SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 17 



At about 4. 30. finding we advanced towards Brest harbour considerably, 

 we resolved to try the grapnel once more ; although we were not in the 

 smallest degree sheltered from the inclemency of the weather, and were placed 

 immediately under a fort, which we distinguished by their lights, that enabled 

 us to see the sentinels on their posts walking to and fro. We made, if possible 

 worse weather here, than at our former anchorage, with the exception that 

 the grapnel held. At 7. 30. the wind and weather, if possible, became more 

 inclement than on the preceding night— not a boat of our's in sight ; every 

 minute expecting to be hailed by the fort ; not a soul among us that could 

 speak a word of French ; almost perished and starved from the fatigue and 

 sutferings of the night ; the few provisions we had being totally destroyed by 

 the salt water. Seeing no alternative, but the pain of delivering myself and 

 crew as prisoners of war, came at length to that resolution. Accordingly 

 ordered all the small arms to be hove overboard, and at 8. cut the grapling 

 rope, and ran into Brest harbour under the fore-sail. Imagining my crew 

 and myself might be better treated and received on board the commander-in- 

 chief's ship, than a private one, I went alongside the Alexander, which ship 

 bore his flag ; where I was received with the utmost civility and attention, 

 provided with a shift of dry clothes, got me instantly a warm draught, and 

 gave each of my men a glass of liquor, and ordered them breakfast, and 

 every thing that was necessary to recruit them. They informed me that the 

 whole of the boats, except mine and another, from the violence of the weather, 

 arrived in the night ; that they had been under the greatest apprehensions for 

 our safety, as it was not supposed possible, from the size of the boats, and the 

 manner they were found, that they could stand the severity of the night. 

 Lieutenant Barker, Mr. Nepean, midshipman, and Mr. Carey, boatswain, who 

 had been on board one of the other ships, came on board to congratulate me 

 on our safe arrival ; and feared very much that Mr. Gordon, midshipman, who 

 commanded the boat missing, was no more. 



Saturday, the 11th, (1804) at 2 P. M. we were all sent on shore to the hos- 

 pital at Blest, which was the place designed for us ; each of us being more or 

 less indisposed. I must here observe to the credit of the French seamen, that 

 a small leather trunk, in which I had saved a shift of linen, &c. was taken out 

 of one of my men's hands, for the purpose of saving him trouble, and handed 

 down into one of the lower-deck ports : the fellow, who remained on the 

 ship's gangway, supposed it a piece of kindness, and imagined it was safely 

 deposited in the boat that was to conduct us ou shore ; nor was it discovered 

 until the trunk could not be found on our landing ; when I immediately 

 exposed the circumstance to the officers who conducted us, who instantly sent 

 on board to have a search, and appeared excessively hurt, at such a piece of 

 villany being committed by one of their crew : assured me the perpetrator 

 should be severely punished, and I should have my things safely returned ; 

 this I despaired of very much, thougli the former I thought might take place. 

 In the mean time, those officers conducted us to the hospital, insisted upon my 

 wearing my sword all the way, which the captain had refused to receive on 

 board ; observing, that I had been unfortunately wrecked, and not taken in 

 fight, consequently had no right to lose my sword ; and he further remarked, 

 that in his opiuron, we ought to be returned to our native country, and should 

 not be considered as prisoners ; but added that the gaoler on shore would 

 deprive me of it ; which was afterwards the case. On our arrival at Iho 

 hospital, or rather prison (as we were closely watched and guarded), the 

 gaoler took away my sword, and appeared very much enraged at my not 

 allowing him to take my belt: this, 1 observed, to him, could do no mischief. 

 1 now had the inexpressible happiness of shaking hands with all the officers, 

 except Mj-. Thomas (carpenter), who was unfortunately drowned in attempting 



VOL. VI. — 1835. c 



