn-
ing, the firft column of his army had left Bois
le Diii\ and part of it would that evening reach
^ilhourgh, whether I was direded to repair,
and where my detatchment was to return under
the command of its proper officers, after which
I was myfelf to join his Serene Highnefs.

This cheering intelligence removed all ap-
prehenfions of danger, and in the evening I
reached Tilbonrgh without having met with any
oppoiition, there I found the officer who I had
detatched to Kaam^ and who had executed the
purpofe of his miffion. Here, in confequence of
the Duke's order, I gave up my charge; but in-
ftcad of going immediately to Bois le Due, I
conceived the idea of reconnoitring the pofts
occupied by the French in the environs of
Breda. To cffe(fl this purpofe, when midnight
had fcarcely yielded to the morning of the i6th
of March 1793, taking with me a non-commif-
lioned officer and a trumpet, onfny own authority,
I fet out to fummons Breda, about four or five
leagues diilant. I well knew that garrifon could

be

MAJOU SEMPLE LISLE. Ill

be no ftrangers to the advance of the Pruiliaii
army, a circumftance which would give an air
of truth to the Rufe de Guerre I meant to play
upon them.

At day-light I approached the garrifon, and
fummoned it to furrenderto the Duke Frederic
of Brunfwick, for the King of PrufTia with the
ufual formalities. My fummons of courfe was
but little atte^nded to, but I had obtained all I
wanted, a knowledge of the out-pofts held by
. the enemy. It was now about feven o'clock in
the morning, and I returned to Bois le Due io
much fatigued, that, it was with difficulty I
could lit my horfe. I there found the Duke
preparing to follow his fecond column to the
village of Oij/^^TZt^^ about a league diftant, which
he had appointed for his head-quarters. I re-
ported to his Serene Highnefs the fuccefs of my
expedition; he was but juft fetting off, and de-
iired that I would dine with him' at his new
quarters.

This invitation was a command which I could
not evade. I therefore haftened to my apart-
ments to change my drefs, which I had not been
able to do for three days before ; but my horfes
were no longer able to carry me, and my fer-
vants were fo much fatigued, that I found they
could not follow : I therefore borrowed a groom
belonging to the Chevalier d'Antras^ formerly a

page

il2 THE LIFE OF

page to the prefent King of France; for him i
alfo borrowed a horfe ; and I myfelf mounted
one which the Prince Frederic of Brunfwick
had lent me fome time before, and then follow-
ed the Duke Frederic to Oojierwyk. I found his
Serene Highnefs about to fit down to table ; he

placed me by him, and then informed me that, du-
ring my abfence, he had received different letters
from Prince Saxe Cobourgh, who, with the Au-
ftrian army, lay then between Maejtrich and St.
Tronde,and which rendered it indifpenfiblynecef-
fary for him to fend to that Prince. His S. H. fur-
ther obferved, that, as I had been for fome time in
that country, and knew better than any of his
ofRcers could do the exad fituation of the ene-
my, the Britifh, the Dutch, and his own army, *
that he had a defire to fend me, though he had
felt much regret at impofing a tafk on me which
could not but be irkfome to one who had been
on horfeback fince the night of the 12th. I
told his S. H. that on the day of fervice neither
fatigue or danger were confiderations with a
Briton, and that he would always find me ready
to execute whatever he could command. To
thofe who knew the gallant and amiable Duke,
it is unnecefiary to defcribe the effed which my
ahfwer had upon him ; and to thofe who have
not the happinefs to know him it is a matter
of little import. I will therefore only fay, that

before

Major semplb lisle. 113

before his S. H. rofe from table, I was dif-
patched, attended by a huzar and the groom of
d' Antras. I took peafants horfes and a guide,
from village to village, making a ftraight line
upon St. Tronde. Arriving at Hejiell on the
night of the 17th of March, I learnt that Saxe
Coburg was near St. Trondcy and that Dumourier
in three numerous columns commanded by him-
felf. Valence and Miranda were preparing to
attack him, the fituation of the Auflrians was
defcribed to me as extremely critical ; their
numbers far inferior to that of the enemy, much
fatigued by harraffing marches and almoft with-
out cannon; in Ihort, it was the general opinion
that they would be defeated,

Asfoonas the Mayor of Hejl ell co\x\d procure
me horfes and a guide, I continued my march
on the poft road to St. Tronde. As I approached
that town, (very early on the 18th of March,)
J heard very difl:ind:ly a heavy cannonade, and
I met part of the Auftrian baggage coming away
in fome diforder. I found the town in the ut-
moft confulion, full of carriages, fome driving
off as fall as they could, and others waiting for
horfes ; I then found that the two armies were
ferioufly engaged, and the defeat of the Auflri-
ans from the great difparity of numbers was
deemed unavoidable. With the afliftance of the
magiftrates, I procured frefb horfes and a pof-

I tillion

114 TH E LI r E OF

tillion for a guide, and then went forth to look
for Saxe Coburg in the field of action.

Being wholly unacquainted with the pofition
of the armies, I left it to my guide to condutft
me, which he did, until, to my furprifc, I
found myfcif in the rear of a French column*
In fuch a pofition, there was little time for re-
flection, and I determined inrtantly to pafs be-
tween this and another column, which I per-
ceived at fome diflance on the right ; the enter-
prize feemed fraught with danger, but it was
authorifed by neceflity, as I could not tell whe-
ther there was not another French column to
the left : in fliort it feemed to me, that the mod
certain and evidently the fiiorteft road to the
Auftrian army, was through the French column^;
this plan I adopted; I therefore directed my
guide to look to his own fafety: and telling the
fervant of d' Antra s that it was not his bufmefs
to die, I advifed him to accompany the guide,
(my huzar I had already difpatched the night
belore, towards DiejlJ but this intrepid boy re-
fufcd to leave me. We then rode on at an eafy
pace, until we were on a line with the head of
the columns moft advanced. I could then per-
ceive fome part of the Auftrians at a diftance on
my right front, and nearer and almoft diredly
before me a body of cavalry ; to thofe then I
fled with all the fpced the wretched horfe on

which

MAJOR SEMPLE LISIE. ll^

which I was mounted was capable of. In the
buflle of adion, I was not perceived by the
French, but as I approached the front of the
Auflrians, an officer rode up to examine me,
and a Very few paces behind him, 1 perceived
on foot, coming towards me, the gallant young
Prince of IVirtembergy who commanded that
body of troops. I acquainted his S. H. that \
was charged \\\\\\ a letter for Saxe Coburg,. ^
from the D. of B. and begged he would inform
me, in what part of the battle I fhould find him;
he aflured me it was impoffible to determine
where he might be found, but to render it morp-
eafy for me, and to prevent me from falling into
any of the politions occupied by the French, he
fent an orderly officer with me. Between ten
and eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 1 8th, .
I found Saxe Coburg at the head of one of \\\.%
columns; after being announced in the brief
manner of the field, I prefented to him my let-
ter, which he immediately read ; and after afk-
ing me a few queftions, begged 1 would attend
the event of the day, that at night he hoped to
have more time to fpeak to me. I of courfc
joined the croud of officers, by whom he- was
furrounded, and from them I learnt that Colo-
nel (then Captain) Crawfurd, Aid-du-Camp to
his R. H. the Duke of York, had arrived before
me, and was ftill there; indeed I perceived him

I 2 at

yil6 THELIFEOF

at a little diftance. Having a letter of recom-
mendation from the Duke Frederic, for General
(then Colonel) Mack, 1 neceflarily enquired for
him; and on being told that indifpolition had
forced him to go to a fhort diflance in the rear,
where he was laying upon fome ftraw, I inti-
mated a defire tc»go to him; and an officer of the
Prince's fuite offered his fervices to conduct

,.me. I found this eminently diftinguijfhed officer
extremely ill, neverthelefs he quitted his ftraw,
and remounting his horfe, accompanied me back

. to Saxe Coburg. After a fhort converfation
with his Highnefs, partly on the fubjcd of the
letter, which 1 had juft delivered to Colonel
Mack, the Colonel had the goodnefs to propofe
to defcribe to me the order of battle. We rode
towards a height occupied by Imperial troops,
from whence I could diflindlly fee the heads of
the enemies columns, and the various pofts they

^ held. I vifited different parts of the pofition of
the Auftrians, and was filled with admiration,
at the determined countenance which thathanii-
ful of men, though almoft exhaufted by cxcef-
live fatigue, and labouring under every incon-
venience to which a foldicr can be ^pofed,
fnewed to an enemy, each of whofe columns
was nearly equal to their whole force, and whofe
front feemed covered with well ferved artillery.
The battle about this time, (the noon of the

1 8th

MAJOJR SEMPLE lisle. II7

i8th of March,) became very a6live in fome
parts; we rejoined the Commander in Chief,
who was then at the head of a column, that bore
at lead its fhare in the fcrvice of that memorable
day. As I had not then been prefented to the
Archduke, whom juft then Colonel Mack per-
ceived to have quitted his horfe, and to be walk-
ing at a little dillance from us, apparently to
warm himfelf, he propofed to me to alight and
he would prefent me. I difmounted immedi-
ately, and we walked towards his R. H. to whom
the Colonel prefented me, as a man recom-
mended by the Duke F. of Brunfwick. Some
cannon fhot at that moment flriking the ground
very near us, this gallant Prince ad drelling him-
felf to me, faid, " This is a rude drawing-room,
" Major."

A fort of paufe in this part of the battle pre-
fently took place, which induced Saxe Coburg
himfelf to difmount and join us for a few mo-
ments. One of the Archduke's fervants then
produced a fmall quantity of bread and cold
meat, with a fingle bottle of wine, which he
laid upon a napkin fpread on the ground; ha-
ving haflily partaken of this military repaft, we re-
mounted our horfes. I then learnt that Captain
Crawfurd had left the field, immediately after
my arrival, in the forenoon, and was gone back
to his R. H. the Duke of York, then with the

I 3 Hereditary

Il8 THELIFEOF

Hereditary Princeof Orange, at Dor/ r(?f///, where
the Britifli and Dutch guards lay.

The battle ftill continued d.o.ubtful, alter-
nately raging and flackcning in the different
pofitions. The village of O;////^^'/ had for fome
time been occupied by the enemy. Saxe Co-
burg now determined to force it, and a body
of troops was feledled for that purpofc ; I was
frill mounted on the mifcrablc poft-horfe, which
had brought me to the field, ne-yerthelefs anxi-
ous to fhare in the daring entcrprize about to
be put in execution, I folicited leave to accom-
pany the dragoons, and that a horfe might be
furniificd me; but no horfe was at hand, and
there was no time for delay, I therefore rode on
mounted as I was.

The affair though very fiiort was inconceiv-
ably defperate. Our way to the village, was the
high road from St. Tronde, to Tirlemont, (en-
clofed by trees and a deep ditch on each fide.)
The enemy had planted feveral pieces of cannon
to defend the entrance, and kept up a xeyy heavy
iire along the avenue; we however advanced un-
difmayed, though nearly every horfe of the firft
fquadron was either killed or difabled by an
unuafually furious difcharge of artillery. There
"was no flopping, and thofe who weredifmount-
cd, were forced to move forward on foot, to
avoid being rode oyer; for fuch was the cpnfu-

lion.

MAJOR SAMPLE LiSLE* Itg

iion, owing to the inceflant firing and fmokc,
which the clofenefs of the trees and drizly wea-
ther would not fuifer to afcend, that it was im-
poffible to diflinguilh any object. For my own
part, my poor poft-horfe having literally been
blown from under me, I rulhed forward w ith
the croud, unable to know where I was, until
I a(5tually run againfl a cannon, which had been
overfet, and which the thicknefs of the fmoke
hindered me from perceiving, till I touched it.

The French being drove from this vilJagc,
and fome other pofitions they occupied, and
being overthrown in another quarter, by Ge«-
neral Clairfait, declined engaging further, and
retired to the pofition they had left.

Thus the bufinefs of that day clofed, juft
before fun-fet, in a manner highly honourable
to the Imperial troops. The approach of night
and the fuperior numbers of the enemy, pre-
venting Saxe Coburg from attempting to pur-
fue. His army remained on the field of battle
under arms, himfelf and the General Staff re-
tiring to their quarters, at the villages of Lan^
den and Neerwinden.

No fooner had the dawn of day appeared on
the 19th, than the French columns were per-
ceived in order of battle; theaclion confequent-
ly recommenced, and continued during that
whole day with much obftinacy and various fuc-

I 4 cefs.

120 , THELIFEOF

cefs. The cool and determined bravery of the
Auftrians however prevailed over the rude nurn-
bers and impetuoHty of the French; about four
or five o'clock in the afternoon they gave way.
and were purfued to Tirlemont, but night com-
ing on, prevented them from being further an-
noyed. By t|iis compleat vidory, fo truly glo-
rious to Auftria, Hqlland, was for that year,
(1793) refcued from the deflruclive fraternal
hug. of the Conventionalifts.

1 cannot avoid relating an anecdote of the
brave Archduke, which will fhew more than,
any defcription I can give, the neceflity in which
the Auftrian army were for bread. Riding over
the field of battle, his Royal Highnefs obferved
a fine drelTed Frenchman laying dead; the un-
ufual fmartnefs of the dead man's appearance,
firft attraded his notice ; but perceiving a black
loaf m \{u havre Jac y he inftantly alighted, and
feizing the valuable prize, he exclaimed, " That
** gentleman did not fuppofe he was carrying
" this loaf for me."

The defeat of the enemy being perfe(5i:ly af-
certained, about nine o'clock in the evening,
Saxe Coburg ordered a feu de joye the whole
extent of his front. The arpiy as the night be-
fore remained on the field of battle, and Saxe
Coburg, the Archduke, and the Staff, retired
again to the villages of Neerwinden and Landen ;

to

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I2J.

to the latter I accompanied Saxe Coburg, we
reached his quarters about ten o'clock in the
evening, and while fome refrefhment was pre-
paring I received my letters from the Duke
Frederic of Brunfvvic, and his Serene Kigh-
nefs the Stadtholder ; I then fupped with the
Field Marfhal, and at midnight on the 19th,
almoft unabiC to carry my own weight, fet off
.on my return to the village of Oojhnvyky where
I had left the Pruflian head-quarters.

I had now palTed eight days almoil continu-
ally on horfe-back, and without once having
had time to undrefs : the flate I was in can be
conceived much better than related ; but my
zeal for the good of the fervice, and my anx-
iety to carry the lirfl intelligence of this fo
effential vidtory to the Duke Frederic, and to
the Hague, enabled me to fuftain the fatigue
of the journey. I took the fame road back,
by which I had come to the Auftrian army ;
and after much trouble to obtain horfes, I
reached Oofterwyk about ten o'clock, on the
night of the 20th. I found Duke Frederic in
his bed-room, ftanding and converfing with
Captain, now Colonel Crawfurd, who had but
a few moments before me arrived there, and
who had acquainted his S. H. with the dan-
gerous fituation in which he left the Imperial
army on the i8th. $

I de-

^22

THE LIFE Of

I detailed the circumftances of the vidory to
his S. H. and then obtained, his permiflion to
continue my journey to the Stadtholder at the
Hague. I \\as by this time almoft unable to
move, I could no longer ftand ftraight, and it
had become neceflary for me to be lifted off
and on my horfe ; while we were taking fome
refrclliment in the Duke Frederic's anti-cham-
ber, horfes were preparing for me, but Colonel
Crawfurd, who was going to the Duke of York
at Dortrecht, confequently a confiderable part
of my road, and who had a cart and Jlrazv, very
politely offered me a place in his equipagej I
accepted it, for even fuch a conveyance was an
indulgence to me, and we inifantly departed.

We went through ^o/j"/^ D/^r, the gates of
that town having been opened to let us jn, I
fuppofe about one o'clock in the morning, and
we drove immediately to a houfe where a car*
riage had been previoufly ordered for Colonel
Crawfurd; and though in this town I had ap-
partments, my fcrvants, and my horfes, I did
not go near them, but contented myfelf, while
the chaife was preparing, to write a line, which
I delivered to the ftablc-kcepcr for General
Douglas the Commandant, announcing to him
the vidory gained by the Auflrians. The in-
ftant the chaife was ready we continued our
jrout i ^hen near the paffage to the ifland of

Dortrecht,

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I23

Dortrechty.,.l parted with Colonel Crawfurd, and
continued my journey to the Hagiie^ where I
arrived about two o'clock on the morning of
the 2 2d. I went immediately to Major General
Bentinck, Aide-de-camp to his S. H. the Stadt-
holder, and with him to the palace. The Prince
was informed of our arrival, and immediately
rofe to receive us. After giving his S. H. aa
accurate defcription of the battle, I was per-
mitted to retire to a hotel, and to reft.

CHAP. XII.

The author Jent for to court next viorning, ami for^
ced to go dirty as he came from his journey. —
Returns to Duke F. of Brunfwic — Capitulation of
Breda. — Saxe Coburg's great a5iions. — Thofe ex^
cite fufpicions in the Convention^ who fcnt to re-
call Dumourier. — Dumourier fends the Com-
mffiaries, and his intended fucceffor, BournonviU^
frifoners to Saxe Coburg. — T^he author arrix-es at
Saxe Coburg's head-quarters. -^Dumourier dejcrts
with fever al others. — The author returns to Duke
F. of Brutfivic at Bois le Due. — Fi)his the
Duke indifpofed. — Receives a moft extraordinary
and honourable commiffion in the Dutch fervice
at the Hague. — Returns to Bois le Diic and
prepares to take the field. — Is fent on political

hufinefi

124 THE LIFE or

hufinefs to Bruffells. — Is induced to leave that
armjy and go to the army of the Upper Rhine. —
Situation of the arm)\ and Charaiiers of the Gene-
rals — The King of Pru [ft a leaves the field, — The
reigning Duke of Brujifwic fucceeds him. — The
author's diflrefjcd fit ut at ion. — Retires to a f mall
town in the interior.

Jjefore I went to bed I had purified myfelf
as well as I was able from the inconveniences
natural to my almofi: incredible exertions ; I
had in fad neither enjoyed the comfort of a
bed, a change of linen, nor a razor, for a week,
during which I was hardly an hour out of my
faddle. Once laid down I had refolved to recruit
my ftrength with fleep, and had given orders
that I fliould not be difturbed ; about eleven,
however, a melTage came from the Court, com-
manding my attendance there, and inviting me
to dinner; though fcarcely able to crawl, I
obeyed this honourable fummons, and pro-
ceeded to drefs myfelf, but perhaps in fuch a
fafhion as never before appeared at that Court ;
I had only an old blue jacket and pantaloons,
which, fjllied with the dirt I had collected in
nine days, were proof againft every effort of
a brufh, and I was forced to borrow a fhirt of
the perfon who kept the hotel ; thus equipped,
however, to Court I went, but fatigue made
a moft awkward courtier of me.

The

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I1'5

The Stadtholder mod kindly did every thing
to render me comfortable after this immenfe
exertion ; for though he himfelf fct out to vifit
fome forts the fame afternoon, he recommended
me to remain at the Hague to recover my
flrength, offering to anfwer to the Duke of
Brunfwic for my abfence for three days.

I remained only two days, when I returned
to the Duke, by whom I was employed on
different miilions, chiefly to reconnoitre the
enemies pofitions. The Duke of York had left
Dortrechty and was at that time approaching
Antwerp by water, and the Prince of Orange
with a fmall Dutch army was marching upon
Breda, ftill in the poffefficn of the French.

About the end of March, or ifh of April,
he fummoned it to furrender, and the garrifon
entered into a capitulation for that purpofe;
at this time the Duke Frederic fent me to Saxe
Coburg, to know how affairs were going on
in that quarter he commanded : me to pafs by
the way of the Dutch army lying before Breda,
to receive the orders of the Hereditary Prince
of Orange, who requefted me to go to Bergen^
op'Zooniy to the Duke of York who was then,
at that harbour on his way to Antwerp; and to
inform his Royal Flighnefs that Breda had capi-
tulated : I obeyed his diredioris, and then took

the

126 THE LIF E. OF

the road for BrufTells, in which neighbourhood
I expected to find Saxe Coburg.

In the fliort Tpace of hardly a month had
that gallant Prince drawn the immcnfe army
of the Convention through all Brabant ; he had
already purfued them beyond MojiSy and was
preparing to inveft Velenciennes. Thcfe vidorie^
occaiioncd the fall of Dumourier, and indeed
fcemcd fo cxtraodinary, that the Convention
fent four commifiioners to dired: him to appear
before them; and appointed Hournonville, who
accompanied thcn'i, to command provifionally
in his abfence.

Dumourier, who forefaw what would be the
event of his journey to Paris, and was un-
willing to have his condud made the fubjecl of
enquiry by thofe that were ignorant of military
operations, without delay feized on the com-
milHoners, together with his deftined fucceffor,
Bournonville, and fent them to Saxe Coburg:
I met them at Bruifells, on the evening of the
4th April, under the charge of an Auflrian
officer, who was conducting them to Maejlrkht.

From this officer, I learnt that tTie head-quar-
ters were at Mons^ whither I immediately re-
paired ; and on my arrival, about four o'clock
in the morning of the 5th of April, feeing a
ccntinel Handing at the gate of the inn where I
alighted, I enquired who lodged there. To my

great

, MAJOR S E MP LE LISLE. 1 27

great furprife I was told the French General
Valence, I atked whether he was a prifoner, but
was anfvvered that he had de/crted^ and had ar-
rived there a few days before, and that h£ re-
ceived all the honours of an Aulirian General.
I then went to Saxe Coburg's head-quarters j
he was in bed, but I was immediately introdu-
ced to him; while I was yet by his bcd-fide,
one of his Aid-du-Camps came into the room,
to announce that Dumourier, Egalite, (alias
Due de Chartres,) Sullivan, Baptijle, and ano-
ther, {Mont joy ^ I think) were then in the anti-
chamber, fent in by General Clairfait, to whom
they had deferted ; they were immediately ulh-
cred into the Field-Marfhal's prefence, and I
withdrew. Their interview lafted fome time,
and the event was, that in a few hours, a fort of
proclamation appeared, which, as it is fo well
known, I will pafs over.

At the Field-Marlhal's table, I that day met
thefe extraordinary deferiers, each wearing the
three-coloured cockade. After dinner the
Prince called me alide, and telling me that in
half an hour he would give me a letter for the
Duke F. of Brunfwic, and that he wifhed mc
to haften back to inform his Serene Highnefs,
and the other Commanders, that Dumourier
had come over, and that he meant to bring him

to

128 THE LIFE OF

to Antwerp, where a meeting of the Command-^
ing Generals, and feme minifters of the allies,
was to be held on the 7th of April.

In confequence of my orders, I fet out im-
mediately to carry my intelligence to the Duke
Frederic of Brunfwic, at Bois le Due, who being
prevented by indifpoiition from attending the
meeting at Antwerp, had deputed General Kno-
belfdorff" in his place. Breda laying very little
out of my road, I w ent that way to announce
Dumourier's Sange of pfition, to the Hereditary
Prince of Orange, B'y the road, as I expeded, I
met the Stadtholder on his way to the confer-
ence, to whom I communicated the welcome
intelligence in his carriage, and then proceeded
to the place of my deftination.

I found the Duke flill indifpofed, and feem-
ingly difatisfied; he talked of retiring, and I
fancied he was rather chagrined than fick. I
remained with him, going on fuch expeditions
as he chofe to copnmand, until perfifting in his
relignation, he prepared to depart. I then ap-
plied to his Serene Hignefs the Stadtholder, to
place me in the Staff of his army. I was immedi-
ately appointed, and received the commiflion of
Major, in the fcrvice of the United States, on
the 6th >.f May 1793 ; but on account of my ex-
ertions on the expedition at Baerle-Hertogy my

GommilTioji

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, i 29

tommiffiori bears in its body the date of March
15th, from which day my rank in the Dutch
^rmy takes place.

1 Remained at the Hague for a few days, and
then returned to Bois le Due, to prepare my
equipage for taking the field. The Dutch army
was collecting, and advancing towards the more
aClive theatre of war. After being employed on
different ferviccs, I was, at length, while the
Dutch lay at Mcnin^ and its environs, fixed for
a time at Bruffels, for a political purpofe. On
my return frOm thence to head-quarters, an e-
vent happened, which induced me to leave that
army Inltnediately, even without permiflion,
though not without announcing my departure,
nor did I conceal the place of my retreat; it was
to the army on the Upper Rhine.

The Kihg of Pruflia was there at the head of
his own army. Mayence had fallen, after an
bbftinate fefiflance, and was taken pofleflion of
in his own name; he afterwards prepared to
invert: Landau in Alface^ and was before it at the
time I arrived.

I acquainted his Majefty candidly, with my
reafons for having left the army of the Low Coun-
tries. I did not at the fame time conceal the
Very hafty mode of my departure ; to all which
my relation, this illuftrious Prince attentively
and gracioufiy Yi^tn^d., Full of the highefi: con-

K fidence

«

I3O' THE LIFE 0#

fidence in his juflice, gencrofity, and difcern-
ment, I ventured to implore his royal protec-
tion, and permiffion to ftay with his army. This
I the more boldly did, as I well knew him to
be a foldier, and perfedlly incapable of any thing
but great and benevolent acflions. He was indeed
endued with a foul which was worthy the ex-
alted ftation he held.

I likewife made my fituation known to the
gallant veteran General Wurmfer, who com-
manded the Auflrian army, and who, though far
advanced in years, feemed to lofe all fenfe of his
age in the hour of exertion; he then indeed
Ihewed all the fire of youth ; and if he fell
fhort in adivity, his knowledge, his fkill, and
the maturity of his judgment, more than com-
penfated for the deficiency.

The reigning Duke of Brunfwick was with the
Pruflian army, and was left to command, when
his Pruflian Majefty took the refolution to retire
to his own territories. The brave Conde was
there with his little army of heroes, but never
was General better qualified to command the
. mofb numerous. When he, from power, from
extreme wealth and fplendor, was with the
whole of the nobility of France, fwept away
from his habitation, by the revolutionary tor-
rent, he didnotdifpair. Deprived of his riches,
he abridged his expences; from a truly princely

board

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLK. I31

board reduced his dinner to a few diflies, and
invited always a certain number of his followers
in rotation- In the field with his little army he
did every thing that could be performed ; and
fo compleatly mafter is he of every part of the
fcience of war, that he commanded the good
wifhes of all who knew how to appreciate his
merits. His private life was in the higheft de-
gree amiable; a fmcere friend, a polilhed and
cheerful companion; the evennefs of his difpo-
lition, and the benignity of his heart, attached
to him all who approached him.

Soon after the affair of Pirmafens and JVeiffcm-
bourg^ the King of Pruflia withdrew from the
field, and returned to his own dominions, leav-
ing (as I before obfervedj the gallant reigning
Duke of Brunfwick to command the PrufHan
army. This diflinguifhed General's aftonifhing
talents I will not attempt to defcribe, as they
far tranfcend my ablities ; but to him, and to
every other General, I have endeavoured to do
ample juftice in a publication I now do my-
felf the honour to announce, and of which I
have already given fome intimation. This
will contain a complete account, illuflrated with
the moft accurate maps and plans of every re-
markable movement made by the allied armies
during the three firfl campaigns of the war.
As accurate plans are not eafily forced to de^

K 2 ccive.

132 T H E L 1 f E O f

ccivc, military men, who were not there, will
then have an opportunity of judging whether the
Generals I have named, did or did not defervc
my praife.

When the King of Prullia retired, all my
hopes vaniflied into air; ruined in my fortunes,
without home, without expedlation of employ
whichever way I turned my eyes, the profpecl
was equally dreary ; and, as if the hand of fate
was lifted to my deltrudlion, I jufl then re-
ceived a defperate wound, under the pain of
which I long languiihed.

Worn out with fatigue, fainting with the
lofs of blood, and llill more tortured with the
anguifh arifing from the contemplation of the
immenfity of my undeferved misfortunes, a re--
treat was neceffary; but, alas ! where was I to
find it ? or who would open a hofpitablc door
to a poor wounded foldier, though I hope, at
Icaft, in that capacity not degraded? Thefc
melancholy reflexions had reduced me to a
fliadow, and I looked forward to death as the
moft delirable of events. Thus circumflanced
1 was induced to take up my relidence in a
little town of the interior, till my health fliould
again enable me to draw my fword.

CHAP,

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. Ig^

CHAP. XIII.

^tbe author's affair with Mrs. S. — Character of
Col. S. — The author fets out for Augfburgin Sua^
hia^ accompanied by Mrs. S. — Becomes acquainted
zvith Baron D'Ompteda. — Reaches Augjburg. —
Suddenly arrefled there, on the requifiiion of the
the Baron D'Ompteda. — The Baron arrives at
Aug(burgy and makes fome vague general charges..
— Demands all the author's papers in the name of
his Britannic Majejiy. — The author writes to Mr.
Dundas. — IVas extremely well treated during hi^
confinement. — Receives a letter from Mr. Walpol^
zvith an official denial on the part of the Britifb
government y of any knowledge of the tranfa^lion. —
Decree of the Senate of Augjburg. — Remarks on
the decree of the Senate. — Ki?id behaviour of Mr.
JValpole.

It has been hitherto my ftudy to conceal female
frailties ; for though I by no means pretend to
the chara(5ler of a floic, there is a bafenefs in
publiihing any thing which can hurt the feelings
of thofe whom heaven meant us to protedt,
which my foul abhors. Yet I am now obliged
to bring forward to the public an amiable wo-
man^ who owes her misfortunes to her hufbands

K 3 brutally ;

»34 "^^^^ LIFE OF

brutality ; a woman who, adorned by very po-
lite accomplifhment, and calculated by nature
to charm, would be an everlafting fund of hap-
pinefs to the man who had fenfe to efteem her
worth.

Colonel S. was the hufband of this lady ;
and he of all men leaft knew, and leafl deferved
female merit in a companion ; infenfible alike
to love and honour, he regarded a wife only
for what fhe brought him ; if her purfe was but
to his mind, he cared not for her perfon. This
extraordinary Colonel having publifhed a mofb
fcurrilous pamphlet concerning me, I fliall give
the public fome opportunity of judging between
us : not that I fliould notice any of his libels
fo far as I am alone concerned ; but as his wife,
and even her relations, orthofe whom he thought
proper to call fo, came in for fo large a fhare
of mifreprefentation and abufe, that the fale of
his work was flopped for fear of a profecution ;
I feel myfelf called upon to refute his calum-
nies. However, we are not the only objeds of
his fcurrility, as fome time before, without
knowing how to write, he publifhed a pam-
phlet in which he abufes almoft every man
whofe name he knows, and has even the impu-
dence to level, particularly the low flander of
his malignant pen, at that illuflnous charaeler

the

MAJOR TEMPLE LISLE. I35

the Earl of Elgin ; fortunately for the author,
the blackguard, ftupidity of the performance
took away its fting '""^

His origin is not worth tracing, but he firft
ranked 2LS 3l Colonel in 1786, among the revol-
ters in Brabant ; whence after their defeat he
fled to Paris. He there became acquainted
with his wife, who ufed to vifit a family of re- ,
fpedlability, with whom he was in fome degree
.of intimacy. The lady was not then quite fe-
venteen, and through his perfuafions, was in-
duced to confent to a private marriage. This
ilep, as might be expected, much offended her
father, who refufed to give any fortune to the
Colonel, but, confented to allow her a yearly
income for her own ufe ; which the Colonel
however turning to his purpofes, fhe became
obliged to fend her little bills for milinary and
fuch like to the old gentleman. Finding how
the money he allowed was employed, he with-
drew that fund, but continued to pay her
bills.

This gallant Colonel next applied himfelf to
the Princes of France, who were jufl: then gone
to Coblentz, foliciting leave to raife a regi-
ment for them. As he knew the effects of beauty
on menofprofefled gallantry, he confcantly made
his wife the bearer of his mefTages ; thus at once
expoling her to every temptation, and plainly

K 4 proving

'>r»

136 THE LIf£ or

proving to the world that he did not think her
virtue a price by any means, top high for his
own pronaotion. Still however her fame re-
mained unfpocted ; nor was it till flie was moft
cruelly treated by him, till blows were added
to infults of every other kind, and till flie was
left unproteded in a garrifon town, amidft fe-
veral hundred officers, each of whom was ftrivinp;
to flvew himfelf as far as polTible the contraft
of her hufband, that flie fell.

7 hat flie fell into my hands, was more owing
to the gentlenefs of her own heait than my de-
fert. True it is that I left nothing undone that
I could devifc ; but though fae fecmed to view
my fituation with pity, for 1 was then lick and
diftrefTed, and ihc had i'een me in highly ho-
nourable circumftances, and the favourite of the
great, it v.as long before a tender paiTion took
place.

After feme time I went to Augfourg in Sua-
bia, and in my road thither, pafled through Ra-
tifbon. Here, amongothers, 1 became acquaint-
ed with the Baron D'Ompteda, Hanoverian En-
voy to the diet ; I likewife had the pleafure of
finding the Count de Goertz, who had, as I be-
fore mentioned, given me a letter of recom-
mendation, Vvhile Pruffian minificr in Ruffia,
to his brother at Potfdam, who was Aid-de-
camp

I

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. i.^'J

camp to Frederic the Great, when 1 vifited that
celebrated garrifon in the end of the year T784,

The leverity of my indifpolition had delayed
me many weeks upon the road, and m'y expences
had already far exceeded my calculation; the
trijBing fum too, which was yet due to me from
the army, was by my own appointment to be
remitted to me, at the place of my deftination:
I therefore at leaving Ratijhon^ boriowed 32
louis of the Baron D'Ompteda, for which I
gave hin) my bill.

I conunued m^ journey, and reached Augjhnr^
without any material occurrence; but i had not
been many days there, before I met with an ad-
venture difagreeable enough for the time. As
foon as I was fixed at my hotel, I communica-
ted to the Right Honourable H. Dundas a plan
which I had formed, and which though a ver/
bold one had been honoured with the approba-
tion of feveral diftinguiOTed military characters.
For its execution I had found near three hun-
dred volunteers; the majority of them had been
officers under Louis XVI. ...nd all afl<ed no other
reward than the fandlion of the Britiih govern-
ment, and to proceed to the attack under my
diredlion. I was now fo far recovered, that I
felt myfelf ready to bleed again; and I once
more ventured to cherifli hopes, that I might be
iuffered to profit by my exertions without fur-
ther

tj% THE LIFE OJ-

ther moleilation, or perfecution; promptnefs,
courage, and my fword were my only fortune,
nor could I Co thriftily employ it as in the har-
vefl of danger.

I flattered myfelf with vain expedations, for
at that moment, a new perfccution was levellecj
nt me, from a quarter whence I leaft expeded
ib bafc an attack.

It was I believe on the firfl of December 1793,
I was fitting on a fopha, in the room I oc,(;:upi-
.ed, in my hotel, in the very acil of fealing a fe-
cond letter to Mr. Dundas, renewing my folici-
tations to be employed in the enterprife I had
already defcribed to him. Mrs. S. was fitting
by me, lirtle fufped.ing that any evil awaited
Tis — when in a moment, two different folding
doors, w hich opened into my room, at oppolite
angles, were violently burft open, and I was
inflantineoufly encircled, by a detachment of
infantry, to the number of thirty-fix. They
■were commanded by a Lieutenant, who told me
1 was his prifoncr; I aiked him on what ac-
count, but this he refufed to tell me, or by what
authority he came to arrefl mej I therefore re-
fufed to obey, and affumcd a pofition of refift-
ancc, till I fliould be fatisfied by what right he
prefumed to aft in fuch a manner. The adling
Burgomafier was at hand, and immediately en-
tering the room, aflured me that the magiftrates

were

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLEi 13^

were themfelves ignorant of the caufey but that
my arreft was in confequence of a requeft, made
by Baron D'Ompteda, the Hcuioverian Envoy ^
at Ratijbotiy in the 7iame of his Britannic Majejiy,

His letter having been read to me, I furren-
dered immediately, as I knew that the city of
Auglburg, at the requeft of any Sovereign
Prince of the Empire, is bound by law to arreft
any perfon and detain him for a reafonable time,
to fee if any charge is brought forward againft
him. Neverthelefs I could by no means com-
prehend for what caufe his Britannic Majefty
had defired my arreft, and I was equally at a
lofs to know how the Hanoverian Envoy, could
adt in tl^e name of the Court of Great Britain,
when there was a Britifh Envoy then actually
relident at Ratift)on. Bcfides, my confcience
told me that I had never by any adt whatever
done, or meant to do, the fmalleft harm to
the perfon or interefts of my Sovereign, towards
whom I had ever borne the moft unfliaken af-
fecStion and loyalty.

With thefe refledlions I confoled myfelf ; at
the fame time that I endeavoured to afluage the
alarm of the unfortunate hdy, who had accom-
panied me; I aflured her that there muft be fome
miftake in the bufinefs, that a {t^ days mujl
clear the wholp up, and then I ftiould be fet at
liberty.

That

J4O THE Ll^ L CF

That night I remained at the hotel, under a
guard of thirty-fix men; butasfuch a croud oc-
caiioned much confufion and trouble in the
houfe, and 1 was unwilling to put the mafter to
fuch inconvenience, I was next morning, at my
own requefi, rernoved to the town-houfc. Two
ycry comfortable apartments were prepared for
jnej an officer attended me, and there wcrecon-
jfTantly four foldlcr? in the anti-chamber; I was
likewife refufed the ufe of pen and ink, and my
papers were all fcized ; but Mrs. S. was per-
mitted to come to me every morning, and re-
main till evening, bat always in the prefence pf
the officer.

The moment of my arrefr, an exprefs had
been fent off to Rarifbon, to Baron D'Omptcda,
and we waited v.ith fome impatience the charges
he was to exhibit againft me. In a few days the
Baron arrived, and came to the very hotel w^here
I had lodged, and where Mrs. S. ftill continued
to refidc; he found fault in a very high tone, at
the permilllon fne had to vifit me, myfierioufiy
pretending that my crimes were of great magni-
tude, but l^ill without condefccnding to parti-
cularize even one.

Jugjhurg being a free imperial city, governed
by its own fenace, in whom the fovereignty re-
fides, he was obliged to give fome fort of account
of the authority under which he demanded me

to

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. i^t

to be arrefted and detained in eloje-cufiody. He
now dared, in the name of his Britannic Majefty,
to require that all my papers fhould be delivered
to him and his advocate, whom, (the more to
Ihevv that he a<5lcd in an official capacity,) he
ftyled his charge d' affairs y for their infpedion.

The confequcnce of his making this demand
in fuch a high official ftyle, and in the name of
the King, vi'as my arreftation, a tranfiation of
the decree, for which purpofe, I here annex, the
original in German being depofited v,ith the
publiiher.

TRANSLATION.

EXl^RACT.

PROTOGOLLI CONSULARIS.

(Done at Augjlurgh liih December 1793 J

*' His Excellency BaronD'Ompteda,;«/;///?^r^
the king of Great Britain and Elelior of Brunfwick
Lioiehurgy at the di,et of Ratilbone, after having
examined the papers of Mr. Lifle, declares, in
the quality of requirer, in the name o^ his Britifh
Majejiy^ for the imprifonment of Mr. Lifle,
calling himfelf a Dutch Major, as a Scotch fub-
je6tj and being under the neceffity of going

from

i4^ TkE LIFE or

from hence, in the courfe of to-morrow, he ap-
points Mr. Kephalides, I. U. D. prefent at the
perufing of the aforefaid papers, for his charge
d* affaire in the whole caufe,"

My confinement was therefore continued in a
ftill clofer manner. Mrs. S. was denied the li-
berty of feeing me, and even my two fervants
were from the firft, as clofely confined as my-
felf. A croud of circumftances now pre fled
upon my mind, and a kind of elucidation of my
myflerious imprifonment, feemed to glim-
mer before me. I recolleded that Baron D'
Ompreda, had always attempted to be ^^r//V«/^r
with Mrs. S. and he might probably think that
my confinement, and his threats would fl:arve
and intimidate her into compliance. In my own
conduct I could find nothing of which his Bri-
tannic Majefty had any reafon to complain. I
therefore applied to the magiilrates for leave to
write to the Britifii Government, which being
granted, I fent the following letter to Mr.
Dundas, to whom I had indeed before found
means of privately writing a ft^s' lines.

" To the Right Honourable Henry Dundas.
** SIR,

" AucsBUKC, Jan. 7, 1794.

" I II AVE already had the honor to ac-
quaint you, with the very fmgular manner in

which

» MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I43

which I have been arrelled and confiri. ' au
Jecret by the Baron D'Ompteda, in the name of
the King, without, however the Baron having
fhewn any order for fuch conducft ; that arreft
ftill continues, to-morrow it is five weeks fmce
it commenced.

" As a Britifti fubjed. Sir, permit me to re-
quefl: that you will be pleafed to fay, whether
the Britifh Government has any demands on
my perfon? And whether the Baron D'Ompteda
has been charged to arreft me in the name of his
Majefty ? And if fuch an order has been given,
at what time it was forwarded to the Baron ?
This is a juflice which a Britilli Minider will
not deny, and which will enable me to expofe
and pimifh a man, who I am convinced fearches
my deftrud:ion, in hopes by that means to re-
move a barrier, which lays between him and
the poffeflion of a woman, by whofe charms he
is captivated.

" The unrelenting fury with which he perfe-
cutes me, and the ad of oppreflion with which he
difgraces himfelf,and the diplomatique body, by
committing, prove that he is aduated by fomc
motive which touches him nearly, and tha;t mo-
tive muft be what 1 fufpedt.

