xlvi AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



a prisoner of war in Bridgetown. I was introduced 

 to him ; and, finding him an officer of most amiable 

 manners and superior education, 1 helped him a 

 little in money matters, and did him other trivial 

 acts of kindness. He told me that he had been 

 brought up for the marine marchande ; and that he 

 never thought he should be reduced to the necessity 

 of going on board a privateer; but the English 

 cruisers having nearly put an end to French com- 

 merce by sea, there was no other way left open for 

 him to get on in the world. He was sorry he could 

 make me no return, as he was a prisoner in a 

 foreign land ; but he would write a letter for me, 

 which possibly might be of service to me on some 

 future day. Next morning, Lieutenant Flagelle pre- 

 sented me with a letter, in which he requested that 

 all captains of French men-of-war and of privateers 

 in the Caribbean Sea would treat me with kindness 

 and attention^ should misfortune throw me into 

 their power. 



It was at Barbadoes that I made the acquaintance 

 of Captain Beaver, who commanded the Acasta 

 frigate of 44 guns. I was told, some years ago, that 

 this scientific officer died an admiral, whilst at 

 anchor at the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Maxwell, 

 the navy agent in Barbadofes, had given a large 

 dinner party at his country house near Bridgetown. 

 I sat next Captain Beaver at dinner. During the 

 dessert, he amused the company with a facetious 

 story of an interview which formerly had taken 

 place betwixt Lord Melville and John Bedingfeld 



