486 Narrative of an Escape from the ([Nov. 



accompany him. A seventh gentleman, then, a young man of the name of 

 Hunter, comes into his views, and agrees to a plan ; but changes his mind 

 only six hours before the time comes for carrying it into execution. A 

 third arrangement is broken up and again, at the critical moment of depar- 

 ture, by the illness of an officer named Rocheford, who is an associate of our 

 author : and, on this occasion, Mr. Boys grows almost desperate; and, quitting 

 his canvass among the midshipmen, tries for an associate among the more 

 active and steady of the sailors ; but still in vain. Still, however, no dis- 

 appointment entirely disheartens him ; and, we fully believe, as he says 

 himself " that nothing short of death could have changed his determina- 

 tion." Until at length, in defiance of augury, his perseverance turns to 

 account; and, on the 16th of November 1809, in association with three 

 other midshipmen, Messrs. Whitehurst, Hunter, and Mansell, the project 

 for escaping from Valenciennes is attempted, and actually carried into 

 execution. 



The night of the 16th of November is one of anxiety. By means of 

 an agent in town, the associates had got " iron handles put to a pair of 

 steel boot-hooks, which they meant to use as picklocks." A quantity of 

 cord has been procured, by purchasing " skipping lines," such as are used 

 by the children, as though for amusement; and a further supply of the 

 same important material is calculated upon, by taking away the rope 

 belonging to the well in the " midshipmen's yard,'* which (as the conspi- 

 rators have wrought in their own behalf) is a new one. Spirits and pro- 

 visions moreover are procured, and placed in knapsacks, which are hidden 

 in a dog-kennel. A letter of quizzing " farewell'' civility is written, to 

 be left behind in a situation where it will find its way duly to the French 

 commander. And, finally, on the night appointed, at half-past seven in 

 the evening, the parties found themselves entirely prepared. 



" At half-past seven p. m. we assembled, armed with clasped knives, and each 

 provided with a paper of fine pepper, upon which we placed our chief dependance ; 

 for, in case of being closely attacked, we intended throwing a handful into the 

 eyes of the assailants, and running away. The plan was. that Hunter and myself 

 were to depart first, fix the rope, and open the opposing doors : a quarter of an 

 hour afterwards, Whitehurst and Mansell were to follow. By these means, we 

 diminished the risk attendant on so large a body as four moving together, and 

 secured the advantage of each depending more upon his own care ; for, if Hunter 

 and myself were shot in the advance, the other two would remain in safety; and 

 if, on the contrary they were discovered, we hoped to have time, during the 

 alarm, to gain the country. Our intentions were, to march to the sea-side, and 

 range the coast to Breskins, in the island of Cadsand, opposite Flushing; and, if 

 means of getting afloat were not found before arriving at that place, we proposed 

 to embark in the passage boat for Flushing, and, about mid channel, rise and 

 seize the vessel. It was now blowing very fresh, and was so dark and cloudy, that 

 not a star could be seen : the leaves were falling in abundance, and, as they were 

 blown over the stones, kept up a constant rustling noise, which was particularly 

 favourable to the enterprise. Upon which, it being a quarter past eight, Hunter 

 and myself, with woollen socks over our shoes, that our footsteps might not be 

 heard, and each having a rope, a small poker or a stake, and knapsack, took leave 

 of our friends, and departed." 



The escape from Valenciennes was entirely successful. In fact, difficult 

 as the feat was, and severe as the exertions were likely to bo that were to 

 follow it, the author and his friends were the proper kind of people to get 

 through it with security. No sort of men cases of individual power or 

 aptness excepted could be so well calculated, from their general habits, 

 for such an undertaking, as naval officers. They were accustomed from 