" You well know. Sir, that in fpiteofthedif-
advantages which I labour under, no man has
been more indefatigable than I have been to re-
cover

^44 THE Lli'E OF

cover Riyfelf J I have continually folicited the
inoft defperate expeditions from yourfelf. And
the general officers under whom I have ferved
v.'ill vouch that while at the army, I was ever
clofe to the points of the enemy's bayonets. As
a proof of my good condud, Sir, at a moment
when I was without protedlion, and furrounded
by malignant enemies, the firft Captains under
heaven gave me their confidence, and the
Prince of Orange, as a reward for my alacrity
gave me a Majority in the army of the ftate.

" I rely on yourjuftice as a minifler, your hu-
manity I have already experienced: and have
the honor to be, with all that refpedl, to which
your perfonal merit, and high fituation intitle
>'ou,

" Sir,

" Your moft humble

** And very devoted fervant,

(Signed) *' I. G. Lisle,

Major.'''

Cf

PIcafe, Sir, to obferve th; I complain not of

the magiflratc;^ of this place, far from it; they

are perfectly difpofed to humanity and juftice,

they only comply with the requefl made in the

name of the King: was luch a requeft made with

authority, 1 myfelf would bow with fubmif-

fion.'* ..

I was

ilAJOP. SEMPLE LISLE. . 145

I vvas extremely well treated during my con-
finement, an excellent table being kept for me j
and my fervants were boarded at a confiderable
expence in the town houfe. A table was like-
wife kept for Mrs. S. at our hotel in the fame
ftyle as we had lived there, of which I need
hardly fay, that it was not inelegant. In.
the mean time fhe had addreffed a leSjSrcr to
Mr. Walpole, his Britannic Majefty's minifter
at Munich, in which flie had ftated the cafe
fo far as came to her knowledge.

I had remained in prifon about fix weeks
from the time I had wrote to Mr. Dundas,
anxioufly expelling fome determination from
the court of Great Britain, when Mr. Walpole
wrote to me, and tranfmittcd the following ex-
trad of a letter from Lord Grenville : *' The
** Britifh government has not demanded, the
" arrcrtation of Major Lifle, nor has his Bri-
" tifli Majefty any caufe of complaint againft
" him.*'

Baron D'Ompteda had given orders that aW
letters addreffed to me fl\ould be flopped at
the poft-office ; but this being diredled to me
at the town-houfe, went to the magiftrates,
who opened and fent it to me in that flate,
I at firft refufed to receive it, and afked them
if they did not know that it came officially
from a Britifli minifter. They replied, that they

L did J

146 THE LIFE OF

did; but that D'Ompteda, in the character of
his Majefly's Envoy, had taken all confequen-
ces upon himfelf; and thus was I forced for
the time, to fubmit to the infults of a man,
who, intrenched deep in his diplomatic fitua-
tion, evaded the effects of law, which juftly
awaited the audacious impofition he had prac-
ticed on the Senate of Augjhurg^ by profaning
the name of his royal mailer.

The confequence of Lord Grenville's decla-
ration was, that I was immediately difchargcd
from prifon, and the Senate pronounced the
following decree :

(TRANSLATION.)

(Decree of the Senate of Augfburg,}

Tuesday, the \.\\\v oi March y 1794.

" HIS ExcellencyBaron D'Ompteda, Miniiter
I'lenipotentiary oi i\\c EkHor of Bru7ifzvick Lune-
hurgy at the diet of Ratiibon, having requefted
the arrefting of Major Lifle, pretending he
was an impoftor, and having taken on himfelf
every confequence of this imprifonment, and
making himfelf anfwerable for it, his requeffc
was granted. But as his Excellency has not
juftified this imprifonment, either by the

charges

MAJOR seMple lisle. 147

charges of which he accufed the Major, and
which were partly of no confequence, partly
not verified, or having Ihewn any authority
from the Britifh Court, (which, as he declared,
was interefted in thefe charges) for making the
requeft of arrefling him in its name, or having
juftified it on account of the reclamation of
32 Louis, lent to the Major, this imprifon-
ment of which the expences fall on his Excel-
lency is finilhed, and the Major enlarged on
conditions of engaging himfelf on ^^r^/^" d'hon-
ncuVy not to leave this town or its territory w ith-
out having paid the 32 iouis. With regard
to further fatisfadion, the Major, according to
his own declaration, muft addrefs himfclf to the
King, his mafter.

" Alfo, that the paper exhibited the 20th of
January, nan adjunHiSy fliall be communicated
in copia to Dr. Kaphalides, his Excellency's At'
iorney, ' *

I mufl here intreat the reader to obferve the
different ftyle in which the Baron is defcribed
in this, and in the decree of arreftation, in which
he is called, " Minijler of the King of Great Bri-
5* tain and EleSJor of Brunfwic Lunehir^y^ as he

L 2 had

148 THE LIFE OF

had announced himfelf: But now the veil of inn-'
pofition was removed, and they ftyle him what he
really was, " Minijler Plenipotentiary of the Ele^or
" of Brunfwick Lunebiirg-," and to the perfon
whom he appointed charge d' affairs, they give
the title only oi Attorney. The charges he brought
againft mc are fcverely, but juflly characterized,
and his pretended authority declared not to
exilt. But the difgrace of the tranfaction did
not perhaps wound the Baron fo deep as the
expences; for as he had taken every confequence
upon himfelf, he was ordered to pay all that had
been incurred by my arreft, amounting to a
fum far exceeding my ideas, and far too heavy
for his purfe to bear without much inconve-
nience. I pofitively refufed to fubmit to that
part of the decree, which required me to give
ray word not to leave the territories of Augf-
burg, till I had paid the Baron his 32 Louis-
d'ors; for as I could obtain no fatisfaction for
my imprifonment without the tedious, and per-
haps fruitlcfs mode of applying to court, I was
refolved to detain the only trifling indemnity I
could hope for.

I was much indebted on this difagreeable oc-
cafion to Mr. Walpole, who fnewed me many
elfential marks of friendfliip. I cannot attri-
bute thefe to any perfonal attachment, as I had
only fcen him in my way lo Augfourg, as I

paffed

MAJOR SE^IPLE LISLE. I49

paflcd Munich ; but the grofs infult offered to
him in his official capacity, by a man who dared
to his face ufurp his privileges for the worft
of purpofes, to ferve which he likewife auda-
cioufly prollituted the name of his Sovereign,
might induce him to enquire into the affair ;
an enquiry would convince him of the injury I
was fuftaining by fuch clofe and unwarrantable
confinement, and this probably made him con-
fider me as entitled to his protection.

CHAP. XIV.

More accounts of the nature of the author's confine-
?nent. — Fi?ids means to convey a letter to the Duke
Frederick of Brunfzvick. — Receives a letter from

that great General in the mo jl flattering terms.

Receives indulgences from the magijlrates. — JVrites
a letter to Baron D'Ompteda. — Copy of it. — The
Baron rather chufes to fit down d if graced, than to
give the fatisfafJion required. — Goes to Manheim.
— A droll manxuvre there. — Receives a bayonet
"joound. — Proceeds to Cologne and Aix-la-Chapelley
where he finds Colonel S. has been bullying in his
ahfence. — Goes to Hollandy hears the fame ac^
fKCQuntSy but cannot find the Colonel.^ — Arrives in

L 3 England^

150 THE LIFE OF

Englcuidy where the Colonels has been more loud;
feeks him by every jlrat agent and in every place,
but in vain,

1 MUST now return again to what pafled du-
ring my confinement ; I had one fervant alligned
me by the Senate to attend on me, and to him
I was obliged to fpeak in the languag:- which
the officer who was with me underftood. My
diet and lodging was perfedlly good, and even
elegant. Notwithftanding all this ftricflnefs, I
however found the means of conveying a letter
to the Duke Frederic of Brunfwick, praying of
that juftly renowned General to give me a cer-
tificate of fervice. This letter was forwarded
through the means of a Pruflian officer who was
there recruiting for the Duke's own regi-
ment.

The brave Duke Frederic, with that foldier-
like promptnefs which diftinguifhes every adion
of his life, immediately fent me a moft flatter-
ing certificate, which I likcwife contrived to
receive privately. As foon as I had read it,
I lent it to the Senate, who were aflonillied how
I could manage fuch a bufinefs ; but though they
were very defirous ofknowing/jowit was done, I
gave them no fatisfadtion on that fubjed.

About a week before the arrival of Lord Gren-
ville's letter, the burgomafters plainly perceiv-
ing

■a

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I5I

ing that D'Omptcda could not bring forward
even the fhadow of a charge againft me, and
fufpecling from various circumftances that he
aded in the name of his Britannic Majefly with-
out authority, gave me the liberty of walking
about the town with a fingie guard, more by way
of form than fecurity. The firft ufe I made of
this privilege, was to write to the Raron in a
manner to try whether he could fhelter his want
of courage, as well as his want of honour behind
his diplomatic characfter.

That letter having had no efFed, I fent him
another in French which I made public, and
of which the following is an exad: tranflation*.

" * To bis Excellency Baron D'Ompteda,
" Hanoverian Envoy y

*' Ratisbon,

" Give me leave. Sir, to demand an explana-
tion of your condudl towards me.

*' I ft. By what title or by what right have you
had the temerity to order me to be arrefted ? was
it as Minifter to his Britannic Majefty ? But
were you, Sir, inverted with that character? You
who are only received at the Diet of Ratisbon as

* For the original, fee the Appendix,

L 4 Minifter

152 THELIFEOF

Minifter of the Elector of Brunfwick Luneburg,
and in whom the Senate of Aiigfburg has only
acknowledged that title in its decree of the 11th
of March i794> which is here fubjoined.

*■ You have then done wrong to afTume the
quality of Minifter of his Britannic Majefty, as
in the get done at Augfburg the nth of Decem-
ber 1793, of which I fend you a faithful extract.
It is not then by this title that you can have any
authority over me.

" Was it as being authorized by his Britan-
nic Majefty ? But how could you have the im-
pudence to make the aflertion ? When you know
that the real Minifter of the Court of Great
Britain, at Ratift^on, has declared that his Court
has not demanded my arreftation, and that the
King has no fubject of complaint againrt me.

** 2dly. Suppofing you to have been invefted
with all the titles which you have had the pre-
fumption to arrogate to yourfelf, did my con-
duct merit fuch hard treatment on your part?
The flattering teftimonials and honourable em-
ployment which have been beftowed on me by
the Princes, under whofe ftandards I have fer-
ved, fufficiently vindicate my actions.

*' I will not here fpeak of my campaigns in the
fervice of Ruftia, nor of thofe I made in Ame-
rica, in the army of his Britannic Majefty, my
Sovereign ; but I fpeak of the manner in which I

difplayed

MAJOp. SEMFLE LJSLE. 153

difplayed myfeif in 1793, when fighting under
^he commands of his Serene Highnefs the Duke
of Brunfwick Oels, and afterwards thofe of his
Serene Highnefs the Prince of Orange. The
honourable rank which this Augufi: Prince
granted me in the armies of their High Mighti-
nelTes, proves the confidence he repofed in me ;
and if I have been deficient in my duty, it is
for him, not for you to complain of it.

' " After having made me undergo the moft
unjuft vexations, by condemning me for three
months to the horrors of a prifon, where I, as
well as my fervants were detained in the
clofeft cuftody ; and after I have ftaid another
month in this city in order to give you time
to prove the accufations you brought againft me,
of which you were unable to verify even one ;
there remains for you now. Sir, only to give me
3n explanation of thefe iniquitous proceedings ;
you know the kind of reparation I demand; you
wilhed to difgrace me before the fiice of Europe,
and it is before the face of Europe that I de-
mand the fatisfaction due to me.
*' I wait your anfwer,

" And am, &c. &c. dec.

(Signed) " J. G. Lisle,

March I yg/^, ^^ Major."

154- THE LIFE OF

Previous to thefe tranfadlions I had prevailed
on Mrs. S. to leave Augfburg; for as there
feemed to me no end to the Baron's fli ffling and
chicane, I who was no way verfed in fuch prac-
tices, was determined to give him an invitation,
to finilh the affair a little more in my own way:
I was therefore anxious to remove her from a
probable fcene of dillrefs. The letters I fent
him certainly contained hints plain enough to
betaken; as he, however, feemed very dull o^
appreheniion, I determined to fpeak ftill plain-
er; but as I found him equally infenfible to the
calls of honour, or the flings of infult, and that
he flirunk behind his diplomacy^ I left him, fully
fatisfied, that his courage, his honefty, his ve-
racity and his modefty were all upon a par.

As it was evidently in vain to feek any fatis-
facftion from fuch a character, beyond what I
had already received, through the decree of the
Senate of Augfburg, I determined to give up
the purfuit ; I therefore fet out for the Low
Countries, leaving the Baron, fufficiently in-
cumbered by the expences his folly had incur-
red, an obje6t of fcorn and ridicule to all who
knew the flory.

At Manbeim^ I found it neceffary to flop a
few days; during which, as I was not travelling
with my ufual fplendor, I remained incog. On
my arrival in that town, I was very much fur-

prifed

MAJOR S£ MP LE LISLE', 1 55

prifed to find a guard placed upon me ; I natu-
rally enquired what was the reafon of fuch treat-
ment, and was told that it was in confequence of
the condud of the Dutch and Britifli recruiting
officers. Thefe gentlemen ufed, it feems, to
hold out fuch encouragement to recruits, as the
Bavarian troops could not withftand, but ufed
frequently to defert to enlift with them ; a gene-
ral order had therefore been given to place a
guard on every officer of either country that
inight arrive there.

I immediately fent a melTage to the Fort
Major, to inform him, that if he had looked at
the report I made at the gate of the town on
my entering, he would have feen that I could
be by no means looked upon as a recruiter ; I
concluded with faying, that fuch being the cafe,
I expecfled my guard to be inflantly removed.
As he did not think proper to fend me any im-
mediate anfwer, I determined at once to be re-
venged on him, and to remove this obnoxious
attendant; entering therefore into converfation
with my centinel, I prevailed upon him to de-
fert, to which indeed he made very little objec-
tion, except the difficulty of getting away. This
was eafily obviated, by putting him into my
own chaife, in which I fent him to the adjacent
town of IForms, where an officer of my acquaint-
ance lay, recruiting for the regiment of Salm

then

1^6 THE LIFE OF

then ill the pay of Britain. This was a danger-
ous bufinefs, but the pleafure of outwitting the
wife heads of the place was irrefiftible; nor in-
deed did any confidcrations of danger ever pre-
vent a plan I had fonp-ed.

In the evening, a non-commifTioned officer
.arrived, with an, apology for not attending
earlier to my meffagc, which was owing to the
abfcnce of the Commandant of the place. He
jiext enquired for the centinel, who was not to
be found, and as I could give no account of
him, it was immediately concluded that he had
defertcd through my pcrfuafions and affiftance;
but as the fecret lay between him and me, it was
in vain to make enquiries.

I left Manheim and paffcd through IFbrms^
where I faw my defer ter who had already put on
the Britifli uniform; but my chief reafon for
going that way was to folicit the protection of
that highly diftinguiflied General Field Marfhal
MollendorfF, who was in that neighbourhood,
[uftxhen fome affairs of pofts took place, not
far from where I was; curiofity induced me to
become a near fpcdlator, in confequence of
which I received a wound with a bayonet in my
brcaft, vv^hich detained me fome time at the
houfe of a friend near Bingen.

When I was fo far recovered as to be able

again to travel, I proceeded to Cologne^ and

thence to Aix-Ia-ClmpcUe.

At

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I57

At Aix-la^Chapelle y I learnt that Colonel S.
the hufband of the lady who was with me at
Augfburg, had been vowing the direfi: ven-
geance againft me ; as foon as I knew this, I
begun a very ftridt fearch after this furious an-
tagonift, but to no purpofc; the Colonel had
prudence in his anger, and very ftudioufiy avoided
my prefence.

I then paffed into Holland, where I again
heard of this redoubtable champion, who had
been loud in his threats of revenge; but here as
at Aix-la-Chapelky I could only find the echo^
for the man was invifiblc. I had not been
many days in England before I heard of the
fame threats of vengeance; thus aggravated by
repeated provocations, I determined to find
him if pofTible, and with this view fought him
in every place where he was likely to be found;
I even went to MefTrs. Learmonth's and Beaz-
ley's, in Parliament-ftreet, where he almofl
took up his refidence, and after much conver-
fation with thefe gentlemen, left an open letter
for him, but this was infuflTicient to bring him
forward.

The world will hereafter hear of this extra-
ordinary Colonel no more from me; and if he
chufcs to attack me again with his pen, I fhall
refer them /or his veracity to Monjieur de Calonne,
and the records of the Court of King's Bench.

CHAP.

■>

f^t THE LIFE OF

CHAP. XV.

The author'' s reajons for returning to England. — He
waits on the Minifters with Jome propojals which
are reje&ed. — Becomes involved in another mis-
fortune.— Is about to proceed to the Continent y and
put back by a fiorm. — Apprehended and taken to
Bow-Jireet. — Repeated examinations there. — Ri-
diculous charges made again fl him. — Would have
hcen difcharged but for Mr. Flood. — Is tried
and convi^edy but retains many valuable friends.
— IS/Lr. Burke* s friendly interference ^ copies of
' letters from him. — Mr. Bof welly with one of his
letters. — Remarks of the author's friends.

1 HE ill ufage I had received on the lower
Rhine, by the repetition of things, which my
condudl, during the time I had been with the
army, ought to have cancelled, had driven me
away ; in fad, had I been contented to adl Am-
ply in the routine of duty, I might have re-
mained unnoticed; but as I had nothing to de-
pend on but my fword, and the friends it might
gain me, I had only to do bold and daring
things, or to remain in want and obfcurity. I
had therefore on every occafion courted danger

and

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 15^

and exertion; and I had gained the good opini-
on of the moft diftinguillied Generals, by
whofe friendlhip (which I had determined that
my condud: if poflible fhould cement,) I feem-
ed rapidly mounting to honour and independ-
ance. Then it was that men whom indolence,
or fomething worfe, prevented from following
my example, begun to envy my fuccefs, and
they determined by the bafeft arts to ruin the
man they could not imitate.

As the Prullians had retired from the field,
my hopes from that quarter were at an end; but
as I had received a liberal offer from a Sove-
reign Prince of Germany, to raife men on very
moderate terms for the Britifh fervice, I found
it neceflary to repair to England to endeavour
to conclude the bufmefs. I laid my propofals
before the proper officer, but they were not ac-
cepted, notwithflanding I had full * powers
(which are ftill in my poffeflion,) to contradt
for railing a regiment of 1800 men, and my
zeal in a bufinefs, which offered me fo many ad-
vantages, could hardly be doubted.

I now come to that part of my hiftory,
which has been fufficiently made the fubjed of
public difcullion, and for which I now am fuf-
fering, how meritorioufly let others fay. I

* Thofe papers are in the hands of the publiftier.

had

r6a

THE LIFE OF

had bought of a linen-draper, near Welbeclc-^
flreet, a quantity of cambric and other articles
for which I paid him ready money; on the
goods being fcnt home, there appeared to be not
quite enough for the purpofe they were intend-*
cd for, and I fome time after went to the fliop
to compleat the deficiency. I had before men-
tioned to the fliop-keepcr, that I was about to
return to the army, and Ihould want fome linen.
I again mentioned this circumftance to him, and
he fliewed mc a fhirt, which he thought would
anfwcr my purpofe, but of which fort he had
but a very few made. I propofed calling ano-
ther day, when I fhould .return to town with a
perfon who was a better judge than myfelf of
the value of fuch articles; but like all other
tradefmen, anxious to fell, he requefted that I
Ihould take it with mc, and abfolutely put it
into my fervant's hand to carry home. If it
did not meet with approbation I was to return
it the firft opportunity, but if it was liked I was
to order the quantity for w^hich I fliould have
occalion.

I was taken ill very fliortly after this event,
and not being able, on account of various difap-
pointments, to pay the money for a couple
dozen fuch fliirts, I did not return; but conti-
nually in the hope that I fliould receive cafli,
which I had reafon to expcd:, I delayed from

day

MAJOR SEMPLE LI"SLE, l6l

day to-day; biit my difficulties encreafed, and
amidft a multitude of troubles, the (Inrt was
totally forgotten, and I was again going to join
the army on the Upper Rhine, once more to
try my fortune. I had embarked on board the
Rheinhaufen, of Hamburgh, in December 1794;
but the ftiip in a tempeft having been drove
on fliore at Sheernefs, and having received much
damage, I came to town till fhe was repaired.

On my return, to London, the fon of an old
acquaintance, who lent me feme money, thought
proper to have me apprehended; his charge
againfl me was however laughed at ; but no fooner
was the matter known, than perfons who had
never feen mc, came to fucarto frauds commit-
ted upon them by me. Among the number, a
hatter and hofier, in Oxford-Street, fwore
pofitively to my having cheated him of a
bundle of filk ftockings and two hats. I was;
thunder-ftruck to hear fuch an accufatlon, as I
. had never feen the man before, and ftill more
when he fwore to the 14th of June. On Mr.
Bond afking him whether any other perfon could
fwear to rhe, he produced his fliopman and an
apprentice boy, both of whom fwore pofitively
that I was the perfon who had defrauded their
mafter. When I heard the time afligned for
the tranfa<5lion, I was perfedly eafy as to the
event, being confident that I could readily

M prove

i6t THE LITE Of

prove my having been upon the Rhine at that
timcj and for fome months after. Mr. Bond,
who I believe was well acquainted with this
circumftance, never thelefs ordered the people
of the houfe where it was faid I had lodged, and
where the goods had been fent, to attend ; they
did fo, together with a hair-drefTer; and all of
them declared that I did not in any refped re-
fembk the gcnileman who had done the bulinefs.
The hatter retired with difgracc. As 1 was pretty
warm with him, a fellow who had come for the
purpofe of exhibiting a charge againft me, very
boldly exclaimed, " Don't be fo impudent, Sir,
*' you know you robbed me the fame day I" but
no fooner did it appear, that it was impolTible I
could have robbed either of them, than he alfo,
hiding his head, fncaked off.

Such tranfadtions ought to make magillrates
very cautious how they receive informations
from perfons pretending to be injured ; thepof-
fibility of miilakes is very great, and too many
from an obflinate and foolifli pride, will fooner
deprive their fellow-creature of life than acknow-
ledge an error. I fay nothing of the vindidivc,
and cruel, nor of thofe whofe trade is blood, and
who for a little money, are but too ready to fwear
what (though it may be very true,) they do not
know to be fo; I fpeak of the good, and them I
wifh to remember, that a momentary view can

give

MAJOR SEMPLE LIS.LE; 1 63

givie but i very imperfecfi- idea of a face, hardly
indeed fo mlich buc that a chansfe of drefs will
efface it. In rriy own cafe, I am convinced that
nothing lefs than my being able to prove myfelf
on the Continent, faved me from being convic-
ted by the hatter ; for fuch was the pov/cr of
prejudice againft me, and fo politively, and fo
repeatedly did he fwear, that a jury murt have
^een compdfed of no ordinary men to have re*
fifted.

A thoufand Tidiculous charges of fwindling
tranfadions were now brought forward; among
the rnoft laughable were the following:

Mr. Strongilharnii of Fall-mall^ feal engraver,
being very fhort, had got himfelf perched over
the heads of the reft of the alTembly, like a crefl
over a coat of arms^ and complained that 1 had
defrauded him. Mr. Bond requefled to know
in what manner; he faid I had ordered him to
engrave a fealj after a drawing which 1 had given
him, but had never called for it, adding that it
was not quite finifhed ; Mr. Bond advifed him
to go home and finifh it, for that the Major
would probably call for it. A Mr. Warburton,
a woolen-draperj in the Strand, likewife
brought a charge againfl me; this heavy accufa-*
tion however appeared to be, h^ his own account,
that I had afked him to give me credit, which
he had refufed j but even that was more than

M 2 try^h.

1641 THXLIfEOf

truth, for I folemnly fwear I never before faw
the man, nor ever was in his ho. fe.

But the f.mmit of ridicule was climbed by
Mr. Clay, of Birmingham, who bawled out
aloud that I had cheated him. Mr. Bond im-
inediateiy afked how I had done it. Mr. Clay
faid he held a note of hand of mine, for, I think,
ten pounds. Mr. Bond enquired where it was ?
At Birmingham was the reply. " What is its
date?" "About ten years.'* A loud laugh:
immediately fhook the whole audience, and
Mr. Clay was told that that office was not the
place to recover debts; befides that the flatuteof
limitations flood as an infuperable barrier in his
way. This was the more malicious on the part
of Clay, owing to another laughable circum-
ftance. About the time he fpoke to, I did really
borrow the money of him, for which I gave
him a note payable at the houfe of a very rc-
fpevftable gentlemen, but whofe fingularity of
name, gave rife to fufpicions in Mr. Clay's fa-
pient brain. That night, or the night follow-
ing, there appeared in the newfpapers, one of
thofc paragraphs that are calculated to fet the
world a flaring, flating that a fraud on the Bank
to a very large amount had been committed,
and giving a defcription of a perfon, which
nearly agreed with my own. Clay read this,
and forthwith went to confult with a juflice of

the

MAJOR SEMPLELISI. £ 165,

the peace in the neighbourhood, by whofe ad-
vice and affiftance I was taken into cuftodv at
Shrevvfbury, where they detained me till they
fent an exprefs to town. Sir Sanipfon Wright,
who was then alive, on receipt of the letter of
iht^Q isi'ife }nen, returned for anhver, that *' no

'* SUCH CRIME HAD BEEN COMMITTED, and that

" the beft thin^ they could do was to make the
** matter up with mc." On account of the civi-
lities I had received from every refpedlable in-
habitant of Shrewfbury, I was induced to drop
all ideas of profecuting Clay and the Juftice, and
contented myfelf with making them pay all ex-
pences there and my horfes back to town. I
further told Clay he might burn my bill, for I
Ihould never pay it; nor did I hear of it from
that day, until he made as related his fooliDi
harangue in Bow-flrect.

Nothing of courfe could be made of fuch fri-
volous complaints, and the linen-draper, vv'ho it
feems belongs to that moji creditable fociety\ infti-
tutcd for the profecution oi fwindlers^ (a term
unknown in the law of England,) had applied
to the attorney of that body, who, on thefeventh
or eighth time that I went up to the police
office, fent his clerk with a letter to the magi-
ftrate. This letter was read and ftated, that
after the maturefh deliberation, he could not
make any thing but a debt of the tranfadion,

M 3 and

l66 THELIFEOF

and therefore he fhould not proceed further^
nor would the linen-draper appear again at the
office.

I now thought myfelf on the eve of liberty,
when that active magijlratey Mr. Flood, whq
had no concern at all in the bufinefs, being
merely a fpcdtator, infifted that I Ihould be fully
"committed; he maintained that if my former
convidiion was jufi:, (a point on which even yet
lawyers are by no means unanimous,) then the
prefent cafe muft be felony ; he further diredled
that the linen-draper fhould draw up his cafej,
and lay it before Mr. Sylvefter, for his opinion ;
in the mean while I was remanded for another
hearing. The next day Mr. Bond fat at the
office; I was brought up, and Mr. Sylvefler's
opinion upon the nev/ ftatcment, which the
linen-draper had made out to lay before him,
■was, that the tranfacflion was felonious, of courfe
I was fully committed for trial.

My trial is yet recent in the memory of all
the world ; how my obtaining the fhirt as rela-
ted, and as it appeared in evidence, could be a
theft, I leave to that world to judge; but fo it
■was called, and the jury by their Jecond verdidl
found me guilty.

As zvtx^ one who knew my cafe, thought it
(10 fay no worfe of it; extremely hard, I with
the more confidence applied to my friends^ who

in

MAJOR SEMPIE LISLE. 167

in their turn lefr nothing undone to ferve me.
Among other diftinguifhed charadlers, the late
celebrated Mr. Burke took amazing pains to
do away or mitigate my fentence. At firft in-
deed, before he knew my real condud:, he was
not totally free from that univcrfal prejudice
which had taken place in the minds of almoU
all the world ; but his fentiments will be much
better known from his own words, than from
any defcription of mine. In fhort, Mr. Burke
writing coolly and difpaflionately on any fubjed,
mull be read with pleafure by all mankind, and
I therefore cannot conceal this letter, though
not favourable to myfeif, from my readers,

(COPY.)

Frcm the Right Uoitourahle Edm. Burke,
?<? I. E. Devereux, Efq.

3 S> "S";. James' s-Pl ace ^ Lo n d o n .

M October //&ff 19/^, 1795.
** Dear Sjr,

" I DO full juftice to the prin-
•* ciplcs of humanity, which induce you to take
" anintereftinthefatcofMr. Semple. Thereare
«* circumftances of compaflion in his hiflory, that
" would induce one to wifh that the feverity
" of the law was not to take place, with regard

. M 4 "to

l68 THE LITE OF

*' to that unfortunate gentleman. Hadthejudg-
" mentbeen capital, I fhould take a warm part
" for its mitigation. But I have very different
" fentiments with regard to tranfportation. A
" perfon without fortune or profeflion, and who
*' has the misfortune, by the fentence of a court
" of juflice, to lofe his reputation, cannot pof-
" fibly live but by a repetition of the fame, or
limilar pradlices to thofe, which have firft
brought him into his difficulties. I venture to
fay that it is nothing at all fhort of a moral im-
poffibility he fhould. Now, I fubmit it to your
very good fenfe, whether, in fuch a cafe, the
very worll fort of puniihment, and that which
admits no hope on this fide of the grave, does
" not become an event very much to be appre-
hended; and whether you or I would like
hereafter, to confidcr ourfelvcs by an ill under-
ftood lenity, to be the means of his lofing his
life with aggravated difgrace to himfelf and
to his family ? For my own part I look upon
tranfportation-, to be, without queftion, an
*' unpleafant remedy; but flill a-remedy in a dcf-
" perate difeafe. He goes to a place where he is
** notoppreffed by the judgment he has fufFered ;
** and where none but honeft ways of life are
*' open to him. The climate is good, the foil is
** not unfavourable. There is even fome choice
" in the fociety. God knows that they who have

" fufifercd.

<c
cr
<c
<c
tt
«

€<

<€

tt
tt
tt
tt

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 169

'^^ fuffered, and even defervedly fuftered, by the
** fentence of the law, are very far from the
•** Avorfl: or moft difagreeable men in the world.
** I aflure you that ir I were to fall into a mis-
fortune of this fort, and to have youth and
vigour of body and mind ; I fliould think
" this change of place to be a thing to be de-
lired, not fliunncd. If I were a friend of Mr.
Semple, I would of courfe advife him, after
humbling himfelf before God, to look refo-
lutely on all, in this kind, that man can do to
him. He is a military man. 1 et him enccun-
" ter his ill-fortune bravely^ and refolve to ob-
" tain by his fortitude and future integrity, the
" efteem of all thinking and worthy minds. He
'* has no lofs at all in lofing a country where
" he has lolt his place in fociety ; and as to
*' tranfportation to any other country in Europe
" or America, the Englifli nevvfpapers, among
the infinite evils 'they produce, fpread fuch
things as thofe that relate to him into every
quarter, and never fuffer a man to recover
** his reputation. If I. cannot give my affifl-
** ance to this poor gentleman's releafe, it is
** upon motives of good will to him to the bell
** of my weak judgment ; but if his powerful
" relations, or others who are his friends, and
" difpofcd to companion towards him, will con-
** tribute to the alleviation of his circumflan-

cc

<c
<c

" CCS,

S*/0 THE LIFE OF

" ces, you fhall command my mite in the con--
" tribution ; and I fhall ufe my beft intereft with
** Mr. King, that Mr. Semple may be recom-
*^ mended to the Governor of the Colony, for
** every fort of attention to his perfon and his
•^ eftablifliment. I wait your commands.

" And am. &c." -

After the receipt of this, I laid my creden-
tials of fervice before this great and good man,
and thefe foon infpired him with far other fen-.
timents. He now no longer confidered me as
the defperate depredator, but as (if I know my-
felf, I really am) a man mifguided by violent
paflions, who had done wrong, but who never
laid any premeditated fchemes to deceive.

Imprefled with thefe fentiments, he wrote a
very warm letter to John King, Efq. one of his
Majefty's Under Secretaries of State ; which he
had the politenefs to fend to me under a flying
feal lo perufe, and to forward. I nov/ lay it
before my readers ; and if the former exhibits
all the placed benevolence, this latter glows
with all the fire of Burke,

(COPY.)

MAJQR SEhl?Lf. LlSLt, |^^

(COPY,)

From the Right Honourdhlt Edmukd Burke^
3l9 Jo H N King, Efq. Under Secretary ofStatt^

" My DEAR King,

** I SEND you ^ letter I received juft
■* now, which is written to a very much refpedl-
" ed friend pf mine, by the unfortunate Major
" Semple ; ip is attended with feveral documents
'' tending to fliew, what I believe is extremely
^* true, that this unhappy gentleman fo condud:-
" ed himfelf aibroad as to obtain no fmall degree
" of conndcration. You will be {q good as to
" prefent thofe papers with my moft refpeclful
" and affedionate compliments to the Duke of
** Portland ; and you will, I am fare, yourfelf
^' warmly recommend them to his Grace's moft
^* ferious confideration, fo as to obtain a refpite
'' of thefentence'till the next embarkation, and
" until the full extent and true nature of the of-
f* fences are afcertaincd, and compared with the
. ** rigour of the fentence. If one great objecl:
'* of criminal juftice, chat is, the removal of the
" offender from the fphere of his oifences, his
habits, and his temptations, is obtained, every
rational as well as every humane perfon would
" wifh him every means of becoming of ufe in
** fome quarter of the globe, where, far from

" being

«
if

172 THE LIFE OF

" being noxious, he might be ufefully and ho-
** nourably employed.

You areyourfelfa lawyer j you well remem-
ber your friend, my late brother ; you know
that no man had a clearer head, or a more
'' upright heart. He had, as Recorder of Briflol,
" a good deal of experience in the criminal law ;
'' and I verily believe a better criminal judge
*' never did exill. I have often heard him ex-
*^ patiate with no fmall indignation againft the
"'^ confufion which began to prevail in the cri-
" minal jurifprudence, by which the diflinclive
'* lines of offences were effaced, or at leafr ren-
** deredmifchievoufly uncertain. The confufion
" of fraud with felony (a new practice) he held
*' to be highly pernicious j and for one I look
" upon it with horror. By this means men are
*• entrapped by the law itfelf. The lav/ ought
*' as religioufly to prevent one crime being pu-
"' niflied as another, as it ought to fave inno-
" cence from being puniflied at all. The law
*' itfelf getting into this crookednefs becomes
" the fwindler, and gets the blood of men under
" falfe pretences, much worfe is it than under
*' falfe pretences obtaining their money.

** On this head, I will fay no more juft now-
than this, that when the law (if it be lav/ or
can be law) is fo very vicious; the mitigating
*' power of the Cjown, cannot be fo well em-
*' ployed as in preventing its having its worll
" effects.

" I once

MAJOR SRMPLE I^ISLE- 1 73

** I once more mofi: humbly andcarneftly re-
" quefl that this matter may be left open to the .
'* matured confideration. 1 fliall be muchobli-
*' ged to you for your good offices on the oc-
*' cafion, and am always, with mofl fincere re-
*' fpect and affection,

" My dear King,

" Your mofl faithful.

And obedient humble Servant,
0.^cierM 1795. " Edmund Burke."

** Ton zvill he pleafed to return his papers to the un-
** fortunate Mr, Semple after you have made ufe
of ihem i there are eight pieces.^"

(C

Eeaconsfield,

(C

Among the number of thofe refpectable per-
fons, who applied in my behalf to thofe in
power, I cannot bat mentionjames Bofwell, Efq.
the intimate friend of the great Dr. Johnfton.
He prefented a petition from me, and not re«
ceiving any anfwer, he called at the Secretary
of State's Office, where he left a letter, of which
he inclofed me a copy, in thefe words :

<(

£(

Ti? John King, Efq. Under Secretary of State.

" Sir,

" I LEFT at your houfe on Sun-
day night a Petition from Major Semple

" Lifle,

cc

ij^ THE LIFE or

•* Lifle, to the Duke of Portland, whicH yoU
•* had been fo good as to fay you would deliver ^
*' and I wrote on Monday to his Grace refpect-
ing a flicrt audience, as from my having feen
the unhappy man's papers while he was laft
upon the Continent. I could enforce his ap-
plication for the royal mercy,which he folicits,'
"' on condition of his tranfporting himfelf for
ever, inflead of being tranfported for ftven
years; by which Commutation the public
*' would be a gainer.

" Having as yet heard nothing on the fubject
'•^ from his Grace or yourfelf. Sir, may I beg to
*' be favoured with a line, to inform me whether
" hopes of fuccefs may be entertained ; and that
" you will be pleafed to contribute your humane
" influence.

" I am, Sir,

** Your mofl: obedient

** Humble fervant.""

Secretary of State's Office^
Friday, Jpitl \oth 1795*

Thefe letters I have inferted, riot becaufe
Mr. Burke and Mr. Bofwell were the only gen-
tlemen of diftinction, who interefted themfelvcs
for me ; but becaufe they are characters of fuch
celebrity and genius, that had my crimes been

fuch

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I57

fuch as the world has been taught, to believe,
they muft have {een them and defpifcd me.
Their friendiliip is my grcateft honour, next
to that of the diftinguifhed Generals, under
whom 1 ferved on the Cominent ; and I ara
happy to fay, that I have not yet found one
enemy among thofe whofe fr.iendfhip was worth
the acceptance.

CHAP. XVh

The author remains two years a prifoner in "Newgate,
— Begins to entertain hopes that he will not be
fent away»^--The Jheriffs attempt to fend him away,
in an abrupt manner. — His dejpair and its confe-
quences, — Reflexions on this aXioUy and the con-
du^ of thejheriffs. — Sent down to Port/mouth. —
Receives the kindejl treatment from Mr. Dyne,
contraHor for tranf ports. — Embarks on board the
Lady Shore. — Finds thefhip in ajiaie of mutiny,
— Different itijiances of the mutinous behaviour of
the foldiers of the New S. JVales corps. — P«-
fillanimity of their officers,

1 HAD remained a prifoner, in Newgate, on
what is called the Hate iide, where I enjoyed an

apartment

176 TKE LITE or

apartment to myfelf, upwards of two years;,
during which time, many of the moft diftin-
guifhed charadcers had, as I have already ftated^
done every thing they could to foften the rigour
of my fentence. Though I had received many
affurances, that there was no intention of fend-
ing mc from that jail, ftill, whenever I heard
of the (l^eriffs having obtained an order for the
removal of prifoners to the hulks, I naturally
felt myfelf uneafy, and renewed my applications;
the anfwers I received were of the fame tenor,
till my fears gradually fubfided, and I conclu-
ded, that fnould his' Majcfty's minifters in the
end determine to fend me abroad, they would
at Icaft fuffcr me to rem.ain where I was, until
the fhip in which it was meant I lliould embark,
lliould be ready for fea ; and that after having
been fo long detained, fome liiort notice of my
departure would be ^iven me. How much rea-
fon I had for my opinion, may be feen by the
following extrad of a note from Mr. Kirby,
keeper of Newgate, a gentleman to whofe huma-
nity I have the higheft obligations :

** Major Semple Lisle,'*

********** Can you fuppofe
** any event hoftile to your feelings fliould take
'* place, after what I have faid to you, and I not
*• inform you ? no, be alTured you are fccure — I •

" need

Jvi-AjOR SEMPLE LISLE, I77

^^ need fay no more, you will reft fatisfied till I
*' fee you.

J. K."

Early in the month of December, the fheriffs
had obtained an order, fuch as is ordinarily
given twice or thrice a year, for the removal of
convi6ls, in which' it would appear, they were
determined to include me, though they kept
their intentions a fecret. One evening as I was
fitting in my room, one of the turn-keys came
and told me that a gentleman who did not wifh
to come in, delired to fpeak to me in the ledge.
As this had more than once been the cafe, I
went without delay, in my flippers, and without
a hat ; but immediately found myfelf furrounded
by the officers of the place, who, Ihewing me a
coach then at the door, told me I was going
immediately into the country, I however found
the way back to my room; Mr. Kirby, junior,
and two of the turn-keys, who had ever behaved
to me with the greateft kindnefs, followed me,
I was now driven to diflracftion, but though en-
raged to the highefl pitch of madncfs, 1 could
not raifc my hand againft thofe from whom I
had experienced nothing but friendfliip. I was
befides unarmed ; but in my frenzy, I fnatched
up a round pointed breakfaft knife, with which
I made a blow at my breaft-. I ftruck too high,

N and

178 IHELIFEOF

and the knife would not enter ; but I K-^peat^d
the ftroke lower down, and plunged ic ».»-^o the
handle in my body. Thofe about me v^^ere
Ihocked and aftoniflied, and feemcd incapabiv'e
of thought or adion, till Mr. Kirby drew the
knife from my breaft, and I dcfircd them to
help me off wath my coat, which being done, I
calmly laid down.

I by Ao means intend tojuftify the violent adl
I committed, but I was driven to defpair, by
the unaccountable condu6l of the fiierifts. It
feems they have the privilege oi feh^iing the
perfo'ns, who are to compofe the number or-
dered by the Secretary of State to be fent off;
and for reafons which are yet unknown to me,
they had refolved not only to fend me away, but
to take me unwares in the lingular manner I
have already defcribed. To take me unawares^,
was the only method in their power to diftrefs
me; and of this they determined to profit, well
knowing that from my extenfivecorrefpondence
with the molt dift-inguilhed perfons at home,
and on the Continent, I mufr, if taken by fur-
prife, leave many papers which I highly cfleem-
ed at their mercy. I mull befides be unpro-
vided with fo much as a change of linen, till
\\\z\r great humanity might be pleafed to order
me fome of my own little ftock. But above all,
they well knew that I mull: leave thofe who are

dearer

Major semple lisle; 170

dearer to me than life ; and that to be thus torn
Irom them, without even an Adieu ! was the fe«
vereft blow they could inflid.

