Memoir

OF

HIS OWN LIFE,

BY

R. LAMB;

FORMERLY A SERJEANT IN THE ROYAL WELCH FUZILEERS,

And Author of

"A Journal of Occurrences during the late American War."

"Most men sink outright.

"O'er them, and o'er their names, Time's billows close;

"To-morrow knows not they were ever born!

"Others a short memorial leave behind:

"Like a flag floating, when the bark's ingulph'd !”

YOUNG.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED BY J. JONES, 40, SOUTH GREAT GEORGE'S-STREET.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE writer of this Memoir takes leave to offer himself once more to public notice, relying on the kind reception he already experienced from a long list of generous and respectable Subscribers, by whose encouragement he was enabled to publish his "Journal of Occurrences during the late American War." His present Publication is intended as an accompanying volume to that work, for the rapid sale of which, he has to thank the enlightened and learned among his Countrymen,, viz.. several Noblemen and dignified Personages, many General and Field Officers, a number of Gen tlemen belonging to the Church, and the professions of Law and Physic, and, in short, the most distinguished and accomplished individuals of both sexes in Ireland. He is happy in the opportunity of making his acknowledgments for past. favours, which, although they embolden, ought not to make him presuming. Whatever his circumstances may be, he is truly unambitious of ranking with the modern multitude of Book-makers, who, although sometimes men of talent and education, seldom add much to the stock of literary acquisition. If asked why he re-appears in Print-he begs to

say, that the plan of his American Journal precluded him from detailing many matters intimately connected with Trans-atlantic hostilities, which, he flatters himself, HIS MEMOIR introduces of course and with propriety. He also expects that the perusal of his obscure adventures and experience (deriving importance from an eventful cause in which the fates of the old and new World were so much involved) will be found entertaining in general, and edifying to ordinary Readers. He has laboured to give, if not the information of regular Travels, at least a correct general idea of North American scenes and affairs, and always interesting accounts and anecdotes of the prominent Actors and Officers employed pending the progress of war with the States. It has, moreover, been his endeavour to demark the right line of duty and behaviour which the soldier in the ranks ought invariably to pursue; and likewise the valuable and honest conduct becoming the humble hardworking individual in his outset and journey through life. In fine, the end he proposed in this Essay, has been to instruct as much as possible the young and unguarded, by furnishing the example of his own life without self-disguise or vanity. He may lose his aim, but, even in its failure, he trusts his motive will be thought laudable.

DUBLIN, JULY 15, 1811.

MEMOIR

OF

HIS OWN LIFE,

BY R. LAMB,

&c. &c. &c.

CHAP. 1.

Motives why individuals makę Memoirs of their Lives.Author's parentage. His inclination for a Seafaring life. Learns to Swim. Recommends the Art of Swimming as useful for the preservation of life in Shipwrecks, &c.

Captain Campbell saved by knowing how to float in the Water. Dr. Franklin's Account of Swimming, and curious methods to be used. A Child rescued from the conflagration of the Boyne ship of War. Description of an instrument to save persons from drowning who cannot swim. A Lady saved by means of her Farthingales. Account of a remarkable Shipwreck on the Sussex Coast. Bussard's extraordinary Narrative. Directions for recovering drowned persons.

VARIOUS are the causes which induced individuals to commit the incidents of their own lives to writing, and submit them to the world. Vanity has urged several to publish transactions which had been much better reserved