first started from as prisoners. Here we perceived a boat putting out from shore and making for a privateer brig, which we had

passed within a pistol-shot. Ten minutes more and the brig had slipped her cable and was making all sail in pursuit of us.

To escape from this devil of a craft was impossible; she was shortly alongside, peppering us with musketry. We forced the soldiers to come on deck and stand fire together with ourselves. Yet to what purpose? We were obliged to bring to; a rope was thrown on board, and presently we were in the hold of the brig and strongly ironed.

We remained on board the privateer until about noon of the next day, when we arrived at Nantes. The news of our taking the chasse - marée had preceded us, and, like most stories, had gained each time it was told. It was reported that we had murdered all the crew; but when we all went ashore together, the inhabitants changed their hatred of us into contempt for the soldiers, who, like ourselves, were marched in handcuffs to the military prison.

On reaching the prison we were ushered into a spacious courtyard, where a ragged, motley crew of conscripts, thieves, and deserters were amusing themselves in singing the Carmagnole and killing vermin. They greeted us as companions, and our "footing" was demanded by the seeming captain of the gang, who politely told us that we must give ten sous each "pour boire à notre

santé." If we had no money, a shirt or two, it was suggested, would fetch the amount. Seeing that we were not to be persuaded, and that a storm of British fisticuffs was gathering, the gentry informed us that they would leave it to our generosity at another time.

Next morning we received a visit from the Commandant of the town, who spoke English remarkably well. After some conversation as to our affair on board the chasse-marée, he proposed to me to enter the French service; within three months I should be lieutenant de vaisseau, and my men should be mastergunners. I rejected his proposal as an Englishman ought, and we retired to our cells. The following night passed with much discomfort, caused by foul air and filth. When the bell struck eight we were admitted to the courtyard; I sought the refreshment of the pump; my men disappeared into the jailer's house, to procure, as I imagined, a morning dram. On finding, however, that they did not return, I inquired for them, and learnt that they had been led to the general's house. Suspecting his design, I did not scruple to practise a ruse de guerre. I told the jailer that I was surprised I had not been sent for, as I also was a volunteer, begging him at the same

time to conduct me forthwith to the general. He did so, and I found General Dumuy in the act of persuading them to enter the service. When the jailer informed him that I too had chosen to volunteer, he rose to congratulate me, but he was quickly convinced of his error. "General Dumuy," I said, "I am sorry to find the French navy so hard pressed for men that you should solicit the services of your enemies: these men, who are not worth the trouble I take on their behalf, will one day betray you, as they

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now wish to do by their own country. It is unworthy of you to hold out prospects to them in a way which in the end can only cover them with shame. And as for you, traitors," I went on, can you hesitate between honour and infamy? Return back with me to your prison, and show yourselves worthy of such a country as England". with more to the same purpose. Rude as it was, my appeal had its due effect. The general, in a rage, bade us prepare for a rigorous march of five hundred miles.

At eight next morning August 21, 1804- we set out from Nantes, handcuffed two and two, with a strong chain between us. We passed through the market-place, but no notice whatever was taken of us. The weather was oppressively hot, and, not being accustomed to walk, we were incapable of advancing more than half-way to the town where it was intended that we should rest for the night. The miserable remains of our money were squandered by the men on brandy: four of them were so drunk that the soldiers were obliged to procure a cart to take them on. It was nearly eight o'clock before we entered our prison. One pound of black bread was the only allowance during twenty-four hours for prisoners marching six leagues in the dog-days. We were put into the condemned cells, reserved for criminals and galleyslaves, which stood at the back of the military bakehouse, then

in full glow; bread was being made for 4000 troops on their way to the camp at Boulogne. Here it was that I began to know real suffering; the heat of the day must have been above 85°; that which struck through the walls from the ovens was beyond endurance. We hallooed for the jailer, but not a soul came near us. We took it in turns, three at a time, to breathe through the grated aperture in the door; those of us who drew back, worn down with fatigue, kept bathing their heads in water. The little inclination we had for sleep was banished by the intolerable heat, and the swarm of insects which made the straw little better than а living and moving mass.

About seven o'clock we saw the gendarmes approach; we had long been wishing for them: handcuffed two and two, we were so weak that we had to be lifted into carts.

To detail our sufferings would be to repeat the same story from day to day. As we advanced our route lay along the banks of the Loire, the beauty of which we viewed with hearts wellnigh broken by misery and disease. It was on a Sunday morning that we arrived, with feet cut though caked with mud, at Tours. We were informed that we should remain here for five days. To our comfort the prison was spacious, the rooms good, the straw clean, and the jailer appeared to be kind, and spoke a little English. He gave us some onions with our bread, and three bottles of small wine to be divided between us. There was an English gentleman, very rich, he told me, residing in Tours, and he would with pleasure take any message to him. I immediately despatched a note, and presently Mr Cane arrived, and all was bustle to relieve our wants. Mr Cane had resided some twenty-five years in France, but he had not forgotten his native country. He shed tears at sight of our miserable condition, and hastened to make us forget our sufferings. My coat, waistcoat, pantaloons, and cocked hat were new when I came ashore, and only wanted a brushing to make them look decent; boots, shoes, and shirts were sent for, and next morning I went into town with my benefactor, and was introduced to his family and his friends. We sat down to an excellent dinner, but my stomach had been so long accustomed to bread and water that I could

take nothing more than a plate of soup, with a little toast and wine. Truly grateful I felt for the kindness of each and all, especially of one lovely little French girl of my own age, who wept when Mr Cane related the hardships I had undergone. I did not then understand a word of French, and my host would not tell me what she had said.