The pretext, and it is a mere pretext y for thefe
fudden removals, is, that the convids are riot-
ous and diforderly when about to be fent off;
this is true in the crouded part of the prifon,
where the poor wretches are, ivithoui a momenVs
warnings azvaked out of their Jleep i?i the dead of
nighty and hurried off. They then are apt to
break the iQw trifling utenfils they have got, and
to make much noife ; but when they have had
previous notice, I have fcen them go away
peaceably and quietly, without making any dif-
turbance. But this did not even furnifh a rea-
fon in. my cale, as I was neither in a crouded
part of the prifon, nor had any communication
• whatever with thofc under fuch fentences as my-
ftU, Befides, the llierifFs ought to have con-
fidered, that though I was all fubmiffion to the
fentenceof the law, I was not to be intimidated,
and that it was poflible to drive even men of
the mildeit temper to ads of madnefs by unne-
ceflary feverity. Of this they would have been
fatisfied, had they been prefent when their man-
date was announced to me.

I {hould by no means have itlt the lead re-
fentment againfl the fherifFs, for having in my
turn fent me away, but that turn had palTed for

N 3 twelve

l30 . THELIFEOF

twelve months and more; and it may be feert
from Mr. Kirby's note, that I had no reafon to
think that I fliould be hurried off without time-
ly notice. I had even much higher authority,
which I am not at liberty to give up, for be-
lieving that it was not the intent of government
that I Ihould go at all ; indeed his Majefly's
Miniflers feemed inclined to take into confider-
ation the blood I hadfpilt for my country, and
make fome allowance on that account. This
their liberal condud towards me, determined
mine in the hour of danger, when the mutineers
feized the fliip, and when my refiftance was
firm, but reridered ineftedual by the inaSiion of
the officers of the troops. Whether however
circumftances might afterwards have induced
them to fend me away, I cannot with abfolute
certainty determine; but I am confident they
"would have fent me immediately to the fhip,
and they would have given me fufficient notice,
to make the neceffary preparations for fo long a
"Voyage, and this was all I had defired ! But

the benevolent Jfjcriffsy

would have fuppofed

themfelves degraded by a generous or humane
ad; and, I dare fay, would have thought it
rare fun to fend a gentleman to the hulks.

I remained without any further interruption,
till, I think, about the end of February, when,

after

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE." igl

after a notice given me of fome days, I was re-
moved to Portfmouth, after having received
marks of the mod humane attention, from fome
of the firfl: perfons in the kingdom. On my
arrival, I experienced the utmoft exertions of
humanity from that moft worthy charader,
Mr. Dyne, the contrador for tranfports, to
whofe care I w^s configned ; that gentleman, far
from wifhing to add to my fuiferings, did every-
thing he could to alleviate them. Inftead of
being fent on board a hulk, I was put on
board, what is called, the hofpital Ihip, where I
had a cabin to myfelf, and every accommoda-
tion I could wilh; and here I remained till the
Lady Shore came round from the river.

When I went on board the Lady Shore, I
found fome perfons, whom by their drefs, I
Ihould have fuppofed to be foldiers j but their
diforderly and mutinous behaviour foon con-
vinced me, that whatever they might be called,
they were in fad moft daring mutineers. I had
not indeed been many hours on board, when a
fcene prefented itfelf, which ought to have
warned any officer of his danger. Though the
Britifh fleet laying clofe to us, wa§ thpn in a
ftate of open rebellion, the whole of the officers
of the New South Wales corps went on (ho.re,
and left the charge of the detachment, I think,
74 in number, to a Serjeant of the name of

N 3 Hughes;

l8i THE LIFE OF

Hughes J in their abfence, Hughes thought pro-
per to go on Ihore too, and when the officers
returned, was not come on board. When they
came, which they did all together, the Com-
mander enquired for him, <^nd before an anfwer
was well given, he appeared along lide in a
boat. The commanding officer in perfon, or-
dered him on board, to which he replied, he
would not come till he hadjeen his goods out of the
boat. The officer repeated his commands, and
Hughes replied in a language which I will not
repeat ; ftrange to tell, the officer calmly walk-
ed into his cabin, wdthout taking the leaft no-
tice of the infult.

The fame day, if I recoiled; well, Sir Jerome
Fitzpatrick came on board, and to him I re-
lated the ftory, as I was even then convinced
that the fhip muft fall a victim to mutiny; it
was not however in Sir Jerome's province, who
having introduced and recommended me to the
officers, took leave.

The mutiny then raging on board his Majef-
ty's (liips, by which we were furrounded, was,
I fuppofe, the reafon why we were ordered to
fail in an unufual hurry, and with the Wejl^
inflead ofahe Eoji India convoy. Of the mu-
Ifinous ftateof the fhip, let the concurrence of
Mr. Black, our purfer, bear tcfiimony with
rfie; that gentleman,, in a letter to his father,

dated

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. ,183

Coated May id, 1797, and which has fince been
publillied, ay-,

** I fincercly vvi(h (as do all the fhip's com-
" pany,) that we were now laying at Port-
** Jackfcn, delivering our precious cargOy inftea.d
" of Torbay ; for the foldiers are the nnoft dif-
" agreeable, mutinous fet of villains that ever
" entered > to a fhip. — Two of the ferjeants
" behaved fo ill, that Captain Willcocks was
*' obliged to inOft upon their commanding offi-
*' cer confining them in irons; for they have
*' their own officers on board, and the Captain
" and officers of ihe fhip have no power over
" them. Major Semple is a quiet kind of a man,
" and I have no doubt will behave like a gen-
** tleman and give us no trouble. — He was fome
" days fmcc applied to by two of the villains,
** to know if he would head them in an attempt
" to feize the fhip after they fhould get well out
" to fea, and had left the convoy; one of them
" at the fame time telling him, this was the
" eighth time he had embarked for Botany Bay
*' without reaching it ; and he was determined he
" would not this time; and that he was fenit on
" board by force from a I olice Office. This
" w?<5 immediately reported to the officers of
" the irJp by Semple; in confequence of which
" the foldiers vow vengeance againft him,

N 4 " threatening

l8.f THE LIFE OF

" threatening to throw him over board the firft
" opportunity,"

In confequcnce of thefe riotous proceedings,
an order was given that none of the foldicrs,
but thofe on duty, fliould come on the quarter-
deck. The day following, Hughes, the Ser-
jeant, attempted to violate this order, which the
fentry would not permit, and told him the rea-
fon why he could not ; with which indeed the
Serjeant mull necelTarily have been acquainted.
He then requeued to pafs the deck, to go dowi;
to the commanding officer's cabin, to have the
order repealed ; not being able to obtain this
repeal, he came up again, threatening and flia-
king his hand in the firft mate's face, who then,
in the abfence of the Captain, commanded the
fliip. Continuing his infolence, the mate went
into his cabin and put on a dirk; when Hughes
faw this, he went below, faying, that he had a
longer fword, and was coming again upon deck
%vith it drawn, and had I not guarded the hatch-
way, he certainly meant to have attacked and
murdered the Chief Mate. This as well as the
former adls of mutiny pafTed unnoticed by the
officers of the detachment.

CHAP.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 1 8^

CHAP. XVII.

Mutinous proceedings at Port/mouth. — The Chief
Mate makes a complaint to General Pitt.
• — Sail for Torbay, — The mutineers dijlurh the
Captain in mujlering his men. — Captain Wilcocks
complains to General Fox^ who tranfmits his let-
ter to the Duke of Portland. — Lieutenant Colonel
Grofey the Commander of the New South IVales
lorpSy fent to infpeH them. — The fhips receive
damage from a jlorniy and are obliged to go into
harbour. — The Lady Shore fails, after the Captain
had add) effcd the Minijler on the fituation of the
troopSy to ivhich the author alfo added his tejli^
mony. — The troops increafe in mutiny and difobe~
(iiencf,

1 HE fhort time \vc remained at Portfmouth
■was fufficient to dcmonftratc, that the officers
cntrufted with the charge of the New South
Wales Corps, were inadequate to their duty.
I intimated as much before we weighed anchor
to fevcral perfons of refpedability ; and the
Chief Mate of the fliip (who commanded in the
place of Captain Wilcocks, thenabfent,) com-
plained to General Pitt, in confequence of the
attack by Serjeant Hughes, which I mentioned

in

1 86 THEIIFEOF

in the lad chapter. This complaint was ren-
dered ineffectual, by our being ordered to fail
in about 12 hours after it was lodged ; fo that
the Central had not time to punilh the muti-
neer, or ciq iiie into the merits of the cafe.

We l;ad not many hours left Portimouth, till
our convoy made a fignal for the fleet todifperfe,
and ro ren(iezvous at Torbay, according to our
orders. While we were fleering for that port.
Captain Wilcocks fufpctfling that the reafon of
the fignal bemg made might be the approach
of fome enemies fnips, and his men not having
been appointed to their quarters, he ordered
them to be muflered. He was in theadl of telling
them off, when a number of foldiers furround-
ed him, and drowned his voice by their noife ;
he defired them to go forward, and not diflurb
him in the execution of his duty on the quarter-
deck ; but they replied that they would Jiay where
they were. He then made application to Enfign
Minchin, who prevailed upon the foldiers to
defift, and fuffer the Captain to continue his bu-
iinefs for the moment in peace ; no other pu-
niihment however was infiided, though we were
foon in harbour, than laying one man under
arreil for the evening.

How far fuch condu(fl was likely to flifle
mutiny I fnall not fay ; but when I remark
that the foldiers on board were a mixture of fo-
reigners

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, iS'-^

reigners and criminals, enliiled from jails, and
induced to enter for fear of vvorfe confequences,
the due recompenfe of their crimes, I thir^k my
readers will agree with me, that the reins of difci-
pline ought to have been held with a ftronghand„
A continuation of mutinous behaviour, eve-
ry day more daring and aggravated, obliged
CaprainWilcocks to addrefs Major General Fox,
who had fent the detachment on board.

A.s the orders which the General had fent on
board, were excellently well calculated for th^
fafety of the fliip, and tne regulation of the
troops ; thefe flagrant acts of mutiny induced
him to acquaint the Duke of Portland with
Captain Wilcocks's letter ; a written declaration,
alluded to in Mr. Black's letter already quoted,
•which I had made, was alfo tranfmitted to his
Grace; and which affords an honourable teflimo-
nial, that however my character might other-
wife have fuifered, as a foldier it ftill remained
unfpotted.

The Duke immediately ordered Lieutenant
Colonel Grofe, the Commander of the New
South Wales Corps, to Torbay, to examine into
the nature and accuracy of the complaint.

It is not perhaps improper for the informa-
tion of fuch of my readers as are unacquainted
with military afairs, to obferve, that it is a
Handing order on board tranfports, that no
lights are to be fuffered, no tobacco to be

imoaked.

lS8 THE LIFE OF

fmoaked, nor cartridges to be allowed to remain
between decks ; all which were grofsly violated
by the foldiers, who, as muft already be evident,
had no refpect for their officers, nor knew any
controul of difcipline.

When the Lieut. Col. came on board heafked
a few queftions of the officers of the ffiip, but ex-
amined more fully fome of the foldiers who were
accufed of the diforders complained of, and
feemed to give credit to their affertions.

The Captain expecting that the fignal for
failing would be made foon, and apprehending
that he might not have time to procure redrefs
from another quarter, requeftcd that the Lieu-
tenant-Colonel would take from the foldiers, the
ball cartridges which Mr. Minchin had left in
their poffcffion, as he entertained apprehenfions
for the fafety of the (hip ; not only from the
difpofition of the foldiers, but from fire that
might be occafioned by their negligence and dif-
order. This moll reafonable requert was refufed
by the Lieutenant-Colonel. The judicious and
foldier-like orders of that moft excellent officer.
Major General Fox, which he had fent on board
■with the detachment, were then called to his
recolledion ; his anfwer was nearly to this pur-
pofc, that the men were then under his (Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Grofe's) command, that General
Fox had no orders to give them. He then re-
turned to his boat, and as he croITcd the deck»

told

. . MAJOR TEMPLE LISLE*

told the Captain that he would return next
morning; but wc favv him no more. The fol-
lowing afternoon, Captain Wilcocks was in-
formed by the keeper of the inn, at Brixhama
" that as foon as the Lieutenant-Colonel landed
" from his vifit to the fliip, he took fome refrelli-
" ment and fet off for London."

Jufl at this time a very fevere gale commenced,
which did much harm to the fleet in general,
difmalled the frigate, under whofe convoy we
failed, and did us fome, though not material
damage; feveral ihips belonging to Admiral Sir
R. Curtis's fquadron, then laying near us, like-
wife loft their mails, and received other in-
juries. The tempe.ft having fome what abated,
after raging two days, if I recollect right, the
frigate was obliged to put into Plymouth to re-
fit, and we with others of the convoy v/ent round
to Falmouth, efcorted by his Majefty's fhip
Scourge, to repairour damages.

The fituation of Captain Wilcocks became
now truly diftreffing, as he was on every fide
furroundcd by embarralTments, and uncertain
how many days, or even hours he might have to
remain in England. In hopes that the fohdiers
would at length behave with more decency and
order, he wilhed to avoid further complaints;
and as the Lieutenant-Colonel feemcd to have
forgotten him and his fhip, he likewife forgot
the Lieutenant-Colonel. But their mutinous

difpofition.

JfjO THE LIFE OF

difpofition, U'hich could not reft even for a day,
plunged us again into confufion.

The foldiers, emboldened by impunity, infulted
equally their own officers, and thofe of the
fhip, till one day, a Corporal daring to flrike
the Chief Mate, in the execution of his duty, the
Captain found himfelf impelled to addrefs the
Minifter, and to furnilh him with a detail of the
condud of the troops, and hisapprehcnfions foi
the fafety of the Ihip. About the fame time,
my own affairs rendering it neceflary for me to
addrefs the Duke of Portland ; I took advantage
of the opportunity, to give my opinion of our
fituation. A few days however put an end to
our hopes, the fignal for failing was fuddenly
made, and we went to fea, before any anfwer
could be received to the Captain's complaints.

Daring our paflage, the fame diforder which
we had fo fenfibly felt in the harbour, prevailed
and even cncreafed ; the fame Corporal, who
Ikuck the Chief Mate with impunity, ftruck and
kicked his officer (Enfign Prater,) at fea; who,
inflcad of punifhing him with inflant dcjath,
lamely fubmitted to the infult.

rf is with heart-felt pride, I write the hatred
entertained towards me, both by the foldiers
and their officers. The former, thought to have
found in me a defperate advocate for mutiny,
ready as themfelves to any ad; of villany or mur-
der:

MAJOR S E M P L E LISLE. I 9 1

dcr; whereas they found a determined enemy to
every thing that tended to the want of difcipline,
and Tubordination ; while the latter werefecretly
enraged, that I fliould have dared to v/rite as I
had done on their fubjecfl to his Majefiy's Mi-
iiifter, and to their Li,eutenant-Colone], who
furnidied them with copies of v.hat I had wrote;
and one of which letters, wherein I defcribe the
intention of thefoldiers, and named thofe whom
I fufpefted to be the ringleaders^ Enfign Min-
chinread to the men on the quarter-deck, while
we were at fea. The foldiers, however, though
they ftruck their own officers and thofe of the
fnip, only threat enedvciQy nor did they ever ven-
ture to approach me, with the intention of put-
ting their threats in execution.

The Captain's friendfhip for me m.erited the
mod grateful return; whenever there was any
difturbance I ranged myfelf by his fide, acon-
du(fl which gave no fmall offence to the muti-
neers; nor at laft, had not thofe whofe duty
niould have induced them to adt far otherwife,
hid themfelves in holes and corners, inftead of
offering a manly refiftance, the miUtiny would
have ended in the death of the infurgents;

During the time we were at fea and under con-
voy, though rebellion appeared every day and
every hour, no attempt was made at feizing the
ihip ; the mutineers well knew that a fignal

would

rga THE LIFE OF

u'ould bring the efcort to adl againft them ; and
they equally knew that they had arms and ammu-
nition adequate to tiicir purpofe, whenever they
fliould think proper to make the attack; refift-
ance they could exped but little of, fmce they
had fo many proofs of the tamenefs of their offi-
cers ; they therefore fuffered us to proceed with- \
out interruption on our courfe. Neverthelefs,
every day was marked by outrages, that loudly
demanded the interference of authority, not
only to quiet, but to difarm the New South
Wales banditti, and inflid: a fignal and exem-
plary punilhmcnt on their infamous ringleaders.
In this ftate of continual apprehenfion, amidft
the terrors of a mutiny we daily expeded to
break out, and which we were only too confci-
ous, (from the caufes already given,) we fhould
not be able to relift, we proceeded on our voy-
age, propoiing to touch at Rio de Janiero\ and
the convoy having left us in the proper latitude
to proceed to their deflination in the Weft India
iflands, we were left to our fate.

C H A P. XVIII.

^he Lady Shore proceeds in fafety ahnojl to Rio de
Jcineiro^ — The mutiny commences, En/ign Min^

chin

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. l^J

'chin r'efufes to a5l. — l^he Captain mortally 'wound-
ed.— Tlye author endeavours to perfnade the officers
of the troops to rally ^ but in vain. — He offers a
variety of pr amicable plans y but without effect. —
At the injiance of the Captain and Minchin^ the
author enters into a treaty with the mutineers. —
Minchin makes hisfubmiffwn; and thefljip is given
up. — The officers vsho hid themfelves; brought to
light. — The Captain's death. — The author wiJJjes
to leave the mefsy but at the foli citation of the offi-
eerSy continues with them. — The officers e?ideavour
to procure a boat from the mutineers to carry them
to Rio Grande. — The author's fir at agem to procure
leave for himfelf and the Purfer to go in the
ioati,

W E proceeded oil dur voyage without any
^vent worth remarking, till we were very near
Rio de Janeiro i in the Brazils. On the ift of
Auguft 1797, about four o'clock in the morn-
ing, I was awaked by the report of fire-arms
and the fcreams of women. I immediately
hafted from my bed toward the hatchway, which
I found flrongly guarded, and near it I met
John Curran, a faijor, who had juft efcaped
from the fcene of bloodihed, then pafling upon
deck; he told me that the foldiers had taken the
fliip, and that if I went near the hatchway, I
Ibould be murdered by the mutineers.

O Captain

ig^ , fHE LfFE OF

Captain Wilcocks occupied the round-houfe,
the Chief Mate, Second Mate, and Purfer, were
in three fmall cabins in the fore-part of it ; in,
cabins between decks abaft, and in the (leerage
were the officers of the troops. Lieutenant
Drummond, of the Bombay Marines, (doing
duty as mate,) the petty officers of the fliip, the
feamen, a paflenger with his family, and my-
felf. • ,

It was the Chief Mate*s watch upon deck; him
Ihad already heard calling aloud that he was
murdered, and fall groaning at the feet of the
affaffins ; the Captain, whom the noife had
alarmed, and who had run upon deck, was im-
mediately mortally wounded, and in that ftate
threv/ himfelf down the hatchway, but retained
llrength enough to drag himfelf into Enfign
Minchin's cabin, and into his bed, which as he
afterwards told me he found empty, the Enlign
with his lady having already crept underneath
it.

At the moment, when the Captain fell down
the hatchway, in front of the ladder, I was be-
hind it, at the cabin of Lieutenant Drummond,
the Surgeon and the Steward, endeavouring to
excite them to adlion, that we might not only
defend ourfelves, but raife force enough to re-
tain polTeffion of the fhip. I found the Steward's
cabin empty, he having abandoned it ; I then.'

went

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I95

Went to Lieutenant Drummond's door, which
communicated with the Surgeon's cabin, and
which was fhut. After knocking and calling
1-epeatedIy on both thefe gentlemen, without
obtaining any anfwer, the door was at length
bpencd. The Steward, who had gone there to
Conceal himfelf, was the firft man I faw ; Lieu-
tenant Drummond was, I biuih to fay it^ under
the bed of the Surgeon, and pofitively refufed
taking any adtive part ; the Surgeon, a very
good and very yOung man, faid but little, but
I am confident, that had thofe whofe duty it
was, made preparations for refinance, he would
not have been backward.

Juft then I heard the Captain calling me to
come to his afliftance; I went round to him im-
mediately, and found him laying in Minchin's
bed, into which he had thrown himfelf. The
bed flood uncommonly high, being more than
three feet from the deck, and under it I difco-
Vered, by the day-light which begun to appear^
Ensign MiNCHiN, the CoiMMANDiNc Offi-
cer, with his wife. In forne fijch fituation, in-
deed, the knowledge I had of the man, and the
clamorous outcry of " Give them the ship !
Give them the ship!" which he had repeat-
edly vociferated at the very beginning of the
confii(5l, taught me to look for him.

The Captain defired me to place him in an

O 9. eafy

Tig6 THE LIFE OF

eafy pofture, and then afked my opinion of our
Htuation. I frankly told him, that although
the prefcrvation of the fhip was no way difficult,
yet I had no hope of it, as I found no difpofi-
tion in thofe who had the power, to make any
attempt; neverthelefs, if any adlive meafures
fhould be deterniined upon, I was ready to lead
the way to the deck. The Captain, the agony
of whofe wounds was encreafcd by feeing that
he had nothing to hope for, feeling the approach
of death, was difpofed rather to expire in peace,
than iingly, and unable to ftand, to oppofe the
fury of the mutineers; Mr. Minchin likewife,
who had now fallied from his retreat, joined the
Captain in conjuring me to go to the hatchway,
to alTure the mutineers that no refinance would
be made, and to entreat that, as they had no op-
pofition to expedl, no more mifchief might be
done. To the Captain I anfwered, that what-
ever might, in his own opinion, tend to his ad-
vantage or convenience, I fliould moft readily
do, but to Enlign Minchin, I felt myfelf, as a
foldier, obliged to fpeak in another tone. Him
I told, that HE, and he only, was the proper
perfon to fpeak to the mutineers ; that they were
committed to his charge, and that it was his
duty TO SUBDUE THEMOR DIE ! I Called to his
recolledtion, that he had more than force fufficient
to infurefuccefs; thatallthe ammunition of every

kind^j

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. I97

kind, except a few mufket-cartridges, were in
our pofTeflion, and that nothing was wanting,
but for him to draw his fword and exert him-
felf ; but that if he thought attacking them on
deck would be attended with more danger than
he deemed prudent to encounter, we had ftill
another and a fafer refource ; that, as well as the
ammunition, we were mafters of the provifions ;
that we had only to defend the hatchways, and
keep the mutineers where they were; and that,
having neither bread nor water in their reach,
want of refreihment and reft would foon reduce
them to fue for mercy on their knees : I even pro-
pofed to him to choak the rudder, and cut away
the mafts between decks, in which cafe the wreck
would have fallen on their heads, and they had
not one implement of any kind to clear it with j
but fuch meafures he did not chufe to adopt,
and repeated his delire of giving up the fhip;
the Captain likewife again folicited me to
communicate his and Eniign Minchin's propo-
litions to the mutineers, as the probable means
oi preventing more murders.

I went therefore to the hatchway, where the
centinels prefentcd their pieces to my head;
but three Frenchmen, a German, and ievcral
Irifh at that moment appearing, I communi-
cated my bufinefs. They remained upon deck,
and myfclf below ; and while we were in that

O 3 lituation^

I^S TH£ LIFE pr

Situation, they allured me that they wiflied not to
hurt any one ; but that they wanted their liber-
ty, and would have it or die: they added, that
if the Captain and Mr. Minchin would come to
the hatchway, and give their word of honou|r
that no reliftance fliould at any time be made,
all fhould be at peace, and we fhould be well
treated. I reprefented to them the Captain's
perilous lituation, and that it was impoflible for
him to be brought to the hatchway, without
encreafing the pain and danger In which he al-
ready was : they then replied that they would
be fatisfied with receiving the declaration of
fubmifTion from Minchin,' and that they would
make me anfwerable for the Captain's future
conduit.

Minchin went to the hatchway, made the
promifes demanded, and delivered up his arms.
This point being fettled, thofe who had hither-
to concealed themfelves began to appear.
Anxious to know the fate of the gentlemen who
lodged in the round-houfe, and of the failors
of the watch on deck, I enquired of the muti-
neers whether many had fallen? They anfwered
me, " But few " I then rcquefted to know if
Mr. Murchifon, the Second Mate, Mr. Black,
the Purfer, (whofe piftols I faw in the hands of
a mutineer,) and Enfign Prater, were alive?
They told me that Murchifon was in the cabin,

fhuc

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, " 199

lliut up under a guard, and that he fliould remain
unhurt, provided he was quiet ; that they fup-
pofed Mr. Black to have been killed and thrown
over-board, as he was no where to be feen ; that
jiis piftois were found loaded at the head of his
bed, and that there was much blood in his cabin ;
but as to Prater they knew nothing about him.
The Chief Mate we already knew to be dead ; fo,
that in addition to this, and the almofl: hopelefs
ftate of the Captain, we apprehended we had to
lament the death of the other two "gentlemen.
However, about nine in the morning, five hours
after the affray was over^ Enlign Prater was
found concealed among the women convids^
and about an hour after, much to our furprife
and fatisfadion, Mr. Black, the Purfer, was
handed down to us.

It now appeared that when the Chief Mate
received his firft wound, he fled into the cabin.
of Mr. Black, and threw himfelf upon that
gentleman in his bed, the mutineers following,
and firing upon him till he received, I think,
eight wounds. Mr. Black, who is a very young
man, at that time not above nineteen, and, as
might be expeded, totally unufed to fcenes of
blood and horror, found himfelf awoke from
his fleep by the noife of fire-arms, and the yell$
of the alTaflins, by whom he was furrounded ;
from the nearnefs of the difcharge, his cabin

O 4 mufl

200 THE LIFE OF

mufl: have feemed filled with fire, and the weight
of his dying friend muft have effedlually pre-
vented him from ufing his arms. Thus embar-
rafTed, furprifed, and on all fides furrounded by
armed ruffians, none conid have fuftained fuch an
aflault but the man who, long accuftomed to the
fhock of war, has learnt to defpife death, and who,
on all occafions, even when the thunder of God
burfi:s round his head, claps his hand to his
fword, and ftands undaunted. Who then can be
aftonilhed that a youth, who neither wearing a
fword, nor bearing a commifiion, confequently
had contra(51ed no obligation to fight or die,
iliould conceal himfelf ? For him, therefore, no
apology is neceflTary ; for the officers of the
New South Wales Corps and Lieutenant Drum-
mond it may be, perhaps, difficult-to find one.
Out" of the reach of the mutineers, furnifhed
with every neccfiary, incapable of being at-
tacked, except by the hatchways, which we
could eafily have blocked, and fufficicntly nu-
merous to have aded upon the offenfive, it is
their province, not mine, to account for their
extraordinary condudl.

Mr. Murchifon had already obtained leave to
join us ; and in fa6t, he and myfelf were the on-
ly two on board whom the mutineers treated
with confiderarion ; him they knew to polTefs
courage ; that he was powerful, and would de-
fend

MAJOR SEMPLE ^ISLE. 20f

fend hiiTifelf with vigour ; and my uniform con-
dud: towards them, from the hour I firft embark-
ed, told them what they had to expedl fron>
xne.

The former differences uhich had fubiTfled
Ibetween the military officers and me feemed
now buried in oblivion, being as it were ab-
forbed in our common misfortune ; my time,
however, was taken up in attending the Cap-
tain, who was very deiirous I fliould not leave
him; and who, after languilliing about forty-
eight hours, expired in my arms. As foon as
his body was committed to the deep, not wifh-
ing to affociate with Minchin, for reafons that
may be colleded from the foregoing narrative,
I left that cabin and returned to my own; but
the fame day, at the hour of dinner, I was fenc
for, and folicited by all, but particularly by
Enligns Minchin and Prater, not to leave them ;
I complied with their requeft, and we were no
more feparated.

Some hours before our unfortunate Captain
was buried, the mutineers did the fame to
one of their comrades, named Delahay, who
was killed in the conflicfl, not, as was firft fup-
pofed, by Mr. Lambert, the Chief Mate, but
by an accidental Ihot from one of their own
party ; on this man's body they affixed the fol-
lowing infcription, " // ejl mort -pour la liberte.'*

Previous

202 THE LIFE OF

Previous to the Captain's death he defired me
to cut oif fome of his hair, to fend to his wife ;
a tafk which I carefully performed.

The direction of the fhip was now in the
hands of a few foreigners, and the knowledge
I had of their different languages often obliged
them to have recourfe to me as their interpre-
ter : thefe fervices enabled me to obtain from
them fome indulgence for my friends and my-
felf, by way of recompenfe. From the moment
we were taken we never ceafed to folicit the
mutineers to give us a boat, that we might land
at Rio de Janiero ; but this they refufed, from an
apprehenlion that fome Portuguefe fhips of
war might by laying there. As they had de-
clared their intention of making for the Rio de
Plafaj and landing at fome of the Spanifh fet-
tlements in that rivery they thought, that if we
reached our port foon, we might procure a
Portuguefe fliip of war to be fent after them,
which might reach the mouth of the Rio de Plata
before the Lady Shore, and thus intercept them.
On this account they pofitively refufed us a
boat, till we fhould be fo far to the fouthward
as to enable them to reach the Rio de Plata be-
fore we fliould be able, in all probability, to
reach the Rio Grande^ the fouthernmoft fettle-
rnent of the Brazils.

Every individual who formed our table (^o^

licitcd

MAJOR 5EMPLE LISLE. 2Q3

Jicited leave to embark in the boat, and all ob-
tained a promife, except Mr. Fyfe, the Surgeon,
and myfelf ; and though the moll adive in the
mutiny were againft my leaving the ihip, as
being ufeful to them, the majority of voices
were in my favour: they alfo entertained an
idea of detaining the Purfer, to furnifh then>
with an account of the quality and value of the
cargo.

Notwithfbanding thefe unfavourable appear-
ances, I fiill flattered myfelf with expectations
of vanquifhing the oppofition that obftrudled
my delires. An opportunity foon offered,
which I feized, and found the means of turning
to the advantage of the Purfer and myfelf; and
this we owed to a report which had reached the
ears of the mutineers, that a cheft of money or
plate^ and a box of watches were fomewhere in
the fhip.

The three Frenchmen, who then governed the
Lady Shore, were defirous that thefe fliould be
^lade their own exclulive property ; they fpokc
to me on the fubjedt, making me very large
promifes if I would obtain them fuch informa-
tion as might enable them to come at it without
the knowledge of their companions. I ,com-
?nunicated this bufinefs to the Purfer, telling
him, that if he knew of any fuch thing in the
|hip, and would give them diredions where to

find

204 TK£ LI FE OF

find it, he would procure his own liberty and
p^ine; for if we were once in a fecret of that
nature and importance, they would, for their
own fecurity, fend us away, in preference to
any other pcrfons. The Purfer affured me that'
there was neither money nor plate in the fhip,
but that in one of the lockers of the cabin there
"U'as a fmall cafe of watches, his property ; and
this information we agreed to give them the fame
evening. Some days previous to that time they
had been in the cuftom of fending for the Purfer
and myfelf every evening, to afTift them in ex-
amining the fliip's papers ; the ufual hour ar-
rived, and we were called for. We found the
three chiefs alone in the cabin : I communica-
ted to them what Mr. Black had told me, and
he pointed out where the watches were. The
cafe contained fifty-two, of different forts ;
they prefented him with fix, and me with two,
of the beft; the reft they divided equally among
themfelves.

This done, I knew no more objedlions could
be made to our departure, and, indeed, from
that moment they became very indulgent to-
wards us. The ringleaders, being naturally
afraid that if we were offended we might expofe
their infidelity to their comrades, were extreme-
ly anxious to furnifli us with an opportunity of
leaving them : in lad we were now become dan-
gerous

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 205

gerous perfons, and their fafe poiTeflion of their
booty rendered our departure highly defireable
to them ; nay, even their lives were held by a
precarious tenor while we remained on board.

After the Ihip was given up the mutineers
never treated us with cruelty; though fenli-ble
of their fituation, they were very cautious :
they kept fentries at the cabin door, and they
would only permit one or two of us at a time
to walk the quarter-deck.

One day Enfign Prater, having got drunk,
entered into converfation with one of the failora
publicly on deck, on the facility of retaking
the (liip : he was over-heard, and the ring-lead-
ers, telling him he fhould be hung in the morn-
ing, hand-cuffed him, and put him to bed,
obferving, that though he^ (Prater,) was no way
formidable, yet, by fpeaking to the failor, he
had incurred the penalty pointed out in the or-
ders they had publiflied, which forbid any offi-
cer to fpeak to a failor or foldier. This ha-
rangue effedually fobered Prater, and put an
end to his military prowefs ; he lay howling in
fuch a manner as was heard to the remoteft
parts of the fhip ; and, as the Purfer has ob-
ferved in his narrative, utterly prevented all
ivho lay near him from fleep.

On Sunday, Auguft the 14th, 1797, the mu-
tineers told us that they intended to give us the

boat

206 THE LIFE OF

boat the next day ; and on Monday morfiing, a^
a preparative to our departure, they brought u5
fon-.e papers, which we were compelled to fign.
One was a certificate, purporting that we engaged
not to carry arms againfl France for a year and
a day ; and there were other certificates for the
petty officers and feamen, fetting forth that they
■were detained, againft their confent, to carry
the fhip into the Ria de Plata. Some of ouf
Tion-refifiing officers pretended to have obferved
an unufual alacrity in the failors in obeying the
orders of the mutineers, and muttered that they
did not deferve fuch certificates ; but I folemnly
declare, that, in my opinion, thefe fufpicions
were unfounded ; and as to the remonftrances
faid to have been made by the officers of the
troops, their condu(5t, as already defcribed, will
hardly give room to fuppofe them too loud*
Befides, we were all in bondage, and no one
durfl refufe any thing required of us : could we
then Monder at the condud of ignorant failors?
In return, the mutineers gave us a certificate
that their infurredion was not owing to any ill
treatment from the Captain or any officer be-
longing to the lliip ; but becaufe they had been
trepanned into the Britifh fervice, without any
means of redrefs, and had otherwife been ill
treated by their Commander. This certificate,
which was committed to my care, does fd much

honour

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 207

honour to the memory of Captain Wilcocks,
and compleatly vindicates him from any charge
of mifcondud to the troops, that I thought ic
my duty to give it to his widow.

CHAP. XIX.

^be officers and fome others are allowed the boat. — •
The author procures leave for a boy committed to
the Captain*s care to go with them, — Obtains
a knozvledge of the fJjip^s place by a fratagem. —
They embarky after being fearched for money. —
Enfign Minchi^i's condufi and good luck. — The
boat fets fail y and meets with a terrible gale, —
She is nearly loft in the breakers as Jhe approaches
the coaft. — Thofe on board forced to throzv their
trunks overboard ; when, in the utmoft diftaefs^
they fee a boat coming towards them. — They make <
the harbour, and are hofpitably received. — M?>/-
chin refufes the Purfer and Mr. Murchifon any
affiflance. — They fend a report of their fituation
io the Governor -General. — Are fent for to Port
St. Pedro, where they are hofpitably received,-^
Their fplendid entertainment by the Governor-Ge^
9%eral. — A fecond report made, in which, as well
as the jirjl^ the author did not join. — Hofpitality

of

^OS tHE LIFE OF

of the Commandant. — The author is prejented.v:iih
a /word by the Governor-General.

On the morning of Monday Auguft the 15th,
1797, the intimation we had received the day
before that we fliould leave the fhip was con-
firmed to us, being then nearly in the latitude
of 34 S. about 60 leagues from the fhore, and
from 80 to 100 from the mouth of Rio Grande;
the boat was hoifted out, and every other ne-
celTary preparation made. Juft then Michael
Richards, a fine boy, about fourteen years of
age, and of very refpedable connexions, who
was entrufted to the care of Captain Wilcocks
before we left Falmouth, and who fmce that
gentleman's death had been abandoned by every
body, folicited me to procure him permiflion to
accompany us. His helplefs fituation deter-
mined me to exert myfelf to procure him the
melancholy privilege he fo much wifhed, and
which feemed entirely necefTary for him : I ap-
plied to the mutineers, and was fuccefsful. 1
took him under my protedion, which he did
not leave till he was reftored to his family.

In the morning a lift of names, twenty-nine
in number, was made out of the perfons whom-
it was determined fhould go in the boat ; this
was delivered to us, and we were informed that
thcfe who had any property might take each

' MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 209

^ne trunk. During the afternoon our baggage
wats fearched, when I found means to conceal
in fome foap a confiderable fum in gold : when
they had taken from us every thing they fan-
cied, they gave us fome provifions, and we
were fufFered to embark.

Previous to our embarkation I had obtained
tL tolerable opportunity of afcertaining where
we were, by the following ftratagem :' The mu-
tineers, not fufpedi ng that a foldier knew any
thing of navigation, had permitted me to fee
them work their * day's works for determining
the fhip's place ; but though I knew fomcthing
of the fciencey I wifhed to have the opinion of
a better judge than myfelf. Mr. Black, b^ing
an incomparable navigator, was the perfon I
wifhed to confulc ; but ihere arofe a coniidera-
ble difficulty in acco.mplifhing my defign, as the
mutineers were not very willing that he Ihould
fee the fliip's log-book, or the chart of the coaft"^
on which they had traced her route.

One of the chief mutineers,, named Thomeoy
who was the bcfl navigator among them, fhew-
td me the chart as ufuaJ, and pointed out to
fne the fituation of the fhip, in which I pre-
tended to differ from him, jocularly offering to

«

■* A term ufed for the calculations everf day made to detci'
mine the (hip's place.

P back

210 r HE Lit 1: Of

back my opinion with the wager of a guinea:
he laughed at my fceming ignorance; but he
was my dupe, and accepted my bet, propoling
to refer it to any perfon who had competent
ability to decide. This was all I wanted, and,
apparently with the greatefl: indifference, I pro-
pofed Mr. Black ; he was accordingly called
for, and allowed to infped: the charts and books :
I payed the lofs of my wager; and we thu's
were enabled to determine our diflance from
Rio Grandey and the courfe we had to fteer, of
which the mutineers feemed inclined to keep us
ignorant. We were compelled to get into the
boat one by one, after being previoufly fearch-
ed for money, contrary to the promife of the
mutineers; none, however, was found; but thty
had previoufly feized about a hundred dollars
which Minchin had to pay the foldiers, and
which was the property of government ; for
this they gave him a receipt for a hundred pounds,,
with a view of enabling him to recover that
amount from the State. He had fo little bag-
gage that he not only faved it all, but fucceeded
in getting fafely to fliore eighteen ivhole pieces of
printed cotton, and fome packages of Jlockings and
"uoomen's JhoeSy which Mr. Black had thrown
down in the cabin the day we were preparing to
embark.

About half-paft fix in the evening wc left the

fliip,

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 211

fhip, and, anxious to make land as foon
as pofiible, fleered but little to the north-
ivard of weft. At our departure the weather
■was tolerably moderate ; before midnight we
were afTailed by a moft violent ftorm, attended by
the heavieft rains I ever witnelTed. The tempeft
fomewhat fubfided toward mornins", but as we
approached the land, blew with redoubled fury;
fortunately we had fixed up fome ftanchions on
the boat's gunwale ; and nailed a breadth of can-
vas, brought with us for that purpofe, fore and
aft, which we found of great ufe in keeping off
the fpray ; and to this wc owed much of our
prefcrvation.

Mr. Black, Mr. Murchifon, the Second
Mate, and Mr. Drummund undertook the ma-
nagement of the boat ; Enlign Prater, who, in
his earlier days, had been fome voyageis to the
Eaft Indies and other parts, being fuppofed
fomething of a failor, was added to their num-
ber ; myfelf and the others were conftantly em-
ployed in bailing ; for, independent of the boat
being very leaky, the fea run fo high, and the
rain fell fo heavy, that fhe was continually
filling with water. The quick and violent mo-
tion made even the beft feamen fick ; poor Black
was rendered incapable of adion, and Prater,
after all his profeflions, was in due form pro-
nounced neither failor nor Joldicr ; he was turned

P 2 from

212 TflE LIFE O^

from the helm, and I took his place. Tof dc~
fcribe our fituation is no cafy tafk ; expedir^g
every inftant to pcrifh, lumbered with baggage,
with lick ufelefs foldiers, women, and children,
loaded almoft to the water's edge, and the
crowd fo great that in going back and forward to
work the boat we were obliged to tread on the
carcafes of thofe whom licknefs or fear had
forced to lie down.

