From Bristol the regiment marched in May, 1693, to Portsmouth, where it embarked on board the fleet to serve as marines, and in June sailed to Torbay, where the Dutch squadron joined. The first service undertaken was the protection of about four hundred merchant ships belonging to England, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Hamburg, and Flanders, engaged in the Mediterranean trade. As the fleet proceeded through the Channel, it presented a splendid appearance. Captain Parker states--"All the sea, from the line of battle to our English coast, seemed as a floating wood covered with canvass; and as the weather was very fair, the whole made a most glorious appearance." After protecting the merchant-vessels through the Bay of Biscay, the grand fleet returned, leaving a squadron under Admiral Sir George Rooke, to continue the voyage with them. The French monarch had made powerful efforts to send to sea a formidable fleet, which attempted to intercept the merchantmen and convoy under Sir George Rooke. The English admiral avoided an engagement with so superior a force, and brought off the greater part of his fleet; but many valuable vessels were captured or destroyed by the enemy. On receiving news of this event, the combined fleets of England and Holland attempted to intercept the French naval force, but it got safe into port. In the autumn the regiment landed and marched to Norwich. During the campaign of this year, the confederate army in Flanders had sustained severe loss at the battle of _Landen_, and efforts were made to increase its numbers, for which purpose Colonel HAMILTON'S regiment was ordered to proceed abroad. It marched to London in December, was reviewed by King William in Hyde Park, and embarking on the Thames, sailed to Ostend, where it landed, and was stationed several months. [Sidenote: 1694] Taking the field in the spring of 1694, the regiment proceeded to the vicinity of Louvain, where it was reviewed by the King, and afterwards took part in the operations of the army. At the camp near Ramilies it was formed in brigade under Major-General Ramsay, and posted between two divisions of cavalry, in the left wing; it afterwards shared in many toilsome marches, also formed part of the covering army during the siege of _Huy_, and subsequently marched into winter quarters at Ghent.