SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT O^BRlEN. 15 



there ? I made answer, that every British naval officer was better acquainted 

 with that coast, than with his own ; we could hardly go up or down chanael 

 without acquiring a knowledge of the French coast : in short, I left no doubt 

 on their minds with respect to our local knowledge of it. The questions were 

 the same to all the others, and we were then again reconducted to prison. 



In a week, we were ordered to prepare ourselves for a march to the fortress 

 t>f Bitche, in Lorrain, a place well known to a number of our countrymen ; 

 a place in which many a valuable British subject has terminated his existence 

 in all the agony that illness and despondency can create. 



Here, in some wretched cell were we to remain during the war ; nay, 

 they even asserted, that it w^as Buonaparte's own decree. Lieutenant 

 Pridham, 1st, of the late frigate Hussar, a worthy and humane officer, by 

 some means obtained permission to visit us : he corroborated the information, 

 and gave us General Werrion for his author. He expressed great sorrow for 

 our hard fortunes, and justly observed, that death was preferable to such a 

 sentence. We were resolved to make another effort at ail i-isks, and if 

 possible, regain our liberty : cash was wanting. 1, however, procured a 

 small supply through the interposition of a worthy friend, notwithstanding 

 the strict guard that was kept over us. 



The morning of our departure arrived ; we joined eight other culprits at 

 twilight, and were placed in a large waggon, under a very strong escort of 

 gend'armerie, with a brigadier to command it. We were confined the first 

 night in a most miserable dungeon, in a village called Muletour. It was so 

 very small, and there were so many of us, we could scarcely breathe. Our 

 allowance of straw, a pound and a half each, was given us to lie on, and 

 the following night we were lodged in>Mitz jail. We remained here several 

 days : at last an order came for half of us to march towards our destination, 

 two others being with us ; four were accordingly ordered to prepare ; we 

 were now in hopes of having another chance of getting out of these scoun- 

 drels' clutches, but were much mistaken, our guard watched us so closely. 

 We were so well secured with handcuifs, and with chains, that it was 

 impossible to attempt it, and we were safely lodged in Sarre Louis jail. 

 This is a depot for seamen, and «ne of punishment for officers who may 

 transgress, but is many degrees superior to where we were ordered to. Se- 

 veral of our countrymen obtained permission to see us ; from one I received 

 a small map of Germany, torn out of an old geography, which I carefully 

 stitched in the lining of my waistcoat. We were now joined by those left in 

 Mitz prison, and were soon again on the march towards our destined habita- 

 tion : the same precautions were taken for securing us, and but little or no 

 hopes were now left of our escaping. 



We arrived at Sarreguerriere, only six or seven leagues from Bitche, and 

 were secured as usual in the jail; the next day we were expected to arrive 

 at our horrible abode, at about four in the afternoon. In the morning our 

 guards came with a large waggon, in which we were placed, and to my 

 astonishment and delight were not chained : I considered this an opportunity 

 that ought to be embraced, particularly as there could be no hopes of any 

 other chance ; indeed it appeared an interposition of Divine Providence in 

 our favour. I communicated my intention s to my companions ; and after we 

 had got out of the town, we descended from the waggon, observmg to the 

 guards, ihat we preferred walking a little. Mr. Essel remained in the waggon. 

 Messrs. Ash worth, Tuthill, and Baker, (of the merchant service; with myself, 

 were walking a -head of the waggon. We had not gone more than two or three 

 miles, when I discovered a wood about 150 yards from the road ; our guards 

 were about 50 yards behind us, they were on horseback, and although there 

 were no leaves on the trees, we were certain they could not pursue us, but 



