248 SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 



last house, Mr. A expressed a desire to ask for a drink of water, as he 



felt excessively low : on these occasions, every one was consulted — none of 

 us saw any danger at this moment arising from this circumstance, having 

 passed through the village, and by a number of people, without the smallest 

 inconvenience. He accordingly entered the house, and we advanced slowly 

 waiting his return. He appeared to be a long time absent. Mr. Tuthill 

 wished to go and see what detained him. Mr. Essel and myself remained on 

 the side of the road, anxiously waiting. They very soen appeared ; and, to 

 our inexpressible grief and mortification, were conducted by two armed men, 

 in an uniform entirely foreign to us. I clearly perceived that these fellows 

 had taken them into custody, from the manner in which they approached: 

 when they had joined us, Mr. A. introduced me to them as Captain Cox, of 

 the ship Favorite, of New Yoik ; this had been a story fixed upon in case of 

 being stopped. We had been cast away near Marseilles, and all hands had 

 perished, except Florence Heath (Mr. A.), mate, William Dixon (Mr. T.), 

 supercargo, and Mr. Essel, whose new name I now forget, (passenger). We 

 were bound to Barcelona. Cargo— slaves and cotton. Only the supercargo 

 and mate could speak French: consequently I had an opportunity of disclosing 

 my sentiments more freely, to those who stood interpreters. They appeared 

 to commiserate our situation, and had not the least doubt but what we alleged 

 was true : but they would take us to the mayor oJ the town, who would (no 

 doubt,) grant us passports to proceed to some sea-port, whence we could 

 take shipping for America, or any other place we wished. We expressed 

 our warmest thanks for this mark of their attention ; but, (iJF they pleased) 

 we did not wisli to put them to the inconvenience of going out of their way 

 on our account. It was entirely in their way, and it was impossible we could 

 proceed along the coast without papers— they were only astonished how we 

 had crossed the kingdom of France ; or, more properly speaking, the empire, 

 without being arrested. We had been much to blame in not having procured 

 passports prior to our quitting Marseilles. We assured them, we were 

 ignorant of its being in the smallest degree necessary— we were born in a 

 country where nothing of the kind was required, and where it would be 

 deemed a very great insult, to ask any person where he came from, or 

 whither he was going. They gave a shrug at this— and declared it was 

 " bien dift'erent dans ce pays ci.*' We regretted that we had not been more 

 enlightened, with respect to the laws of their country, &c. &c., and by this 

 time we had arrived at the ferry boat, and in a few minutes were in the 

 town of Estaples. We had a number of articles in our possession that we 

 wished to get rid of. I desired my mate to mention to them, that I wished to 

 take a little refreshment at some convenient inn, before we waited on the 

 mayor. They consented, without hesitation, and we arrived at a small 

 cabaret; called for some bread and wine; and, one at a time, withdrew for a 

 few minutes : thus, wc got clear of several things (hat might have proved of 

 disagreeable consequences. 



We now cheerfully accompanied (at least in appearance) our conductors. 

 They were under the necessity of waiting upon their captain, before they 

 went to the mayor. He received us with politeness, and sent for the mayor 

 to be present at our examination. His worship arrived, and with him an 

 American gentleman : they interrogated us very strictly and minutely. We 

 repeated our former story : the American gave us to understand , that as they 

 suspected we were English, which we had no possible means of disproving, 

 we should be sent to Boulogne prison, until they heard from our consul at Paris, 

 or until they were well convinced of the veracity of our statement. Accor- 

 dingly, we were conducted to the town prison, and given in charge to the 

 gend'armerie. Their brigadier, who was coinniinulin;; officer, after survey- 