On the morning of the fecond day we had
foundings, and early in the fore-noon faw land,
which we knew to be the flat fandy coaft which
runs from the fouthward of Rio Grande to Qipe
St. Mary's on iht Rio d(^ Plata. The extreme
lownefs of the coaft caufes the breakers to run
very high and very far into the fea, in fo much,
that had the coad promifed food and fhelter, we
could not have reached it alive, as the boat mufl:
have fwamped in the breakers ; we therefore
determined to fteer more to the northward, ftill
keeping the coafl: in fight. That day we had an
imperfect obfervation, according to which we
were then above 20 leagues to the fouthward of
Rio Grande ; and, though the boat feemed almoft
to fiy through the water, we did not expect to
make the widied-for river that day. A ftrong
current that fet from the fouth having, however,
carried us beyond our reckoning, we were fur-
priCt^d, about 3 P, M., to fee fomething re-

fembling

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 213

fembling the maft of a fhip ; we Hood towards
it, and found it to be a wreck; ftill no land was
to be fcen, but we perceived, more in fliore, fe-
veral mails which we concluded w^ere of velTels
laying at anchor, and though on Handing yet
farther in, nothing w^as to be feen as far as the
eye could reach but fand, we were convinced it
muft be the mou£h of Rio Grande^ lince we
knew that the coaft from thence to the Rio de
Plata does not afford a fingle harbour.

The banks, which run far into the fea, made
our lituation horrible, as we feemed to be em-
bayed by breakers. There did not appear any
retreat for us, nor any podibilily of fafety, ex-
cept ftanding to fea, and that, with the gale ftill
blowing in all its violence, and night advancing,
offered only a forlorn hope. Befet with dangers
and threatened on all lides with fudden diffolu-
tion, one bold and laft effort remained ; we de-
termined to ftand through the breakers and to
fteer a dired courfe for the Ihips we faw riding
at anchor!

On approaching the Ihore I had yielded the
helm to an able pilot. Lieutenant Drummond ;
confident in his fkill, forwards we went, while
all who dared look up, fixed their eyes on the
tremendous breakers we were about to encoun-
ter, and waited in filence that fate which feemed
inevitable. In an inftant the fea burfl over us

P 3 in

214 THE LIFE OF

in every direction, ourquarter-cloaths were torn
away, and the boat was filling with water. Mr.
Drummond, fuppoling that nothing could fave
us but lightening her, called out to throw the
trunks overboard, and delired me to drive thofe
forward who v/ere abaft. . Mr. Murchifon (the
Mate} with that manly promptnefs and libe-
rality which he never fails to difplay, fet the
example with his own trunk ; the baggage was
thrown overboard without diftindion till we
fufficiently lightened our vcf^d^ and thus to his
and Mr. Drummond's fkill and activity we are
indebted for our exigence. Having" palTed the
lirft range of breakers, and finding ourfclves in
much fmoother water, but ftill with breakers
between us and the fnore, we came to an anchor,
and hoifted an Englifh jack at the mail head ;
but this the violence of the wind compelled us
to lower the moment it was hoifled. We were,
however, perceived by the fignal-houfe at the
mouth of the river, which anfvvered us with a
Portuguefe flag, and by the help of a glafs we
could fee a boat coming towards us ; but find-
ing we were fafl driving ro fome breakers which
lay between us and a point of land that runs out
into the fca, we again got under fail and flood
for the river.

•Providence di reded us to the right channel,
and we met the boat very near the fhore. The

Mafter

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2I5

Maf\er Pilot, and a Captain gf militia were in
her, who received us with the utmofl kinidnefs,
and conduded us to the houfe of the former,
where nothing that could give us comfort was
omitted by that good man and his family. Mr.
Black, Mr. Murchifon, and feveral others landed
with all their polTeffions on their bac k, their trunks
having been thrown overboard. The former of
thefe gentlemen naturally applied to Enfign
Minchin, who had, as before obferved, faved
jnore than his own haggagCy but to little purpofe,
and he abfolutely was forced to alk me for a
change of linen. This was the more vexatious,
as Mr. Black had a compleat claim on him on
account of the goods which Mrs. Minchin had
iaved, and which were the property of Mr.
Black ; however, as my baggage had cfcaped, I
had the pleafure of fupplying both him and Mr.
Murchifon.

When we had reftcd about an hour the Pilot
requefted that we would inform him wlio we
were, the better to enable him to make his re-
port to the Governor-General of the province,
Lieutenant-General Sebaftian Xavier da Vega
Cabral e Cemara, who then, on account of the
probability of war with Spain, refided at Fort
St. Pedro, above four leagues up the river ; he
added, that we mull remain where we v.'ere until
an anfwer came from his Excellency,

P 4 ^ It

3l6 THE LIFE ©F

It was natural for me to wifh that the difad-
vantacjes under which I laboured fhould not be
unnecellarily publiflied ; I well knew tliat nei--
ther Mr. Black nor Mr. Murchifon, tlic Mate,
v/tre capable of an unkind adion, nor did I en-
tertain any doubts of Mr. Drummond. I had
done every thing for the general good, and I was
fure, that from them at leaf!:, 1 Hiould meet
with a proper return; but my opinion of the
Enfigns Minchin and Prater was very different.
I therefore called thofe two into another room,
and requefted them to tell me what was their
intention in regard to me. They both anfwered,
by all means to conceal every thing difagreeable,
for that it was not their bufincfs to publifli my
misfortunes. 1 told them, that though I was
fenfible of their kindncfs I was indifferent to
what they might have determined ; but that it
was neceffary before I faw the General, that I
fhould know what their determination was. J
cautioned them at the fame time not to deceive
ine, bi^t if they thought it their duty, or felt
difpofed to relate my circumftances to the Ge-
neral, to fay fo, and I would do the fame, when
his Excellency would act as he thought proper.
If, however, they firft concealed and afterwards
expofed me, they Would only expofe thcmfelves,
and might be alTurcd, that I would not peace-
ably fubmit to any thing fo mortifying. They
■ ' - then

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. S I7

then repeated, that it could never be their inten-
tion in ^ny report they plight be required tp
make, to fay more on my fabjecb than my name
and military rank. On this 1 left them, and the^
■propofed to Mr. Murchifon, Mr. Blacl^,&c. to
do the fame, to which they readily confcntcd, and
the report of the fhip's name, the place of our def-
tination, with thenames and rank of every indivi-
dual was given to the pilot, in which I was ftyled
Major Semple Lille (a Dutch oflicer) a pajjenger.
The Pilot conveyed this report to the Go-
vernor-General, and the next morning his Ex-
cellency fent a Non-commiflioned Officer with
his inftrucftipns. The Pilot was by thefe di-
reded to fend all who were Officers immediate-
ly up the river to him, for that he would not
dine until they arrived, and the foldiers and
women were ordered to follow in our own boat ;
Eniign Minchin, with his Lady, Prater, the
Purfer, and myfelf, accordingly embarked in
the Pilot's boat, while Mr. Drummpnd and Mr.
Murchifon remained to take charge of the
launch and fuch bagage as we had not been com-
pelled to throw overboard.

■ We had not proceeded more than a league up
the river» before we met the General's barge,
with an officer, who informed us, that he was
fcnt by his Excellency to congratulate us on our
efcape, and to condutfl us to the town ; wc

thereupon

2l8 " THELIFEOF

thereupon went into the General's barge, and
foon reached Fort St. Pedro.

\\ e found the Governor-General in a large
audience-chamber at the head of the Officers of
the garrifon all in full uniform. The benevo-
lence apparent in his countenance, his manly
form and the elegance of his manners filled me
with admiration and refpedl, and infpired me
with ideas of the mod favourable kind, which
a further knowledge amply confirmed. That
inimitable General, having fpent the lafl: thirty
years of his life entirely in the Brazils, would
not that day venture to fpeak to us in French,
as the few opporturritics he h;id enjoyed of con-
verfing in that language, might, he apprehended,
have rendered him unable to exprefs himfelf in
the manner he could wifli ; -but a Lieutenant-
Colonel of Engineers, converfant in that lan-
guage, was commanded by the General to en-
quire into our adventures, and to affure us that
his Excellency would give us every afliftance in

his power.

The Lieutenant-Colonel immediately addref-
fed himfelf to me ; but anxious as I was to
avoid, as far as might be, implicating myfelf in
any concerns of the officers or foldiers, I told
him that I had not, as he might perceive by the
report fent from the mouth of the river, any
authority or connection either with the fhip or

the

IVIAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 21^

the troops ; that for information in whatever
regarded them, his beft way would be to addrefs
himfelf to the proper officers who were no doubt
able to account for the mutiny, and to explain
their own condud, fubjeds upon which I did not
widi to talk J I then pointed out to him Enfign
Pratei-, who I informed him could fpeak French,
and that the Steward, who was 1 ike wife prefent^
could fpeak both French and Italian.

The bulinefs having been by them explained
to his Excellency, he informed the officers of
the troops that we fhould experience the libera-
lity due to the fubjeds of an antient ally of the
Queen his Sovereign, and that they and the fol-
diers fliould be treated as his- Britannic Majefty's
troops were on his own eftabliiliment. The
General then did me the honour to addrefs a
few w^ords to me, and we' took leave till the hour
of dinner.

To amufe us till the table was prepared, a
number of officers conduded us to the houfeof
the Commandant Colonel Manuel Marquez de
Lima de Soiiza. There we found a laro^e com-
pany, who were affembled for the purpofe of
offering their fervices, and congratulating us on
our happy arrival in their country. Various
refreffiments were prefented to us, and among
the reft, fome extremely fine bottled porter,
which, as that part of Brazil has no traffic what-
ever

220 ., THE LirE Oi'

,cycr with any other quarter of the world, is
cfteemed more than Imperial Tokai is in Great
Britain. Every individual of this truly refpec-
table afTemblage loaded us with carefles, and
fcemed to vie with each other in adls of kind-
jicfs towards us.

We returned to the General's about four,
\vheii dinner was announced, and we were moft
fumptuoufly entertained ; we fat down, about
forty in numberp to a fplendid dinner of three
courfes, and an elegant defert ; but fuch is the
&y\c in which his Excellency lives.

In the evening we were conducfled to the
quarters which had been provided for us. His
Excellency had already diflinguillied me, and
faid, as wc took leave, that as he was unable to
accommodate me jn his own houfe, he had di-
recled haU of his Adjutant-General's to be pre-
pared for me ; Lieutenant Drummond exprefled
a delire to be lodged with me ; when, finding
there was fufficient room, I requefted that a bed
might be prepared for him which was accord-
ingly done. Next morning the Lieutenant-Co-
lonel of engineers, who had a<fled as interpreter
the day before, came to my quarters to require
that I would accompany him to the General'^?.
In compliance with this rcqued I immediately
went, when, after fome convcrfation on various
fubjecis, his Excellency told me, that it would

be

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE d*/

be necefTary for me, together with the officers
of the fliip and troops, to rnake a report of every
particular regarding our voyage, to be tranf-
mitced to the Viceroy. I told his Excellency,
that, fituated as I was, 1 cou!d make no report,
as I had not the honour to ferve Britain ; I had
even left it under unpleafant circumRances,
and had no concern whatever with the fliip or
troops, being only a paiTenger, as his Excel-
lency would perceive by the report made by his
Majefty's officers and thofe of the fnip, on onr
arrival in his government. The General's re-
queft was therefore communicated to Enfign
Minchin, and the other gentlemen, who, in con-
fequence, drew up a report every way fimilar to
the former one, but more ample ; it was figned
by all, myfelf accepted, and certified regularly
to be a TRUE report. In this document Mr,
Minchin ftyled himfelf Lieutenant and Adjutant,
a title which he had indeed affumed from the
day we left Falmouth, faying, that he had that
day received his promotion.

The invitation to dine with the General was
continued during our ftay, and it was further
intimated to me, that his Excellency wifhed to
fee me every morning at eight o'clock. On the
third day, waiting upon him according to hi??
defire, he moll politely addreffcd me, telling mc,
he was confident no man deferved better to wear
^- . ■ • X

. 422 THE LIFE (j) F

a fword than myfelf, and concluded by prefent-
ing me with a mofl elegant ane.

Flattering as it was to be thus diflinguiflied
by this excellent and accompliflicd General,
Hill my pleafure was not totally unmixed with
pain. I knew the effed this diftindion would
have on the mirvds of our military gentlemen^ and
apprehended fome unplealing event in confe-
quence of their envy; I however continued my
exertions to acquire and to deferve the friend-
fliip and protection of his Excellency, and the
efteem of the garrifon.

CHAP. XX

News comes of the Lady Shore heing hrought inl(}
Monte Video on the Rio da Plata. — Enfign Min-
chin and the Pur/er fend each a report to the
Spanifj Governor. — Enfign' Prater's behaviour to
the author y and the confequences of it. — Prater,
"iZ^ho was in difgracey again admitted to the Ge^
neral's table at the author's ittlercejfion. — De-^
fcriplion of the province of Rio Grande, the man-^
ners of the inhabit ants, and their uncomynon ho/pi--
tality. — Scandalous hehaviour of the EnglifJj foU
diers. — A child of one of the Englfh foldiers

chrifened

' MAJOPv SEMPLE LISLE. 22^^

chri/iened at Port St. Pedro. — fhe Governor and
a Lady of diftmBion Jiand fponfors. — 'The Author
and his companions prepare to leave Rio Grande,
. — Detained hy contrary winds. — The mode of
catching zvi/d cattle in that country. — The author
refolves to go over land to Rio JanierOy and obtains
the Governor's leave for that purpofe. — The fame
favour refufed to Mr. Minchin,

About the middle of September, the Gene-
ral received a letter from the Governor of
Monte Video, a Spanifli fettlement on the north
lide of the Rio de Plata, acquainting him that
an EngliQi fhip had been brought in there by
mutineers ; that the fhip's name was the Lady
Shore, bound for Botany Bay, with Britilh fo!-
diers and female convi6ls ; that the Frenchmen
who then commanded her, declared that they
had revolted in confequence of having been

FORCED INTO THE SERVICE AS SOLDIERS;

that they had made themfelves mailers of the
fhip near the Rio Grande ; in doing which the
Captain, Chief Mate, and a foldier were killed,
and that they had given the fliip's launch, with
all things necelTary, to a Major, two officers of
the troops, two of the fliip, and feveral others,
at fome diftance from Rio Grande. The Go-
vernor of Monte Video exprefTed the greatefl
concern to know whether we got fafely on

Ihore,

524 "^^"^^ LIFE O?

fliore, and Solicited his Excellency, in cafe \vd
were with hiin> to engage us to fend him a re-
port of the tranfadion: he added, that he wars
the more anxious for this, as he could rely upon
our report, though not upon that of the muti-
neers.

Ilis Excellency communicated the purport of
this letter to me, and urged me to make a re-
port, to be tranfmitted to the Governor of
Mante Video ; but 1 returned the fame anfwer
that I had done before, and excufed myfelf to
him as having no command in the lliip, and
having left home in difgrace.

Two reports were tKen made, one by Enfignt
iviinchin, and one by Mr. Black, the Purfer ;
the latter was dcine with candour^ good fenfe»
and propriety ; but the former was of a very
different dcfcriptiori. Minchin, whether he
really thought what he wrote, or whether Hsr
had private reafons for mifrcprcfentation, re-
peated the ridiculous charge which has been al-
ready hinted, of the prompt obedience of the
failors to the mutineers ; this he reprefented iff
a criminal light, though it was evident to every
pcrfon on board that they only obeyed from ne-
^cflity, and becaufe ai refufal would, in all pro-
"bability, have been punifhed with deat'h.

The Surgeon of the Ihip, a fpifited, amiable^
aind intelligent young man, had, as I before ob-.-

fervedi

Major semple lisle: 225

ferved, been forcibly detained by the muti-
neers ; for him I entertained the high regard he
fo well deferved, and, by the advice of his Excel-
lency General da Veiga, wrote a letter to the
Governor, in which I accounted for not making
a report, intreating him to diftinguilh that me-
ritorious young gentleman, and as an ad of
juflice and humanity, to enable him to return
to London as foon as poflible. I addrefled, a;
the fame time, another to the Surgeon, both of
which the General indulgently inclofed in his
own letter to the Governor of Monte Video y and
which he difpatched by a courier.

The effed: which the partiality the General
did me the honour to beflow upon me, began
now to manifcll: itfelf in the condud of fome of
my companions. Enfign Prater, in contempt
and contradidion of the various reports he had
iigned, in violation of every focial tic which
arofe from thofe habits of intimacy in which we
lived from the day of our arrival at Rio Grknde,
gave a loofe to that malice he could no longer
contain. He not only divulged what, by the
common confent of all parties, was judged pro-
per to be concealed, but uttered a number of
malicious (landers againft me. Thefe his brother
Enfign reported to me, with many fevere flric-
tures onfuch unwarrantable condud; and added,
that, as he had put us all in an aukward fitua-

Q tiou.

226 THE LIFE OP

tion, if I was difpofcd to let him pafs unpu-^
nifhed, he 'Would not.

In the courfe of a few minutes, and while I
was yet glowing with feelings much eafier to be
imagined than defcribed, I faw Prater walking
with Mr. Murchifon, the IViate, in the ftreet.
Smitten with confcious guilt, he ficd, and at-
tempted to hide himfelf in the houfe of a
burgher; I followed, and, having reached him,
faid, that, though I felt more afhamed than
proud of drawing my fword againfl him, ftill
the wanton flanders he had uttered had placed
me in fuch a fituation, in a ftrange country, as
reduced me to the neccflity of vindicating my-
fclf with the arms of a foldier; he had there-
fore no remedy, no hope, but in a manly de*
fence. He flood hefitating, and I was tempted
to haHicn him by a hearty kick, but in vain ; I
told him, that, after having abufed me in the
manner he had done, he could not hope to
fcreen himfcIf behind his want of courage; llill
he refufed to drav/. My fword was already in
my hand, and my point direifted to his bofom,
when Mr. Murchifon, the Mate, (who, together
with the Steward, into whofc quarters he had
fled, and was prefent at the whole affair,) feized
my arm ; and, perhaps, prevented me from do-
ing that, in a paroxyfm of paffion, which might
have em.bitiered every cool moment of my fu-
ture

MAJOR SEHPLE LISLE. 22:7

tiire life. I, however, made him leave rne his
fword, and then permitted him to fly; but un-
fortunately, Mr. Murchifon, whofe goodnefs of
heart induced him to interfere, received a fevere
wound acrofs his hand, when he threw himfelf
before me to fave Prater.

That night I was put in arreft by the Com-
mandant, who, early in the morning, carried
me to the Governor; by that excellent General
I was treated with great and even unufual kind-
ncfs ; and had the proud fatisfadion to hear
from himfelf the warmed encomium on my
condudt, which he faid had given me a frelh.
claim to his friendfhip. Mr. Minchin 1-ikewifc
waited on hrs Excellency, to exprefs his difap-
probation of his brother officer's conduct; and
faid, that though I hati fulfered fome difficul-
ties in my awn country, which it was not his
bufinefs to explain, ftill Prater, as well as him-
felf, knew me to be a gentleman and an old
officer. I then wifhed to relate to the General
all the circumflances of my difgrace; but that
truly great man impofed filence upon me, fay-
ing, " I will not fuffer you to call to your me-
*' mory any painful event."

Prater, as well as myfelf, had been put under
arreft, and was not yet enlarged; I folicited
his Excellency to difcharge him, promifmg
upon my honour, that I would no more lift my

Q 2 ha^nd

2S8 THE LIFE OF

againft him while in the government of Ris
Grande ; his Excellency replied, that after fuch
a promif e from me, itwas no longer neceffary
to keep Prater in confinement, for he was con-
fident that there was no danger of that gentleman's-
attacking me. He therefore ordered an Aid-du-
Camp to announce to him that he was at liber-
ty ; but that his appearance at the General's
table would be difpenfed with for the future.

The next morning Prater fent to me to pro-
pofe to make any apology I might require ; I
anfwered him, that / could receive no apology
from him, but I thought he would do well to
apologize to the Governor for the impropriety
of his condudl. He accordingly fent to the '
Colonel of engineers, the General's Aid-du-
Camp, and myfclf, and addrefhng himfelf to
them, he begged of them to afliire his Excel-
lency that he lamented his mifcondudl ; and
iblemnly declared thai what he had done pro-
ceeded from the effects of envy and wine.
This meflage was immediately delivered to the
General, who fmiled and faid, " Tell the poor
gentleman to come and dine at my table when
he pleafes ;" and Prater, to the utter af-
tonifliment of every one who knew the tranfac-
tion, never failed to appear at dinner as if no-
thing had happened.

The province of Rio Grande lies about tho..

6th

MAJO^ SEMPLE LISLE, 229

€th degree of fouth latitude, and 34th of weft
longitude; the foii is extremely fertile, pro-
ducing all things in the greateft abundance,
with which the inhabitants are well fupplied ;
in fad, the luxury of the firft clafs of the people
is excefliv.e, and fnch as one would fcarcely expedt
in a place almoft fhut out from the reft of the
world. The town of Port St. Pedro is fituated
about four kagues from the mo,uth of the river,
from which the province takes its name ; it it
jnoftly of wood, ill-built, and ftraggling, with
very hvj good houfes ; nor did I fee above two
or three that confifted of more than one floor.
The Governor's houfe is fmall, but conveni-
enient and laid out entirely on a military plan.
It confifts of a fuitc of apartments, all on the
ground floor. There is a handfome cathedral,
with very fuitable eftabliiliments about it;
and I fhould fuppofe that here, as well as every
where, the clergy are well taken care of.

The people, unlike thofe of the mother
country, are remarkably clean, and drefs in a
fplcndid manner; their linen, which feems with
them a favourite article of drefs, is exceedingly
fine, and is always fo clean that it really prepof-
fefTes a ftranger in their favour ; notv/ithftanding
I have ever carried cleanlinefs to a finical nice-
ty, I made but a fecond-rate figure at Port St.
Pedro ; for fuch is the cfFed: of the fun, and the

Q 3 pure

2.20 THE LIFE OF

pure water, that their linen is white beyond al!
imagination.

,y The hofpitality of the Rio-grandians far exceeds
all I ever faw in any other part of the world ;
they are not contented with the cool civility
which is dignified with the name of hofpitality
in other countries; they court the fociety of
ftrangrers, merely for the fake of heaping bene-
iits upon thern, and they are ever upon the
watch for opportunities to do fervice to all that
approach their dwellings. I have already faid
a {tw words on the manner in which the officers
were treated, but Brazilian hofpitality flopt not
here; the inhabitants followed the very foldicrs
in the flreets, giving them" invitations to their
houfes, and prefling favours upon them. How
the foldiers returned thefe acfts of lyindnefs will
be feen hereafter.

Befides the regular forces, the whole males
are enrolled in the militia, and form, if not per-
haps the befl difciplined, by far the beft dreffed
corps in the world ; their wailTcoats and
breeches are generally filk, as are the linings of
their coats ; thefe, with the exceflive whitenefs
and cleannefs of their linen, render their ap-,
pearance truly elegant.

The orderly and civilized manners of this
elegant corps formed a ftriking contrafl: to the
pthavjour of our Britifh foldiers (two Serjeants,

twq

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. > £3!

tw© Corporals, and two privates) who were
there. Thefe heroes were perpetually quarrel-
ling, not only among themfelves, and with their
own officers, bui with their benefadors in the
town, on whom they never failed to. beftow
every abufive epithet their knowledge of the
Portuguefe language afforded the.in, by way of
return for the civilities they received. This irre-
gular and brutal conduft occafioned the Genc-
jal, though the mildeft and molt humane man
living, to imprifon them in the guard-houfe;
jiay, fuch was their behaviour, that during the
feven weeks we were there, they were never all
at liberty. So much was his Excellency dif-
pleafed with them, that I have heard him re^
peatedjy fay, he would rather fend them home
at his own expence, than fuffer them to remain
in the country he governed ; and all the officers
of the garrifon declared with one voice, that for
jthe laft ten years fo many puniflim-ents had not
been known in that country. Sorry am I. to
add, that fo frequent vilitors thefe foldiers were
to the prifon, that the inhabitants gave it the
name of the Englijb bari-flcks,

I might fill a volunie with particular inflances
Df the kindnefs vye experienced, but the follow-
ing will certainly fliew that the foldiers ought
to have at Icaft comported themfelve'? with
Recency. One of their wives who came with

Q 4 «5

232 THE LIFE OF

US had been brought to bed a few days before
we left the fliip j the infant as well as the mo-
ther arrived fafe> and were by a Brigadier-Ge-
neral's widow, received into her houfe. She
cloathed the mother, and finding the child
had not yet been chrifiened, refolved to hav6
that ceremony performed according to the rites
of the church of Rome. A chriftening is a very
important concern in this country, and ma-
naged with much fplendor; accordingly the
foldier's wife was dreiTed very handfomely, or-
namented with diam.onds which the lady lent
her. The Brigadier's widow and the General
Hood fponfors ; the ceremony was conduded in
a moft magnificent ftyle, and when it was over,
the General prefented the father with a fmall
fum, which would probably afterwards have
been augmented, had not his mifcondud: pre-
cluded his Excellency's bounty.

We had been fix weeks in Rio GrandSy every
day experiencing frefli marks of kindnefs from
the General and the inhabitants ; it may indeed
be truly faid, that his Excellency makes huma-
nity his employment, and that thofe under him
iirive to imitate him. To myfelf he was conti-
nually fhewing new proofs of friendfhip, and
when I was about to go, earnefily intreated me
to remain with him; an invitation too ho-
fiourable and too flattering to have been de-
clined.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 235

clined, had I not, for many reafons, thought my
prefence in Britain abfolutely neceffary.

About the 20th of September we prepared to
go on board fome coafting veffels for Rio de
Janeiro I- Enfign Minchin, his Lady, the Purfer^
and myfelf, embarked in one veflel, and EnfigQ
Prater, Mr. Drummond, the foldiers' wives,
and the reft of our company on board four
others. The General made me feveral valuable
prefents at my departure, and belides filled our
Hiip with abundance of all kinds of provifions
for the palTage.

The wind proving unfavourable we remained
three weeks at the mouth of the harbour, where
we amufcd ourfelves with fhooting. We found
vaft numbers of a kind of plover, called by the
Portuguefe ^ero-^ero, from their cry ; par-
tridges are by no means plentiful, but there are
abundance of fnipes, ftorks, fea parrots, &c.
The great number of vultures that abound here
are a real bleffing to the inhabitants, who kill
every year vaft quantities of wild cattle for the
fake of the fkins ; the carcafes which they leave
in the woods would, by their putrefadlion, occa-
lion peftilence, did not they find a ready fepul-
chre in the rapacious maws of thefe voracious
birds.

They take thefe cattle in a very fingular
manner. One of their methods is by means of

a

234 THE LIFZ OF

a thong of plaited leather, from thirty to forty
feet in length ; a ring of iron at one end ferves
to pafs the other end through, and thus form a
running noofe. The Indian who ufes this, gets
within reach of a horfe or bullock, and taking a
large coil of the thong in his right hand, and
leveral others ready to veer away in his left ; he
dexteroufly thro\\s it over the animal's head,
while he is flying from him full fpeed, and by a
fudden check brings him to the ground. Their
Cither method is by three balls connected by a
thong, two of which are about three inches in
diameter, and the third, which is to be held in
the hand about two inches. The hunter, when
Jiewifhes to ufe this, takes the fmall ball in his
right-hand, and fwings the other two round his
head till he has got the proper aim and velocity;
he then throws it at the legs of the animal he is
purfuing, with fuch dexterity, as either to break
or entangle them as he thinks fit. With thefe
inftruments, it is computed that from three to
four hundred thoufand head of cattle are finng-
ally flaughtered.

"We were feveral days detained by contrary
winds, and it being the general opinion of all
who knew the coafl:, that the wind would not
fhift till the moon changed, my anxiety to re-
turn to Europe increafed, and my natural im
patience of temper rendered me quite unhappy.

X

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 235

I'therefore refolvcd to folicit the Governor ot
permit me to go over land, in fpite of the dan-
ger and difficulty attending fuch an expedition ;
but beforfc I applied to his Excellency I pre-
vailed on Mr. Black the Purfer^ to promife to
accompany me.

In confcquence of this resolution I difpatched
a meffenger to his Excellency the General, who,
with his ufual kindnefs and politenefs, returned
me an immediate anfvver, allowing me to go
when I p leafed, and to take with me whom I
might chufe.

Next morning, at day-break, wedifembarked
to return to town. When we left the fliip the
wind was contrary, but juft as we reached the
fliore it chopped about ; the pilqt made the
lignal for the veflels, ten in all, to weigh ; we
ftood on the brink of the river, and, with fome
regret, fa.\v them Hand to fea, and every fnip,
except that which we had juft left, pafs the bar
in fafety. She ftruck upon a bank, and a vio-
lent gale fpringing up at that moment, the pilot
went to her alliftance, but thinking her loft, his
ovi'n boat and the fnip's launch took out all the
perfons on board. Mr. and Mrs. Minchin faved
all their property, but Mr. Black's trunk and
mine were left on board, and the ihip prefently
after going to pieces, the unfortunate Purfer was
jigain ftripped oi^ almoft every thing.

Mr,

236 THE LIfE Of

Mr. Minchin landed on the north llde of the
river, which is very broad, and we were on the
fouth, where no boat was to be had ; they there-
fore went to the pilot's, and we mounted our
horfes to proceed to the town. The General
had already learnt from the fignals, that one of
the fhips had been lofi: on the bank ; from us he
learnt all the particulars, and next morning
fent his barge to bring Mr. and Mrs. Minchin to
town.

Mr. Minchin requeued the General to permit
him to proceed over land, but his Excellency
thought proper to refufe, telling him, that he
would provide him a pafHige in one of the next
Ihips, which would fail in the courfe of a few
days. Thc^General added, that fuch an indul-
gence was very unufual, and that his granting it
to me was purely the effc(5t of private friend-
ihip, as he muft anfwer himfclf for any confe*
quenccs that might cnfue.

CHAP. XXI.

^The author prepares for his journey , accompanied by
Mr. Blacky Richards a >boy^ a Brazilian Jervant ^
izvo dragoons^ and iivo Indians. — Set outy and lay
the jirjl night at Tropa Velha^ uihere the country
pegi^ls to g'i'ow fertile. — Elegant entertainment

there.

SIAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 237

ihcre, — JDine at the hut of a poor Farmer. — Sleep
at the houfe of an officer of auxiliary dragoms,
Ivhere the entertainment is magnificent, — Remark-^
able fituat ion of Moifiardio. — Manner of marking
horfes on the royal farms. — Dexterity of the In-
dians in the ufe of tzvo very fingular zveapons. — jf
merry prank played on a Farmer. — Torres^ a fort
€n the frontiers of the province of Rio Grande, de-
fer ipt ion of if ; vafi number of feals there. — Bra-
zilian cavalry. — Chara^cr of the inhabitants of-
Rio Grande. — Farinha, a root iifed as afuhflitute
for bread. — Difficulty in croffiing a large river. —
A curious old Frenchman. — Extraordinary mode of
fifhing. — Mountains near Laguna. — Part zvitb
their former guides. — From Laguna the road to--
wards St.Catharine''s very bad. — Stop at a whale
fif^jcry, and next day arrive at St. Catharine's..

W E now prepared for our journey, with the
fatigues of which we were made fully acquaint-
ed, both by the General and others, who kncM^
and had experienced them. They reprcfented
to me in very urgent terms, that none but a
ftrong man inured to fatigue, could fupporC
fuch an expedition, through a country in many
places defolate, and in all but thinly inhabited;
for my fafety they exprelTcd no apprehenlion, as
my habits had ever been of the laborious and
cnterpriiing kind ; but they with a well-rneanc

earneftneis

238 tHE LIFE Of

carneftncfs of intreaty, defired me by no mejJns
to think of taking Mr. Black or the boy Richards
with mc.

Though Mr. Black was not an expert horfe-
man, and the boy had never been in the faddle ;
the former treated the fatigue and danger with
contempt, and I was moreover, befides the vvifn
I had for fuch a companion, bound to him by a
promife ; as for the boy, his artlcfs intreaties
"were irrefiftible ; and he had fo long been ufed
to look up to me as his only proteclor, that he
v/ould not be dilTuadcd ; I was therefore obliged
to permit him to join in the expedition.

The mode of travelling in that country is
truly fingular. There are no inns or any place
"where frefh horfes may be regularly procured,
the traveller therefore takes with him hom fifty
to a hundred horfes y by far the greater part of which
have never been mounted; thefe are driven be-
fore him quite ioofe, by one or two Indians, and
"vvhen the horfe on which he rides is fatigued, the
Indian catches him another. This would to an
European be no eafy tafk, but here it is far
otherv/ife ; for you have only to point out the
horfe you wiili, and the Indian makes diredlly
at him, throws his thong or lace, before de-
-fcribed, over the animal's head, and, in fpite of
all his efforts, leads him to you.

His Excellency had given me an old dragoon,

who

MAJQR SEMPLE LISLE.' 23|]J

who knew the country, for a guide, and a militia
dragoon, to add to oar force ; we had alfo two
Indians to drive our horfes. We were furnilli-
ed with leathern bafkets for our baggage, which
are laid on the backs of the horfes, Ibmewhat
like panniers ; we had, however, not nnuch to
carry, the whole confifting of a few changes of
linen, and a fpare coat, our heavy articles hav-
ing been left in the Ihip and loft by her being
Wrecked.

We took leave of our moft worthy friend and
benefador the Governor, who, together with
moft of the officers of the garrifon accompanied
us to the river fide. Our conductor, who was
already in the north town, having prepared
every thing for our departure, we crofted that
evening, a diftance confiderably above a league.
On the fourth of Odober, about feven in the
morning, Black, myfelf, little Richards, and a
fervant I had engaged at Rio Grande, began our
march. About eleven we reached the village of
EJlreito, where we dined with the curate, who
gave us a very friendly reception. After dinner
we refumed our route on frefh horfes, and in the
evening, about ftx, we arrived at the houfe of a
captain of auxiliary cavalry, about eleven leagues
diftant from the place v.'hence we fet out.

We were elegantly entertained, but fat down
to fupper by ourfelves, the whole family being

nder

Jt^O THE LIFE O?

under the deepeft afflidlion for the lofs of i near
relation, who died a few days before. This re-
lation had come to a tragical end while we were
preparing for our journey, having been found
murdered upon the fhote near St. Pedro. It
was generally fuppofed that he had been detec-
ted in an intrigue, as he had been feveral times
obferved by his fervants to go out late in the
evening, difguifed and armed j from the mark
about his neck it was evident that he had been
fuddenly caught by a * lace, no very unufual
mode of alTafTmation in that country, and having
been thus ftrangled was thrown into the water.

A little before we reached this place, where
we took up our firft night's quarters, the coun-
try begun to look more fertile, and cultivation
to appear. This captain's houfe is one of thofe
appointed for the reception of the Governor, in
his journeys between Fori Allegro, a town fitu-
ated about 60 leagues up the Rio Grande, where
he ufually refides, and Port St. Pedro, which he
onlyoccafionally vifits. Ourfupperwas,as I have
before mentioned, very fumptuous, and mighty
at leafl:, have handfomely entertained forty per-
fons ; a vail quantity of provifion went away
untafted, and after a fine defert, and plenty of
excellent wines, we retired to reft; our beds

* The natives give the name of lace to the plaited lea-
ther thons with which they catch animals.

were

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 24I

were fuitable to our fupper ; I fiept in that ap-
piopriated to the General, and Mr. Black in
that of his Adjutant. The whole of this feat
is extremely pleafant, and the gardens are laid
out with tarte; it belongs to Captain Luiz da
SoMza, who, from his being the oldefl: captain,
called it Tropa Felha, or the old troop.

After a hearty breakfafl: we took leave of our
hofpitable entertainer, and proceeded on our
journey through a fine romantic country.
About eleven we reached a hut, where we could
have nothing to eat till they killed a fhecp, upon
part of which we dined. In this hut the crew
of a fouth-feaman, wrecked upon the coaft fome
years ago, lived a confiderable time, and one of
them who embraced the Roman Catholic faith,
f^ill remains a few leagues off. The General,
whofe humanity every ftranger is fure to expe-
rience, not only flood fponfor to him at the time
of his fecond baptifm, but fhewed him many
marks of favour, which, fo far as I could learn,
he very little deferved.

After a fhort repofe during the heat of the
day, when, in fad:, travelling is almoft impof-
fible, we again proceeded on our journey, and
that night were entertained at the houfe of a
Captain of dragoons, named Joze Carneiro Ge-
raldes. This gentleman's houfe is like wife one
of thofe where the General repofes in his pro-

R grelTes,

242 tHE LIFE OF

greffes, and here again we were feafled in a
fumpf^uous manner Our beds were extremely
magnificent, and here, as the night before,
and I may add, fo long as we flept at his
JExcellency's houfes of reft, I was compli-
mented with the General's own bed, and
Mr. Black with that of his Adjutant. Next
morning we were furniihed with provifions and
other necelTarics, and after breakfaft fee for-
ward.

About our ufual hour we reached the village
oiMoiJlardiOy where we dined with the vicar, a
man of good education and polite manners, who
gave us a very kind reception. This village is
remarkable for its fituation, being in the middle
of a fand, though furrounded by a very fine and
fertile country ; it confifts of one large ftreet of
tolerably well-built houfes. After dinner we
continued our route to Najiantia de PavoZy a royal
farm. Here, to the number of horfes we had
already coUedied, and were driving before us, we
added about a dozen ; they are the property of
tthe crown, and are diftinguifhed by having one
car cut.

The adjacent country, as far as can be feen, is
covered with infinite numbers of wild horfes,
fome few of which may indeed have been once
or twice mounted, and then again loft or turned
loofe, but by far the greateft part are in a ftate

of

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 243

of nature. The inhabitants keep a feWy and but
a few domellic ones, and when they want any
for the King's fervice, for which demands are
frequently made^ they catch the wild ones,
and among the number thus colledled, the tra-
veller muft feled: thofe he means to ride. As
neither of my Britifli companions nor my fer-
vant were expert horfemen, I always defired that
they fhould have the tameft horfes. Little
Richards, on account of his youth, I mounted
on the mofi: tradable, Mr. Black claimed the
next preference, and then my Brazilian fervant ;
as to myfelf, the dragoons, and the Indians, we
took any that offered, if they only appeared to
be able to perform their work.

Next day we reached the houfe of an auxiliary
Captain, where we dined, and were entertained
in a plain hofpitable manner j after dinner we
again proceeded, ^nd I was eye-witnefs to a.
piece of Indian dexterity and addrefs, which I
cannot forbear relating at full length, as it will
more forcibly than any defcription exemplify
the manner in which they ufe their plaited
thong, called in that country lace, and their

Towards evening one of the horfes which we
were driving before us, contrary to the common
practice of thofe animals, feemed determined to
efcape from his companions. After feveral

R 2 fruitlefs

244 THE LIFE Of

fruitkfs attempts, he at length fucceeded in
detaching himfelf, and gallopped away at a moft
furious rate ; one of the Indians purfued him,
I accompanied him in the chace. After follow-
ing him for at leaft an hour, over every obftacle,
during which time the Indian made feveral vain
attempts to noofe him in his lace^ no refource
was left, fmce night was coming on and we
were drawing near a wood, but the balls. Thefe
are never unneceflarily ufed, as the danger of
laming the animal is confiderable; but the
profpedl of lofmg the horfe in the thicket, and
perhaps a little pique at the trouble occafioned
by the unruly beafl:, induced the Indian to
apply to this lafl: expedient. He therefore took
his balls, as before dcfcribed ; holding the
fmall one in his right hand, he followed the
objedt of our purfuit, whirling them round his
head till he law his opportunity ; when (at
about forty yards diilance) he threw them with
great force at the animal. The balls flew whirl-
ing through the air, and completely entangled
the hind legs of the horfe, fo that they were de-
prived of all motion unlefs together. Thus
hampered, the furious beaft dragged himfelf
near a mile, until fatigue compelled him to flop,
when the Indian, with great dexterity, threw the
lace over his head, and hawled it tight round
his neck. Curious to know how he would un-
fix

y MAJOR SEMPL£ HSLE, 245

fix the balls, which were twilled in a very ex-
traordinary manner round the horfe's hind legs,
I offered no afliftance, but fuffered him to ma-
nage the bufinefs entirely by himfelf.

He begun by difmounting, and ftill keep-
ing his lace tight, tied a knot with the end
of it round the fore legs of the horfe, by the
means of which he in a moment threw him
upon his iide ; he then fet his foot on the
horfe's neck, but without flackening that part
of the lace which was round it, and crawled
down over his body, till he could reach the
hind legs, from which he difentangled the balls',
after this he flipped the knot which tied the
fore legs, and allowing him to rife, led him
away. We then rejoined our companions, and
reached the houfe of a farmer, who was alfo an
auxiliary Lieutenant, lituated in a mod roman-
tic fpot; on one fide, the view is bounded by
mountains, and on the other, it opens to an ex-
tenfive profpedl, where woods, lakes, and rivers
afford a moil charming relief to each other. The
country is very fertile, and the uncultivated
parts abound in game, and immenfe numbers of
wild horfes and cattle ; oftriches are alfo very
. plentiful here.

We were hofpitably received, and provided
with good accommodations of every fort, and
in the jnorning purfued our journey. About

R 3 noon

t4^ THE" LIFE OF y

n6on" we arrived at a very poor farm, where
we could procure no refrefhment, except a little
milk : we therefore liad recourfe to the provi*
lions we had brought with us, and in the even*»
ing found ourfelves at a farm not much better
than that we had lately left ; here we pafled the
night.

