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HINTS of OCCURRENCES , &c.
The gates of Namur were guarded, on one fide by the military, on the other by the Bourgeois: the emperor’sanfwer to the Flemifh requifitions was expelled; and the country was agitated with fuch apprehenfions, that theytook us for German fpies; a mob immediately furrounded us; and it was with little effect that we declared wewere Englifh. We underwent a fevere examination, by a gentleman deputed for the purpofe, and who under-Itood French. He was foon convinced that the fufpicion was groundlefs ; afked our pardon; and treated us withcivility. He invited us to fee the volunteers performing their exercife. This feemed to us to be done in a puerileand auk ward manner. They threw up their firelocks into the air, and caught them ; and changed their places andpofitions in the ranks at pleafure: their officers apparently permitting them to do as they liked. Their uniformwas handfome, a dark brown faced with yellow; and being tall, well-formed men, they were warmly contraftedby the opponents of the emperor to the troops of that prince, who wore dirty white frocks, like thofe of our wag-goners, and made probably of the fame materials.
So general was the interefl taken in this difpute, that the female fervant who fhewed us our apartment at the ho-tel, complained of inceffant fatigue from diflurbances and riots; and fhe freely gave it as her opinion, that toobtain peace and quiet, the people fhould fubmit to the emperor. The miflrefs over-hearing her, entered in aviolent paffion ; and having feverely reprimanded and difmiffed her, fhe waited on us even at table. Not a wordcould be obtained from her, on public fubje&s ; and a kind of ominous fullennefs prevailed in the houfe, until teno’clock, when the emperor’s anfwer arrived, containing a peremptory requifition of obedience. An immediate butdefultory battle took place between the military and the volunteers: and not being difpofed to fhed our blood foreither party, we ordered a chaife; but no horfes could be obtained till four in the morning, when we made ourefcape; and we had reafon to approve our prudence, on learning that at an early meeting of the council the famemorning, orders were iffued that no ftranger fhould leave the town, but fhould immediately bear arms. Wemuff have affifled in the general affault made by the town on the garrifon, and in taking the emperor’s troopsprifoners.
We proceeded to Bruffels; and put up at the hotel d’Angleterre. The landlord was an officer in the volun-teers : and the military preparations feemed to be here as brifk as at Namur. Among thefe volunteers, an EnglifhTaylor was highly diftinguifhed; for he not only difcredited the common proverb refpe&ing perfons of his trade,but was deemed equal in flrength, courage, and military dexterity, to three ordinary men: he was therefore muchefteemed.
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