314 SOME ACCOUNT OF A CAPTIVITY. 



before me, overpowered me for a few moments. Still I spoke not, 

 neither did I shed a tear I suffered a degree of anguish that did not 

 allow of such relief. My depression was, however, but momentary ; 

 I rallied, and began to talk as before, notwithstanding the withering 

 frown with which both captain and mate regarded my hardness of 

 heart and want of feeling, as they were pleased to term it. The cap- 

 tain and mate, indeed, wept bitterly as we proceeded from the town; 

 and though our crew reproached them not, they appeared deeply to 

 bewail that want of true English feeling, which, had they possessed 

 and exercised it, would, in all probability, have preserved the vessel, 

 but certainly the liberty of all on board. 



All such reflections were, however, too late ; but I could not help 

 thinking that they would have ample leisure for reminiscences of any- 

 thing but a pleasant nature ; for though as yet I had but little expe- 

 rience of the nature of a French prison, I was aware that no exchange 

 of prisoners had been allowed during the war, and, therefore, that we 

 could hardly expect to be released until a peace was concluded, of 

 which the most sanguine could not then entertain the most distant 

 expectation. With this prospect before us, we proceeded on our 

 route. 



The morning was very cold and rainy, and on getting clear of the 

 town of Dieppe, we found the roads ankle-deep in mud ; but there 

 was no " picking our way." The " stage/' or journey, for that day, 

 was about twenty miles ; and by one o'clock we had got to the half-way 

 house, or, more properly, the place where a halt is made by the Cor- 

 respondence. Here we met another party of prisoners, with whom 

 we effected an exchange of protectors ; that is, we were turned over 

 to the custody of the other guard, while our previous escort returned 

 with the advancing party to Dieppe. By this manoeuvre the guards 

 were enabled to return to their respective homes in the evening ; in 

 our case we were exchanged for some conscript deserters, who were 

 on their way back either for trial or punishment, and who certainly 

 appeared, if possible, more wretched than ourselves. Having halted 

 for an hour, and obtained such refreshment as our scanty pittance 

 afforded which, with our allowance of bread, consisted of a little sour 

 wine, worse than the poorest table beer retailed in England we pro- 

 ceeded on our march, and in the evening we arrived, soaked with 

 rain and exhausted with fatigue, at our quarters ; there we were in- 

 troduced into the prison-yard, and our handcuffs being taken off, we 

 were turned into a very large room, having several high and well- 

 barred windows, without either glass or shutters ; and having had half 

 a dozen bundles of straw thrown among us, with which to make beds, 

 the door was locked upon us for the night. There were several con- 

 scripts in the room, who were on their way to join their different 

 regiments, according to the districts in which they had been raised ; 

 but as we could hold no communion with them in French, we placed 

 our straw in one corner, spread it so as to afford a little to each ; and 

 thus wet, weary, and exhausted, we lay down to rest. 



On awaking, I found my companions had passed as restless a time 

 as myself, while the Frenchmen appeared to sleep soundly. I know 

 not whether it was a part of their military tactics to direct their night 



