392 
A VOYAGE TO 
[At Mauritius. 
1804 . ness to return an immediate answer ; but said, that not being in the 
ApnL port at the time of my arrival, it belonged to the captain-general to 
appreciate the motives of my stopping at the Isle of France, and to 
determine the time of my momentary detention, “ Nevertheless 
“ Sir,” he added, “ believe, that taking an interest in your situation, 
“ I shall have the honour to speak to the captain-general concerning 
“ it ; and shall be flattered in contributing to your being set at liberty.” 
Unfortunately a difference arose between the admiral and general 
De Caen ; and the answer given to the application was, that my case 
having been submitted to the French government, his request could 
not be complied with. 
Captain Halgan of the French corvette Le Berceau, having 
been in England during the short peace and heard my voyage there 
mentioned, as well as by the officers of Le Geographe, did me the 
favour of a visit more than once. He testified a lively interest in 
my situation, and offered pecuniary assistance if wanted ; and being 
afterwards ordered to France, applied for me to be sept on board 
his ship ; which being refused, he obligingly took a letter to cap- 
tain Melius of Le Geographe, and two others for England which 
May. were punctually sent. In May I addressed a letter to His Excellency 
the marquis Wellesley, governor-general of British India, giving an 
account of my imprisonment. The character of general De Caen 
permitted but little hope to be entertained from the interference of 
His Lord ship, but it seemed proper to acquaint him with the cir- 
cumstances ; and it was possible that some unforeseen occurrence 
might put it in the power of the marquis to demand my liberty 
in a way not to be refused : iri all these letters I continued to 
adhere most scrupulously to the line of perfect neutrality indicated 
by the passport. # 
A detention of some months longer, until orders should arrive 
from France, appeared now to be inevitable, and the captain-general, 
by withholding the charts, papers, and log book, seemed to desire 
that nothing should take off' my attention from feeling the weight of 
