498 Nar ratio* of an Escape from the [Nov. 



armed, amidst irregular sand-hills, and the spirits inflamed by confidence, our 

 object could not have been defeated easily, or with impunity. The boat not com- 

 ing-, we \vere obliged to retreat to Peter's hut for concealment. This habitation had 

 but one room. A few loose boards lying across from side to side upon mud walls, 

 which supported a straw roof, formed a kind of ceiling to about one-halt of it : on 

 these boards were spread some dry rushes, upon which we reposed. In this situa- 

 tion, day after day closed, whilst we expected each succeeding one to be the last in 

 this country. But no appearance of the boat ; and, as no exertions on our part 

 could expedite its arrival, we did not quit the loft. At length, on the 8th of May, 

 positive information was brought that all would be in readiness at ten p. m. Ac- 

 cordingly, at that hour, the weather fine, and the night dark, we assembled in the 

 sand-hills ; and, so soon as the patrole had passed, the private signal was made 

 and answered. The boat gliding silently to the beach, with muffled oars, we 

 rushed in with the rapidity of thought, and, in an instant, were all safe afloat. 

 Each seized an oar, and, vigorously applying his utmost strength, we soon reached 

 beyond the range of shot." 



Twenty hours, from this time, brought them to the back of the Good- 

 win Sands ; and within twenty-four they were landed in England : with 

 which gratifying intelligence our limits warn us that we should take leave 

 of Captain Boys; to whom, in conclusion, we pay no compliment when 

 we say, that he has told his tale in a very simple, intelligent, sailor-like 

 manner. In his anger for the sufferings he endured, he now and then does 

 some injustice to the French character; but the point between prisoner 

 and gaoler, as we have already observed, is one which it has never been 

 our good fortune to see very entirely accommodated. Where one man is 

 responsible for the custody of another, he will, in defiance of the most 

 liberal dispositions, have occasional fancies about the efficacy of a lock and 

 key ; and, without at all desiring to increase the annoyances of prison- 

 ers, or any hope to satisfy their personal judgments, we confess we think 

 that, though a custodier's duty may be an unpleasant one, he is enti- 

 tled to a liberal and large construction in seeing that it is properly exe- 

 cuted. With all the abuse that has been bandied to and fro, on the sub- 

 ject of the treatment of Buonaparte, at St. Helena, it would have been 

 an ill answer to this country, and to Europe, if that important captive 

 had escaped, to have proved that Sir Hudson Lowe was so delicately 

 minded a gaoler that he could not descend to the double bolting of a 

 door. 



Some of the French dignitaries, however, are most mercilessly han- 

 dled by our author; and in particular, M. Wirion, the governor of 

 Verdun; who we dare say was a great rogue; but who, at the same 

 time, having a thousand English prisoners to manage and some persons 

 among them of so little reverence as to treat the effigy of sovereigns as 

 Mr. Boys treated the bust of Buonaparte would have enough, probably, 

 from time to time, to try his temper. Again, for the " extortions," it 

 will be recollected that the ordinary regime of the continent authorises a 

 good deal of exaction which opportunity does not arise for in England ; 

 while, on the other hand, it relieves us from a good deal, for which oppor- 

 tunity in this country does arise : and some of the items put into the 

 balance sheet. as " robberies committed upon the English,' 1 seem rather 

 hastily to have been classed under that severe and sweeping title. The sum 

 of 1,800, for instance, calculated to have been levied in fines, for 

 " missing the appels," &c., pressed upon no gentleman who attended 

 the " appels." * Doctor's certificate (again) to avoid regulations, .600." 

 This would not affect those persons who complied with regulations. Again, 

 " Gambling-houses, 3,600," gained by. Why did persons (we should 