On returning to the prison I found a good bed ready for me; but I was ill at ease in its luxury: I rose, wrapt myself in a blanket, and, stretched on the floor, slept soundly. We remained at Tours for ten days, and, through Mr Cane's kind offices, our marching - money was paid-about eight crowns apiece. Before we set out Mr Cane gave me, on my bill, £20 more, so that suddenly I became milord anglais, who with gold could open prison doors, and enjoy everything except liberty. My men, as usual, stopped at every cabaret on the road, and were generally drunk when they entered the prison; but sailors march better drunk than sober, if to stagger and roll along, singing and quarrelling, is better than to be driven forward as sulky as mules.

The guards were good enough to allow us to march out of Tours unironed; but the men, drinking freely, became so unruly that it ended with the irons being put on as before. At Orleans our prison was intolerably foul; some fifty wretches, half-naked, lay tossed about a large room, the air of which was stagnant and mal

odorous. I begged the jailer to give us better quarters and a good supper. The sight of a piece of gold was more persuasive than any words: he led us to a comfortable apartment, and allowed me to walk in the garden, which was large and beautiful. In the morning I was surprised by the visit of a Dr Hewitson of the navy, who took me, under his responsibility, into town, and treated me to his family dinner. Three days later we reached Melun, and, as usual, were introduced to the prison courtyard, which was full of rogues and conscripts. Two ragged rascals came forward, and in the name of the rest demanded a franc from each of us- -the " footing" -to which, as honourable prisoners of war, we never would submit. Our adversaries numbered twenty-two; we, including myself and two young boys, were twelve. We intrenched ourselves in a corner, expecting the issue. In his right hand each Frenchman held a wooden shoe-no trivial missile; during the preliminary parley our boys had loaded some new stockings, bought at Orleans, with a sufficient supply of pebbles. The attack was made with a volley of shoes, the assailants expecting us to stoop and take them up, at which moment they would run in and board us; at last it came to close quarters, and both fists and stockings did notable work that day. Weary as we were, after a long day's march, and facing twice our number, we thought to sue for peace, when the door opened

and in came nine more Englishmen, prisoners like ourselves, who, seeing their countrymen in distress, came forward boldly, and in two minutes the victory was ours. They were the crew of a merchant vessel captured in the Channel, and were, like ourselves, on their way to Verdun. Mutual congratulations followed, and a good dinner, with plenty of wine, made us forget the battle of wooden shoes and worsted stockings.

We all set out together next day, ironed as usual; indeed, we looked for the "darbies " as regularly as for our black bread. We traversed a wide and level tract of country, thinly cultivated except near the villages, in which we saw only old men, women, and many young children; the youths of the Empire were gone as soldiers to the wars. When, two days later, we entered the prison at Chalonssur-Marne, the weather being intensely hot, and the roads, along which we had marched, thick with dust, we all ran to the pump, and drank eagerly the cold spring water. I soon felt the evil consequences of this, for that same evening I was seized with ague and fever. The guards still insisted on taking me on to Verdun. I was laid on straw in an open cart, was exposed during the day to a burning sun, and placed for the night in a dismal hole. My fever increased, and I became. delirious. When I recovered my reason, I found myself in a comfortable lodging at Verdun, with many many of my fellow-countrymen around me,

To detail our sufferings would be to repeat the same story from day to day. As we advanced our route lay along the banks of the Loire, the beauty of which we viewed with hearts wellnigh broken by misery and disease. It was on a Sunday morning that we arrived, with feet cut though caked with mud, at Tours. We were informed that we should remain here for five days. To our comfort the prison was spacious, the rooms good, the straw clean, and the jailer appeared to be kind, and spoke a little English. He gave us some onions with our bread, and three bottles of small wine to be divided between us. There was an English gentleman, very rich, he told me, residing in Tours, and he would with pleasure take any message to him. I immediately despatched a note, and presently Mr Cane arrived, and all was bustle to relieve our wants. Mr Cane had resided some twenty-five years in France, but he had not forgotten his native country. He shed tears at sight of our miserable condition, and hastened to make us forget our sufferings. My coat, waistcoat, pantaloons, and cocked hat were new when I came ashore, and only wanted a brushing to make them look decent; boots, shoes, and shirts were sent for, and next morning I went into town with my benefactor, and was introduced to his family and his friends. We sat down to an excellent dinner, but my stomach had been so long accustomed to bread and water that I could

take nothing more than a plate of soup, with a little toast and wine. Truly grateful I felt for the kindness of each and all, especially of one lovely little French girl of my own age, who wept when Mr Cane related the hardships I had undergone. I did not then understand a word of French, and my host would not tell me what she had said.

On returning to the prison I found a good bed ready for me; but I was ill at ease in its luxury: I rose, wrapt myself in a blanket, and, stretched on the floor, slept soundly. We remained at Tours for ten days, and, through Mr Cane's kind offices, our marching - money was paid-about eight crowns apiece. Before we set out Mr Cane gave me, on my bill, £20 more, so that suddenly I became milord anglais, who with gold could open prison doors, and enjoy everything except liberty. My men, as usual, stopped at every cabaret on the road, and were generally drunk when they entered the prison; but sailors march better drunk than sober, if to stagger and roll along, singing and quarrelling, is better than to be driven forward as sulky as mules.

The guards were good enough to allow us to march out of Tours unironed; but the men, drinking freely, became so unruly that it ended with the irons being put on as before. At Orleans our prison was intolerably foul; some fifty wretches, half-naked, lay tossed about a large room, the air of which was stagnant and mal