Family records of the Bruces and the Cumyns

344 RUSSIAN AND PRUSSIAN BRUCES.
War being then proclaimed with Spain, he was recommended by the Duke of
Argyll to the Duke of Manchester, Master-General of the Ordnance, who sent
him out as chief engineer, with 20s. per day of pay, to fortify Providence, one of
the Bahamas. He went out with the newly-appointed governer, " Tinker," in
the Rose man-of-war. They arrived at Charlestown, South Carolina, in a storm,
under jury-masts, and were detained there for some days — long enough for him
to judge of the faulty state of the forts. They went on to Providence in the
Tartar man-of-war. Finding Fort Nassau in ruins and the island defence-
less, he, in two years, constructed, under great difficulties, Fort Montague and
some batteries, and restored Fort Nassau from the foundations.
1744. He received letters from Governor Glen, asking him to superintend the works
at Charlestown. The Swallow sloop-of-war, which was to have conveyed
him, was wrecked, and Governor Tinker threw every obstacle in his way. How-
ever, on the 21st January 1745, he reached Charlestown, and was kindly
received by Governor Glen and council, who desired him to proceed immediately
to survey the place, which he did, and gave in his report, but refused to stay
and carry on the works, without an order from the Board of Ordnance at home.
June He sailed for England, and arrived in London to find great excitement there,
J 745- on the news of Charles Edward's having landed in Scotland. October 8th. He
assisted in repairing the defences of Hull ; and proceeded, in obedience to orders,
to join the army under General Wade. On the 13th they arrived at Doncaster,
where the Dutch troops joined them. The Marshal reviewed the army, and
broke up the camp on the 21st ; the Dutch behaving as if they had been in an
enemy's country — robbing and plundering in a shocking manner.
Oct. 31. Arrived at Newcastle, where they encamped in very cold bad weather, and
there receiving intelligence that the rebels (!) had besieged Carlisle, broke up to
march to its relief — leaving one-fourth of the army sick, in hospital. Nov-
ember 1 8th. — Got to Hexham, in Northumberland. The extreme cold and
damp weather, with the sudden transition from a hot climate, ruined the health
of the writer, and rendered him unequal to stand a winter campaign. Hearing
that Carlisle had surrendered to the Prince, they marched back to Newcastle,
which they reached on the 22d, and being there informed that the enemy had
marched for Wales, once more left their warm quarters to go to the south. On
the 6th of December they reached Ferrybridge, from whence they sent their
foot to Doncaster, and the horse and dragoons to join H.R.H. the Duke
of Cumberland, and arrived at Leeds on the nth, where they learnt that
the rebels (!) had returned northwards, on which our army marched back-
again (! ! !)
Here the Memoir terminates. Apparently the writer returned to his farm