320 THE LIFE OF 



nary ceremony of obtaining permiflion to pro- 

 ceed to land, takes up, even in peaceable 

 times, fome hours ; but the officers of the navy 

 whom I faw there, informed me that as I was 

 on board one of his Majefty's fhips, I was at 

 the difpofal of Earl St. Vincent, who muft do 

 with me as he (hould think fit. By them I was 

 told that it was believed that I belonged to the 

 privateer, as I fhould naturally fuppofe, from 

 the circumftance of my having been feen upon 

 her deck in an uniform which they did not 

 know ; in fhort, I underftand my perfon w as 

 recognized by fome one who knew me, but who 

 never dreamt of my being there as one of the 

 perfons employed in bringing the prize into 

 port, imagining, on the contrary, that I had 

 joined the enemies of my country. 



This news, I was told, had been carried to 

 Earl St. Vincent, who, taking it to be true, 

 was very juftly enraged at my fuppofed treafon, 

 and ordered me immediately to be fent in arreft 

 ort board his Majefty's fliip the Aurora. I was 

 carried thither with the nephew of the Vice- 

 Conful, who, as I before obferved, had been 

 arrefted in the general confufion ; this circum- 

 ftance afforded me fome confolation, for if a 

 man knozvn, provided with every necelTary palT- 

 port, and bearing even letters of recommenda- 

 tion to the Governor, could be arrefted, it was 



no 



