( 
Off Mauritius.] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
ground, and hung till past four in the afternoon. During this 
time we saw L’Estafette coming in with a flag of truce from the 
squadron ; and the boat that went to meet her was returning when 
the cartel had floated off, and sail was made. We were a good deal 
alarmed at what might be the subject of L’Estafette’s communica- 
tion, and particularly anxious to get without side of the port before 
any counter order should come from the general ; at sunset it was 
effected, the French pilot left us, and after a captivity of six years, 
five months and twenty-seven days, I at length had the inexpressible 
pleasure of being out of the reach of general De Caen. 
Three frigates and a sloop of war composed the squadron 
cruising before the port ; but instead of coming to speak us for in- 
formation, as was expected, we observed them standing away to the 
southward j a proceeding Which could be reconciled only upon the 
supposition, that commodore Rowley had sent in an offer not to com- 
municate with the cartel. This was too important an affair to me 
to be let pass without due inquiry ; my endeavours were therefore 
used with Mr. Ramsden,the commander, to induce him to run down 
to the ships ; and this was done, on finding they persisted in stretch- 
ing to the southward. At nine o'clock Mr. Ramsden went in a boat 
to the Boadicea, but was desired to keep off ; a letter was handed 
to him for the commissary, containing a copy of one sent in by 
L’Estafette, wherein it was proposed, if general De Caen would 
suffer the cartel to sail, that she should not be visited by any ship 
under the commodore’s orders. Mr. Hope replied that the cm tel 
had not come out in consequence of this proposal, not had the boat 
reached the shore at the time ; and this point being clearly ascer- 
tained, a communication was opened, and I applied for a passage to 
the Cape of Good Hope. It happened fortunately, that the Otter 
sloop of war was required to go there immediately with despatches ; 
and the commodore having satisfied himself that no engagement of 
the commissary opposed it, complied with my request. Next day 
I took leave of Mr. Hope, to whose zeal and address I owed so much. 
485 
1810 . 
June. 
