484 . Narrative of an Escape from the [Nov 



hope : when any one, Mr. Boys says, wished to try the chance of an escape, 

 it was the custom for him purposely to commit some offence, which 

 t would entail deprivation of parole ; as " it was an acknowledged rale that 

 the instant any one was put into prison, or even taken into custody by 

 armed men, no matter from what cause, parole ceased." Now, it is pos- 

 sible that the French, under all the passions which actuated them at the 

 time in question, might have considered such a " rule" as this, however 

 " acknowledged," rather Jesuitical ; and we are half afraid, that even now 

 it must be shewn that tho transitory arrests above described were consi- 

 dered by the authorities of Verdun as determinations of parole, and that 

 at their close it was the custom to re-demand parole again and afresh 

 from the parties concerned, before the last can entirely get rid of the 

 imputation of what our courts of law call " sharp practice." Be this, 

 however, as it may, in the month of July, 1808, all quibbling upon con- 

 struction came to a downfall, for " I blush," Captain Boys says, " while 

 I relate it three of the midshipmen were detected (without the form 

 even, in words, of laying any salvo to their consciences), in the direct act 

 of violating parole." This unarguable offence afforded to the governor 

 who desired no better an opportunity to represent to the minister at war, 

 ihatthe whole of the English midshipmen were such "tres-mauvaissujets," 

 that nothing short of close custody, and a removal from Verdun, could 

 secure them : and the result was, that an order, six days after, arrived, for 

 .the removal of all that body, under strict surveillance, to the depots of 

 Valenciennes and Givet. 



The variety of precaution adopted by the escort upon this journey, ex- 

 cites our author's indignation, and sometimes his contempt; but, judging 

 impartially, we confess that it does not appear to us to have been alto- 

 gether misplaced ; inasmuch as, that the whole party escorted, amounting 

 to about a hundred and fifty, were excellently well disposed to take the 

 first opportunity or, if necessary, to make an opportunity to decamp. 

 At the very first place of stoppage, (Stenay), after an endeavour to " tempt 

 the guards into a free use of the bottle," (which failed, " owing to the circum- 

 stance that French soldiers are not addicted o the vice of drunkenness,)" 

 .a project in the way of departure, between the author and his particular 

 friend, a Mr. Moyses, is imagined. 



" Towards nine p. m. the party lay down on the floor to rest. Moyses and I 

 took our stations in a corner by the window, under which a sentinel was placed, 

 whose turnings were to be watched about eleven ; and when his back should be 

 towards the window, Wetherly (a brother midj was to lower us down with towels 

 tied together. If discovered, the sentinel was to be instantly knocked down. We 

 were to make for the river, distant only a few hundred yards, swim across, and 

 gain the woods. In case of success thus far, it was our intention to have proceeded 

 to those in the vicinity of Verdun, and there wait the assistance of a friend, who 

 was to furnish us with the necessaries for travelling through Germany, to the gulph 



of Venice." 



/ 



This first scheme is unexpectedly frustrated by a change of arrangements. 



" About ten the guard was relieved, and we were ordered into a large lighted 

 room, there to lie on the floor, with the gens-d'armes forming nearly a circle 

 around us, the windows barred in, and doors bolted. This unexpected precaution 

 totally frustrated our plans. At day-light, we were again assembled in the waggons, 

 and continued our journey, escorted as before." 



Nevertheless, so " actively alive were we all along the road to every hope 

 which beamed upon the fancy," that 



