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. In about a Week's Time after, it was resolv'd in a Council of War, to march towards _Binch_, a small wall'd Town, about four Leagues from _Nivelle_; the better to cut off the Provisions from coming to the Prince of _Condé's_ Camp that Way. Accordingly, on the first Day of _August_, being _Saturday_, we began our March; and the _English_ Voluntiers had the Favour of a Baggage Waggon appointed them. Count _Souches_, the Imperial General, with the Troops of that Nation, led the Van; the main Body was compos'd of _Dutch_, under the Prince of _Orange_. as Generalissimo; and the _Spaniards_, under Prince _Vaudemont_, with some Detachments, made the Rear Guard.