Next morning, about ten, we oame to a river,
which we forded, and about noon came to fome
fifhermen's huts on the banks of the river, near
its mouth ; we were again compelled to dine on
our own provilions, and then forded the river a
fecond time. About five we arrived at a cludcr
of ruined huts, occupied by a few negroes, and
a new unfiniflied houfe at a fmall diftance.
Here we found nothing but fome beef, milk, and
eggs, and the negroes huts were fo ruinous and
filthy, that it was impoilible to enter them,
without difguft ; the new houfe was fhut up,
the windows were barred on the infide, one door
was bolted within, the other locked, and the
owner, who was gone to another eftate he occu-
pied at a confiderable diflancc, had the key with
him. Notwithflanding I had often lain in the
fields, I did not feel myfelf at all difpofed to
do fo when a good houfe prefented itfelf, but
the difficulty was how to get in. We could not
force the windows without doing injury, on ac-
count of the llrength of the bars; but an open-
ing

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 2^7

jng of confiderable fize over each door, though
too ffnall to creep through, gave us a view of
the interior of the houfe. By looking through
the hole over the door which was locked, I could
perceive where the bolt on the infide of the
other was ; one perfon was therefore held up by
the reft of us, who, putting his arm and a long
Hick through the aperture over the bolted door,
with much difficulty, after a number of ineffec-
tual efforts, withdrew the bolt.

We found the houfe totally unfurni.fhed, but
there was a fide of bacon and a cheefe, with
which we made free to augment our fuppcr ; we
then made our beds of our horfe cloths and
went to refl-. In the morning, when ready to
depart, we refolved to play a fly joke upon our
landlord, and accordingly firfl bolted the locked
door, fo as to render his key ufelefs. We then
all went out, except the boy Richafds, who,
having bolted the other door, built himfelf a
little ftage, by the help of which he reached the
hole over it. Through this we with difficulty-
dragged him, and then having pufhed down
the ftage with a ftick, and bribed the negroes
to fecrecy, we departed, leaving the owner to
exercife his ingenuity in contriving how he
might enter his own houfe.

The evening was almoft dark when we arrived
here ; but the beautiful view which opened upon

R 4 us

24S THE LIFE OF

US in the morning, made nie quit this place with
regret. The country round was aftonifliingly
fertile, and abounded in all forts of game ; the
houfe itfelf flood about half a mile from a noble
and extenljve lake, bordered by a margin of
luxuriant grafs ; beyond this arofe a grove of
{lately trees, which never lofe their verdure,
while the range of mountains, which runs along
the coafl, bounded the profpedf, and harmo-
nized in a mod pidurefque manner, with the
pure azure of the Iky. Having quitted this
beautiful fcenery, we proceeded on our march,
and haying refrefhed ourfelves at a farm, went
on to Torres, a fort fituated on an eminence by
the fea on the frontiers of the province of Ria
Grande,

About a league before we came to TorreSy the
road led us down to the fea coafl, where we
travelled along the fands, clofe to the water, for
.a conliderable diftance. Here we had a full
■view of the mountain on which the fort is built,
and of another abreaft pf it, each of which pre-
fents a perpendicular front of rocks, of amazing
height, to the fea ; thefe with fome fmall craggy
iflands very near the fhore exhibit a majeftic
yie>y, and form a (Iriking contrail to the fcenes
of fertility we had juft left. The fort, though
it might be rendered impregnable, in its prefent
ilate, hardly merits the name. Some batteries

arQ

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE a|9

are Indeed begun, but none are finifnedj nor did
I fee mote than two guns mounted.

The dragoon, who had been our condudor on;
our march, was now fo fatigued that reft was
indifpenfibly neceffary for him. His exertions
had really been furprifing; for he had the
charge of every thirg, and had rode at leaft three
miles where we had rode one ; my fervant like-
wife was totally worn out ; I therefore confented
to ftop twenty-four hours. To this I was the
more readily induced as the fociety we met with
was highly amiable; for the Lieutenant who
commanded, had two charming daughters who
fung delightfully, and played with muchtafteon
the harp and other inftruments.

The morning after our arrival I explored the
mountain on which the fort ftands, as well as5
the adjacent one, each of which, efpecially the
latter, is perpendicular towards the fca. The
rock forms a cove, at the bottom of which is an
inaccedible cave ; into this, even in the moft
moderate weather, the fea rolls with a moft tre-
mendous noife, that may be heard many leagues,
and fometimes, in ftrong eafterly gales, even
rifes above its roof. From hence, as well as
from the fort of Torres, we could dinftindly fee
thofe fmall rocky iflands, which I have before
mentioned ; from this place, they feemed alive
on account of the great number of feals with

which

2^0 THS LIFE OF

which'- they were covered. The Lieutenant
fhewcd me feveral fkins offuch as he had killed,
many of which were fully as large and coarfe.as
a bull's hide.

This is the northernnioft frontiers of the pro-
vince oi Rio Grande ydiud though but thinly inha-
bited, the Lieutenant affured me he could, when-
ever it might be required, colled five hundred
men in twenty-four hours, all of them trained to
arms. I muft here remark that this gentleman
was more than commonly intelligent, and very
capable of fhining in a much higher fphere than
that in which he then moved.

The only commodities of this fertile and beau-
tiful country are corn and hides j with the for-
mer, they fupply the reft oi Brazil, and the lat-
ter are "exported to RiaJaneirOy and thence to
Europe. The Brazilian cavalry might be made
the beft in the world, efpecially for that coun-
try ; the horfes are excellent, and will live
where an European horfe could not exift. The
men are robuft and hardy, and being accuftomed
from their infancy to the faddle, fupport fatigues
on horfeback in an aftonifhing manner. Every
dragoon, befides the horfe on which he rides,
has from two to five fpare ones, which accom-
pany the regiment ; he carries, befides the ufual
arms of a horfeman, his lace and balls^ and when
he finds his horfe tired, he turns him loofe, and

catches

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2^^

catches another, which he immediately mounts.
Their elegance is very great ; even the privates
having their large fpurs and their fword hilts of
mafllve filver.

The inhabitants of the province of Rio Grande
differ confiderably from thofe of the reft of
Brazil, as well as from thofe of Portugal ; they
are adlive and induftrious ; remarkably hofpi-
table to ftrangers, and exhibit flrong marks of
cheerfulnefs and good temper in every look.

We refted at Torres one day as had been
agreed upon, and our guide finding himfelf ca-
pable of travelling we refumed our march. We
fet out at day-light, and immediately on quitting
Torres entered the Captanihaoi Santa Catherinha.
Our route lay along the fea fhore, and about
noon we came to an hut where we could procure
noprovifions except milk and a little rum, fo that
we were compelled to dine upon this and a little
farinha which we carried with us.

As I may have occafion to mention the
farinha again, it will not be, perhaps, wandering
too far from my line to give fom.e account of
this fingular produdion. The Portuguefe call
\t farinha de paoy ox flour of wood^ and prepare it
from the root of a fhrubby plant, every where
to be found in Brazil ; the root is fucculent, and
about an inch in diameter at largeft. When
roafted it taftes very like a potatoes but to pre-
pare

252 THE LIFE OF

pare ic as a fubflitutc for bread, they employ x
fort of mill, which carries a large circular
grater; this machine reduces thcfarinha rather
to little lumps than to the ftate of flour, and it
i& thus eaten by the country people, either
alone, or mixed up with cold water into a fort
of pafle. When the Portuguefe fhips of war are
on the Brazil ftation, it is ferved out to the
people under the name of farinha de giierra %
they feem to like it much, and foretimes eat it
baked with fugar or treacle, when it forms a
fort of fweetmeat, fa.r from difagreeable. Fa^
rinha and bananas^ which are equally plentiful,
form almoft the fole food of the negroes; and
all the inhabitants, without diftin(5tion, are fo
accuftomed to it, that very little bread is made
life of.

Having Vv-aited to refrefh ourfelves during the
heat of the day, we proceeded on our route, and
in the evening reached a river which it was necef-
fary we (hould crofs, in order that we might pro-
cure quarters at a guard-houfe that has been
buik on the oppofite fide. It was fp dark that
we could not be feen by the guard on the other
jide, who are placed there to ferry paffengers
acrofs in canoes, and the river was fo broad that
we could not make ourfelves heard. Notwith-
ftanding the rapidity of the ftream my fervant
ftripped and fwam over ; he found the foldiers,

"yvho

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 253

who inflantly came for us. Our horfcs, to the
number of about fifty, we fvvam acrofs^and turn-
ed them to feed, during the night in a meadow-
near the banks ; we ourfelves were compelled to
fleep in a forry guard-houfe, occupied by about
a dozen militia foldiers. We could meet M'ith
no fort of provifions, except forfke badly dried
fifh, not even fo much as fan'nha; fortunately,
however, in the bottom of a bag, in which wc
had carried fome provifions, we found a few
handfuls, on which, and a little rum, we had
brought from the hut where we had flopped at
noon, we made our fupper. Our faddle cloaths
were our beds for the night, during which a vaft
quantity of rain fell ; the roof was totally ina-
dequate to keeping us dry, and we were almoft
as completely drenched as if we had remained
in the open air.

Early in the morning we were vifited by a
little old Frenchman who lived farther up the
river ; he had come into that country as a fol-
dier, and had lived there twenty-fix years, dur-
ing which time he had never heard his own
language fpoken. Through want of pradice
he had almoft forgotten it, nor yet could he ex-
plain himfelf in Portuguefe ; in fhort, none but
his own family could comprehend him. Not
being able to make himfelf underllood by
words, he attempted to do it by Hgns and geC-

tyres ;

254 THE LIFE OF

tures ; in ihtCe, by long habit, he had acquired
a moft grotefque facility, and abfolutely fome-
times, might have been miftaken for a great
baboon.

At feven next morning our horfes were col-
le(5led, and we prepared to continue our jour-
ney. We found ourfelves obliged to pafs ano-
ther branch of the fame river, not lefs rapid
than the former ; the horfes were fent over by
the dragoons and IndianSj and we followed in a
canoe.

Here we faw an extraordinary mode of fifli-
ing, almoft incredible indeed, and what I fhould
not perhaps have ventured to mention, had not
Mr. Black, in his narrative, already publiftied
it. The fifh, at the river's mouth, are fo very
plentiful, that the ihoals feem to cover the fur-
face of the water, and nothing more is done than
to beat the waves with the paddles ofthecanoes^
The filh, thus alarmed, having no room to fave
themfelves by fwimming, leap out of the water
in fuch numbers, that thofe which accidentally
fall into the canoe, are fufficient to load it in a
few minutes.

When we had crofled this river, one of our
horfes took in his head to leave his companions,
and fet off as faft as he could; he was followed
by many others, and we were in danger of
loling feveral more. The fame Indian, who

' had

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 255

had fo nimbly purfued the former fugitive,
whofe adventure I have already related, imme-
diately gallopped after them, and I thinking he
might be unable to manage them all, joined the
chace. We followed them a long time over the
hot burning fands, in many places almofl: up to
our horfes bellies ; but at length we fucceeded
in bringing them all back, and about noon reft-
ed at fome huts, where we procured a little rum,
and dined upon fome liih we had bought from
the men we faw catching them at the mouth of
the river.

After dinner, we refumed our journey, de-
pending upon the information of our guides,
that we might reach the town of Laguna that
night, which they faid was only about five
leagues off. We were, however, difappointed,
and in the evening found that we were fome
leagues from that town ; we therefore went to
the houfe of a prieft, who was not at home, but
having got fome fowls from the flaves, who alfo
killed a fheep to accommodate us, v e ftaid
there that night, and in the morning fet off for
Laguna.

Here we met with the only mountains ex-
cept thofe at Torres, which we vvereo bliged to
crofs. We palfed feveral hills of fand, of great
magnitude, and at laft reached the top of a
rocky precipice, where we found that our guides

had

i^6 THE LIFE 9T

had mifled the way. We were unwilling to re-
turn the road we came, and therefore endeavour-
ed to find fome place, where the defcent might
be practicable j we found one, which wc
thought tolerably fafe, and having difmounted,
drove our horfes down the defcent, following
them on foot.

As we approached Laguna, the country had
a very romantic, hilly, and wild appearance.
We had much difficulty in finding our way, we,
however, at length, after eroding an immenfe
meadow, reached the river, at the mouth of
which, on the north fide, the town of Laguna
lays. The horfes we had been thus far fup-
plied with were to flop here ; we therefore dref-
fed ourfelves under a tree, while the canoe was
getting ready to carry us to the town. Before
we reached the river which leads to the bar we
had a lake to pafs which is very broad, very flill,
and very fhallovv. The river, on the contrary,
is very deep, and the current, in fome places,
extremely ftrong. After a palTage of about anu
hour and a half, we arrived in the harbour,
which we found full of fmall vefTels, remarkably
well built, and much appearance of commerce
on every hand. We were condu6ted immedi-
ately to the Commandant, by whom we were ex-
tremely well lodged, and entertained in a verj
handfome manner.

Laguna

MAJOU SEMPLE LISLE. Is/

f . - . _

Laguna is a fmall town, but well built, the
people drefs well, and feem to live in great
plenty ; the country round it is uncommcnTy
beautiful, and every thing- feems to confpire to
render the place rich and flourifning.

At Laguna we difmilTed our dr-.goons r.nd
Indians, bv Whom I wrote a letter of thanks to
the Governor of i?/<? Grande^ acknowledging all
the favours we had received from him and hi:^-
garrifon. At the fame tiitie I alTured him that
our journey had, inflead of abounding in hard-*
fhips, been exceedingly pkafant and entertain-*
ing- Had I been able to forefee the inconve-
niences we were to meet with the next day, I
might not perhaps have wrote fo gaily.

From Lngiina we took frefh guides, who, as"
\Tcll as the former, were dragoons ; we alfo had"
freili horfes, and on the m.orning of Sunday,
October 1 6th, we refumed our journey. About
noon we arrived at Villa Ncvdy a village miOlt
beautifully fituateel on the fide of a hill, where
we refted during the heat of the day, and then
again changing horfes and guides, we ruihccj
into fcenes new to us. Our road lay .through
immenfe forefVs, where the path was fo narrow
as to preclude the poffibility of two going
abreafl ; in many places it was indeed alm.oft
too narrow for one; and Mr. Black was once li-
terally jammed between two trees, fo that it re-

S quir94

25 S THE LIFE or

quired our united efforts to difengage him. lit.
mar.y parts the road was fo fteep that I, though
vanity flatter^ me with being a fkilful horfeman,
could with difficulty keep my feat j nor is this
all, for the trees over-hang the way in fuch a>
manner, tha-t during many hours we were forced
to crouchp down upon our horfes necks, and in
that painful pofture ue had ta afcend and de-
fccnd precipices^

We marched to*afpecics of mufic every way
adapted to the rugged fcenes around us ; the
roaring of different favage hearts, and thehifTing
of ferpents. were heard every moment; but
though we often judged from the horrid founds
that they were very near us, we faw none. After
a mod troubleforae and fatiguing march we
reached a whale fifhcry, about eleven or twelve
leagues from St. Catharine's, a Mttle after fun-
fet.

Here we were- kindly received by the fupcr-
intendant, apparently an intelligent man ; he
inhabited an excellent houfe, the beft I had till
then fee n in the country, and fliewed us all the
works and buildings belonging to the place.
From the complaints he made againfl the
Britilh whale-fifhers, it fhould feem that in this
place they fenfibly, and to their lofs, feel the
cffe6ls of the induflry and adivity of my coun-
trymen.

Br

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 259

By tiis advice we agreed to proceed from
hence to St. Catharine's in one of his whale*
boats, being quite difcouraged by his defcrip-
tion of the road, which he reprefented as even
ivorfe than that we had palfed. We left the
fiihery early in the morning, and about two
o'clock reached the place of our deftination.

This pafTage for beauty exceeds any thing I
have ever Ccen or heard of, laying between a
tange of mod fertile mountains, diftant from
each other, in the narroweft places, about a
league. The whole coaft, on both lidcs, feems
an orangen'e ; on our pafTage we were induced
to flop at a farm-houfe, in a moft delightful
fituation, to refrefh ourfelves, and there the
people almofl loaded our boat with excellent
oranges.

CHAP. XXII.

Arrival at St. Catharine's i honourably received
there. — The Portuguefe fleet from Rio de Janeiro
laying in the road of St. Catharine's, the author's
arrival is announced to the Admiral. — Superb ce^
remony at the Admiral's landing. — Chara^er of
the troops there* — The curious 7nanner in which

S 2 'th:

iGO THE LIFE OF

ike hd'ians ride. — Ihe author meets zvith an old
acquaintance. — Is tnoft kindly treated by the Ad~
miral. — He and Mr. Black go to dine with the
Admiral^ and vifit the other Captaitts. — They pafs
their lime in every pleaJiire.-^They Jail for Rio
de Janeiro. — The author is treated zvith much
dijiin^tion by the AdmiraL—^He prefents his let-
ters to the Adjut ant-General and the Viceroy. — -
The perfidy of Enftgn Minchin^ zvho gets into dif-
gr ace for it. — M inch in and Prater make applica-
tion to the Viceroy to be paid as in England^ zjuhich
is refufed. — The author refufes to receive any
money. — They prepare to depart ^ and the author is
Jent on board the Ulyjfes. — Mr. Murchjfon and
Mr, Black embark onboard two Soutb-fea zjuhalers.
All, except the author^ ordered on boayd. — En/ign
Minchin's humorous embarkation.

x\ our arrival at St. Catharine's we were
conduced to the Governor, to whom I prefenr-
ed the letter of recommendation which the
Governor-General of Rio Grande had given
nie. We were received w ith much politenefs,
and apartments in the palace affigned to us. 1
acquainted the Governor with my delire to con-
trinue my journey to Rio 4e Janeiro immediately
by land, if.it w.ere poiTible/if not, to be allowed
>to embaj-k in the firft iliip ; he told me, that we
.wer£ ^ery fortunate^ for that Admiral Antonio
,.;* c '<' JanuariQ

Major semple lisle, 261

yanuario de Valhy had arrived from Rio de fcU
fteiroy only two days before, wirh a fquadron of
four Ihips of the line, three frigates and a brig.
He added, that the Admiral with his fleet lay
in the road, about four miles below the town,
and that he had not vet been on fhore, but was
cxpedled the next day, and that, mod probably^
he would furnilli us with a pafTage to the pore
we wifhed to reach. The Governor the fame
night fent his Aid-d^-Camp on board the Admi-
ral's fhip to acquaint him with our adventure
and arrival at St. Catharine's.

The fecond day after our arrival the Admiral
came on Ihore with great ceremony. Not only
the garrifon of the town and all the militia of
the ifland, but a battalion of infantry then in
that place, on its march for Rio Grande^ were af-
fembled, and formed in two lines from the pa-
rade before the palace to the ianding-pace, to re-
ceive his Excellency.

The troops made a very fine figure, were well
drefled, and the cavalry particularly verified
the opinion I had formed of them in Rio
Grande. The militia uniform of that ifland,
both for cavalry and infantry is light blue ;
they are flout, well made men, and the horfes
are better than in Rio Grande. This is owing to
their eating corn, which thofe of Rio Grande y ex-
cept fuch as are tamed and accuftomed to it,

S ^ wiU

iSl THE LIFE or

will not touch j but the great number of thcnij
which are every where to be found, renders a
fingle horfe of very little irnportance. The
Indians, who are very dextrous in catching
them, ride in a very lingular manner ; their
faddle is coarfe, and the girths are ot hide ; their
bridles exadly refemble thofe of the Moors,
Turks, and Tartars, a circumftance which the
more aftonifhes me that there is no conncdtioa
between the countries, but their ftirrups are
widely different, and truly lingular in chtircon-
flru(ftion ; theyconfifi of a piece of wood which
forms a fort of femicirclc, about an inch diame-
ter^ and there is a hole through each end of this
to receive the ftirrup leather. The Indic-in
fixes his^r«?^/ ioe in this curved piece of wood,
which is juft large enough to receive it, nor,
does he touch the flirrup with any other part of
his foot; in fad, they ri,de (contrary to the,
pradlice of the Moors, &c.) with fuch long
ftirrups, that it requires the utmofi extent of
the leg, to reach them even with the toe.

The Admiral's departure from his fliip was
announced by the ufual falute, and a fjgnal gun.
was fired from every fort on the coaft between,
the road where the Ihips lay and the town ; thefe
forts, as he palTed them, likewife fired a royal
falute. This great ceremony was performed
becaufe his Excellency had come from Lifbon,

invefted

MAJOR SAMPLE LISLE, 2t>3

invefted by the royal commillion with extraor-
dinary powers to infpedl into the affairs of Bra-*
zil. He came on fhore in a very elegant barge,
accompanied by all the Captains and other fu-
perior officers of his fquadron, whofe boats fol-
lowed his in order, according to their rank and
feniority.

As he approached the landing-place, Mr.
Black and myfelf accompanied the Governor
and Staff to receive him ; we were there pre-
fented merely as matter of form, but no conver-
fation took place at that time. From the land-
ing.place the Admiral went in flate to the
church, and having heard mafs, he entered into
converfation ; for it is the etiquette of Portugal
never to enter upon any bufinefs till the cer.c*.
monies of religion have been complied with.

Among the officers who attended his Excel-
lency, was a French nobleman, who had known
me on the Continent with the army of ihp
Rhine, at a time when I was honoured with the
friendfhip and confidence of the diftinguifhed
perfonages whom I have already mentioned.
The Admiral having fecn the letter of recom-
mendation which I brought, and being himfelf
a man of amiable manners, fpoke to me in the
moft polite terms, begging that he might have
the pleafure of fupplyingthe lofs I had fuftained
by my feparation from fuch a friend as General

S 4 da

^64 THE LIFE OF

da Vciga. He returned on board very late that
evening, and on leaving us, invited us on board
his fhip the following day. One of the com^
manders of a line-of-battle fhip alfo gave us aj)
invitation to fpend a day with him, and told the
Admiral that he would fend his barge for us ; this
gentleman was our countryman Captain Thomp-
fon, an officer whofe praifes need not my feeble
pen to enumerate them.

Next day Captain Thompfon's boat came
for us, and we y/cnt immediately to the Admi-
ral's Ihip ; he received us with the greateft po-
litenefs, and having paid our refpecfts to him, we
made vifits, in the courfe of the forenoon, to alj.
the other Captains. We returned to dine with hi?
Excellency, and when we took leave in the even-
ing, he told us to look upon his fhip as our home.
While we remained there, he added, that for the
voyage he would accomimodate me, the boy^
and my fervant, on board his own fhip, and that
he would provide a paflage for Mr. Black in
another of his fquadron. Captain Thompfon,
on learning this from us, fplicited that Mr.
Black might go with him, to \yhich the Adnrii-,
ral gave his affent.

On board the Admiral's fhip wehad theplea-
fufe to meet with a countryman, Phillip Han-
porne, Efq. equally diflinguifhed by the ele-.
gance of his manners, his talents, and bis ap-
pearance j

MAJOR SEM?LE LISLE. 2^5

Hearance; he then held the honourable rank of
.Captain of the Fleet, or what they c-^ll Major
General da Ef quadra \ and of this gentleman, to
whom I fland infinitely indebted, I iliall have
TO fay much hereafter.

We returned to the palace of St. Catharine's^
and during our ftay there, which was about
three weeks, we were treated with the moft po-
lite attention by the Governor and principal
inhabitants of the ifland. Our amufements
were various ; the Governor, who was very fond
of mulic and dancing, gave frequent balls, at
which many of the officers of the Fleet attended;
and the more to encourage the Admiral, who
would not fleep out of his fliip to come on fhore,
he left the town of St. Catharine's, and removed
to a houfe at St. Antonio. This is a moft plea-
fant lituation, and much nearer to where the
fleet lay at anchor than the town of St. Catha-
rine's, where we continued to refide, paying fre-
quent occahonal viflts to St. Antonio, and paf-
lingour time in a moft pleafant manner. I here
contraded an intimacy with Major Joaquim
Correa da Serra, Chief of Engineers, a man of
imiverfal knowledge, whofe profeflional talents
intitle him to the moft brilliant fituation ; fuch,
indeed, are his various accomplifliments, that I
never think of him, without lamenting that he is
not more ufefully employed.

The

$66 THE LITE Of

The ifland of St. Catharine's is remarkably
fertile, and might, with a little pains, be made
a mofl: producftive fpot j but fo great is the la-
zinefs of the inhabitants, that little or nothing
is done by them, even the cattle for the market
being brought from Rio Grande.

On the 3^11 of Odlober 1797, while we were
enjoying all the amufements of the place, our
approaching departure was announced tome by
Phillip Hancorne, Eiq. in the following polite
note:

" The Major-General of the Efquadra prefents
** his compliments to Major Lille, has the ho-
** nour to inform him, that the * General would
" wifli him to embark to-morrow, and that a
*' boat f}\ail be at the town of St. Antonio,
*' agreeable to the wilh of Major Lifie, Cap-
" tain Thompfon begged of the General to fuf-
*' fer Mr. Black to embark in his fhip, which
*' he fuppofes Major Lifie to be acquainted
" with.

" 3fy? Oi^o^er, 1797."

AddrefTed " A4aJor Lijle, &c. (^c."

On the 4th of November the fleet failed for
Hio de Janeiro^ where we arrived on the 18th,
During our voyage I had a very neat and com-
modious cabin afilgned to me, and lived at the

* In Portugal, the Commander, either by land or fea, is
ftyled General.

Admiral's

J*!(AJOR SEMPLE LiSLE. 267

Admiral's table ; nor did I ever meet with a
better feaman, a better commander, or a more
accomplifhed gentleman. To him, in th? courfe
of converfation, I Communicated my real fitua-
tion, and found, to my great fatisfidion, that
he was difpofed to judge for himfeif, as he was
free from thofe narrow prejudices which haunt
little minds; nor had the difcovery I made to
him any other effed: than of making him, if
poffible, redouble his kindnefs to me.

Immediately after we had come to anchor.
Brigadier General Gafpar Joze, Adjutant-Ge-
neral to the Viceroy, came on board from his
Excellency, to compliment the Admiral on his
arrival ; having letters of recommendation to
him, I likewife committed to his charge thofe I
had to the Viceroy. The night we arrived fomc
South-fea whalers came into the harbour, and Mr.
Black, by the defire of Captain Thompfon, went
aboard one of them, to purchafe fome porter for
him; onboard this fnip he met with fome of
our officers, all of whom had arrived before us,
and who had gone to enquire after Englilli
news ; by whom he was told, that, fomehovj, my
real fituation had come to the ears of the Vice-
roy. This he immediately communicated, with
a very friendly folicitude, and feemed alarmed
at it ; when I told him not to fear, but to i old
himfeif inreadinefs to go on Ihore at eight next

morning.

5:6s THE LIF2 OF

morning. Not chufing, however, to involve him-
felt'in any difagreeablc affair that might happen
to mc, he avoided going under preteice of
ficknefs, and thus miffed the honour of being
prefentcd.

Next day I went, accompanied by an officer
of the fleet, to the palace, where the Viceroy
received me with much politenefs. I rcqucfted
his permidion to refide on fhore, with which he
readily complied, and informed me, that next
day he would give diredlions for a houfe to be
prepared for my accommodation. Having like-
wife a recommendation to the BiiTiop, I paid
way refpecfls to him, and was received by that
excelient Prelate with every mark of kindnefs;
I then went with the officer, who came with mc
from the fhip, to the houfe of the Interpreter,
where Minchin and his wife lodged. He
fi^emed almoft petrified with furprize at feeing
mc, and told me, it was generally fuppofed,
from the length of time we had been on the
road, we had found fome fl^ip bound for Europe
at St. Catharine's, and had embarked in her.
He complained in the moft bitter terms of the
Viceroy, who had, he faid, refufed to fee him,
and had only allowed him and his wife each
12 vintins (about lyi.) a day, to fubfift upon;
that the liime fum was given to the foldiers,
women, and children; and that he had he^rd

that

MAJOB. SEMPLE LlfiLfe,' 86^

thai Jome oney Drummond and Murchifon, as he
fuppofed, had acquainted the Viceroy with every
thing relating to me. I at once i2i\v fhame and
Gonfulion in his face, and concluded very natu-
rally that he had done what he attributed to
them ; an adlion which he had fo much repro-
bated in his brother officer a,t Rio Grande ^ and
for which he dreaded the fame vengeance I had
there inflided on the other delinquent. I how-
ever faid nothing, but immediately took mj
leave, and a few fteps from the door, met the
Cwo gentlemen he had fo flandered. I at onpe
put the plain quefiion to them, when both £b-
lemnly declared, that nothing concerning nae
had been afked of them, nor had they uttered
one fy liable; but they had heard from the per-
fon who tranflated Minchin's letter, that he had
wrote to the Viceroy every thing that I could
fuppofe molt unplealing.

Having obtained this information i repaired
immediatejy to the caftle, but the Viceroy hav-
ing retired, I could not have an interview witii
him ; I therefore inquired for the Count Dois.
Luiz his ;fon, who was his Aid-de-Ca.mp. To hina
1 acknowledged what my circumftances reall/
>v'ere i I likewife told him that the gentlemea
jwho accompanied me had, oi their oum accard, as
appeared frorn the reports pjreviouJly figned by
them^ concealed the difagreeable part of m/

hiftoij.

270 TH£ LIFE Of

hilloiy, and I could not therefore, at^hat tirfie,-
fuffcr them to circulate one wdrd that fhould
give mc pain ; I added, that from him, as a man
of rank and an officer, I could not but expe(fl
liberality, and I therefore conjured him to tell
me, with the franknefsof a foldier, if any thing
had been faid, and by whom. With open can-
dour, he at once acknowledged, that the officer in
fhej'carlet uniform who came lafi^ had fcnt a letter
on the fubjetfl to his father, but that it would do
me no injury with him, as he had that very
day faid, that the recommendations given mc
by General da Veiga and the Admiral, as well
as my own appearance, gave me a claim to his
protedion, and that he would diftinguifh me
from the reft. I afTured the Count Don Luiz
of my gratitude for the kindnefs of the Viceroy?
then taking leave, and it being already late, I
Hepped into the Admiral's barge^ which was
waiting for me, and went on board.

Next day I returned, and having found a re»
treat, I wrote to the Admiral, Major-General da
Efqiiadra, and the Viceroy, acknowledging &vtiy
thing, but telling them, that I trufted to their
liberality, and expedled they would treat rtie as
a gentleman, whofe condudl, when there was tio^
thing but that to /peak for him or againji him, bad
acquired their friendlhip and efteem. The
Viceroy affured me, that I Ihould always be

well

MAJOR TEMPLE LISLE. 27 1

well received by him, and Tent me the key of a
neat houfe, which I immediately occupied ; a
few days after which I received the key of a logf
in the theatre, from the fame generous fourcc
of benevolence.

The Admiral, knowing how neceflary money-
was to a man in my iituation, and fufpedling I
could not have much left, fent me a handfome
fum by the Major-General da Ef quadra y who,,
adding as much to it, delivered the whole to me.
The Bilhop was in nothing behind the others?
his houfe was open to me at all hours, and as ic
was fomc diftance, he furnifhed me with a car-
riage during my ftay at Rio Janeiro^ that I might,
to ufe his own words, with the greater facility
come to him, when ray engagements would
permit.

Thofe diftindlions could not but be as pealing-
ly flattering to me as they were mortifying to
the two Enfigns, who were by this time fecluded
-from every fociety. Determined to give Min-
chin the chaftifement he fo well merited for his
duplicity, I placed a centin-el on his door to in-
form me if he fhould go out ; but the affair I
had with his brother officer^ Prater, at Rio Grande,
effecfluaily locked his door, and he did not,,
during his abode in that town, think proper to
ftir from home. To avoid a fimilar difgrace, he
complained to the Viceroy, demanding protec-
tion ;,

<i7^ I'HS LIFE OF

tlon ; to this demand, according to Ibme ac-'
counts, he received no anfwer; but, according
to others, the Viceroy fent him a brace of good,
fubftantial, holder piftoJs, — a hint, one would
think, fufficient for afoldier. In. the mean timc^
the Admiral became acquainted with the tranf-
a<5lionj and Captain Thompfon, one morningj
came to me, dciiring me to, promife, that I
would not attack Minchin in that country. As
my fituation was fuch, that it would neither have
been picaling nor prudent to quarrel with the
exalted characters who had fo nobly and gene-
rouOy prorecled me, I readily gave my word,
which fatisfied them ; but Minchin was not fo
eafily perfu.ided of his fafety j he therefore kept
clofe to the boufe, equally defpifed by the offi-
cers of the fleet, of the army, and the inhabitants
of the town.

During our abode at Rk de Janeiroy Enfigns
Minchin and Prater made various applications
to the Viceroy, foliciting his Excellency to pay
them, for themfclves and the foldiers, their full
pay, according to the Britifh eftabliihment, from
the day of their arrival in that country. The
Viceroy declined complying with this requeft,
allcdging that he had no authority to grant it;
that the trifle he had ordered to be paid to
every indi vidual, without diftiniflion of age, fex,
or rank, was an acl of hofpitaiity. which hp h^d

taken

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2^^

taken on himfelfin confequenceof the harmony
wTirchfor fo long a time had fubiifted between
our countries, and which never would be charg-
ed to the Britifh Government ; but if thefe
gentlemen thought they had a claim to further
afliftance, they mull each of them addrefs a
petition to the Sovereign, ftating their demand,
and lodge it at the office of the Tribunal, which
2:eprefents Majefby in that country, and of which
his Excellency the Viceroy is Prcfident, and
they would determine whether the requeft
fhould be refufed or granted ; their petitions
were accordingly prefented, Minchin figning
himfelf Lieutenant and Adjutant, and demand-
ing to.be paid as fuch. Some days before the
ineetingof the Tribunal I received a vilit from
the Secretary, who enquired why I had not al-
ready given in my petition j I told him, that
having no claim of any kind on the Britifh go-
vernment, I could not, like the others, petition ;
that ms Excellency the Viceroy knew every thing
concerning me, and that if he or the Tribunal,
in the name of the Sovereign, thought it proper
to prefent me with fuch a fum of money as
would pay my pafTage to Europe, I would ac-
cept it; but that the eighteen pence per day,
which the officers of the New South Wales
Corps,.men, women, and children, had received,
I neither yet had, or ever would touch ; that the
yiceroy haying given me a good houfe, and the

T ^eneroys

^74 THE LIFE OF: •

generous Admiral furnifliing me, from time ta"'
time, with the means of fupporting that houfe
handfomely, I could difpenfe with further afTift-
ancc, and the more fo, that I was confident he
(the Admiral) would alfo provide me with a"
pafTagc in fome fhip of his fleet to Lifbon. The
Secretary defired me to put that anfwer in writ-
ing; I did fo, and in a few days it was intimat-
ed to all of us, that for the time we had been in
the country, the Tribunal would allow nothing
more than what the Viceroy had before ordered
to be paid, and which I ever refufed to take,
left it fhould be charged to the BritiOi Govern-
pient. Mr. Black likewife declined receiving
any allowance of this kind. It was further in-
timated, that the mafters of the merchant
fhips of the convoy, in which we fhould be
fent to Europe, would be paid for each offi-
cer, in advance for five months, at the rate
of one cruzadc, about half-a-crown per day ;
and for the foldiers, women, and children,
half that fum. The hour of our departure
drawing near, the Admiral was pleafed to order
a pafTage for me, the boy Richards before-men-
tioned, whom I had taken under my charge, and
rny fervant,on board her moft Faithful Majefty*s ■
frigate, the UlylTcs, commanded by Captain Joao
da Cofta de Cabedo, one of the moft adlive officers
m Europe, and who already did me the honour'
to count me amongft the number of his friends.'

This

MAJOR SEMFLE LISLE. 275

This gallant officer rcfufcd pofitively to receive
the money allowed by the Tribunal; but as it
was a prefent made in the name of the Queen,
and could not be returned., he ordered it to be
.paid to me.

During our abode at Rio dc Janeiro.^ feveral
BritiHi Ihips bound to the South Seas came into
that port, when leave having been given to any
one of us to embark in any fliip in which we
could obtain a palTage, Mr. Murchifon, the
Mate, fufpcding that the convoy would be de-
layed long in Brazil, and have a long palTage
when it did fail, went on hoard oneof them ; and
about a month afterwards, when we were on the
point of going to fea, the Purfcr entered on
board another veffcl, alfo bound to the South
Seas. As I had with fomc trouble prevailed on
the mutineers to give that gentleman the fhip's
-charter, and every other paper which bethought
could be ufefui to the widow of the unfortunate
Captain, I endeavoured to perfuade him to re-
main with us, becaufe I thought his prefence in
England would be neceflary ; and to me it feem-
ed impoflible, that a fliip bound to tlie South
Seas could reach Europe before a convoy going
immediately thither. A young man (James
Macleod) who left Britain as a foldier in the
New South Wales Corps, but with his difcharge
in his pocket, a problem which I cannot explam,
and one of thp ladies bound to New South Wales^

T 2 went

276 THE LIFE OF

went on the fame expedition, fo that his Excels
lency, the Viceroy, had four lefs to provide for*
About the 24th of January laft, the fleet being
ready to fail, all thpfe belonging to the Lady
Shore, myfelf excepted, were ordered to em-
barki boats belonging tg the Cuftona-houfe were
provided for them, and an officer charged to con-
duel them to their refpedlive fhips. The boats
were drawn up at the landing-place near the
Palace, and every one embarked, except Enfigii
Minchin, m'Iio delayed it till the lateft moment.
I happened to be walking on the wharf at the
time, which he perceiving from the window of
the room where he bad remained fhut up fo long,
and confcious that he merited chaftifement from
my hand, folicited from the Adjutant-General,
and obtained an efcort to condud: hini to the
boat. Accompanied by two fuzilcers and a
non»commi0ioned officer, he crofled the parade
amidll the burfts of laughter of all who beheld
this extraordinary proceffion.

CHAP. XXIII.

l)efcription of the town of Rio de Janeiro. — M///-
iary ejlahliflment there. — Uncommonly fine mulatto
regiment of militia. — Produce of the country.— -De-

fcription

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 277

fcript'tonof theport. — l^he author fail's from thence

for Bahia de Todos os Santos. — Meets with an ho--
hourable reception from the Governor, — Writes to
Enfgn Minchin. — The effetl of his letter. — M/w-
chin requejis to he left behind. — Refciies Drum-
mond from an attack made upon him by Prater and

fome of his companions. — Laughable ad-venture
with a taylor. — Has a fracas zvith a Portuguefe
gentleman. — Is attacked by afaffins at -night time,
•^-Chara£ier of the inhabitants of Bahia de Todos os
■ Santos. — Defcription of the place. — The author
prevails with the Admiral to allozv Minchin to r*?-
inain behind. — Singular theft on board one of the

fl'ips of war. — The fleet fails for ^uropey andar^^
rives at Lijhon,

JlSefore I take leave of Rio de JanierOy it is
incumbent on me to fay a few words concerning
the place, and alfo of the Portuguefe fleet.
The town is well built, bufy, confiderably
large, and furrounded by gentlemen's feats aud
gardens. The palace is large, commodious,
and magnificently furnifhed ; the jflreets are re*
markably well paved, but never lighted ; the
houfes are generally good, but have, Tor the
moft part, lattice windows ; and there are a pro-,
digious number of rich churches. The vaft
influx of trade renders fome of the inhabitants

T 3 extremely

278 THE LIFE OF

extremely opulent ; and an air of plenty apw
pears throughout the whole. The amufcments
are chiefly confined to the opera, for which
they have a fmall theatre; but private focieties
are very engaging. The people are not, how-
ever, fo hofpitable as in fome other places, par-
ticularly Rio Grander but they are not morofe,
and treat their negroes remarkably well, many
of whom at an early age are enabled to purchafe
their freedom.

• The women here are by no means patterns of
chaftity ; and thofe of the clafs of courtezans
are remarkably extravagant in the prices they
demand for their favours, twenty and even a
hundred half joes being no uncommon prefent.
Among the fmgularities of the place we may
enumerate the frequent, or rather inceflant ufe
of baths of tepid w-ater. Whether this gives
rife to any peculiar difeafe I leave to phylicians
to determine, but two pretty extraordinary ones
almoft univerfally prevail here. Thefe are
fwellings of the legs, which fometimes arrive
at vail: magnitude, and. hydroceles of aflonifliing
bulk; both are at times, but not conflantly, at-
tended with violent pain, and the latter not un-
frequently dcfcends below the knee.

- The military cflablilhment of the town of
Rio dc Janeiro confifts of two fquadrons of very
^mo, dragoons, which fcrve as a guard to the

Viceroy,

Major semple lisle. 270

Viceroy, two regiments of regulars, and a bat-
talion of artillery, who, though far better in
appearanee than thofe in Portugal, are not to
be compared to the militia. Thefe confift, be-
fides whites, of a black and a mulatto regiment ;
and the laft, in appearance, exceeds any thing I
have fecn. At prefent, however, they are ho-
liday foldiers, and almoft without difcipline ;
but a hard campaign or two would, in all pro-
bability, make them good troops. It mull: be
i^emarked,. that the mulatto militia arc all men
of fome property, and drefs at their own ex-
pence; they wear light bluc^ with red facings,
and gay fpangle filver lace, which gives them a
remarkable fhowy look.

The reafon why the regiments of colour are
fo much more fplendid than the whites is owing
to this circumftance ; the whites are a promif-
cuous affemblage of all the males, poor and
rich, whereas the others confift only of fuch as
are rich enough to have been able to purchafe
their own freedom ; befides, when once free,
they, through fuperior induflry, acquire inde-
pendance much quicker than the others.

