66 SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 



tated and appeared undecided. However, at length, he agreed that we should 

 go to the Stag's Head Tavern, as we appeared very much fatigued after so 

 long a march. We accordingly proceeded, with Mr. Bradshaw, our guide> 

 after returning M. le Commandant a thousand thanks for his condescension. 

 This we found a very decent tavern, and the first in the town, which inspired 

 us with an idea that this officer harboured a good opinion of the adjutants. 

 We ordered a tolerably good dinner. Mr. Brahshaw cut his mutton with us, 

 and assured us the commandant would allow us to lodge in the town. This 

 intelligence exhilarated our drooping spirits prodigiously; we ordered an 

 additional bottle of wine on the strength of it, and passed the evening as 

 cheerfully as circumstances would admit. 



The next day, we waited with Mr. Bradshaw on the commandant ; he 

 received us with that politeness peculiar to his country. We explained, 

 through the interpreter, the cruelty of being sent to the seamen's depot, and 

 treated differently from our brother officers : he agreed that our complaints 

 were just, assured us he would immediately write to General Wirrion, at 

 Verdun (who was commander-in-chief over the British prisoners), and state 

 the case to him: at the same time he advised ns to write to onr com- 

 manding officer, and he would have onr letter forwarded : desired us to remain 

 quiet at our tavern, and he would do every thing in his power to alleviate our 

 distresses. We returned him a thousand thanks, took our leave, and returned 

 a U tete de Cerf. 



Upon an overhauling of onr finances, we had the mortification to find, that 

 we could not remain many days at a tavern — not having a farthing allowed 

 us for our subsistence ; the 5jd. subsided the moment we arrived at the depot. 

 Mr. Bradshaw could not render us any pecuniary assistance, without Captain 

 Brenton's permission. Consequently our situation was becoming every mo- 

 ment worse and worse. As lo<lgings, we were informed, were excessively 

 cheap in the town, we concluded that we had better apply to the commandant 

 for leave to hire a couple of rooms, with cooking utensils, &c., than to continue 

 any longer as we were. However, we dreaded that he might order us into the 

 barracks with the people, if we commenced so early to demand favors. We 

 therefore agreed to be extremely economical, and to wait a few days longer. 

 Those days being expired, we made the intended application, and with 

 success. He approved of onr plan, and gave us written permission to walk 

 about the town. This he took entirely upon his own shoulders, and assured 

 us, that he relied upon our honor, not to go without the limits of the town; 

 if we abused this indulgence, he should be severely punished. We declared 

 our intensions were not to cause him the smallest trouble or uneasiness, which 

 we were particular in attending to. This same day we hired two rooms at a 

 Madame De Garde's, the widow of a ci-devant general. She provided as 

 with two beds, for us four, cooking utensils, and every thing necessary for 

 housekeeping, and at a very moderate price. We acquainted Mons. le Com- 

 mandant of our success : he congratulated us greatly, but appeared to be sorry 

 that we lodged in this old lady's house, as he observed she was.une jacobine^ 

 and of the old school. We liked the old dame the better for this information, 

 but were extremely cautious in mentioning it. Our menage commenced the 

 following morning. We took it by rotation to cook for the day. This, how- 

 ever, was remedied in a short time, as we were allowed our captain's steward, 

 whose name was Allen, an infirm elderly man, to live with us, and cook, &c., 

 for us. Our dishes were not very exquisite— soup and bouilli, with vegetables, 

 were our daily fare, and this we feared could not continue long. 



1804. No answer to the letters from Verdun ; the month's rent due ; finan- 

 ces extremely low. We solicited Mr. Bradshaw to allow us a pound of meat 

 a day, as he did tlie private sailors ; he could not conform to this request, 



