404 
1805. 
January. 
t 
A VOYAGE TO [At Mauritius. 
amelioration for my companion and myself, I sought the means of 
dispensing with the captain-general’s humanity. I rose very early, 
and took much exercise in our inclosure before the heat of the sun 
became too powerful ; and applied closely to the charts and accounts 
of my voyage, which ill health and a languid melancholy had 
for some time caused to be neglected. By perseverance in these 
means, my disorders were at least prevented from becoming worse ; 
but more particularly I acquired a tranquil state of mind, and had 
even the happiness of forgetting general De Caen, sometimes for 
days together. The strength of my companion was too much 
exhausted for such a regimen ; and he was obliged to return 
to the hospital, being so much reduced that there was reason to 
fear for his life. 
Several military and merchant officers obtained permissions at 
this time to depart on parole, some to India, others to America ; 
which furnished opportunities of writing many letters. I addressed 
one to admiral Rainier, the commander in chief of His Majesty’s ships 
in India, upon the subject of my detention ; and another to lord Wil- 
liam Bentinck, governor of Madras, in favour of two relations of 
my friend Pitot, who were prisoners under his government ; and it 
is with much gratitude to His Lordship that I add his more than 
compliance with the request : he not only set the two prisoners at 
liberty, but used his endeavours to procure my release from general 
De Caen. 
On the 29th, an American vessel arrived from France with many 
passengers, and amongst them monsieur Barrois, the brother-in-law 
of the general. He was charged with despatches ; and I was told 
upon good authorities that he had been sent to France in Le Geographe 
upon the same service, in December 1803. The knowledge of 
this fact gave an insight into various circumstances which took place 
at, and soon after my arrival at Mauritius. Le Geographe having 
an English passport, was equally bound with myself to observe 
a strict neutrality ; and the conveyance of an officer with public 