The principal produce of the country is cot-
ton, coffee, dyeing woods, fugar, hides, gold,
and tobacco. With thefe they load a hundred
and fifty, or two hundred fiiips, which ufed to
rendezvous yearly at Bahia dc Todos os Santos^

T 4 and

28o THE LIFE or

and from thence continue their voyage to Por-
tugal ; but now they are divided into feparatc
fquadrons, one of which fails every three months.
Belides thefe articles of commerce, there are a
few diamonds ; but not fo good as the oriental
ones, from which chemifts affert they differ,in not
being inflammable; chryflal is alfo produced
here, of very great bulk and beauty ; and fur-
nifhes the optician with the very befl lenfes for
fpedacles. There is likewife a fpecies of cot«
ton, which, from its filky appearance, is called
filk cotton ; but its fcarcity excludes it from com-
merce; and, though it might certainly be raifed
in any quantity, the lazinefs of the inhabitants
proves an infuperable bar to its cultivation.
Fruit is remarkably plentiful here, though not
"iX Rio Qrande \ but, in return, horfes are fcarce
•whereas, as has already been feen, there they
abound.

The port lies a confidcrable diftance inland j
the channel is flrongly defended by iflands which
are well fortified, and is in many places fo nar-
row that a cannon-lhot will reach acrofs; in
fhort, if well defended, I deem it impoflible for
an enemy to enter it.

The harbour is large enough to hold all the
fhips in Europe ; and in it, oppofite to the town,
is a large ifland,called//^^i/£'/ojCi?^r<3j,which ferves
for a llate prifon ; the fortifications upon it are

of

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2S1

©f confiderable flrength, and might be made im-
pregnable ; the paffage from hence to the town
is allowed to one ferry-boat only, and it is be-
iides guarded by foldiers. No accefs is allowed
to ftrangers, though fome of our enterpriiing
Englilhmcn, with their ufual ingenuity, contri-
ved to vifit it according to Lizo.

I did not embark for fome days atfer the reft:.
As I had now loft my friend Black, our compa-
ny was reduced to myfelf, the boy Richards^
and my fervant. I the more lamented his depar-
ture lince, on account of his ilvill in navagation,
he was highly efteemed by all the Portuguefe
Officers, particularly by Captain Thompfon -and
the Chevalier cie Drocaurt, Captain in that navy,
a Commander of the order of Malta, and late
Aid-de-Camp to the celebrated Count d'Eftaing-
From what thefe gentlemen faid, 1 am convin-
ced that he might have obtained very rapid pro-
motion in the Portuguefe fervice, if his incli-
nation had led him to flay there.

i embarked on board her Majelly's iliip the
UlyfTes, on the firfl: of February, and failed the
fame day, with a fquardron of fliips of war,
commanded by Rear Admiral IFrancifco de
Paula Leite^ and the convoy, though we did
not arrive at Bahia de Todos os Santos^ till the
third of April, Notwithftanding our tedious
pafTage, we reached our port eleven da/s bc-^

tL%2 tits LI?E OP

fore the convoy; this quicker difpatch \7a2t
owing to our having met with the misfortune
of running down one of the merchant fhips at
fea, which we were obliged to tfcort to the
place of her deftination without delay.

From the day of my arrival the Go venor
had given me a houfe, and a general invitation
to his table; ads of politenefs which I had
uniformly received 'during my journey. With
the reft of the convoy, Enfign Minchin arri-
ved, and as I now confidered myfelf abfolved
from the promife I had made of not attacking
him in Rio de Janeiro^ I did every thing in my
power to induce him to give me a meeting.
Unwilling that he lliould difgrace the name of
a Britifh officer, I imagined that the readieft
way to induce him to think of his fituation was
to paint its horrors out to him. I accordingly
wrote him the following letter :

" Sir,

'■ Flattering myfelf with a hope

'* that the time you have had for refiedion,
and that the forlorn ftate into which the black
ingratitude of your condud: to me has plun-
ged you, will have convinced you of your
error, I again folicit you to do away, in as
much as you can, the injury which you at-

** tempted to do me at the very moment ini

*^ which

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MAJOR SEMPLE TLISLE, SB'S?

' which I protedled you from infult, and ren-
dered you various fervices. Wearing, as you
do, the uniform of a crown to which I am
"' and ever (hall be devoted, I could willi at
" lead that you would fupport the reputatiorn
** of a man.

** You cannot have forgot, while you lived
with me in the habits of intimacy, while you
*' courted my fociety and my advice, and while
you entrenched yourfelf behind me from dan-
ger, you dared fecretly to aim at my deftruc-
tion, and to contradidl papers which you had
" before figned. The gallant t fficer, (Philip
Hancorne, Efq. Major-Generai of the Ef-
quadra,) to whom you. addrelTed yourfelf, as
well a^ the Ccmmanding Admiral, to whom
he reported the talc you bafely told, for
THAT ACT held you in dcteftation, and
neither of them would fee you more; even
the Viceroy of Brazil, equally unacquainted
with yourfelf or me, fo perfcdly defpifed the
treafon you committed, that he loaded me
with ads of kindnefs and diftindion, while
** he left you and Mrs. Minchin to lodge with
*' the interpreter, and to tat at the fame tabic
" with a woman com.mon to the whole race of

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" man.

" Let me call to your recolledion. Sir, that
** you are of a nation, (Ireland,) v.hofe fons

*' are

2S4 IHL LliE dy

** are diflinguifhed for courage ; dra'w not oil
*' them a difgrace to which they will be very
*' fenfible, and which will make them execrate
all who bear your name : be gallant then for
once, and give me the meeting to which I
have fo jull a claim. The more to induce
you to comply with my requeft, I promife,
by every thing facred, that if you give me
a rendezvous, from that moment, on my
part, all animofity Ihall ceafe; but if you
continue to refufe to fee me, and to fcreen
yourfelf from my juft vengeance, by fhutting
yourfelf up as you did at Rio de Janeiro, I
will expofe you by every poffible means on
your return to Europe, If it is the fear of
offending the laws of the country, or any
other etiquette, that prevents you from ac-
cepting the arrangement, Hill the bufmefs
may be dotie, and the guilt, (if there is any,)
attach to me alone ; you have only to ap-
pear publicly ; I will attack wherever I fee
you, were it even at the right hand of God I
^' Surely you may defend yourfelf,
** I am. Sir,

** Your obedient humble fervant,

" J. G. S. Lisle."

** St. Salvador Lodiera de BTifericordey
C)th April, 1798.

*' Eujign Mifickin^ on board the Invincible.** .

The

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3ViAJ©R SEMPLE LISLE. 285

The receipt of this epiftle, far from roufing
him to vindicate his honour, only induced him
to confine himfelf as clofely to his (liip, as he
had done to his lodgings at Rio de Janeiro ; nor
did I ever fee him till we were on the point of
failing. He then fent the Mafter of the veflel,
in which he was, to our Rear-Admiral Francifco
de Paula Leite^ to folicit his leave to remain be-
hind ; his pretence being that he was fo afflicfled
with the fcurvy that his life would be endanger-
ed by purfuing his voyage.

During our ftay at Bahia I principally fpent
my time with the military, or at the houfe of an
eminent merchant named Lilboa, a gentleman
whofe doors are open to every ftranger of de-
cent appearance; and where there is at all times
a large and good focicty. I likewife frequently
faw the Count Barbafini, Governor of the pro-
vince of MinaSy fo called from the mines there,
who, with his lady and family, had come in
the Admiral's fhip from Rio de Janeiro, To
this nobleman the Governor gave frequent y^/^j,
to all which I had the honour of being invited;
in fhort, the utmoft harmony fubfifted between
them, for both were accomplifhed literary cha-
radlers. With them I too aflifted at a very
grand ceremony performed annually here, upon
a holiday whofe name I have forgotten. On
that day the Governor, attended by all the

principal

^86 I'HE Lil-'E o? '■

principal nobility, vilitsall the churches; whcu
fuch was the profuiion of riches I faw, that even
in a country where gold and diamonds are the
natural produce of the foil, I fhould hardly have
thought fuch quantities could have been cdl-
Ic*£led in one piace, and for one purpofe, that
of adorning the images in the churches.

Every where as I walked through the ftreets
the Orong and xui\y appearance of the negroes
forcibly ftruck me. i learnt that they came
from a part of Africa different from thofe ufual-
Iy imported ; and that their treatment far ex-
ceeded even what they received at I\Io de Ja-
neiro,

Mr. Drummond had taken his pafTage inone of
the merchant veifels of the convoy ; and on his
arrival I found that he Avas very indifferently li-
tuated both in point of accommodations and pro-
vifions. I therefore, having obtained the Gover-
nor's permiffion forhimto remain on fhore,invited
liim to my houfe, and he relided with me during
my flay. Having a fpare apartment, I gave it to a-
foldier, whofc conduct had been more to my
fatisfacflion than any of his comrades, and vvhofe
wife, a decent woman, and whofe infant child
feem.ed almofi: worn out with remaining fq long
on board.

While we were here, Prater prevailed on fome
perfon to advance him about twenty pounds.

Drummond

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. ^tj

i3rummond, hearing this, thought it the beft
^imc to recover a trifling debt the other owed
him ; he accordingly went to a billiard-room, ,
where he was, with Tome maflers of merchant-
jiien, to demand the money, and a fquabble
enfued. It was about funfet, and I was taking
my evening's v/alk, when palling the door of
the houfe, I heard a noife, and could eafily dif-
tinguifh the voices of Drummond and Prater.
I looked in, and faw Prater, with a rabble of
his companions, all beating Drummond with
queues and other weapons, and endeavouring to
drive him down flairs ; while the mailer of the
houfe, a little dwarfifli fellow, attacked him
with a fword. I immediately aflailed this bur-
iefque imitation of man, and giving him a
hearty kick in the belly, difarmed him; I then
attacked the other combatants, and without lofs
of time, or diftindlion of perfons, cleared the
place of them, and refcued Mr. Drummond,
The guard having been called upon by the inha-
bitants of the houfe, I told them to return, and
to inform their Captain that I fhould myfelf call
upon him, and explain the bulinefs ; I went in
a little time, and was thanked for my pains.

Another laughable adventure befel me here ;
a taylor whom I had employed to do fome work
for me, had delayed fo long, that I was appre-
fienfive left we might be called upon to embark

before

bS8 the life ot

before he had done. I in vain fpoke to him;
till at length I fent the boy Richards to bring
the cloth, finifl^ed or not, which he did, with-
out delay, to the great difplcafure of the taylor.
Next morning early, before I was out of bed,
the taylor came to deiire I would let him finifh
the things ; and, as I fpoke to him rather Iharp-
]y about his negledl, he took upon himfelf to
give me a great deal of abufe. Enraged at be-
ing difturbed by fuch language from fuch a vi-
iitant, I jumped out of bed, feized a cane, and
made after the offender, who fled with great
nimblenefs into tlie ftrect, whither, with no-
thing on but a pair of Hippers, I purfucd him.
The chace was long ; for though he was never
quite out of my reach, I was not able to get a
blow at him ; at length he found fhelter, and I,
for the firft time during the purfuit, recolleded
that I was naked. I need hardly add that my
retreat was as fpcedy as I could make it.

Thefe trifling adventures I Ihould not have
thought worth relating, were it not, as will
hereafter be feen, that they led to ferious confe-
quences, though I may chiefly attribute many
unpleafant things to an aff^air which I yet know
not how I could have avoided. It was as
follows :

At a route given at a gentleman's houfe,
iit-here were prefent all the officers and inhabit

tants

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2 8^

tants of diftindion, a converfation was intro-
duced about the invalion of E^ngland then
threatened by the French. A Colonel of in-
fantry enquired of the Chevalier de Drocourt what
was his opinion of the probable fuccefs of fuch
a plan, fuppofing the attempt to be made ; the
Chevalier replied, that the fuperiority of the
Britifh fleet would baffle any attempt of that
nature; befides, ihould any accident enable
them to land, they would find a very warm re-
ception, for that, independent of the troops of
the line, thefe was an immenfe body of militia,
fencibles, and volunteers, which altosether
formed one of the fineft armies in the world.
A gentleman who flood near us, and whom I
had never i^tn before, immediately faid, in Por-
tuguefe, " The Englifli troops are worth no-
" thing! nothing!!!"

Such a declaration in the prefence of a man
whom he knew to be a Briton, was, to fay no
worfe of it, indecent, and fuch as I could not
pafs without notice ; but there being not only a
great number of ladies in the room, but the
Admiral under whom I failed, befldes fome
other General Officers, I was obliged to fufpend
my vengeance for a few moments. Had I taken
the advice of fome of my friends I had let the
affront pafs with impunity, as the gentleman
was the protege of one of the Minifters at Lifbon.

V I very

290 THE LIFE Of

I very foon, however, found an opportunity to
give him all the mortification fuch infolence de-
ferved ; but, though my conducfl on this occa-
Hon was generally applauded, fome of thofe
higheft in rank felt themfelvesdifpleafed. They
were hurt that I fhould dare to reduce a Por-
tugueze gentleman to fuch a ftate of humility;
and though the Rear- Admiral never noticed
the bufinefs to me, I learnt that he was highly
difpieafed. He even took the advantage of his
privileged fituation, and behaved on another
occafion with a rudenefs that Ihould not long
have gone without the chaftifement it merited,
had not prudence prevented me. I however
hinted to him that on our arrival in the Tagus,
where we fliould once more be upon an equal
footing, I would fpeak to him in a plain and
efFeclual language.

The firft fcrious inconvenience my impru-
dence brought upon mc, was an attack with ant
intention to murder. The plan was not fo pri-
vately laid but that it came to the knowledge of
Mr. Drumm.ond and my fervant ; by him it
was communicated to me. At firft I treated it
as a trifle ; but one night Drummond having
been followed by miflake for me, I looked upon
it in another light. In this country the negroes
are the alTallins, and in the execution of their
hellilh bulinefs they ftrip thcmfelves naked,

they

MAJOR SEMPLE l.ISLE. 291

they then furround their vicflim, and from fome
of them he feldom fails to receive a mortal
wound. The villains are fure to efcape, for
fiich is their adlivity and the lubricity of their
fkins from the oil with which they befmear
themfelves, that it is next to impolTible to lay
hold of them.

It happened one evening after the intimation
Fiad been given me of their defign, that I was
going to vilit a lady, and that I might at leail
have one afFiftant at hand, Mr. Drummond ac-
companied me. When I arrived at her door
he left me, and I went in. In a moment the
lady, with the utmofl earneflnefs, intreated me
to be going, as her houfe was befet by alTaliins,
whom fhe fufpe(5led M'ere looking for me. I
run to the balcony, hoping that Drummond
might not be gone very far ; I called to him,
but in vain ; I therefore immediately departed
with my fword under my left arm, but not
drawn. I walked for fafety in the middle of
the flreet, and was within a few yards of home
when juft as I was entering the ftreet where I
lived, called 'The Ladeira de Mefericorde^ on a
fudden I beheld fome negroes gathering round
me. I put myfelf in a pofture of defence, and
endeavoured to gain a wall, but before I could
effecl my purpofe, a negroe came behind and
gave me a flight wound. Mr. Drummond,

U 2 who

292 THE LIFE OF

who had not yet got home, hearing the noife,
came to my afliftance, but I had already dif-
perfed the affaflins. Fortunately my wound was
To flight as not even to confine me to my houfe,
nor had my enemies the pleafure of knowing
that I was hurt.

Here among other advantages I met with
the Governor General of Anzola. a man beloved
wherever he is known ; he was on his return
from Africa to Lifbon, and had come to Bahia
de T'odos OS SantoSy that he might be under the
protediion of the convoy. This amiable Gene-
ral had in his fuite Dr. Azercdo^ a native of Rio
de Janeiroy who, with his brother, had fome
few years before ftudied phyfic at Edinburgh ;
the firft two Brazilians who have ever been edu-
cated at a college in Scotland.

The inhabitants of Bahia are exceedingly hof-
pitable, remarkably gay, and paOionately ad-
dicted to gambling ; they drefs with more tafte
and richnefs than in any town I had feen ; their
linen is, as I have obferved of Rio Grandcy pe-
culiarly fine and white. They live in a mod
fociable and pleafant manner, but whenever
they meet, cards are introduced as a matter in-
difpenfable. Some very fi.imptuous dinners are
given, and at every table the greateft variety of
fweetmeats are ferved ; this is the more eafily
done, as there fugar is equa.l!y cheap and good,

and

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 293

and their fruits not lefs abundant than deli-
cious.

The town flands on the declivity of a hill fo
fleep that the communication between the upper
and lower part is difficult. The lower part is
bufy, full of warehoufes and fliops ; it is reck-
oned very unhealthy, and therefore the elegance
of the place is chiefly to be feen in the upper
part. There is a neat but fmall dock-yard,
where iliips of every fort are excellently well
built; in partici/lar moft of the fhips employed
in the Brazil trade are built here or at Rio de
Janeiro. The view of the bay- from the town is
beautiful, and at the back upon the height is
an indifferent fort, once taken by the Dutch,
and kept by them for fome fliort time. The
adjacent country is charmingly laid out in cul-
tivation and gardens, among which a great
number of elegant country-feats arife, and give
an air of gaiety and population to the fcene.

Mrnchin, notwithftanding his prudence^ one
day fell in my way, and had certainly no great
reafon to boaft of his good fortune ; notwith-
ftanding, when the Rear-Admirai refufed to
liften to his requefl of flaying behind, he made
application to me. I took Dr. Azeredo to vifit
him, and though he declared that his cafe was
no w^ay dangerous, I prevailed, with the Admi-
ral to grant him permiflion to ftay.

U^ Th«

le

294 THE LIFE OF

The Prince/fa da Beira^ a line-of-battle Ihip,
commanded by Commodore Diego da Piva, and
belonging to our fquadron, fprung a leak, when
we were about to put to fea, this circumftance
delayed us a confiderable time, for the leak
being near her keel, every thing was obliged to
be taken out, an event fortunate for the Court
of Portugal and our Commodore. On moving a
cheft of gold, of which there were three on board
of immenfe value, it was difcovcred to have
been broke into, and on examining, fomc in-
confiderable part was miffing. Had it nor been
for the circumftance of the leak, this cheft, in.
all probability, would have arrived at Liibon
empty.

Some little time before our departure from
Bahia de Todos cs SanloSt while I was confined to
my houfe by indifpoiition, a Portuguefe fhip
from Bengal bound to Lift^on arrived in that
harbour, on board of which came a paflenger,
Mr. Stewart. The officers of the fleet who went
on board that ftiip as flie came into port, men-
tioned my name to him, and that I was in
town; they, as himfelf told me, fpoke fo hand-
fomely of rne that he felt a defire to fee me.
He landed the fame day, and went to the houfe
of an eminent merchant (Mr. Lifboa,) where
I was particularly intimate ; he enquired after
me in that houfcj and every individual of the

family

MAJOR SEMPLE LIS,LE 295

family faid fo much in my favour, that his wifli
to fee me encreafed. It happened that while
they were talking on my fubjedl 1 fent a melTen-
ger there on Tome bufmefs, and Mr. Stewart
being informed of it, direded my meffenger to
tell me, that if I was able to come out he would
be glad that I would dine at Mr. Liiboa's ; that
it would give him pleafure to be of fervice to
me, and he would furnifh me with any money I
might have occafion for. I fent a fervant back
to tell him, that I would certainly dine where
he wa=, and that had I been drefled I would
then have paid him a viiit ; upon this he
came with my fervant to me, and in perfon
repeated the mefTage he had before fent. As
I was no more within the reach of the jrood
Admiral Antonio Januario de Valle, and hav-
iftg, on account of my long and unexpeded de-
tention here occafion for a few guineas, I ac-
cepted from Mr. Stewart the loan of about
twenty pounds. This money he lent me, and
would have lent me as much more, merely from
the reputation which my conduct, during the
eight months which I had been in Brazil, had
acquired me.

In the mean time a packet arrived from R/o
de Janeiro on her way to Europe, and by her I
wrote a detailed account of the mutiny on board
the Lady Shore to his Grace of Portland, pro-

U 4 miling

2g6 THE LIFE OF

niifing to attend his commands at Lifbon. The
letter was enclofed to his Excellency the Britifh
Envoy at that place, to whom I propofed to
furrender, and was by him forwarded to the
Duke.

Mr. Stewart had been introduced by me to
the Governor-General, from whom I now foli-
cited a palTage for him and myfelf in the
packet, which wc both much wiflied for, to.
avoid the delays naturally incident to a convoy.
But owing to fome vague reports brought from
India by the fhip in which Mr. Stewart came,
refpedling a probability of hoftilities between
Britain and Portugal, our requeft was refufed.
Jlis Excellency having been much irritated by
fome vexatious circumllan,ces which had jult oc-
curred, exprclled his difapprobation of my re-
queft in fomewhat violent terms; thefe I was
rafh enough to refent in a manner that might
have occafioned an irreparable breach with a
lefs amiable character ; but that excellent no-
bleman, whofe refentment never extended be-
yond the moment of heat, not only forgave me,
but that very evening invited me to his box in
the theatre.

After Mr. Stewart's apparently generous con-
dudl, I naturally held him in fome eflimation,
ithinking that 1 alfo pofTeffed his good opinion,
jayt fprne one, I know not who, having ac-
quainted

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 297

quainted him with my difgrace in England, he
lb conduced himfelf, that if we had not imme-
diately failed he would have had fome caufe to
repent his illiberality.

Such was the return he made for my having
embroiled myfelf with my beft friend, the Go-
vernor General ! This was the man, my com-
plaifance for whom tempted me to throw my-
felf into a pofition of refiftance againft the re-
prefentative, the kinfman of Majefty ! and when
anger, at the indignit-ies offered me by this
oriental mulhroom, extorted from me a letter
the didates of paffion ! this was the man who
could cooly fend it to the Intendant of Police
in Portugal, from whom I afterwards received
it among other papers.

If it may be allowed a man who has feen al-
moft all the world, and been an attentive ob-
ferver of what he has feen, to judge, Brazil is
the richeft country in the world ; for though
fome may more abound in particular commo-
dities, none produces in fuch plenty every thing
neceifary for life. Of the articles ufuafly ex-
ported I have already fpoken ; but in my excur-
fions into the country (and the Portuguefe al-
low that no European ever faw fo much of it,)
I found it vaftly richer than I expedcd. The
beft and moft various kinds of timber abound
Ji.ere, and of phefe I carefully collefted and pre-
fer ved

298 THE LIFE OF

ferved famples. Thofe ufcd for furniture and
iliip-building are very hard and durable; and
the opinion of the bed informed Portiigucfe is,
that without arrogating any fuperiority of va-
lour and feamanfhip to their failors, no Britifh
iiiip could cope with one of theirs of equal
force, owing to the fuperior ilrength of the
timber,- in this opinion I, however, do not
coincide with them.

On or about the lil of June we failed from
Erazil v/ith a convoy of one hundred and fifteen
fail, moft of them very large fhips ; and after a
tedious paffage, during which nothing material
occurred, we reached the river Tagus oil the
$th September, 1798. On entering the har-
bour, and before 1 difcmbarked, an opportu-
nity offering, I difpatched a fccond letter to
the Duke of Portland, recapitulating what 1
had before wrintcOj concerning the mutiny, and
mentioning my intention of awaiting his Grace's
commands at Lifbon.

CHAP. XXIV.

^he author arrives at Lifhon, writes to the Minijiers,
and offers to Jiirrender himJeJf. — Is arrejled. — Ap-
plies to the Conjid -General for Madeira^ zvho can
Qbiain nojatisfa^ory anjwer from the Intendant of

Police

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 299

Police.' — He learns at length that his confine'-
ment is owin^ to the quarrels in Brazil — Is
Juddenly removed at midnight to a houje at
Belem. — Is Jent on board a Jhip. — Some ac-
count of the city of Lijhony and of the manners
of the Portuguefe. — The Portuguefe army mi-
ferably bad. — The author fails for Gibraltar. —
Unable to reach that port, they make Tangier.-"
JVith a Lieutenant and fome of the people of the
Dorotheay the author gains Gibraltar. — The nar^
row efcape of Captain Grey and his lady.

1 HE moment I arrived in the TaguSy I wrote
to the Britilh Minifter at Lilbon, apprifmg him
of my arrival, and that I was come with the in-
tention of furrendering myfclf to him, begging
him, at the fame time, to appoint an hour when I
might have the honour of waiting upon him.
He returned me a polite anfwer, and purfuant
to my requefl fixed an hour for my vifit. He
received me with much civihty, and on my re-
peating my offer to furrender, declined taking
charge of me j he told me, that he had received
my difpatch, which he had forwarded, but had
not yet been informed of any determination of
his Court on my fubjed:, and that this was an
affair too delicate for him to interfere in with-
out pofitive inftrudions.

I now

300 THE LIFE OF

I now felt the ill efFeds of the broils I had
imprudently engaged in before I left Brazil;
though I could hardly have imagined that^^w-
ilevien would have taken vengeance in fuch a
manner. When I parted from the Britifh
Envoy I went and prefented my letters of re-
commendation to fuch of the Portuo-uefe Mi-
nifters as they were addreffed ; I then went to a
hotel, to which I had been recommended, in-
tending to take up my refidence there till the
determination of the Briciili Court fhould be
known. I had been in Lifoon only a few days
^hen I M'as delired to go to the dock-yard,
where I was told that the Commiilioner (a
Rear- Admiral) wanted rne. I attended as I was
diredied, and to my great furprife was told,
chat at the inftance of the Minifter of Marine
and the Britilli Envoy 1 was to be fent to the
Qijhllo de St. Jorge^ where, however, I was
CO be treated in every refpecft as a gentleman.

This intelligence could not but excite my
furprife; I had not long left Mr. Walpole, who
feemed very differently difpofed, and I was not
lefs confcious of having done nothing that could
merit fuch treatment from the Government of
Portugal ; I neverthelefs obeyed the order,
though 1 could not reconcile the idea that Mr,
Walpole, after what he had faid to me, fliould
Jiave demanded my arreftation. In this flate

of

MAJOR SEMPLE LIStE. 3©i

cf uneafinefs and fufpenfe I addrefied myfelf to
Charles Murray, Efq. Gonful-General from his
Britannic Majefty at the Madeiras, a manwhofe
reputation for benevolencCj and whofe confe-*
quence in the world pointed him out to me as
the mo ft likely perfon to obtain an account of
the true caufe of my imprifonment.
. In the mean time my fervant and little Rich-
ards learnt my fituation, when the former fled
for fear ; but the latter, though in a ftrange
country, and under fifteen years of age, deli-
vered himfelf up, and deiired to fliare my con-
finement. He was accordingly fent to the
Cajiello de St. Jorgey but with, a politive injunc-
tion to be kept apart from me, and orders were
at the fame time given, that I fliould not be in-
formed of his imprifonment. I, however, im-
mediately became acquainted with it, and fent
for the Governor, who, at my carncft requeft",
allowed him the range of the caftle, on m.y pro-
mife to hold no communication with him.

A fufficiently plentiful table was found for
me, and my lodgings were extremely good, but
for above a week I could not obtain my bag-
gage. At length my trunks were fent to me,
and, to my great furprife, without having;
pafTed any examination though they con-
tained many papers, yet a few immaterial ones

which

302 THE LIFE OF

which laid loofe in a bureau belonging to the
hotel where I lodged were eagerly feized and
tranfmitted to Manique^ the Intendant-General
of the Police. I applied to every one I could
think of to learn what was the caufe of my im-
prifonnnent, and was told by all that it was at
the requeft of Mr. Walpole and the Minijler of
the Matine of Portugal j in a few days, however,
I received from the humane Mr. Murray a let-
ter in anfwer to that I have already mentioned
to have fent him, of which the following is an
extradt :

Lisbon, September i8th, 179S.
As it appeared to me that

cc

at prefent, you are hardly, nay unjuftly dealt
by, being imprifoned here, without having
committed any crime againft the laws of this
country, and without even being told the
reafon of your commitment, I refolved to
comply with your requefi:, I endeavoured to
find out the caufe of that extraordinary pro-
'* ceeding, for your information.

" To this purpofe I called firft on Mr. Wal-
" pole, his Majefly's Envoy at this court, and
'* had I found that it was at his defire, I fhould
'^ have afked no further qucftions ; but his
" Secretary alTured me, (for Mr. Walpole

^' was

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3O3

*' was in the country,) that it was not; that
" you had been with Mr. Walpole foon after
" your arrival from Brazil, ofl'cring to deliver
** yourfelf up to him to be fent home to Eng-
^* land, but that he, having no orders from
'■^ home concerning" you, had declined taking
*'' charge of you ; all which the Envoy himfeif
** has iince confirmed to me.

" I next went x.o the Conful-General's office,
**^ and fpoke to the Secretary there ; Mr. God-
**■ dard the Conful, being at prefent in England,
*' who alfo affured me that nothing had ema-
" nated from that office tending to induce your
imprifonment ; judging therefore that it muft
have proceeded from the Government of
" this country, and having fome buiinefs with
*' his Excellency, Don Rodyigo dc Souza Coutinho^
*^ Secretary of State for the marine, and fo-
** reign dominions, in whofe department cog-
'" nizance is taken of all tranfadlions from th^
** Brazils, I called upon him the next mor-
** ning, and took occalion to mention your fi-
^' tuation to him. He affiured me that her
'* Majefty had given no order whatever con-
" cerning y©u ; that no complaint had come
" from the Brazils to this government againlt
" you, fo that he fuppofed your confinement
*' muft proceed from fome infinuation of the
*' Britifh Minifter; I alTured him that was not

the

«

*e
cc
<c

364 THE L!Fi OP

** the cafe j then, faid he, it mud be merely atl
•* official affair of the Intcndant of the Police,
•* in which the Government takes no part.
Being acquainted with Mr. Manique, the
Intendant, I fpoke to him on the fubjed, but
could get no fatisfadory anfwer as to the
" immediate caufe of your imprifonment. '*

This letter at once opened my eyes, and as I
had been fent to the Caftello by the Commif-
fioner of the dock-yard, I entertained very
little doubt but that the whole had been a ma-
noeuvre of the gallant Rear-Admiral FraJiciJco
de Paula Lette, to prevent me from calling him
to account for his condudl at Bahia de 'Todo^ os
SantoSy which he perfedlly well knew to be my
intention. Among others, I applied to Majof
General Gomez Frere d'Andrade, a very diftin-
guiihed foldier, who had ferved in Ruffia with
much reputation, and is of one of the mofl
noble families in Portugal ; he reprefented my
cafe to the Intendant, and folicited my dif-
charore.

O

His Majefly's Envoy, Mr. Murray, Mr.
Crifpin, the Pro-Conful, alfo ufcd their utmoH:
exertions to afcertain the caufe of my arrefl,
but they were not able to learn any thing po-
iitive: however, after much felicitation, the In-
tendant, alhamed I fuppofe of his conduct, con-
fented that little Richards fiiould be lodged in

the

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, ^Q^

the fame apartments which were allotted to me.
About the fame time he likewife gave me up
my papers, and among them, by miftake, as I
imagine, the individual letter I had wrote to
Mr. Stewart in Bahia de Todos os Santos.

At length, after much folicitation, he avowed
that the caufe of my confinement was the vio-
lence of my behaviour in Brazil, and recapi-
tulated, with great accuracy, the adions I have
already related ; he further declared, that it
was to prevent my doing mi/chief t\\d.t he could not
confent to my being at liberty ; but that I
ihould have no reafon to complain of my treat-
ment, and whenever Mr. Walpole chofe to fend
me away, that I Ihould have immediate permif-
iion to depart.

During my imprifonment I had reprefented
my cafe to the Duke of Portland, and delired
of him that I might be claimed: I likewife
fhould imagine that Mr. Walpole did the fame ;
but before an anfwer could be received. Ma-
niquey thelntendant of Police, prevented my re-
ceiving any benefit from the Court of London.
Perceiving, as he might eafily do, that the
number of my friends increafed, and that it
was probable my cafe might be properly repre-
fented to his Royal Highnefs the Prince of
Brazil, with the fupport of a very powerful in-
terefl, he thought proper, without a moment's

X notice.

306 THE LIFE OF

notice, to remove me from the Cajiello 4e St,

On the 5th of November, about twelve at
night, as I M'as undrefling, I was waited upon
by two perfons belonging to Mamque'& office j
they told me they were going to condudl: me, at
Mr. Walpole's requefl, on board a fliip which
"Vras already down the river, and would fail with
the morning's tide for a Britifh port. I re-
ceived this intimation with the greatefl plea-
fure; I hurried on my cloths, and in a moment
was ready to attend them. Two of the chaifes
of the country were at the door, my baggage
was fixed ; Manique's. fecretary got into the car-
riage with me, one of his domeflics into the
chaife with Richards, and we fet out. Wc
•were conducted to the lower end of Bckm, about
two leagues diftant from the Callle, and ar-
rived there about three in the morning; I was
carried to the houfe of MJJoaqumJoz^ de Ahreu^
Surveyor of the Cuftoms, who received me with
• great civility. Pie told me at iirfV, that in the
courfe of an hour or two the fleet with which I
was to fail would drop down the river; but
after I had waited with him till day-light, he
altered his tone, and told me that the fleet
would not probably fail for a day or two; but
rather than I fhould return, he v»'Ould accom-
modate mc for that time with apartments in his

houfe^

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3O7

houfe, provided I v/ould promife to take no ad-
vantage of his confidence, but renaain quietly
in the rooms he Ihould affign me. In reply I
aflured him, that he had nothing to apprehend
from me, as no event could give me fo much
pleafure as leaving a country where a wretch
like Mantque was an abfolute fovereign, and
fuffered to exercife his tyranny on any one who
had not the good fortune to pleafe him in all his
caprices ; it was not, therefore, into fuch a
country, but out of it, that I might be expected
to fly.

I was immediately fhewn into a fuite of
apartments, fmall, but very handfome ; thefe
were, for the prefent, to be my prifon, and I
was ferved in a ftyle of elegance which aftonifh-
ed me. I deiired leave to write his Britannic
Majefty's Envoy, in whofe polfefllon I had left
fome papers abfolutely ncceflary j for the fame
reafon I defired likewife to write to Mr. Mur-
ray, his Majefty's Conful-General for Madeira,
of whofe kindnefs to me I have before made
mention. Paper, pens, and ink, being brought
to me, I wrote the letters, and committed them
to the care of my entertainer ; he told me he
mufl: fend them to Maniojie^ who, he made no
doubt, would forward them according to my
defire.

X « I had

goS THE LIFE OF

I had palTed about eight days under this gen-
tleman's hofpitable roof, receiving every day
marks of politenefs and attention, which ren-
dered my abode very pleafant, but without
hearing from Mr. Walpole or Mr. Murray.
That they had been fent to Manique, the per-
petual good offices I was daily experiencing
left me no room to doubt ; but the Intendant
I knew to be capable of any ad: of cruelty or
meannefs ; I therefore concluded that he had
fupprelTed them, and that Mr. Walpole was as
unacquainted with my removal as he had been
with my arreft, to which they had proftituted
his name; nor was I without fufpicions that
they had now recurred to the fame impudent
projedl.

While thefe reflexions occupied my mind I
was fuddenly informed that the fleet was drop-
ping down, and that I muft prepare to embark ;
I needed very little preparation, and in a few
minutes was ready. My kind landlord gave
me a lift of the ftores he had laid in for me,
which were more than fufficient for a much
longer voyage than that I was about to rake ;
then putting a pallport into my hand, he in-
formed me, that as there was no fliips going to
■England for fome time, Manique had directed
him to put me on board one of the convoy go-
ing to Gibraltar. He affured me, as was the

faft.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 3O9

facfl, that the accommodation provided for me
was extremely good ; that the palTage was paid,
and that the mafter of the (hip was diredlcd to
put me on board any velTel we might meet at
fea bound for the Britifh Channel. This ex-
cellent man added, *' As you have neither heard
" from Mr. Walpole nor Mr. Murray during
** the time you were at my houfe, it is podible
" you may be unprovided with money fufficient
" for your prefent ufe, I will therefore advance
" you any fum I can afford." I took a few
pounds, and gave him a line to Mr. Murray,
who, with his ufual goodnefs, immediately re-
paid M, De Abreu,

I now went on board. The convoy was under
fail, and I never in my life felt more happinefs
than at quitting a country where men may be
deprived of liberty without being told why,
without having committed any crime, and
without being permitted to vindicate them-
felves. My difputes in Brazil came not within
the cognizance of an Intendant of Police of
Lifbon ; the government of that country admi-
nifters the juftice of it, and to the Governor be-
longed the power of punifhing me if I had me-
rited punifnment; but that he had made no
complaint is evident from the declaration of the
Minifter of the Marine and Tranfmarine De-
partment to Mr. Murray, an extract of whofe

^3 letter

310 THELIFEOF

letter to me has been already given. As Ma^
nique knew nothing of me, it fhould feem that
fome weighty arguments had been made ufc of
to him by fome of thofe gentlemen I had offended
in Brazil, and who there made an attempt to
affadinate me. Whether he who had the po-
ll tencfs to declare to my face that " the Englifh
" troops were good for nothing 1" and had
learnt that I did not fuffcr fuch infolence to
pafs with impunity, joined his mite of influence
to injure me, he muft determine.

The air and climate of Portugal are well
known for their lalubrity and pleafantnefs, the
weather being feldom inconveniently hot in
fummer, nor is the winter ever fo cold as to
require the ufe of fires, fo that hardly fuch a
thing as a fire-place is feen. The inhabitants
are fo intolerably lazy, that it is no unufual
matter to fee a parcel of lufiy fellows fitting on
the ground picking the vermin off each other;
a;id their fuperfiition furpaffes all imagination.
The churches here are numerous and fine; in
that of St. Antonio they {'h&w a ffone in which
the holy man, as they believe, made the figure
of the crofs with his finger : the marks of the
chizzel are not, however, io totally obliterated
but that the impofture ffrikes the moff fuperfi-
cial obfcrver.

Portugal

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 3II

Portugal formerly was famous for its enter-
priiing navigators, but of late their fpirit feems
nearly cxtind:. Literature nev^ was at a high
pitch in this country; a few poets were for-
merly found here, among whom Camoens bears
the greatefh reputation ; but for works of wit
and humour we may in Vain look among the li-
terary archives of Portugal. This feems to be
principally owing to the bufy interference of
the church, which eternally is endeavouring to
fmell out herefy or impiety ; and as kw priefts
can take a jefl, a writer who dared to make the
world laugh, would (land in an awkward predi-
cament. The fame confcioufnefs of importance
tempts them to intrude fpies into every private
family, a pra(51:ice that has not a little contributed
to the referve and gloom that feems to pervade
every houfe. Their habitual lazinefs is alfo
another caufe of their jealoufy, for many of the
ancient nobility being extremely poor, were
out-done in point of appearance by the mer^
chants, whofe origin nobody knew j they af-
. feded referve, and pretended to defpife thofe
whom they had not the energy to imitate. The
peafantry, too, are fuch fervile dependants on
the will of the lords, that their daughters, if
handfome, were almoft fure to fall vidims to
the luft of the young nobility ; and I fliould
fuppofe th^t thefe youthful debauchees, not

X ^ flopping

312 THE LIFE OF

ftopping at thefe low intrigues, would foon in-
vade the females of fuperior rank, which would
be a fufficient caution to fathers and hufbands,
"whofe youth had been fpent in iiinilar exploits,
to truft more to locks and bolts than to male
continence and female chaflity.

There are feveral theatres in Lifbon, one of
which is very fine, but no women are allowed
to perform on the ftage ; to fupply their want
they employ the moft delicate boys and young
men, who, at the diftance of the boxes, arc not
to be diftinguifhed from women. This cuflom
may poflibly have given rife to an abominable
vice, which is (hockingly frequent here.

There is a dock-yard which is faid to be very
good, but I never faw it, except when I was
"weak enough to go there through the contri-
vance oi Manique I but certainly the fhips built
there are extremely handfome while tiew. When
they have been at fea a few years they, however,
lofe their fhape, and become what the failors
call hogged y that is, inftead of forming a beau-
tiful curve, loweft in the middle and higher at
the flem and ftern ; the ends fall and the mid-
dle rifes, fo as to refemble, in fome degree,
the back of a hog. This defed: I have heard
attributed, with what juftice I know not, to the
enormous weight of their guns ; for though
their iron is fo much better than, ours, that,

from

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 313

from the hammer marks I have (een upon new
guns, I have reafon to believe that they arc
hammered after they are call, and they far fur-
pafs in weight Britifh pieces of equal calibre ;
I think I do not exceed the truth when I efti-
mate the difference of weight at one fourth.

The Portuguefe failors are by all nations al-
lowed to be expert in their occupation ; thofc
that I faw in the whole fquadron, and particu-
larly aboard her moft Faithful Majefiy's fliip
the Ulyifes, were fine flout young men, re-
markably quiet and orderly. Their pay is
good, and they are perfedlly happy in their fitu-
ation, to which the greateft attention is paid by
their officers, feveral of whom are every way
qualified for fupporting their rank with mild-
nefs, firmnefs, judgment, and dignity. Far
different is the condition of their land forces.
The only regiments I faw that were at all fit for
fervice were two of infantry ; one was that
which ftill bears the name of La Lippe, the ce-
lebrated Field-Marfhal and Captain-General of
Portugal ; the other was that of Gomez Frere
d'Andradey which is flill better, and of its com-
mander I may with propriety fay, that no fer-
vice can boaft of a more able officer. The other
regiments of infantry that I faw were miferable
in every rcfped, and only exceeded in point of
wretchednefs by the cavalry, whofe appearance,

in

314 TNELIFEO?

in fa(fl, would rather require H!ogarth's pencil
than my pen to convey an adequate idea of
them. The enormous long fwords of this gro-
tefque cavahy add not a little to the general
oddity of their look; fuch is the length of thefe
monftrous weapons, that they cannot be drawn
at one motion by men of fmall or even mode-
rate flature. The ftrait fword is certainly far
preftrable to the crooked one on every account.
The crooked fword being only fit for cutting,
deprives the wearer of his beft mode of aflault,
and is, to fay no worfe of it, a very ineffedual
•weapon. The flrait blade, in order to give it
all the advantage of which it is capable, ought
to be fharp at the point as well as the edge, of
fui^cient ftrength, and long-, ftiliitmuft be pro-
portioned to the feature of the man who is to
v/ield it, and not like thole of Portugal, fo long
that the Cavalier can neither draw nor return it
with eafe.

