14 SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 



zieres jail, where he had been confined two months, by the sentence of a 

 court martial, for allowing two English prisoners to escape; government 

 supposing they had bribed him. 



(October, 1807.) The guards visited us in our dungeon every hour during 

 the night ; yet, notwithstanding, I found an opportunity of making away 

 with the remainder of the tinder box. At day-break, we were chained to a 

 cart and hand-cuffed ; the roads, from the late fall of rain, being too heavy to 

 march on foot. In the evening we arrived at Mezieres jail, and were put 

 into the yard, after being strictly searched. Nor could we procure even a 

 dungeon, until we had agreed to a most exhorbitant price, which the jailer 

 charged for some refreshments, &c. he procured for us. He very laconically 

 observed, " I know the gensd'arraes have plenty of money, which they took 

 from you. You may as well let me have part, as let them have all ; you 

 will not siand in need of any in a few days:" thus intimating, that we should 

 be shot as spies, which was the general opinion every where. 



Our treatment was pretty nearly the same throughout unto Verdun, where 

 we arrived at the latter end of October. I was separated from my compani- 

 ons, being considered as the chef du compot ; and was thrown into a miserable 

 dungeon, wherein there was another, supposed to have been a spy, and who 

 expected to be brought to trial in a few days. 



Being now separated from my brothers in adversity, it affected me much 

 more than any punishment they could inflict. I was certain, that if only one 

 of the party should suffer death, I should be the person ; as the oldest is gen- 

 erally chosen ring-leader, agreeably to the French laws ; and from the num- 

 ber of times it was hinted to me on the road, I expected it, and was perfectly 

 resigned, being conscious of not having* committed any crime that merited 

 such punishment. 



I passed a very unpleasant night. My fellow prisoner was very inqnisi- 

 tive, and anxious to know what I had been guilty of. I gratified hira in some 

 measure, but was not in a communicative mood. 



At day-break, a guard came to conduct me to the place of examination. 

 Here I found Lieutenant Demangeoit, of the gensd'armerie, a scrivener, and 

 Mr. Galliers, interpreter. My examiuation continued two or three hours ; 

 every question and answer was noted down. I was minutely cross-exam- 

 ined with respect to the pistol-stock found with us: interrogated particularly 

 about where I had been on the day Buonaparte passed through Verdun : what 

 company I was in ; who I breakfasted with ; in short, questions that entirely 

 puzzled me to know their motives for asking them ; however, they implied, 

 I conceive, a good opinion of my address, and a wish, if possible, to implicate 

 me. I was shewn my letters, but was informed they would be transmitted to 

 Paris, for the minister of war's inspection. Upon remonstrating upon the 

 cruelty of being parted from my comrades, I was conducted to their prison ; 

 they had previously been moved to the place of examination. We were not 

 allowed to see each other, until each had been examined : however, <»ur 

 questions and answers were nearly the same. We amused ourselves all the 

 ensuing night, in talking over the particulars of our different qiiestions, 

 answers, &c. The jailer supplied us with what nourishment we were allowed, 

 having the remainder of our cash in his possession. We had neither fire 

 nor candle-light. Some days had elapsed, when we were again conducted 

 separately to be examined, myself first. The Lieutenant informed me, they 

 were questiims fVom Paris. They were certain we could not have gone so 

 direct a cdurse for Estaples, without guides, haviug no compass nor chart. I 

 replied, that mariners always steered sufficiently correct by the stars ; when 

 we could see them, we were never at a loss. They wished to be informed 

 if I knew anything of the coast of Fracce ? If I bad ever been stationed off 



