JAMES MUSPRATT 



ward. Weak as he was he determined not 

 to fall a prisoner into the enemy's hands, and 

 set out to follow the English, who had 

 abandoned the city. It was then he accom- 

 plished the remarkable feat of walking 100 

 miles in two days, and made his way to 

 Lisbon. His diary contains graphic accounts 

 of the great hardships which he underwent ; 

 the history of that campaign relates how 

 wretched was the state of the country, and 

 how great were the sufferings of the troops 

 and the inhabitants from hunger and sick- 

 ness. Muspratt would gladly have got back 

 again to his own country, and he hoped that 

 at Lisbon he would find a vessel that would 

 convey him home; but in this he was dis- 

 appointed. Although his warlike longings 

 had failed to be satisfied in the army, he 

 succeeded in securing an appointment as 

 midshipman in the navy, and in his ship, the 

 "Impetueux," he took part in the blockade 

 of Brest, and was engaged in the chase of 

 the United States frigate, the "Constitution," 

 the ship that vanquished the "Guerrtere" in 

 one of those celebrated naval duels. 



He was promoted to the rank of second 

 officer in a smaller craft than the "Impetueux"; 

 but the stern discipline and irksomeness of his 



