Arriving at which Place, I was inform’d that the Army of the Confederates lay encamp’d not far from Nivelle; and under the daily Expectation of an Engagement with the Enemy.  This News made me press forward to the Service; for which Purpose I carry’d along with me proper Letters of Recommendation to Sir Walter Vane, who was at that time a Major-General.  Upon further Enquiry I understood, that a Party of Horse, which was to guard some Waggons that were going to Count Montery’s Army, were to set out next Morning; so I got an Irish Priest to introduce me to the Commanding Officer, which he readily oblig’d me in; and they, as I wish’d them, arriv’d in the Camp next day.

I had scarce been there an Hour, when happen’d one of the most extraordinary Accidents in Life.  I observ’d in the East a strange dusty colour’d Cloud, of a pretty large Extent, riding, not before the Wind (for it was a perfect Calm) with such a precipitate Motion, that it was got over our Heads almost as soon as seen.  When the Skirts of that Cloud began to cover our Camp, there suddenly arose such a terrible Hurricaine, or Whirlwind, that all the Tents were carry’d aloft with great Violence into the Air; and Soldiers’ Hats flew so high and thick, that my Fansy can resemble it to nothing better than those Flights of Rooks, which at Dusk of Evening, leaving the Fields, seek their roosting Places.  Trees were torn up by the very Roots; and the Roofs of all the Barns, _&c._ belonging to the Prince’s Quarters, were blown quite away.  This lasted for about half an Hour, until the Cloud was wholly past over us, when as suddenly ensued the same pacifik Calm as before the Cloud’s Approach.  Its Course was seemingly directly West; and yet we were soon after inform’d, that the fine Dome of the great Church at Utrecht had greatly suffer’d by it the same Day.  And, if I am not must mistaken, Sir William Temple, in his Memoirs, mentions somewhat of it, which he felt at Lillo, on his Return from the Prince of Orange’s Camp, where he had been a Day or two before.

As soon after this, as I could get an Opportunity, I deliver’d, at his Quarters, my recommendatory Letters to Sir Walter Vane; who receiv’d me very kindly, telling me at the same time, that there were six or seven English Gentlemen, who had enter’d themselves Voluntiers in the Prince’s own Company of Guards:  And added, that he would immediately recommend me to Count Solmes, their Colonel.  He was not worse than his Word, and I was enter’d accordingly.  Those six Gentlemen were as follows, ——­ Clavers, who since was better known by the Title of Lord Dundee; Mr. Collier, now Lord Portmore; Mr. Rooke, since Major-General; Mr. Hales, who lately died, and was for a long time Governor of Chelsea-Hospital; Mr. Venner, Son of that Venner remarkable for his being one of the Fifth-Monarchy Men; and Mr. Boyce.  The four first rose to be very eminent; but Fortune is not to all alike favourable.