64 SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 



From Albert we marched to Bapaume ; the road was excessively dirty and 

 bad. Our men were so exceedingly weak this day, the weather being very 

 inclement, raining incessantly, that the officer made some of his cuirassiers 

 take three or four of them behind them, on their horses. It was about four 

 in the afternoon when we arrived. The officer took us to a tavern ; we were 

 dripping wet. We were shown into a spacious apartment, where a large 

 table was laid out, and a number of genteel looking citizens sitting round a 

 stove, that was fixed in the centre of the room ; they did not appear to take 

 the smallest notice of as, nor to make room even for the officer, who was wet 

 to the skin ; however, he took the liberty of requesting they would allow him 

 to approach, which they did, with seeming reluctance. We now endeavoured 

 to dry ourselves, and get into the best plight we could ; having ordered, at the 

 same time, something for dinner, or rather supper, as it was about 7 o' clock. 

 We were given to understand that it was the election day for a new mayor, 

 in consequence of which the aldermen, &c., had ordered a dinner, which 

 being served up, left us in full possession of the stove ; a circumstance that 

 pleased us greatly. Those gentlemen did not, in point of appetite, appear to 

 deviate from their namesakes in a certain great metropolis, although I could 

 not perceive that they had any turtle soup ; champaigne appeared to be the 

 only wine they relished. Our supper was served us on a small table near 

 the stove ; those gents, as they became moistened with the generous juice of 

 the grape, condescended to become more familiar with the English prisoners 

 and their officer ; insisted upon touching glasses, and even drinking champaigne 

 with them ; and in the course of the night, those very people, who on our 

 arrival had not vouchsafed to treat us with common civility, became so 

 excessively pressing and free, that they absolutely proved a great annoyance. 

 They even lavished, in their cups, a number of encomiums on the noble nation 

 we belonged to — " What a great pity," said they, " it was, that Englishmen 

 ' and Frenchmen were not unanimous ; they would then carry every thing be- 

 fore them, and conquer the whole world." 



Our officer now informed us, that he was not allowed to conduct us any 

 further— that he had applied to go with us all the way, but without effect. 

 He appeared very much hurt at being denied, and took his leave of us for the 

 night, declaring that he would see us in the morning before we parted. At 

 daylight, on the 19th of March, a serjeant came to apprize us, that he was 

 come with a guard of dragoons to conduct us to Cambray. So we instantly 

 got up, and made every arrangement. Our old officer appeared, and recom- 

 mended us strongly to the sergeant : took an affectionate farewell of each, 

 and literally shed tears at quitting us. We regretted his loss very much — he 

 was tender hearted and compassionate, and reflected honor on the nation that 

 gave him birth. The people were so much attached to him, that he had not 

 the smallest trouble with them ; they did exactly as he wished. 



At about half-past 8, in a most inclement morning, the wind right in onr 

 teeth ; hailing and raining, without intermission, our poor crew all ranked, 

 and miserably clad, we commenced our march towards Cambray, under an 

 escort of dragoons; where we arrived about four in the afternoon, in a horrible 

 state, all over mud and dirt. We were marched through the town, and placed 

 in the citadel. The captains, as they styled us, were permitted to stop at the 

 canteen, but our poor seamen were put into a souteraine, where we endea- 

 voured to procure them some fresh straw, which they rolled themselves up in, 

 after refreshing themselves with a sort of soup, which we also provided for 

 them. This is what the French call soupe grasse, made in the following 

 manner : — They fill a large pot, or niarmite, with water ; when it begins to 

 boil;, they throw a handful or two of salt into it, agreeably to the quantity of 



