18 



StffEtllNGS OF LIEtTENANT 0*BRIEN. 



to land in Berthaume Bay, and Mr. Gordon, midshipman, who, I was very 

 moch pleased to hear, was safe at Conquet, where he effected a landing. We 

 expected him and boat's crew round to Brest the following day. On the 14th, 

 we had the pleasure of seeing him and crew safe arrived : they spoke very 

 handsomely of the treatment tjiey received at Conquet, and on the march. I ' 

 now received part of the things that were in the trunk, and the thief I was 

 informed had run the gauntlet. 



We were very well used during our stay here ; and were attcnde<I by 

 religieuses, or old nuns, which is a general custom in all the French hospitals ; 

 they were the most attentive nurses I ever beheld, constantly on the alert, 

 visiting their patients, administering relief wherever it might be wanting, 

 and solacing the comfortless. On the 18th of February, we received infor- 

 mation that we should commence our march towards our depot on the following 

 morning ; accordingly, on the 19th, we were ordered to prepare, and to be 

 ready at a moment's notice. At about 8. we were all drawn up in the hos- 

 pital yard : Mr. Mahonj and myself placed ourselves, as we were wont, next 

 to the lieutenants (being the senior )iiidshipmen), but to our great snprise on 

 calling the names over» we were moved, and placed next to the people together 

 with Mr. Carey, boatswain, and Mr. Simpson, gunner. They at the same 

 time offered us a brown loaf of broad each, for our day's subsistence, which 

 we declined. We demanded an explanation of this conduct ; they informed 

 us, we were of a class (master's mates) different from any in their navy; that 

 we were ranked as adjutants, sous ofticiers, and they could not alter it, &c. 

 Lieutenant Pridham now interfered ; who, it appeared, from the preceding 

 night, had been acquainted that we were thus ranked, but not being versed in 

 military regulations, supposed that adjutant was between midshipman and 

 lieutenant, which he (of course) thought our proper place. After remonstrating 

 a long time on the impropriety of our being placed in the ranks, among the 

 people, the officer agreed to go to the minister of marine, to have the business^ 

 as he termed it, arranged : he shortly returned— the minister of marine was 

 out, but his head clerk, or secretary, assured us that the mistake should be 

 rectified, the moment he returned, and that a courier would be dispatched 

 after us to the next stage, with another feuille de route. Thus far reconciled 

 we commenced our march, as they informed us, for Verdun, in Lorraiu. 



At about 7 in the evening (February 19th., 1804), we arrived at our first 

 stage, a village na^ed Landerncau, about 20 miles N. E. of Brest: I expected 

 every moment the arrival of the courier. Here we were allowed to mix with 

 the officers, though as a great favor : our allowance was 11 sols per day, and 

 the youngest mid. had fifty. In the morning, at day-light, 20th., commenced 

 our march, rather more dejected than the day before ; in the evening we 

 arrived at a small village (Landivisiau), a distance of 5 or 6 leagues from 

 Landerneau. Here we halted for the night, and the people were placed in 

 stables, barns, &c. At daylight on the 21st, commenced our march towards 

 Morlaix. At about 2 in the afternoon, at 4 or 5 miles distance from the 

 town, we were met by a captain of gens d'armerie and two gens d'armes, who, 

 Ave understood afterwards, came out to escort us into town. They had not 

 long joined us, when I happened to discover one of the ship's boys lift his 

 hand to strike one of the young midshipmen. I immediately ran up and 

 chastised the youngster with a switcli I fortunately had in my hand ; but mark 

 my amazement! when I beheld this blustering captain 'of gens d'armerie 

 foaming at the mouth, and riding up towards me at full speed, with his sword • 

 drawn : he appeared in a very great rage, swore vehemently, and wielded his 

 sword repeatedly over my head. As I did not understand a syllable that he 

 spoke, but was certain it must be abusive language, from the passion he put 

 himself into, I (parrot like) repeated his own expressions as well as I could ; 



