[1]. My eldest sister, now Princess of Monaca, was married to the late Lieutenant General Doyle.
[2]. In this arduous situation I had the happiness to effect two orders, which, as they exhibit the hardships of that period, I subjoin:—Being commanded by my ever-regretted Colonel to bring up the cloathing of the troops, I found it only to be effected by cutting my way with three boats through the ice for twenty miles. We, however, succeeded, happily, and saved to Government at least ten thousand pounds.
Another night, during the retreat, twenty-one of our waggons, with sick and wounded men, arrived very late at a town called Zwoll, where my corps was quartered, but were refused admittance by the Dutch guard, who kept the gate. It was a dreadful night, and many absolutely died from the cold of the men under the command of Colonel Drummond of the Guards. I was ordered to compel their admission, and effected it; but not till after many threats, and I had left them three minutes only to consider, before I should attack them, which in such a cause, and at such a time, must have been done with energy.
[3]. Notwithstanding it has been of late years the fashion to consider the character of a planter as derogatory to humanity, and incapable of being blended with any of those qualities that ameliorate the condition of the species, every opportunity which I have been afforded of judging has tended to convince me of the contrary. Nothing indeed can be more cruel than to single out any description of persons for public reprobation, as best suits the purpose of the fanatic or the partizan; and nothing is more fatal to the cause of truth than an implicit reliance on the vague reports of their enthusiasm, which must inevitably preclude the possibility of acquiring correct information, or adhering to facts if produced to their notice.—If the young and the thoughtless squander the accumulations of their ancestors, it is certainly no evidence of general voluptuousness.—If there be circumstances exceptionable in the conduct of the Slave Trade, does it follow that the planter is a merciless executioner? certainly not—it would be hostile to his interest, and inexpedient in his situation.—As merchants and as men, many are highly and extensively esteemed and regarded; and instances of affection and regret in the slaves they have been described to torture, are neither infrequent nor unrecorded.
[4]. I cannot omit here to pay the tribute of gratitude to a poor unknown Female of Colour, whose pity, more extensive than her power, would have alleviated the horrors of my situation. She came occasionally in the night to the window of my cell, which looked into a court to which she found access by an avenue that was unguarded. She brought me food, and wine or spirits, the remains of which, to prevent enquiry, she was anxious should be destroyed. The humane sympathy expressed by her in these nocturnal offerings to misery, have repeatedly brought to my remembrance the eulogium of Lediard on a sex ever prone to tender offices. In compliment to my humble benefactor I quote the passage, and heartily subscribe to the sentiments:—
“I have,” says he, “always remarked that women, in all countries, are civil, obliging, tender, and humane: that they are ever inclined to be gay and cheerful, timorous and modest; and that they do not hesitate, like men, to perform a kind or generous action.—Not haughty, nor arrogant, not supercilious, they are full of courtesy, and fond of society—more liable in general to err than man, but in general, also, more virtuous, and performing more good actions than he. To a woman, whether civilized or savage, I never addressed myself in the language of decency and friendship—without receiving a decent and friendly answer—with man it has often been otherwise.
“In wandering over the barren plains of inhospitable Denmark, through honest Sweden, and frozen Lapland, rude and churlish Finland, unprincipled Russia, and the wide-spread regions of the wandering Tartar,—if hungry, dry, cold, wet, or sick, the women have ever been friendly to me, and uniformly so; and to add to this virtue, (so worthy of the appellation of benevolence,) these actions have been performed in so free and so kind a manner, that if I was thirsty, I drank the sweetest draught, and if hungry, I ate the coarse meal with a double relish.”
FINIS
Printed at the office of R. B. Scott, 27, Clements lane.