army during a period of profound peace, but had been five years an
ensign, and, having no interest excepting that which his own merit might
have procured him, he was generally considered at that time as one of
the most fortunate officers in the service. In a little more than seven
years, he had risen from an ensign to be a lieut.-colonel. Owing to
gross mismanagement and peculation on the part of his predecessor, who
was in consequence recommended privately to sell out, if he did not wish
to stand the ordeal of a court martial, the regiment was sadly
disorganized; but the commander in chief, the late Duke of York, was
heard to declare that Lieut.-Colonel Brock, from one of the worst, had
made the 49th one of the best regiments in the service.

In 1798, the 49th was quartered in Jersey, whence it proceeded, to
England early the following year, to take part in the projected
expedition to Holland, as in 1799 the British Government determined on
sending a strong military force to that country, then in alliance with
the French republic, which force was to be joined by a Russian army. The
first English division, consisting of twelve battalions of infantry,
among which was the 49th, and a small body of cavalry, assembled at
Southampton under Sir Ralph Abercromby, and, having embarked, finally
sailed from the Downs early in August. On the 26th of that month, the
fleet, consisting of fifteen ships of the line, from forty-five to fifty
frigates, sloops, and smaller vessels of war, and about one hundred and
thirty sail of transports, anchored along the coast of North Holland,
from the mouth of the Texel as far as Calants-Oge. Early the next
morning, the flank companies were landed, under the protection of the
guns of the fleet. An engagement commenced as the British were about to
march forward; but being continually reinforced by the arrival of fresh
troops, they compelled the enemy to retreat. This warm engagement lasted
till four o'clock in the afternoon, and cost the British about 1,000