As we paficd the bar of Lilbon I perceived
that we were under the convoy of his Majefty's
illip Dorothea i and I feized the opportunity
which offered of addrefling a few lines to her
Commander to acquaint him in what manner
J had been placed in one of the fhips under
his command. In fad, my arreft at Lifbon had
become a common fubjeci of convcrfation there;
and many very refpeclable charaders had be-
come

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 315

come friends, becaufe I had forced pride to re-
ftrain itfeif within the bounds of good nnanners ;
tny letter to the Captain of the Dorothea was
therefore a kind of a marine gazette extraordi-
nary. Our pafiage was tedious, and the weather
unpleafant; our Ihip fprung the head of her
main-maft, which difabled her from carrying
fail, and this occafioned us to fall far aftern of
the reft of the fleet. When we made the mouth
of the Gut of Gibraltar, we v/ere unable to fol-
low the convoy through, and confequently
fleered for Tangier Bay, which we reached in
the middle of the night. Soon after day-break,
i was aftonifhed to fee the Dorothea's boat with
the Lieutenant and the Purfer come along-fide;
they informed us that when the frigate firft made
that land, they had gone on fhore to buy ftock ;
but the wind becoming more favourable, the
frigate and convoy proceeded up the Gut and
left them behind. They were in hopes that we
were in a condition to venture the palTage with-
out convoy, as the wind was fair, and the wea-
ther too boifterous to fuffer either gun-boats or
^the fmall privateers, which fwarm there, to at-
tack us : but feeing our difabled ftate, and that
the Mafter durft not venture to fail without an
efcort, they returned to the town of Tangier,
and I accompanied them. I there found that
amiable and hofpitable charadler, Mr. Matra,

his

3l6 THELIFEOF

his Majefl-y's ConfuUGeneral for Morocco, and
with him we fpenc that day.

Lieutenant Down, being very apprehenfive
that the Dorothea might fail from Gibraltar
up the Mediterranean, determined, (for what
will not Britifh feamen do?j to leave the flock
he had purchafed, and proceed next morning
at day-break in his yawl for Gibraltar. I fo-
licited his leave to accompany him, which he
granted ; but as we were preparing to depart,
we perceived his Majefty's fhip El Corf o^ with a
French privateer, her prize, which had arrived
during the night. I immediatly fuggefted to
Lieutenant Down, that it might accommodate
the Commander of El Corfoy and 'perfedly
anfwer our purpofe, fliould we offer to take
charge of the prize and carry her to Gibraltar.
The Lieutenant approved my plan, and inflant-
Jy propofed it to the Commander of El Cor~
fo^ who was much pleafed to have the means
of fending his prize into port without weak-
ening his fliip, and readily complied with our
rcquefl. She was therefore delivered over to
Lieutenant Down, with only four men be-
longing to EI Corfo. Thefe, with the Purfer, the
nephew of the Vice-Conful, the boat's crew,
and myfclf, made up the whole of his ftrength ;
Vr'e failed with a brifk wefterly breeze, and in
a very it\N hours we reached the Rock, juft as

the

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 31*7

ihe Dorothea and her convoy got in. All the
Spanifh gun-boats had come out to attack
them ; the Dorothea had been vigourouOy af-
failed, and Captain Grey, who, with his Lady,
came paflengers in that lliip from Lifbon, had
nearly lofl: their lives.

The Dorothea came to an anchor within
Europa Point, while the gun-boats kept a hea-
vy and well-direded fire upon her. Captain
and Mrs. Grey went into one of the barges to
land, and juft as they pufhed off from the fhip,
one of the top-mafts was fhot away and fell
fo near the boat that it almoft funk her; they
however reached the fhore in fafety, though
compleatFy drenched.

CHAP. XXV.

The author arrives fafe at Gibraltar. — Is arrcjied
on account of the di/covery of a confpiracy there. —
Difcharged from confinement. — Extraordinaty ex^
ertions of Earl St. Vincent. — The author arrives
at Tangier^ where he is moft kindly treated by the
Conful-Qeneral. — Refolves to wait there for the
Duke of Portland's orders. — Defcription of Tan-
gier,— Manner of building houfes there. — The

gaiety

3l8 THE LIFE OF

gaiety occaftoned by the prejence of the Confuh.-^
Mojqiies. — Gates of the town. — Abje& Jfate of the
Jews. — CharaEferof the Moors. — Their funerals,
— Moorifh troops. — Their arms. — Their horfes. — .
Their cavalry. — Remark on horfes' bits. — Their
evolutions. — Surprifed that any one could perform
their manxuvres on a plain f addle. — The Moorifh
mode of Jloeing horfes. — The author procures a
horfe to be fhoed in the European fajhion. — Barba^
rous manner of fajiening horfes in the ftahle. —
Manner of travelling in Barbary,

W E brought El Corfo's prize fafe into Gib-
raltar; and as Lieutenant Down went afhore
before we came to anchor, I fent a letter by
him to General O'Hara, Governor of that gar-
rifon. In this letter, which I had prepared at
Tangier, when I did not exped fo foon to reach
Gibraltar, I had explained my fituation to that
General ; I had in fadt given him a brief recital
of the mofl: material events in which I had been
involved finoe I left England; and this I in-
tended to have fent by the earlieft opportunity.
I reached the Rock however in a very unlucky
moment ; for jufl before our arrival a plot had
been difcovered, which was faid to have for its
objedl the burning of the arfenal : this occa-
fioncd a general alarm ; and an order to appre-
hend all Grangers and foreigners ; the latter of

whom

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 319

whom were fent out of the garrifon, and fuch
as were able, were compelled to lerve on board
the fleet. By this judicious manoeuvre, the
gallant Earl St. Vincent converted the very
fcum of the earth into ufeful fubjed:s ; proving
clearly, that, with a good commander, the
\vorft of materials will make excellent foldiers
or failors, provided difcipline and fubordina-
tion be duly kept up. It is by no means my
intention to derogate from the bravery of our
Britifh feamen, whofe excellent conduct has at
all times been a pattern to the world; yet
thefe ruffians, fnatched from fliops, from ftalls,
and from futtling-houfes, were made their com-
panions in glory ; and proved themfelves wor-
thy the honour of fighting by their fides.
What they might have done under an officer
of a lefs decided charadler than Earl St. Vin-
cent is hard to fay; but they knew him to be
brave, and that to difobey was to die ; to his
firmnefs alone, therefore, his country owes
thofe adls of valour performed by this motley
affemblage of outcafts.

I Hiared the fate of other fufferers, and was
arrefted along with the nephew of the BritiHi
Vice-Conful, and feveral others, who like us
were about to land. As I had already fent my
letter to General O'Hara, I intended to have
waited patiently his anfwsr, as in fad the ordi^

i^ary

320 THE LIFE OF

nary ceremony of obtaining permiflion to pro-
ceed to land, takes up, even in peaceable
times, fome hours ; but the officers of the navy
whom I faw there, informed me that as I was
on board one of his Majefty's fhips, I was at
the difpofal of Earl St. Vincent, who muft do
with me as he (hould think fit. By them I was
told that it was believed that I belonged to the
privateer, as I fhould naturally fuppofe, from
the circumftance of my having been feen upon
her deck in an uniform which they did not
know ; in fhort, I underftand my perfon w as
recognized by fome one who knew me, but who
never dreamt of my being there as one of the
perfons employed in bringing the prize into
port, imagining, on the contrary, that I had
joined the enemies of my country.

This news, I was told, had been carried to
Earl St. Vincent, who, taking it to be true,
was very juftly enraged at my fuppofed treafon,
and ordered me immediately to be fent in arreft
ort board his Majefty's fliip the Aurora. I was
carried thither with the nephew of the Vice-
Conful, who, as I before obferved, had been
arrefted in the general confufion ; this circum-
ftance afforded me fome confolation, for if a
man knozvn, provided with every necelTary palT-
port, and bearing even letters of recommenda-
tion to the Governor, could be arrefted, it was

no

MAJOP. SEMPLE LlSLEi 321

Ro way aftonifliing that I (liould be detained ;
I therefore maintained tny tranquillity pretty
\vell, and was, I mull: own, not a little diverted
at the difmay and conflernation of my fellow-
prifoner, who, being unpradlifed in alarms,
feemed fufficiently uneafy under this temporary
rellraint.

When I learnt that it was fuppofed by all,
even by Lord St. Vincent, that I belonged to
the privateer, I immediately took the proper
Heps to clear myfelf from fuch a fufpicion.
Early next morning. Captains Lord William
Stewart and Newhoufe, of the royal navy, called
upon me by the Admiral's command, to en-
quire how I came there, and what my purpofe
was } a very Ihort explanation alone was necef-
fary, and all reftraint was immediately taken
off. Nothing then remained for me but to fo-
licit to be fcnt to Tangier ; this adventure,
however, I hold to be fortunate, as it afforded
me an opportunity of explaining myfelf to men
fo juftly the objed: of public admiration as the
Governor and Admiral.

The day following, Earl St. Vincent direded
Captain Selby, of his Majcfty's fliip Mondovi,
to land me at Tangier. This diredion was in-
timated to me in the morning, at which time
the fhip was laying with her main-maft out,
and all her rigging down ; I was ordered to em-

Y bark

^22 THE LIFE O?

bark at eleven ; and fuch was the difpatch ufed to
prepare her for fea, that by one o'clock, not
more than five hours from the iffuing of the
orders, we were under way. This was, however,
but a trifle, compared with the adive exertions
of Earl St. Vincent ; for more than once, when
a crippled prize has been brought in one tide,
the very next tide fhe has been fent out com-
pletely refitted, armed, and manned, a cruizer
in the Britifh fervice.

The attention paid by this great Admiral,
and the fatigues he muft have neceflarily under-
gone, are aftonifhing ; at the earlieft dawn of
morning he was feen attending to the bulinefs
of the dock-yard, where the fmallefl minutia
did not cfcape his eye; and in the evening, till
the utmoft glimpfe of twilight was obfcured, he
never quitted the work carrying on there, unlefs
other parts of the fervice required his prefence.
He did away the ceremonious formality of going
on board and on Ihore pradifed by comman-
ders of fhips of war ; the fplendid barge, with
its fmart crew, were no more feen; a boat of
any fort that could be procured, with perhaps
a couple of boys to work it, ferved not only the
Captains but the Admiral himfelf, who found
fufficicnt employ for every hand, without fuf-
fering them to throw away their time in empty
parade.

The

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 323

The manner of his watering and refitting the
fhips that for fo loag a time blocked up Cadiz,
deferves notice. The fleet was at firft totally
fupplied with water brought by tranfports from
Lilbbn ; this was a tedious and expenfive bufi-
nefs, but he found the way to diminifli it, by
fending the fhips of war to Gibraltar for a fup-
ply. One fhip only at a time ufed to leave the
fleet, and proceed for the garrifon, where (he
took in not her own complement of water alone,
but as much more as fhe could; the firft
fair wind was her fignal for failing, nor would
the Admiral admit any excufe for even a mo-
ment's delay. On her return, the inftant fhe
hove in fight of the fleet, the next in rotation
failed, and the fuperfiuous water was forthwith
diflributed among thofethat mofl wanted a fup-
ply. The fame ftricftnefs and regularity was
obferved refpedling fliips that wanted repairs,
nor was every trifling deficiency allowed to be
an excufe for coming into port ; when there,
no delay was admitted, the repairs were con-
duced with furprifing rapidity, and the fhips
quickly refumed their ftation.

This unufual alertnefs was extremely harraf-
ing to the officers, yet they all admired their
indefatigable chieftain, who, like the Great
Frederick of Pruffia, had the Angular fortune
to be beloved in proportion to the feverity of

Y 2 the

3^<^ tHE LIFE OF

the duty he impofed. Neverthelefs, a thoufand
attempts were made to evade fcrvices which
they thought troublefome, and to elude the vi-
gilance of the Admiral, and a thoufand droll
adventures were the refult j but though they
ucre fometimes fuccefsful, he was generally an
over-match, for them.

On iTiy arrival at Tangier, Mr. Matra, the
Conful-Gcneral, received me with his ufual be-
nevolent kindnefs, and did every thing in his
power to make me forget my diftrciling cir-
cumftances. My carneft wilh was to have
reached Germany, but the journey was difficult,
and my finances required that I fhould do fome-
ihing to avoid the preffiire of want. Morocco
did not promife any thing very advantageous,
a;nd was, belides, a country where a man, accuf-
tomed to the elegance of fociety, could hardly
think of an efiablifhment ; but excepting that^
no other country unlefs Spain, was within my
reach ; and to ferve rn a country at war with
my own, was to me infupportable. Neceflity^
therefore, determined my choice ,• and notwith-
flanding the ample and honourable provifion
v.hich Spain would have afforded mc, I prefer-
red, without much hefitation, the forlorn hope
which Barbary held out. I therefore candidly
laid my whole hiffory before the Conful- Gene-
ral, and explained to him the neceffity under

which

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 325

^vhich I lay of looking out for employment
Somewhere. He, I may venture to fay, in
common with every one who really knows my
cafe, thought me hardly dealt by, and with a
■franknefs which I very gratefully remember,
humanely offered me his good offices.

I determined to write again to his Grace of
Portland, before I refolved to fix myfelf in any
iituation whatever, making another offer to
came forward, not only to -ckar up the honour
End propriety -of my own condu-d:, but to fub-
ftantiate thofe charges of fcandalous negligence
and imbecile want of fortitude in others, which
occafioned the unfortunate lofs of the Lady
Shore. This I conceived to be no more than
my duty, lince his Majefly's Minifters had al-
ready heard from me in the fame flyle, and it
was therefore my endeavour to place the mutiny,
and theraufe of its fuccei's, in the cleareft point
of view, in order that they might not only bring
the guilty to condign punifhment, but by point-
ing out where the error had been, enable others
to proceed with more fafety in future.

In this letter I affured his Grace that I would
endeavour to exift where I was, without con-
itrading any obligation ; that, in hopes of rC-r
ceiving his commands, I would wait a reafon-
able time ; but if I heard nothing from his Ma-
icfty's Minifters, I muft, from dire neceffity,

Y J accept

226 THE LIFE OF

accept the firfl employment that offered, and
could no more engage myfelf to anfwer their
call.

The town of Tangier lays in a bay at the mouth
of the Gut o^ GibraltaTy in lat 35** 43' N. long.
5° 18' W. about fourteen leagues W. S. W.
from that garrifon. It is fheltered on the north
behind that ridge of hills called Cape Spartel.,
■which forms the fouthern fide of the entrance
into the Gut. The entrance of the bay is com-
manded by very high land on both fides, and
might, with no great labour, be made extremely
fbrong ; at prefent there are no works near it,
except a few fmall batteries, and thofe only the
fide next the town. The bay is expofed to dif-
ferent winds, which, belides the badnefs of the
anchorage, render it an unfafe harbour at all
times.

The town does not lay at the bottom of the
bay, but on the weftern fide of it ; it is not very
conliderable, and is furroundcd by a high wall
hardly muiket-proof. The ftreets are all, ex-
cept one, fo narrow, that two people can hardly
pafs each other; and fo dirty, that no place I
have everfeen, except Lifbon, can bear the lead
comparifon with them ; the town is no where re-
gularly paved ; but in fome places a few ftones
are laid, as if dropped there by chance. The
houfes are, for the moft part, only one ftory

high.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 327

high, with no windows towards the ftreet, and
very few any where clfe ; they are all flat roofed,
and, from the badnefs of the workmanfhip, the
i-oof is fure to fink in the middle, thereby form-
ing a fort of refer voir for the rain-water, which
drops plentifully through, and renders the
apartments very damp and difagreeable. Every
houfe, great or fmall, enclofes a quadrangle,
where the gloomy mailer can fit, ftupified with
opium, fmoaking his pipe, afraid left any ftran-
gerfhouldget a peep at his women, who, though
perhaps objects of jealoufy to their hufbands,
are certainly not objecfls of temptation to any
one who has ever beheld the blaze of Britifli
beauty. The entrance into their houfes is by a
winding palTage, vi'hich leads into the quadran-
gle, from whence are the entrances into all the
apartments, and I no where faw the door of one
room lead into another; thefe doors are large,
with two folding flaps, like thofe of a coach
gateway, and in them is a little wicket, fcarce
big enough for a man to pafs in a ftooping pof-
ture. The apartments are fmall, and very nar-
row in proportion to their lengths, being like
partitioned fpaces taken out of a gallery, and
have feldom any light but what they receive from
the wicket.

This town is, however, rendered very plea-
fant, as it is the refidence of all the Confuls-

Y 4 Genera^,

328 THE LIfE Q'P

General, vhofe gay mode of living forms a very
flriking contraft with that of their gloomy neigh-
bours. Their houfes are built and furniflied irj
the European tafte, and Mr. Matra's in particu-
lar, fo very neat and elegant, that I feemed to bq
in England whenever I entered it. The Con-
fuls live in great fplendour, and inftead of prac-
tifing that oeconomy which in that place they
might readily do, they fcem to vie with each
other in fiimptuous elegance at their dinners,
balls, and concerts ; this focicty is further im-
proved by the addition of fome French families,
"who, on account of the war, have removed
from Gibraltar to fettle here.

Some of the Confuls have country-feats and
gardens in the vicinity of the town; the Britilli
and the American Conful, Mr. Simpfon, have
each of them a retreat of this kind, beautifully
iituatcd, on the face of the mountain, which
forms the entrance of the Gut. The gardens
of both, but particuhirly Mr. Simpfon's, who
principally refides there, are very well laid out,
but the way to them is infamoufly bad. None
but the horfcs of that country would be able to
afcend the mountains ; the road requires alm.oft
climbing, and the path (efpecially that which
leads to Mr. Simpfon's,) is nothing but a chan-
nel, worn throuQ-h the foil of the mountain
down to the rock by the winter rains ; it is Tq

roughj

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 329

rough, fleep, and ftoncy, that it is not Icfs d^n^
gcrous to defcend to thp bottom than difficult
to afcend to the top.

In Tangier are feveral niofque^, but of their
interior I can give no defcription, it being for-
bidden to Chriftians to enter them; and if any
one Ihould accidentally flray within their gates,
which are always open, he muft either inflantly
fubmit tocircumcilion, and become a Mahome-
tan, or his life muft pay the forfeit. Some
rmofques have fmall courts before them, paved
with tiles of different colours, and in the mid-
dle is a fountain for the ablutions pradifed ac-
cording to the Mahometan ritual. In the in-
terior parts of the country all Chriftians who
pafs muft take off their hats and llioes, but this
being the feat of the Confuls, they are excufed
the lilly ceremony; the Jews are, however,
obliged to fubmit to it in the fulled extent.

The gates of Tangier, and indeed of every
other towri in Barbary, are llmt at fun-fet and
opened at fun-rife ; no intcreft, no perfualion,
can prevail upon them to keep thofe towards
the fea open after the time allotted, or to unbar
them a moment earlier.

The Jews are very numerous here, as
well as in every other part of Barbary ; by
them, and through their means, all the trade
of the country is carried on ; neverthelefs they

arc

q30 the life of

are treated in the mofl barbarous manner.
TI ey are the mofi: abjedt of flaves j any Moor,
even a child, will abufe and ftrike them when-
ever he thinks proper; complaint at beft would
avail nothing, but probably would draw down
upon them new and aggravated infults. Their
houfes muft at all times be open, and the Moors
go in when they pleafc. It could not be fup-
pofed that thefe vifits were of the mofi: polite
kind ; but Britifh urbanity can with difficulty
form an idea of the brutalities pradtifed by
thofe favage intruders.

The induilry of thefe oppreffed Ifraelites is
aftonifiiing ; patient, perfevering, and dexte-
rous, they accumulate fortunes; and, amidft all
their fufferings, they never ceafe to have in
view their fole objecl, intereft ; yet they are for
the moll part fair traders, and contented with
moderate profits. Such is their humiliating
ftate, that even the richeft of them are glad t©
be ranked among the fervants of any Chrillian,
\t'hofe official fituation can afford them protec-
tion againfl the oppreffions under which they
groan.

They are allowed to have their fynagogue ;
but whenever the Emperor wants money, he
lays them under contribution, fometimes by
feizing their place of worlhip, under pretence
that the ground it ftands upon is wanted for his

Service.

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 33I

fervice. The late Emperor, who hated the
Jews, found another, and a very ingenious way
of extorting money from them. The Jewiili
"Women, from fome motives, probably of reli-
gion, wear no colour in their petticoats except
green : and, as the fureft way of diftrefling
them, this enlightened Prince iflued a prohibition
againfl that article of drefs. His edidls waited no
formality ; the poor JewefTes muft either ftrip,
and the dealers lofe the fale of all the flock
they had, or make the beft terms they could.
A fum of money was propofed and accepted ;
the edi(5l was repealed, and the petticoat agaia
difplayed its verdant hue.

Th6<iMoors, from^ their education, and their
want of intercourfe with ftrangers, are rude and
uncouth in their manners ; of fociety they have
no idea ; what little converfation they hold with
each other is in the open airj and I cannot
think that their difcourfe will abound with wit
or erudition. Brutally ignorant, they look
upon the Jews and Chriftians with ineffable
contempt ; fo far indeed do they carry their ar-
rogance, that a Moor, rather than tell either to
go out of his way, will ride, or drive his cattle
over him. They have, however, fome idea of
police, for guards are placed in the ftreets, and
every perfon who walks out after {viX\-{Q.l muft
have a lantern carried before' him. Whenever,

likewife.

33 2 THE LIfE O?

iikcwife, a Chriftian goes into the country to
any diilance from the gates of the town, the
Governor will not be anfwerable for any confe-
quences, unlefs he takes a Moor with him, one
of whom he will order to attend the traveller on
application being made. I, however, difpenfed
with this ceremony, and when the Governor
fent to tell me that I fliould take a Moor foldier
with me when I went any diftance, to prevent
infuk or ill treatment, I anfvvered, that Britifh
dragoons werje accuftomed to guard others, and
not to be guarded themfelves, and that I wore
^ fword, to which I could perfectly trufl tny
own fafety.

The funerals of the Moors are condycfled in
a way fufficiently flriking to a flranger ; they
are followed by a numerous croud, iinging in
j:he country fafliion ; the body is depofited in a
fort of t icr, and covered over, if a male, with
a woollen cloth, called there al haik ; and the
whole machme completely roiled up in it, if a
female.

The troops of this country, in their prefent
ftate, are by no means tit to be oppofed to Eu-
ropean forces of any defcription; they "have no
idea of difcipline, and their arms and drefs are
(extremely ill calculated for the purpofes of war.
Their cavalry is the molt numerous and beft
part of their forces ; their horfes are excellent

and

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 333(

and abundant every where, though for the road
and for carriage of merchandize, the mule and
the camel are moft ufed. The Moors are ex-
cellent horfemen, and their cavalry, with very
little trouble, might be made the fineft in the
world. The men in general are handfome, of
a good iize, flout, adlive, and can endure fa-
tigue and hunger furpriiingly well ; their horfes
too, have every quality defirable, fo that no-
thing is wanting but proper arms, harnaffing,
and training. At prefent, they wear a fort of
loofe pantaloon, no flockings, a loofe robe,
flippers, and fpurs with one prodigious long
iron fpike, which ferves at once for neck and
for rowel ; fuch indeed is the drefs of the whole
country. Their arms confift of a very long
mufket, and a very bad Ihort fword ; their fad-
die has a rifmg behind, which reaches a confi-
derable height up the back, and another before,
but the thigh is no way confined. The ftirrup
is in the Tartar fafhion, as long and as broad as
the foot, and the form of the faddle neceffarily
obliges them to ride with very fhort Ihrrups ;
for if they could not raife themfelves much
above the feat of the faddle, it would be impof-
iible for them to feat themfelves in it.

The bridle is the fame as that ufed by the
Tartars in general, and which I have already
marked to have excited my aftonifliment, at

finding

334 TH£ vUFfi 6r

finding among the inhabitants of Brazil. It is
worthy of remark, that the horfcs in Barbary, as
well as Brazil, are remarkably tender mouthed,
contrary to what my Englilh readers would ex-
ped ; bur thefe powerful bridles keep a horfe
in awe, and the fmalleft touch makes him obey,
fo that there needs not that conftant pulling
which my countrymen are fo fond of. I am aware
of the force of prejudice, and that I lliall be
laughed at by many, when I aflert, that a fnafflc
bit and a tight rein are good for nothing but to
fpoil a horfe; let, however, any one for a mo-
ment confider whether any animal can move fo
brifkly when rcflraincd as when all its limbs
have their free motion, and then let them fay,
what will be the efFed of the perpetual pulling
and favving of a fnaffle bit. Bcfidcs, the horfe
by degrees gets accuftomcd to this tealing but
infignificant bit ; a flrong pull becomes necef-
fary to check him, and the rider, as is too often
the cafe with Engliflimen, confiders his bridle
as a kind of fupport to himfclf. In a word,
wherever a powerful bit is ufed, I have obfcrved
the horfcs to be tender mouthed, and the re-
verfe in thofe where the fnaffle is employed.
The only evolution they pracflife is to form in line
of battle, then in fubdivifions to advance, with
aftonifliing rapidity, fome diftance in front of the
line; when they have made their career, in full

fpeed„

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 33;5

(peed, they in an inflant throw their horfes on
their haunches, and flop as if nailed to the
ground ; they then fire, and return to the poll-.
tion they left, and this manceuvre they pradife
fo often, that their horfes are very foon ruined.
They feemed to have no idea that an European
could ride with dexterity, unlefs taught by them
and were much aftoniflied at feeing me, on a
fmooth faddle, behind them in no feat of horfe-
manfhip. They fire with great exaclnefs, but
the fire of cavalry never can be made redoub-
able; to give, therefore, to a horfeman, more
than one piftol, is, as I have elfewhere obferv-
cd, only to encumber him, and to take from his
adivity.

Their manner of fhoeing horfes is awkward
in the extreme ; inftead of forming the fhoe in
the European manner, they make the two heels
crofs each other, leaving an opening fomething
like a loop before. They cut away the fore part
of the hoof as much as they well can,' but allow
it to fpread on the fides, by which means the
foot not only becomes unfhapely, but it occa-
fions the horfe to cut. The fhoe is only fixed
on with three or four nails on each fide of the
loops, and the crofTes behind are bent up and
hammered into the heel.

On my arrival at Tangier, Mr. Matra had
given me the privilege of ufing his horfes when

I pleafed ;

33^ TlIE LIFE or

I pleafed ; I therefore took upon me to put at
leaft one into decent trim. The fhoe was the
firft point that I proceeded to reform ; for which
purpofe having myfelf made a proper model, I
took it to a Moorifh blackfmith for his imita-
tion. It is but juftice to thofe artifts to fay,
that they are ingenious ; for the man after a
few trials, compleated afet of very decent fhoes,
which I then nailed on to fhew him the method
of doing it. He feemed furprifed at my mode
of trimming the hoof; however, he foon ac-
quirer a competent knowledge, though I had
much difficulty in prevailing upon him to fix
the flioes fufficiently forward, I fitted up an
old faddle of Mr. Matra's, in the huzar ftyle,
but the (iirrups were loft, nor could I get a pair
in all Tangier; I had, therefore, recourfe to
my ingenious fmith, who, by the help of a
model, made a pair that would not have difgraced
a Birmingham artift. My thus being my own
blackfmith, fadler, and farrier, gave the Moors
a ftrange idea of me, as they had hitherto ima-
gined themfelves to be the only perfons in the
world that were capable of managing a horfe.

Their ftables are like wife a fcene of abfurdity
and cruelty; they do not faften their horfes by
the head, but by the fore-legs, with ftraps, to
a chain, which is ftretched the whole length
of the manger, fo that the poor animals cannot

lay

Major semple hsle. 33^

lay down; if the horfe be unruly, he is alfo
faftened by the hinder legs, and I have adiually
feen a mettlefome llallion (for fuch are all the
horfes here) not only faftened by the fore-legs
in the ufual way, but with one hind-leg faften-
ed, fo as to be capable only of moving forward^
and the other capable only of moving backwardi
I have juft faid that the horfes are fo faftenecj
that they cannot lay down, but this the Moors
confider as no hardfhip j for they endeavour
to prevent them from it, under the notion,
that a horfe that lays dozvn isfick. Of their horfes,
however, they are very fond, and none are per-
mitted to be exported, except fuch as are pre-
fents from the Emperor.

Travelling is very inconvenient iri Barbary ;
every perfon muft have a pafs, and to make the
road any way comfortable, an efcort is necelTary
both for prote(5tion and to procure provifions ;
befides, there are only two (hort feafons, one in
fpring, and one in autumn, when travelling is
decently pradlicable ; for in winter, the whole
country is deluged with rain, and in fummer,
the ground cracks in fuch a manner, that a
horfe is in danger of breaking his legs by ftep-.
ping into the chinks.

CHAP.

338

THE LIFE OF

CHAP. XXVI.

Treatment of Chrijlian Jlaves in Barhary. — '^'be au^
thor receives notice of the demand of the Britifh
Court for his furrender. — Complies with it^ and
fails for Gibraltar. — His letter to the Governor^
and the anfwer. — Sails for Lijbon, — Politely re-
ceived by the Britifh officers there. — IVrites to
the Britifh Envoy ^nd Mr. Murray, with their
anfwers. — Sails for Portfmouth. — His letter to
the Duke of Portland. — Sent for to town.

I REMAINED fomc time at Tangier, enjoying
every amiifement that place could afford ; I vi-
ilted the feveral Confuls, who, notwithflanding
any war, always live upon friendly terms, much
to the benefit of their feveral fovereigns, whofe
affairs would be materially injured by any dif-
agreement, as the Moors would not fail to turn
it to their difadvantage. I likewife amufed my-
felf with excurfions into the country, but thefe
the rain often rendered unpleafant ; however, as
I wifhed to fee all I could, I difregarded petty
inconveniences. One of my principal amufe-
ments was the improving of my friend and be-
nefador, Mr. Matra's horfes ; and to this I fo
far devoted myfelf, that when (as will hereafter
be related,) Earl St. Vincent difpatched an

officer

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 33^

officer for mc, I was found in the ad of fhoeing
one of them.

I had one day an opportunity of knowing the
treatment of the European flaves from their own
mouths. Walking on the beach with an officer
of the -navy, we faw fome of thefe captives, one
of whom addrcfied himfclf to me in German;
he informed me that they were Luhekers and Ham-
hurghefey and had been fom.e time in flavery.
Their treatment does not, however, feem at all
bad; their allowance is about fix-pence a day,
at leaft equal to one fhilling and fix-pence here;
they are not compelled to work, and fomc of
them who had acknowledged themfelves to be
boat-builders, having been employed at their
trade, received additional wages in confequence
of the reprefentation of the Confuls, who in-
filled that they fiiould not work without being
paid.

In the month of December a letter came from
General O'Hara to Mr. Matra, acquainting him
that I was ordered home in cufbody ; and at the
fame time Captain Newhoufe, of his Majefi:y's
fhip Peterell, was directed to receive me, if I
chofe to go. I readily confented to obey the or-
der, but wrote to General O'Hara, that it would
be impofiible for me to comply with it fo foon.
as twenty- four hours, which was all the time
Captain Newhoufe could allow me ; if, how-

Z 2 ever.

340 THE LliE O'F

ever, any other fliip came in a few days, or if
the Petterell would look in on her return from
the expedition on which fhe was going, I would
not require her to come to anchor, as upon
hoifting red at the main I would inftantly re-
pair on board.

On the 8th of January, 1799, fourteen days
after, the Petterell hove in fight, and having
made the fignal previoufly agreed upon, I re-
paired on board j a few hours conveyed us to
Gibraltar, where I no fooner arrived than I
fent the following letter to General O'Hara :

" Sir,

** In obedience to your Excellency's
" commands, and the direcflions of thebenevo-
** lent Mr. Matra, whofe fingular bounties to mc
*' have given him the privilege of difpofing of
** me as he pieafes, I yefterday embarked on
" board his Majefty's fhip Petterell, and now
" furrender myfelf to your Excellencies difpo-
" fition. From you. Sir, I am affured of liberal
" treatment, therefore I have only to folicit the
** honour of an early audience. Confident in
" the redlitude of my own condud, and the
" juftice of my country, I can entertain no ap-
" prehenfion ; but did there even exill a pofii-
" bility of converting any ad; of mine into a

" crime;

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE 341

" crime, long accuftomed to adverfity, I have
** learnt to meet with firmnefs all man can do.

*• I am,
*' Molt perfedly and refpedlfully,

" Sir,
" Your Excellency's

" Very devoted fervant.

" J. G. S. LISLE."

" Gibraltar Bay,
" On board his M> S. Petleiell^
*' %thjan. 1799."

The General, probably feeling himfelf a lit-
awkward at the profpedt of being drawn into
converfation upon an affair of feme delicacy,
thought proper to decline complying with my
requeft, and returned me the following anfwer :

*♦ Gibraltar, the 9th Jan. 1799.
" Sir,

"In confequence of orders from Go-

" vernment, through his Majefty's Principal

Secretary of State, you are to be fent to

England in cuftody, and having no will of

my own upon this occaiion, I cannot but de-f

'* ciine an interview, which, without ferving

" you, could only give pain to

" Sir,

" Your obedient fervant,

'' CHA, O'HARA."
" To Major Lijle:*

7- 3 Notwith-

re

. 342 THE LI F E OF

Notwithftanding this refufal I, however, re-
ceived marks of polite and kind attention from
that excellent General.

It was the province of Earl St. Vincent to
difpofeof me as he pleafed; and as his Majefty's
fhip Mondovi hove in fight the day after my
, arrival, I intrcated his Lordfliip, that as flie
would, in all probability, foon return to Lif-
bon, I might be permitted to go in her; I par-
ticularly aiked this, as I had fome knowledge
of Captain Selby, who commanded her, and
who bad before taken me to Tangier. I was
honoured by his Lordfliip's confent, and he
gave immediate orders to the Mondovi to pre-,
pare for her return as foon as the had deliverecj
her difpatches and received chofe from the Gar-
rifon.

Next morning Captain Grey, whom I have
before mentioned, came to me, and acquainted
me, that the Mondovi was on the point of fail-
ing ; 1 therefore immediately repaired on board,
and after a fliort voyage, during which I was
treated with the utmoil kindnefs and attention,
arrived at Lifljon.

At Lifbon I was fent on board the Brilliant,
commanded by that excellent officer and ac-
compliflied gentleman. Captain Blackwood.
Here I enjoyed every pleafure the place would
admit; and it is but juftice to the feveral Bri-

tilb

• MAJOR SEMPLE LiSLE. 343

tiih Commanders then in the Tagus, to declare,
that I never, in the moft aufpicious fituation of
fny life, was treated with more kindnefs and
politenefs. As foon as 1 arrived at I.ifbon, I
wrote to the Britiili Envoy, Mr. Walpole, to
whofe humanity I had been fo much indebted
-at my former vifit to this place. To this he re-
turned the folloyving anfwer :

Lisbon, iSth January, 1799.
" Sir,

" I HAVE been favoured with your
'* letter of yefterday's date, and I take this op-
" portunity of confirming to you the orders
•' which I have received from his Majefty to
*' fend you home in cuftody ; and I have, in
** obedience to his Majefly's commands, de-
** lired Captain Selby to convey you on board
" his Majefly*s fhip Brilliant, commanded by
" Captain Blackwood, and I am perfuaded that
" you will receive every attention poilible from
^' Captain Blackwood.

" Under thefe circumftances you will per-
^* ceive the impoffibility of my acquiefcing in
*' your wilhes to come on (hore.

" I am, Sir,
** your molt obedient,
/ *' humble Servant,

" ROB. WALPOLE.'*
« M^Jor 7. G. Semple Li/Ie.'\

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344 THE LIFE OF

I likewife wrote to Mr. Murray, the Conful-
General, who had fo kindly interfered for my
liberation ; and his anfwer, as explaining not
only fome parts of Mr. Walpole's» but feveral
other circumftances, jiiuch better than I am
able, I fubjoin;

" Sir,

" I RECEIVED yeflerday evening a le£-»
*' letter from you without a date, and this
" morning, at ii o'clock, one dated this
*' morning. Before I fay any thing on your
*' prefent fjtuation, let me acquaint you that
" I received a letter from you, from on board
*^ the veflel in which you left this river,
" after fhe was under weigh, fo could not
'* anfwer it to you then. I afterwards re-»
" ceived that you left with the Portuguefe gen-
" tleman at Belem, and paid him the two
** pieces you requefted of me ; the other tWQ
" which you mention to have been put into the
** hands of the Intendant of Police I have never
** feen, nor ever will ; it is in vain to expedl it,
*' All your papers left in my hands, with the
" certificate you defired from me, I fent Mr.
" J, Fox, at Falmouth, to lie till called for,
^* as you defired, and I know they have got to
** hand.

" I obferve what has palTed with you lince
^^ you left |;his. I went lafl: night to the rooms

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MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 345

" expedling to meet Mr. Walpole; he did not
'* come there; and I am fo much and fo in-
difpenfibly employed at prcfent, writing to
Madeira and England, by veffels ready to fail,
that it is impofiible for me to go to his houfc,
** which is at a diftance from mine; befides, it
*' appears to me, that it could be of no fervice
to you, not only becaufe his conference with
Captain Selby mull have been over this morn-
ing before I got your letter; but ftill more,
** becaufe, as he now adls under orders from
** home, he cannot give fcope to his own incli-
*' nations towards indulgcncies to you, if con-
" trary to thofe orders ; and for that reafon I
*' dare fay he will decline giving you a meet-
** ;ng. But there is flill a further and more
*' powerful reafon; after you went away, fome
" difagreeable circumftances took place be-
** tween him and the Intendant ; on that ac-
'* count an application to Court became necef-
** fary, which the Intendant refented fo much,
** and laid before her Majefty the contents of
your, what he ftyled, petulent and infulting
letter to him, after your return from on board
** the packet, that I am certain he would clap
*' you again into confinement the moment you
" put your foot on fhore here; and from the
** nature of his office, he can do fo, in fpite of
•* all Mr. Walpole's endeavour to prevent it.
'* Nothing but the Queen turning the Intend-

*' ant

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346 THE LIFE or

" ant out of office could prevent it, and that

" you may believe is totally out of the queftion.

" All that Mr. Walpole could do, would be to
infift on your being delivered up whenever
he pointed out the veffel in which he wanted
to fend you to England ; and even then the
Intendant would have it in his power to fend
you on board a prifoner, and with what dif-
agrceablc marks he might chufe to call ne-
celTary, on the fcore of fecurity for your not

'* being one inftant at liberty in this city : all
this he can do, and I dare fay, would not
bate one difagreeable item. As for me, I
cannot fpeak to the Intendant, having been
implicated in the bufmefs between him and
the Envoy, in fo much, that we have had no

** communication fmce.

" From all this you. will gather that it is my

** opinion that you have nothing for it but pa-
tience, and to make the beft of it you can;
and when you arrive in England, I doubt not
your readinefs to furrender yourfelf to your
country will have full weight, and be of that
fervice to you there, which it cannot polTibly

*« be here. I return you Governor O'Hara's

^* letter.

" I am. Sir,
" Your obedient Servant,

" CHAS. MURRAY."

*' Lt/bon^ Jan, 18, 1799.'*

Not*

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MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 347

Notwithftanding thefe friendly cautions, as
there were no apprehenfions entertained of my
deferting, I frequently went on fliorc in the
iriofl perfed contempt of Manique and his au-
thority.

About the loth of February we failed for
England, and after a pieafant paflage, ar-
rived at Portfmouth on the 2jd of the fame
month. Immediately on my arrival I an-
nounced myfelf to his Grace of Portland in the
following letter :

" 0>! har J bis M, Sb'pBK I L-Ll AST, 22d Feb. 1799.

