SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 249 



ing us with one of the eyes of Argus, inquired if they had been searched — 

 they replied, "no." " Search them instantly," cried he, " they are Englishmen, 

 depend on it, who have escaped from one of the depots." His orders were 

 readily obeyed ; I was first rummaged : they opened my pocket book, in which 

 were several English letters, &c. I asserted that the pocket-book belonged to 

 a cousin of mine, who had perished with the wreck ; but any thing I could 

 affirm was rendered abortive, for, on the others were found maps of the de- 

 partments that we had marched through, with several other papers, which 

 identified us to be what they suspected. 



However, we still persisted in being Americans: they remonstrated on the 

 folly of such conduct, and ordered us to a dungeon, assuring us we should be 

 now very roughly treated, and considered as dangerous people ; whereas a 

 frank confession might cause some mitigation. After a little deliberation, we 

 clearly perceived the inutility of holding out ; so acknowledged at once, who, 

 and what we were. The brigadier assured us, he had been confident, from 

 the moment he first saw us, that we were English — he would do every thing 

 in his power to comfort us under our present embarrassments — he had no 

 superior officer of his corps nearer than Boulogne — where he should send us 

 the next day ; and, for that night, he would allow us to go to an inn, to get 

 ourselves a little in order; but with a strong escort, and we should be obliged 

 to find them in every necessary, and to pay them six livres (five shillings) 

 each for the night. This we readily agreed to— our situation, and state of 

 mind, being truly miserable. 



At the inn we bought a new shirt and pair of stockings each, and got the old 

 ones washed and mended, They supplied us with tolerably good beds, which 

 we were extremely anxious to take possession of. After supper, we were 

 in the act of going to bed, when an order came from the commanding officer 

 •of a camp adjacent, to conduct us to his tent — which was quickly put in 

 execution. He appeared, in manners, the reverse of the French general 

 character : perused all my letters, which were of no consequence to any one 

 existing, except myself; and which have never been returned unto me — 

 declared he was certain we had emissaries on the coast, otherwise we should 

 never have attempted so perilous a journey. We assured him, it was no such 

 thing. "Ah!" said he, "the fishermen on our coast unfortunately are too 

 much attached to the English." 



Our conversation teiminated; and we were re-conducted to the inn, where 

 we very soon retired, to rest our weary limbs, and to take that refreshment 

 of which our bodies and miads both stood so much in need. 



At eight o' clock the next morning, we were placed in a cart, and escorted 

 to Boulogne, where we arrived about two in the afternoon : were given in 

 charge to the jailer, who sent one of his expert turnkeys to show us our 

 lodgings, which were certainly extensive enough ; two small sheafs of strawj 

 and a bucket of water were shortly after sent us, to supply the places of 

 beds and refreshments, after about twelve leagues journey — as well as to 

 strengthen us for a most fatiguing march back into the interior. 



This day's excursion a^orded us a view of that formidable flotilla, which 

 had so frequently threatened to huil destruction upon our little island, as well 

 as a view of the white cliff's of Dover. A frigate and lugger were also cruising 

 off the French coast— how pleasing even was this sight, after an absence of 

 nearly four years. Notwithstanding our unhappy situation ;— the agitation 

 which alternately seized me, the distracted state of my mind, the thoughts 

 that revolved within me, are not to be described by any mortal. 



The keenness of our appetites soon suggested to us the necessity of becoming 

 acquainted with our good host ; we therefore began to supplicate, through the 

 iron grates, some relief; after repeated solicitations, during which we never 



VOL. VI. — 1835. HH 



