190 FISHES AND FISHING. 



24-poimders ; the soldiers placed tli^re are relieved 

 when the tide is out, as they then march to it on the 

 land side, and ascend a flight of stairs or steps. 



Shortly after my return to London, I was sent for 

 to the office of the Secretary of State, and was intro- 

 duced to Admiral Sir Home Popham. I was re- 

 quested to give the whole particulars relative to this 

 fort, which, for some reason, the English government 

 wished to have destroyed ; I gave him the width of 

 the openings between the piles upon which it is erect- 

 ed, and this I could do most correctly, as I had often 

 been under it in a boat, after wild ducks I had shot, 

 which had drifted there. My animosity against the 

 French was then so strong, through the loss I had been 

 subject to, and the treatment I had experienced, that 

 I offered, if the means were supplied me, to destroy 

 it entirely. I knew the risk, but would then^have 

 been gratified to have taken the hazard ; I am now 

 happy I had not the lives of so many men to answer 

 for. The Admiral attempted to destroy it j but em- 

 ployed such very inefficient means that he merely dis- 

 placed a plank or two, which alarmed the garrison so 

 as to render any future attempt useless. 



I had enough to occupy my energies to repair my 

 losses ; and for some time had neither tackle or time 

 to angle. After a short period, by my brother's 

 death, I having become the only son, my father and 