*' My Lord,

" I had the honour to inform your
Grace from Tangiers, that in confequence of
the extraordinary events with which you are
acquainted, I had found myfelf reduced to
the neccflity of looking for hofpitality on the
iliores of Barbary, where I engaged myfelf to
' remain inadlive, a time more than fufficient
for your Grace to convey to me your com-
" mands, which I bound myfelf to obey. About
fix weeks after my arrival in that country it
" was intimated by General O'liara to Mr.
" Matra, his Majefly's Conful-General, (whofe
" bounties to me had given him a right to dif-
** pofe of me as he pleafedj that the Britifli

Envoy

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34}? THELIFEOF

" Envoy at the Court of Lifbon had received
*' an order to fend me home in cuftody, and
" that fuch an order had been communicated
to his Excellency. Having furnifhed your
Grace with every information, having furren-
*' dered myfelf to the Britifh Envoy at Portu-
*' gal, according to the promife I made your
** Grace in my letter from Brazil, having (o
*■* repeatedly fclicited you to permit that I
" fliould come to London ; in fhort, after hav-
** ing done every thing honourable, and every
" thing that it is pofTible for a man, well dif-
*' pofed to do, I felt myfelf mortified to learn,
" that it had been found neceffary to order,
" that I fhould be fent home in cujlodyi ne-
*' verthelefs, though, when fuch intelligence
" reached me, I was no longer in the power of
" the Britifh Government, though I was in a
*' position from whence neither force or inge-
** nuity could have taken me, I inftantly pre-
pared to obey the fummons of the Crown,
I wrote General O'Hara, alTuring him that I
would furrender myfelf in his garrifon in the
" courfe of a fortnight ; and farther told his
•' Excellency, that the better to enable me to
*' accomplifli that purpofe, I had already foli-
" cited the Commander of his Majefl"y's fhip
" Petterell, who was then leaving Tangiers,
** bound on an expedition of a few days to the

*' South-

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE.* 349

" Southward, to call for me on his return.
" Such a delay was the more necclTary for me,
that when I cftablilhed myfelf at Tangiers,
fuppofing I Ihould find myfelf obliged to re-^
" main there at leall for fome months, 1 had
** contraded fome fmall obligations in fitting
up a houfe, which I was not able immedi-
ately to difcharge. His Excellency removed
thefe obftacles ; his Majefty's Ihip Petterell
foon afterwards appeared in the bay, made
the fignal agreed on between her Commander
and myfelf, and I embarked for Gibraltar,
where I had the fatisfacftion to find that my
condud: met the approbation of the Governor
" and Admiral. To the humanity and libe-
rality of Earl St. Vincent, and thofe invin-
cible heroes by whom he is furrounded, I
" am indebted for an inexhauftible fund of con-
" folation.

Committed to the charge of Captain Black-
wood, by his Majefty's Envoy at Lifbon, I
have at length reached this port ; and after
" having well weighed every ad of mine iince
" I left thefe fhores ; after calling to my recol-
** ledion that it muft be known to your Grace
*^ that my condud has been approved of by
** every refpedable charader in the fervice
" of the Britifh crown, in whofe way dame
_" Fortune has toffed me. After its being efta-

" bliihcd

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350 THE LIFE OP

" blifhed beyond all poflibility of doubt, tKat
*• I have furrendered myfelf a volunteer to the
*' order of Government, and lince that period
I have in nothing felt myfelf in cuftody, I
venture to pray, that I may be permitted to
■prefent myfelf wherever his Majefty may be
•' pleafcd to command ; but lliould there, in
your Grace's opinion, exift reafons to confti-
tute me, for a time, a prifoner, confident in
*' the re<5}-itude of my own condudt, and the
juftice of my country, I mod cheerfully fub-
** mit to fuch a deciiion ; but humbly intreat,
" that the place of my confinement may be
" where it was when I was lefs intitled to in-
dulgence— the ftate lide of Newgate — This re-
queft will, I hope, appear the more reafon-
able to your Grace, that the accufer as I am
" of the mutineers, and others more guilty
" than they are, I fliould, were I to mingle with
" the crowd, be treated by them as it is ufual
*' to treat a King's evidence, a character which,
" if to (liare in the guilt be a neceflary qualifi-
" cation, I cannot be fuppofed to exhibit.

** I have the honour to be,

" With the highefl refped,

" My Lord Duke, &c. &c. &c.

« J. G. S. LISLE."

I wrote

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MAJOR SEM?LE LISLE. 351

I wrote likewife to Earl Spencer, fending
him the famples of wood I had colled:ed at
Brazil, of which, though I had loft fome few
during my arreft at Lilbon, I had preferved the
moft valuable.

During my ftay at Portfmouth, Enfign Prater,
whofe officioufnefs I have before had occafion to
mention, thought proper to publilh a detail of
the mutiny on board the Lady Shore. In this
curious production (which appeared in the Star
of the 2d of April, 1799,) ^^ %s» " ^" ^"^
" firft arrival at Port Saint Pcdroes, Adjutant
Minchin, of his own accord, allowed James
George Semple Lifle, who was a convid on
**■ board, to make out a Report to the Governor,
that he the faid Semple was a Major in the
Dutch Cavalry; and Adjutant Minchin fanc-
** tioned it." To this I fhall only reply, that
1 made no report, as has been already feen ; and
that it was not Minchin alone that ligned it,
but, as his Majefty's Minifters know, every offi-
cer of the Ihip and troops. He goes on, *'the
officer in whofe houfe I was quartered, afkcd
me why the faid Major had not his uniform,
belt, breaft-plate, faih, &c. as Adjutant M.
and myfelf? I, not wiiliing to deceive the
** officer, informed him, xh<iX. he never had afty,**
If by the good-natured and perfpicuous reply
Mr. Prater ftates himfelf to have given to

the

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35^ THE LIFE Of

the officer he meant, that I never had any uni-
form, he was furely miftaken ; and in fad: I
never wore any other drefs during my flay in
Brazil J if he alluded to the breaft-plate^ (mean-
ing, I fuppofe,} the gorget^ he is perfecflly cor-
re<5l, for, as an officer of dragoons, it was not a
partof my uniform; in facft, he wifhed to injure
mc, and threw himfelf into the fituation of
Pope's dunce, who,

** Means not^ but blundefs roufid ahout a meaning,**

As to fwords, we were all alike, for
thanks to him and his Commander Minchin,
who prudently declined drawing upon the mu-
tineers, they had been all taken away, as being
vihTit fome of us had no occafion for. He like-
wife infinuates, that Minchin and myfelf had
confpired againft him ; whether I confpired or
bore him any malice, nay, whether I had not
been his friend and benefacftor, let the following
elep-ant letter fliew:

't>^

*' Bahai, May zd, 1797.
" To

« Major J. G. S. Lifle

** Sir,

" I return your Trowfers with many
" thanks. Should have returned before but
" the Taylor difappointed me in getting mine

'* done untill this day

" 1 defircd

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MAjbR SEMPLB LISLE. 353

** I delired Welfh to get a Bundle contain-
ing four Muflinet waifcoats & a Reg''^ Coat,
in your Pofleflion but he told me you had
detaind them till 1 paid you what you paid
the Surgeon at Rio de Janeiro,- the fmall
** pittance I received the other day was Bearly
" fufficient to pay for what Clothes &c. I was
in want of; you Certainly cannot be igno-
rant of my diftrefs in Refpecft of thofe necef-
fary article, & the dearnefs of this Country
now I have nothing to get a fmall fea ftock.
for the reft of the Voyage ; but you (hall be
pay*d at Lilbon on our arrival at that port,
& you will oblige me in giving the Articles
'* to Welfti not that they worth your keeping
** as the waiftcoats too fmall for you and the
** Coat not worth your ufe ;

" I am Sir
" Yours obediently

" Wm. prater

" Enfign N. S. Wales Gorp's
" of Foot."

I only remark, that I knew nothing about
his cloaths, which it feems he had left in the
care of my fervant, and which I ordered to be
given him as foon as I knew of his demand ;
he forgot to pay me the money he mentions,
either at Lifbon or any where elfe. The pan-

^ * taloons

354 THE LIFfi Of

taloons and fliift I never meant to receive, a^
they were not lent but given ; for feeing him
come along the front of a regiment dravt'n up to
receive the Governor of Minas as he landed at
Bah/a, with fafh, gorget, and uniform, in a
dirty' fnirt, and a pair of white pantaloons
mended acrofs the fore-part with brown thread,
I told him to difappear from where he then
was, and to go to my fervant, who would fup-<
ply him with pantaloons and a fhirt.

As foon as his account of the mutiny appear-
ed, I replied to his fcurrilify in the fame paper
of the 8th April. My anfwer I here fubjoin;
and have only to add, that he had treated the
great and dignified charaders I mention, with
an indecency not fit for a gentlemen even to
repeat. ^

Extras of a Letter from the Star.

Jpril 8, 1 799.

^Mt was my wifh to have avoided every pub-
lic difcudion on the fubjed; of the mutiny on
board the Lady Shore, until a court of juftice
had given their opinion. The trial is not
*' delayed by any fault of mine. I left a flate
of happinefs in Barbary. I came forward the
moment I was called upon by my country,
and have been in perfecl readinefs to meet in-

" velligation

ft

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 353

*' veftigation thefe fix weeks ; nor have I ceafed
fubmidively, to folicit that it may be brought
on. But fince Enfign Prater has publifhed,
through the channel of your paper, a ftate-
ment prejudicial to me, and fince you cannot
publifli the relation of fads, to which I fur-

** nifh vouchers*, do me the favour to alk that
gentleman ("who feems fo well acquainted
with the particulars of the mutiny,) who it

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" was that, abfent from his cabin in the mo-

X*

ment of the mutiny, and miffing for feveral
hours after the affray was over, was found
concealed in the fore-part of the fliip, where
*' the women convidls were confi-ned ? and, who
** fought for fiielter underneath the bed of the
** furgeon ?

Mr. Prater, on the fcore of Commodore
Hancorne, is fo far correcft, that that truly
refpedlable and amiable charader did render
*' me rnany fervices in Brazil, and did refufe to
** receive his vifits : it is true the Commodore

* " The relation of faBs here referred to was refufed infer-

*' tion, not from any doubt of its correftnefsj for in fupport

*' of it we were referred to gentlemen vvhofe reputations are

" un'uUied, viz. Mr. Black, the Puifer, Mr. Fyfe, the Sur-

*' geon, Mr. Murchifon, the Second Mate, and Mr. Lewes,

*' the Steward ; but becaufe in the prcfent ilate of the buli-

*' nefs we thought feme parts of it unfeafonable, and there-

** fore likely to be deemed libellous.

«' Edit.»'

A a 2 had

«

tl

3^6 T^E LITE Oi

" had once the honour of being a Lieutenrant m
" the mofl glorious navy under heaven; he is
proud to fay fo, nor did he, at once, jump
into the diftinguiflied fituation he now occu-
pies ukh fo much reputation, he obtained it
*** by length of fervice and by dint of merit!
" But Mr. Prater Ihould have accufed the Com-
*' manding Admiral of the fleet, Antonio Ja-
" nua-rro de Valle, and not Commodore Han-
" corne, of having fupplied my wants, and his
Excellency the Vice-Roy, of having given
me a handfome houfe, while he lodged Pra-
" ter, Drummond, the foldiers, women, &c.
" without diftindion, in an hofpkal ; thefe
*' great men knew every thing unfavourable to
** me, but they had alfo the means of learning
" how I behaved in the moment of themunity:
" and how fome others. My difpute with Mr.
" Prater differs in fomething from his account
*' of it. Reafons, more than fufficient, induced
me (while at Rio Grande) to put my fvvord
in my hand againfl him, but he was refcued
from the danger into which he had drawn
•* himfelf, by the interference of Mr. Murchi-
" fon, who himfelf received what was meant

" for Prater.

** I am. Sir.,

" Your moft obedient Servant,

" J. G, S. LISLE.'*

** Portfmovth^ April 5, 1 799."

During

MAJOR SEMt-LE LISLE. 357

During my ftay at Portfmouth I received
.the fame attention and politenefs I had met
with at Litbon. As no doubts were entertained
concerning my fafety, I was permitted to amufe
myfelf as I pleafcd; but as a life of indolence
never fuited my difpofition, I again and again
made application t.o his jVIajefty's Minifters to
fend for me to town. I could not indeed fup-
pofe -that t.hey would order nne to be brought to
England without fome reafon, and I naturally
.concluded, that they had for their objed: the in-
veftigation of the mutiny on board the Lady
Shor.e ; two months and upwards, however,
elapfed before I wgs fent for.

At length, either in confequenee of my ap^
plications, or from fome other motive, Mr.
Townfliend was fent for me. He found me
early in the morning on board the Brilliant ;
and after acquainting me with his mifTion, he
left me, and returned to his inn, where I en-
gaged to join him before eleven o'clock j this
engagement I fulfilled, and we immediately fet
off to town. From him I received the moft
polite treatment ; I was laid under no reftraint
whatever, and fp far from being difarmed, I
not only travelled with my fide-arms, but Mr,
Townfliend, who knew my difpofition^ fur-
pifhed me with a brace of pif][ols for our mutual

A a 3 defence

358 THE LIFE OF

defence on the road ; in Hiort, his humanity
and politenefs made mc forget that I was a
prifoner.

CHAP. XXVII.

'The author arrives in iozvyiy is fent to Tothil-Ficlds
■ Bridewell. — Charadler of that prifon. — 'The an-
thor'i exploits with bailiffs. — Conclufion.

J\t my arrival in town I was depofited in Tot-
hil-Fields Bridewell, where I have ever lince
remained, to ufe the phrafeology of the place,
like a parcel left at an inn till called for. Here
I have received the utmofi. politenefs, and the
moft humane attention, from Mr. Fenwick, the
Governor, and his family, who feem, in fliort,
to be formed by nature for foftening the rigours
of captivity; fuch, too, is the force of example,
that the fame humanity pervades all his fervants,
and guilt, though nothing human can diveft it
of its horrors and remorfe, feels them as its
worfl; evils, without the aggravation of tortures,
equally crtiel, unnecefiary, and impolitic.

Thus far has been, what we may call, the
more ferious part of my hiflory ; and many of

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLEi' 359

my readers will, perhaps, be much furprifed at
not finding it a counter-part to that of Jona-
than Wild; but, in truth, my life has rather
confided of ferious, than of comic fcenes, and
my adventures, befide thofe already enume-
rated, are not, I hope, of a very criminal dye.
rhave, it is true, had a thoufand hair-breadth
efcapes from bailiffs, and among the reft, one
or two laughable ones, which I fhall relate ; but
as to the trafh fold by Kearfley as my hiftory, I
know nothing of it, farther, than that it is, with
the exception of a very few inftances, totally
falfe, and where true, fhamefully diftorted. For
inftance, I was by him accufed of having de-
frauded Lord Eardley, Lord Salifbury, and
MefTrs. Grimwood, Hudfon, and Barret, all of
whom lived in the fame ftreet ; I fent to them
to know if they had any charge againft me, and
received from each a certificate, acknowledg-
ing, that I never had cheated them, and that
they had nothing to lay to my charge. I mean,
not, however, to deny that I have negledled
pun6luality in my payments, and that when I
wanted money, I have, without thinking how
it would be paid, accepted the loan of a few
guineas from any friend ; taylors have, likewife,
found me not fo ready to pay as to order ; and
thus I became acquainted with bailiffs.

A a 4 One

360 THE LIFE QP

One of my bed manoeuvres to avoid them
was, before my perfon was known to them, to
pretend bufmefs in all the different fpunging-
houfes : I thus knew their faces, and by the
help of a good look-out, for a long time avoid-
ed them. One day, however, near Charing-
crofs, I was met in a hackney-coach by two
bailiffs, who had a writ againft me ; as foon as
I perceived them, I ordered the coachman to
drive as fafl as he poffibly could into the Horfe
Guards, promifmg to take all confequences
upon myfelf, and to give him a guinea for his
trouble. The defcendant of Jehu exerted his
utmoft {kill, but without being able to prevent
one from attempting to feize the horfes, while;
the other attempted to florm the door; a dex-
terous application of the whip, howeyer, made
the poft the former had taken very uneafy, and
I repelled, as well as I could, the attacks of
the other inyader. Both clung, however, to the
fides of the coach, till we drove altogether into
the Horfe Guards ; there I leaped out, and hav-
ing explained the matter to the officer then on
c^uty, made a bow to the bailiffs, and walked
through the Park, while they returned by the
gate they had entered, amidft the laughter of
all who beheld the fcene.

Another time, fitting at breakfaff, I was at-
tacked by three of them, and got oft" by the fol-
lowing

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 361

lowing ftratagem : I then lived in Oxendon-
flreet ; and almoft oppofice to me lodged Lord
(then the honourable Mr.) Semple, who bore
a commiflion in the Guards ; the fimilarity of
names, as both were called Captain Semple,
had occafioned many miftakes ; but though our
names were alike, our circumftances differed
widely ; for he owed nobody a farthing, and I
owed every body who would give me credit.
As foon as thefe vultures of the law entered the
room, they, with the ufual etiquette, made mc
acquainted with the purport of their vilit, and
concluded, by giving me a very prefling invi-
tation to a houfe kept by one of them. As I
wifhed to decline this honour, I affed^ed much
furprize, and told them they muft needs be
miftaken, as I was in debt to nobody ; they
aflved me if I was not Captain Semple ? " Then,
" gentlemen," faid I, *' the whole is cleared
" up, there is another Captain Semple lives in
'* this flreet, I fee him now," pointing at his
lodgings, " locking through the window ; and
" this is not the firft, nor hardly the twentieth
time, that I have been arrefted for him ; in
fhort, his attornies, his duns, and his bailiffs,
" will force me to quit this ftreet." I then
profeffed myfelf perfedly ready to go with them,
if they infifted upon it ; but that I was quite
\vearied with fuch inceffant vifits of that nature ;

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362 THE LIFE OF

and mud:, for my own fake, bring any illegal
act before a Court of Jultice, that I might be
rid of fuch plagues for the future. This puz-
zled the bailiffs, who, with feme reluctance,
went down flairs, and, at the door, enquired of
the fervant of the houfe, if there was any other
Captain Semple in that ftreet; fiie told him there
■was, and opening the door, pointed out to them
the fame houfe that I had done. This fatisfied
them, ajid I profited by the diverfion thus made
in my favour to efcape, leaving my honourable
namefake to fettle the affair with them as he
could. In a word, he was taken to a fpunging-
houfe, in fpite of all his remonflrances, till the
agent of the regiment releafed him ; I have been
told, he afterwards attempted a profecution
againfl the bailiff", but it appearing that no
wanton ufe had been made of the writ, and that
the miflake was almoff unavoidable, he obtained
no fatisfadiion.

Another time Colonel had the mif-

fortune to be arrefted, and two good Jurcties be-
ing demanded, I undertook to procure them for
my old friend and companion. Two were ac-
cordingly found ; but, alas!, notwithftanding
they fwore politively, they w^re not credited,
and we were forced to come again into court
next day ; then, however, we fucceeded, for
having procured a nezvface, I dreffed one of the

former

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE, 363

former (a Jew, who fold flippers ^boiit the
ftreets ) in fuch a manner, that he was no longef;,
recognized by the Court, and we .came off tri-
umphant.

This dexterity in avoiding the common courfc
of law, however, eventually cofl: me dear; I
was fo well known for put-witting bailiits, that
there was hardly one who would undertake to
arrefl me; and this it was, as I am well con-
vinced, that induced Mr. Lycett to proceed
againft me criminally. In confequence of this
ambiguity thruft into the law, nobody knows
bow, men are intrapped ; and, if carried to its
extent, there may foon be no impoffibility in
taking an infoivent merchant from the Royal
Exchange, and fending him to New South
Wales.

I now return to the fubjed: of my more fe-
rious bufinefs; and here I mult beg my readers'
patience till I lay before them a concife view of
my viciffitudes. Born of an antient and noble
race, but not poffefTed of riches equal to their
rank, I naturally imbibed ideas of a too lofry
kind ; flattered in my youth by my rich and
powerful friends, I formed to myfelf plans of
future grandeur ; plans, which my impetuofity
of difpolition prevented me from realizing.
With abundance of fire, and not a fingle atom
of prudence, I launched into the world ; my

friends

3(04 THE LIFE OF

friends fupplied me with money even to profu-
lion ; and as I got it without trouble, I fpent it
without relu(5tance. Liberal as they were, my
extravagance outflripped their bounty, and I
was repeatedly involved in debt; ftill their
purfes were not (hut ; they fatisfied my credi-
tors, and, with fhame I relate, their generolity
only impelled me to new expences!

Accuftomed, from my earlieft infancy, to the
moft elevated fociety, my ideas imperceptibly
aflimilated themfelves to theirs. I entertained
views of grandeur while yet a child ; I felt my-
felf born a foldier, and implicitly trufted to my
fword for opening to me the way to the Temple
of Glory. When little beyond the age of a
fchool-boy, I was diflinguifhed by the moft re-
nowned generals ; I had feen the immenfe arr
raies of Ruflla cloathed in an uniform of my own
contriving, and the celebrated Prince Potemkin
had, as is well known, honoured me with par-
ticular marks of his approbation. Flattering,
as are the diftindlions I received, I will not re-
late them all ; but my reception by the Prince
de Ligne was in a (lyle of compliment too lingular
to be omitted.

Coming to Brabant, on my return from the
Black Sea, I had the honour of becoming ac-
quainted with that great and moft amiable
Prince. To the utmoft politenefs, he fuper-

added

Major semple Lisiz. ^6^

added an invitation, in confequence of which I
went to Antwerp, where his Highnefs then lay
with a corps of army, as the Emperor, Jo-
feph II.- then threatend to attack Holland.
Such was the opinion of my military talents,
which this veteran foldier entertained, that in
compliment, he ordered his regiment, which'
was certainly one of the fineft in the world, to
parade before the hotel where I lodged : not fa-
tisfied with this, though he was an old Impe-
rial General, and I was a very young Major, hf:
placed me at his right-hand, and went with mc
along the front. The very inftant too that I was
receiving this moft honourable and pleafing
compliment, as if every thing meant to confpire
to inflate my vanity. Earl Cholmondely, with
another gentleman and a lady, arrived at the
Grande Lahoureury the hotel where I was.

A conftant repetition of thofe praifes might
have intoxicated a much cooler head than mine;
my pride had now its full fcope; I was already
in idea a General in Chief; my brain teemed
with improvements in ta(5lics and evolutions,
till my expences fo far out- grew my income,
that I was involved in debt and difficulties.

Even when I was difgraced at home, I was
admitted to the favour and familiarity of the
firfl generals upon the Continent ; what their

opinion

3^6 THE LIFE OF

opinion of jne was^ the following anecdote will
ihew. juft after I had joined the allied army
in the Low Countries, a Britiih General who
knew me and my whole hiftory, one day afked
the Duke F. of Brunfwick, how he, knowing
my difgrace, and that I had juft come from
France, could put fuch confidence in me?
" Were I a taylor, or a boot-maker," replied
the Duke, " I certainly fhould be fomewhat
" cautious in giving him credit, but as a foldier,
■l' I know that I might fafely truft him with the
•* whole PrufTian army.'*

Of my fufferings fmce I left the allies I
need not fay another word; my readers are fully
acquainted with them, and I cannot fubmit to
the whining tone of complaint. I have, I truft>
amidft them all, aded in fuch a manner as to
give my friends no reafon to blufh for me ; my
adlions were fuch as I thought my duty re-
quired, though I cannot help thinking myfelf
fomewhat hardly treated, at being left for near
lix months in a prifon, without even the fmalleft
allowance for fubliftence.

I have jiow performed what I promifed, by
giving my own hifiory, fuch as it has really
been ; and the reader has, I hope, feen, amidft
all my errors, fomething that may be commend-
ed, much that may be pardoned, and flill more

that

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. , 367

that muft be pitied. That I meant to vindicate
every part of my condudt could not be fup-
pofed ; but, alas ! man is the creature of circurh-
ftances, and let him not prefume to exped:,
that no prefTure is heavy enough to drive him to
a wrong a(5lion. Violent pallions, the almofl
infeparable companions of a vigorous conftitu-
tion, call upon youth, with an importunity
nearly unceafing; experience, the fureft guide,
is inevitably wanting; example invites, fplen-
dour difplays its allurements, fafhion leads the
•way, and ruin too often follows. Gay, honeft,
unfufpedling, and generous, the young man *
rufhes on to pleafure, and confidering intereft
as trafh, is apt to weigh the property of others
as lightly as he does his own; amufements incur
cxpence, and expence degenerates into prodi-
gality. To fupply thofe pleafures now become
almoft necelTary to his exiftence ; he contradts
debts, which he cannot pay ; he ihifts from his
creditors ; his gay companions forfake him, as
an incumbrance on their joyous moments; po-
verty flares him in the face, and adions, at
which his foul recoils, become the only poffible
means of fubiifting. If an accidental fupply
falls in his way, his relifli for pleafure returns;
he embraces it with an appetite fharpened by
abftinence; he is again involved, and difgrace
fucceeds to ruin.

Once

368 THE LIFE OF

Once difgraced, thofe prudent friends, whom
the law alone reftrains from open plunder, aban-
don him ; they do worfe, they fhut the door of
fociety againft him by their calumnies; his
faults are the theme of their converfation, and
they (lielter their own want df honefty behind
his lofs of fame ; they hunt hini down with un-
ceafing clamour, till it needs more than com-
mon difcernmcnt and common firmnefs even to
dare to befriend himj his timid well-wifhers
will not venture to give their countenance to
him ; and he is left to perifh I

Did it always happen that men of warm
pafllons, hurried away by pleafures, were vil-
lains ; or did it always happen that the cold,
the folemn, the plegmatic, were honefl ; fomc
cxcufe might be found for fuch perfecutions.
But as it happens on the contrary, that the man
who is without vices is alfo, for the moll part,
without virtues; and that prudence is very often
nothing better than low felfiihnefs in difguife, lit-
tle can be faid for fuch gratuitous feverity; be-
lides, if one good adion is not fufficient to con-
ftitute the man of worth, why fhould one bad
one be allowed to conftitute the villain ? A fe-
^ rious turn, the effe(ft of experience, may reclaim
the libertine, his unruly paffions may fubiide,
and he may, if the gate of fociety be left open
to him, fome time or other, re-enter it ; but, if

hunted

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 36^

hunted into villainy, by the clamours of hypo-
crify, the die is caft, and his perdition is inevi-
table.

Too often do talents and accomplilhments
prove the ruin of the owner ; he is befct by the
jenvy of little minds, they endeavour to reduce
him to their own level, by drawing him into de-
bauches ; they flatter him while in his prefence,
but no fooner is he gone than they revile him :
if his intimacy with them can give probability
to their tales, they fabricate calumnies which
pafs for truths ; if he makes one falfe flep, he
falls unpitied, and they are the firft to trample
upon him.

It is a trite obfervation, that men of talent
are generally poor, and feldom rife to any high
preferment ; it is true ! for if they depend folely
on their merit, no fooner does that begin to
difplay itfelf, than it is invefted on all fides by
an army of blockheads, who, having no merit
pf their own, cannot bear it in others. But
•where a youth fets out with high fpirits, con-
fpicucus talents, indulgent friends, and a fmali
fortune, his ruin is next to inevitable; *life is
to him a perpetual ambufcade, with a thoufand
malked batteries ready to play upon him at
every turn ; his vanity is flattered, his fenfes
^.mufed, his companions prefs him to become

B b the

gyO THE LIFE^ &C,"

the partaker of their pleafures, his enemies pn-?
deavour to entice him to deftrudion j he yields
himfelf up to gaiety and expence, till at length
he falls, and dunces rife on his ruin.

APPENDIX^

{ 37^ )

ssa

APPENDIX.

It was not my intention to have added another
word to the preceding Iheets ; but, on looking
over Mr. Prater's account of the mutiny, I
thought it a pity that fuch a i>eau jnorceau Ihould
be entrufled to the perifhable archives of a newf-
paper. It is in facl an unique^ and will, no
doubt, recommend him to promotion, as it is
plain that no fuch petty impediments as fogs or
mifts can obftrucfl the lyncean eye O'f one that
(according to his own account) can fee through
an oak plank ; befides, as he can defcribe affairs
which he never faw, with all the precifion of an
eye-witnefs, his talents, at making official re-
ports, muft be truly wonderful. In order to
do him juftice, I cannot forbear giving his
own words ; and I doubt not that my readers
will, with me, pronounce him

Tarn Marti quam Mercurio,

B b 2 Extra^

S7* THE LIFE OF,

Extra^ from the Star, of Enjign Prater's
Nm rathe of the Mutiny, on board the Lady
Shore.

" Oil the I ft day of Augufl", 1797, about
*' four o'clock A. M. the French emigrants,
" and a number of deferters (fent on board the
" Lady Shore) bound to New Holland, af^
" fifted by the feamen,* revolted, and took pof-
" fefTion of the fi"iip, guns, fmall arms, and the
" arm-cheft. Mr. Lambert, Chief Mate, whofe
" watch it was upon deck, having obferved
" them for fome time loading their mufkets aj:
" the main hatchway, without alarming the
*• Captain or Officers Commanding the troops,
imprudently went into the cabin, loaded his
piliols, and difcharging one of them, Ihot a
Frenchman, named de la Hay; the muti-
neers immediately fhot Mr. Lambert dead
on the fpot. As Captain Wilcox, hearing
a noife, was coming out of his cabin, he was
ftabbed in the right fide of his neck, and in
*' his left breaft, which occafionesd him to fall
*' down the companion ladder into the great ca-
** bin, which was our apartment. By this time the

* The Teamen evidently lent no afiiftance in the time of the
mutiny, they afterwards were compelled to affifl in working
the fliip. (P. 206,)

" revolters

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t€
tt

ft
€t
««

Major semple nsLEi 373

^' fcvolters had entire polTcdion of the fhip, fla-
" tioning fentries at every hatchway, with their
arms loaded, pointing two guns down the
main hatchway, loaded with grape-fliot and
broken bottles j alfo two guns on the fore-
caftle, pointed aft, loaded in the like man-
ner ; laying on the gratings at every hatch-
way, to flop any one from conning upon

<r

*€

tt
ft
cc

« deck.

" About eight o'clock A. M.* the chiefs and
** feveral others came down below into the
" great cabin, and demanded our arms, which
were given them ; at the fame time Adjutant
Minchin gave orders to the ferjeants to deli-
ver up what arms and what ammunition they
had amongfl: them, and delired them not to
" make any refiftance. Adjutant M. gave his
" word and honour that no refiftance fhould be
** made on his part^ or any of his people, againft
" them. Serjeant Hughes informed Adjutant
M. he had about twenty-eight ftand of arms,
and about thirty or forty rounds of ball car-
tridges, which Adjutant M. ordered him to
deliver up.

it

cc
cc
cc
•c

* Mr. Prater muft either poflefs the faculty of feeing
through three bulk-heads of ftout oak plank, or elfe he mull
relate this from hearfay, as he was, at the time he mentions,
concealed among the women convi(5ls. (P. 199.)

B b 3 . « They

0*74 ''^'^ LITE oY

" They informed us, that in a few days thef
" intended to give us the long-boat, and fend
" us away, which they performed on the 15th
** day, at eight o'clock P. M. diftance about
•* 100 leagues off land, at the entrance of the
river de la Plata, in the latitude of Cape St.
Mary; fending in the long-boat twenty-nine
perfons, men, women, and children, the
youngefl child not five weeks old. After
meeting with very tempeftuous weather and
heavy feas, in forty-eight hours we arrived at

ft
({
(1

(C

«t
e<

" a Portuguefe fettlement, called Port Saint
" Pedrocs, Rio Grande, where we were received
^' by the Governor and inhabitants in a very
" humane manner. On our firft arrival at Port
'* Saint Pedroes, Adjutant Minchin, of his own
" accord,* allowed James George Semple Lifle,
** who was a convid: on board, to make out a
•* Report to the Governor, that he the faid
" Semple was a Major in the Dutch cavalry,
*' and Adjutant M. fandioned him iri it.
*' Some few days after, the oliicer, at whofc
** houfe I was quartered, afked me the reafon
*' why the faid Major had not his uniform, belt,
" breaft-plate, fafli, &c. as well as Adjutant

* I have elfewhere remarked the grofs falfeBood of this re-
lation, for further fatisfadion, the reader may, however, re*
fer to P. 215-— 217.

« M. and

. MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 375

** M. and fclf ? I;, not wifhing to deceive the
" officer, informed him he never had any ; and
" that he was nothing but a convid:, and was
*' fent out for feven years tranfportation. The
** Governor was informed what I had re-
" ported, and acquainted Semple with it, who
** went to Minchin's quarters, and afked his
" advice what he fliould do in the bufinefs?.
" Minchin advifed him to feek and run mc
" through, and there would be nothing more
*' faid about his charadter. Minchin being
" very intimate with Semple, went next morn-
" ing, in company with him, to the Governor's,
** carrying a parcel of papers belonging to him,
** one of them faid to be a Dutch Commiilion
*' in the cavalry * : and Minchin told the Go-
" vernor the faid Semple was a gentleman of
** rank and fortune, a palTenger on board the
Lady Shore 3 and that he knew him to be an

<r

* I am more afhamed, if poffible, of Prater's folly and
bafenefs, than of the trouble I give my readers in remarking
it. There was, it feems, a paper which he could not read,
and this I called, what it really was, a Dutch Commiffion ;
but furely his own ignorance was no fiifficient reafon for his
affertion. By the fame rule he might deny any other paper
to be authentic ; he wiflied to vilify me in the eyes of all
ftiankind, and therefore finding his ftory difregarded by the
diftinguiflied perfonages of Rio Grande, he attempted to cir*
culate it in England, where, to his difgrace, the falfehood of
his aifertion is univerfally known.

B b 4 " officer

if

re
<r

376 THE LIFE OF

" officer in Dutch cavalry, and what I had
reported was an infamous lie ; and he the faid
Minchin hoped the Governor would chaftifc
mc. Minchin took Semple's advice in every
thing,* and always kept him company.
" On the 23d September, 1797, we were
embarked on board fmall craft for Rio de Ja-
neiro. Semple, Mr. Black, and Michael
Richards, a boy, made intereft to go by land
" to St. Catharine's. We arrived at Rio dc
" Janeiro on the 23d of Oftober, fome time
'* after the above-mentioned people had reached
thatfettlement from St. Catharine's, on board
the Portuguefe men of war. Semple was on
board the Admiral's fhip, Signior Antoine
Janeiro's; Mr. Black on board a 64 gun fhip,
commanded by one Thompfon,-}- an Englifh-
man. On board the Admiral's fliip was an-
other Englifhman (named Philip Anvorn, a

<c
<(
<(

(C

* Neither Minchin nor Prater were hy companions t and had
eitber of them taken my advice during the mutiny, I have little
doubt of having faved the fliip ; and had they taken it when
they were in Brazil, they would have met with more refpe6l
than they received.

+ Since the time o^ one ArnoU, I have not heard of even an
enemy being treated with fuch indecency. But to the truth
of the next bbfervation I readily and heartily fubfcribe j Mr.
Prater ■wasf»ce>eh ferry that I was treated with refpeftby the
moft diilinguiflied officers in the Portuguefe fervice.

" Lieutenant

u

MAJOR SEMfLE LiSLE. 377

Lieutenant in our fervice, but rank of Major*
** General in the Portuguefe fervice) who, I
" am forry to fay, paid every attention to
Semple, fupplying him with cafli, and in-
troducing him to the firft company in Rio
de Janeiro. Although I had applied to him
in perfon for afllftance, and to ufe his intereft:

€(
<t
<(

*' for us to be better treated than what we were,

** he, knowing our lituation, many days with-
«

(C

(f
ft
ft
<f

out fubfiflence, adually in a ftate of ftarva-
tion, the allowance from the Viceroy being
only twelve venteens, fterling about i^^d,
per day, for fifty days ; and that was adlually
(lopped from all of us for four or five days,
except Drummond, without our having a
" morfel of bread to eat.

" On the 23d of January, 179S, we were em-
" barked on board the different Brazil mer-
** chantmen, for St. Salvadore's and Lifbon,
" and arrived at St. Salvadore's the 5th of
April ; being very ill treated on board the
merchantmen, having nothing to eat but
(linking fait beef, cafade root, and horfe
" beans. We reprefented our ill treatment to
" Francifco Paulo de Lait, Admiral, and com-
" manding our convoy, who took no notice of
" it. We (laid at St. Salvadore's two months,
receiving no fubfiflence either from the Go-
^* vernor or Commodore. On board the (hip

" with

ft
ft
ft

ft

cc
«c

378 THE LIFE Off

" with myfelf was Lieutenant Drummond. On
" our coming out of the Bay of All-Saints, wC
" unfortunately carried away our rudder, and
" were obliged to return to refit, when, on ap-
•' plying to the Governor for a paflage in the
" fecond convoy, he kindly ordered us on board
the frigate Carlotta, the Commodore of the con-
voy where we cannot fay, with truth, we were
*' treated like gentlemen. On our going into
*' the Tagus, we got aground on the Bar of
" Lifbon, but in twenty-four hours we happily
*' got off, by th© afliHance of the Almighty^
" and not by the good management of the Por-
" tuguefe.* Witnefs my hand this ift Septem-
•' ber, 1798.

" Wm. prater, Enfign,
" N. S. W. Corps of Foot.'*

* Mr. Prater grows wondrous pious towards his conclufion ;
and indeed if his piety there arofe from repentance for the
falfehoods that he had uttered, it might be, perhaps, a con-
ifclation to the godly part of his friends. Without, however,
the leaft intention of under-rating the mercies of God, or over-
rating the feamanfhip of the Portugucfe failors, had they not
been on board, the fhip had, I doubt, remained on the Ba#
of Lifbon tili this day.

St

Copy

'««

■AjOR SEMPLE LISLE. 379

Copy of Lieiiteitant Gerard Drummond's
Certljicate»

•* Enfign Prater having defired me to look
into the above Report of the feizure, &c. of
the fhip Lady Shore, on the ift day of Au-
" guft, 1797 J I do hereby declare the above re-
** port to be true, as I was on board the fhip at
" the time, and have been with Mr. Prater
** lince leaving the Ihip, in the long boat, to
" our arrival at this place.

(Signed) " GEPvARD DRUMMOND,
" Lieutenant Bombay Marines Hon.
" Eaft-India Company's Service."*

* This was a moft convenient certiiicate ; it was, without
a date, tacked, like an epaulet on a military coat, to any thing
shat required it, and fliifted as occafion offered. Mr. Drum-
tnond is in the Eaft Indies, or I might anfwer his certificate by
afkin^, who it was that hid himfelf under the furgeon's bed ?

(COPIE.)

(C

cc

38a TKE LIFE OF

(COP IE.)

A Monjieur,

Monfieur le Baron D'Ompteda,
Envoy e ^'HaNovre,

a Ratisbonne.

" SouFFREz, Monfieur, que je vous
*• demande raifon de votre conduite a mon
•' egard.

" En 1°. A quel titre, et de quel droit avez
vous en la temerite, de me faire arretter?
Etoit-ce comme Miniftre de fa Majefte Bri-
tannique? Mais, Monfieur, etiez vous revetu
•* de ce caradlere ? Vous qui n'etes recu a la
*' Diette de Ratifbonne que comme le Miniftre
" de I'EJecleur de Brunfwic Lunebourg, et en
qui le Senat d'Auglburg n'a reconnu que ce
titre dans fon decret ci joint, du 11 Mars,

" 1794.

" Vous avez done eu tort de vous qualifier de

" Miniftre de fa M. Britannique comme vous
** I'avez fait a Augfburg le 11 Decembre, 1793;
** ct dont je vous envoye un fidele extrait. Ce
" n'eft done point a ce titre que vous avez pu
** avoir authorite fur moi

" Mais encore, etoit-ce en qualite d*autho-
** rife de fa M. B. ? Mais comment auriez vous

I'impudencc

cc
cc

cr

MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 381

Pimpudence de le dire ? VoDs qui fcavez que
*' le veritable Miniflre de la Cour Britannique
" a Ratifbonne, a declare qu' elle n'avoit pas
" demande mon arreflation, et que le Roi n'a-
** voit aucun fujet de plainte centre moi.

'* Vous n'aviez done, Monfieur, aucune au-
" thorite fur moi, ni comme Miniflre, ni comme
** authorife de fa Majefte Britannique, vous
** avez done outre pafTe les pouvoirs qui vous
" pnt ete confies par votre Souverain, et par
** confequent compromis le cara(i:tere dont il
** vous avoit revetu,

" Mais 2^*. Ouand vous auriez ete revetu de
" tous les titres que vous avez eu la prefomp-
" tion d'emprunter, ma conduite meritoit-elle
" de li mauvais traitements de votre part? les
" temoignages fiatteurs et les grades honnora-
" bl.es que m'ont accorde les Princes fous les
" drapeaux defquels j'ai fervir ne la juftifient-
** ils pas fuffifamment ?

" Je ne parlerai point ici de mes campagnes
" au fervice de la Ruffie, ni de celles que j'ai
" fait en Amerique dans les armees de S. M. B.
** mon Souverain, mais je parle de la manicre
" dont je me fuis montre en 1793 en combat-
*' tant fous les ordres de S. A. S. Monfeigneur
" le Due de Brunfwic Oels, et en fuitc fons
'* ceux de S. A. S. Monfeigneur le Prince d*
" Orange, le grade honorable que cet augufte

" Prince

382 THE LITE OF

" Prince m'a accorde dans I'armee de LL. HH.
PP. prouve la confiance qu* il avoit en moi,
et ii j'ai manque a mon devoir, c'etoit a lui
et nullement a vous, Monfieur, a s'en-plain-

€t
€f
<l

" dre.

" Apres m'avoir fait eprouver les plus in-

cc

** juftes vexations, m'avoir condamne aux hor-
** reurs d'une prifon de trois mois ou j'etois au
" fecret ainli que mes domeftiques, et apres etre
*^ refle une autre mois dans cette ville pour vous
** donner le tenis de prouver les griefs, que
** vous avez avances contre moi, fans que vous
ayez pu en verifier un feul, il ne vous refle
plus maintenant, Monfieur, que de me rendre
" raifon de 11 iniques procedes. J'exige une
" reparation, vous favez de quel genre. Vous
*' avez voulu me degrader a la face (de P Europe,
*' et c'eila la face de PEurope que je ypus de-
^* mande la fatisfadion qui m'eft due.

" Je fuis enattendant votre reponfe autanl;
V que je dois I'etre,

^' Monfieur,

*^ yptre tres hurryDle Serviteur,

" J. G. S. LISLE,
Ce Mars, 1794. " Major.**

THE END.

Printed byW. Blackader, Tooke's Court, Chancery Lanc>

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