Port Louis . } 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
377 
of the books and papers; that the place where the seamen were isos, 
kept was very wholesome ; and as to the provisions, that orders Monday 26, 
had been given on my arrival for the people of the Cumberland to be 
treated as French seamen in actual service ; that he would inquire 
whether any thing contrary had been done, which he did not think, 
but in that case it should be set right. 
At noon next day colonel Monistrol and M. Bonnefoy called, Tuesday ar. 
and a trunk was brought from on board the schooner, containing a 
part of my printed books. The colonel seemed to be sorry that my 
letters to the general had been couched in a style so far from humble, 
and to think that they might rather tend to protract than termi- 
nate my confinement ; on which I observed, believing him to be 
in the general’s confidence, that as my demand was to obtain 
common justice, an adulatory style did not seem proper, more es- 
pecially when addressed to a republican who must despise it : my 
rights had been invaded, and I used the language natural to a man 
so circumstanced. Had favours been wanted, or there had been any 
thing to conceal, my language would probably have been different ; 
but of all things I desired that the strictest scrutiny should be made 
into my papers, and that it should be confronted with any exami- 
nation they might choose to make of myself or people. The colonel 
and interpreter, either from politeness or conviction, did not disagree 
with these sentiments, but repeated that a different mode of writing 
might have answered better; it appeared indeed, from their conver- 
sation, that French republicanism involved any thing rather than 
liberty, justice, and equality, of which it had so much boasted. 
So soon as the two gentlemen were gone, I took out my naval 
signal book from the trunk and tore it to pieces ; the private signals 
had been lost in the shipwreck, so that my mind was now freed from 
apprehensions which had given much inquietude. 
On the 28th, M Chapotin, the surgeon, called as usual with the Wednes. 28 , 
interpreter. He said that air and exercise were necessary to the re-es- 
tablishment of my health, and that so soon as I should be able to walk 
vol. 11. 3 C 
