SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 337 
and Mrs. Kingsley ; then went to see our parents ; and after- 
ward returned to our benefactors, who were waitmg break- 
fast for us. Our conversation was frequently interrupted dur- 
ing- our meals, as they were but little acquainted with the 
French language, and we knew nothing of English. After 
breakfast we learned that the English governor had not receiv- 
ed any orders for giving up the colony to the French; and 
until that took place the whole of the French expedition would 
be obliged to go to the peninsula of Cape Verd, distant from 
Senegal about fifty leagues. This information distressed us 
much, but our affliction was at its height when my father 
came and told that the French governor, M. Schmaltz, had 
ordered him to quit Senegal with all his family, and go and 
stay at Cape. Verd until ferther orders. Mr. and Mrs. Kings- 
ley, sensibly affected with the misfortunes we had already 
experienced, assured us they would not part with us, and that 
they would endeavor to obtain the permission of the English 
governor. In fact, on the following day, that gentleman in- 
formed us by his aid-de camp that, having seen the wretched 
condition in which our family were, he had allowed us to re- 
main at Senegal, and that he had permitted all the officers of 
the Medusa to stay. This renewed instance of the benevo- 
lence of the English governor tranquilized us. We remained 
comfortably at the house of our benefactors; but a great part 
of our unhappy companions in misfortune, fearing, if they stay- 
ed at Senegal, they would disobey the French governor, set 
off for Cape Yerd, where hunger and death awaited them. 
Our family lived nearly twenty days with our benevolent 
hosts, MM. Artigue and Kingsl.y; but my father, fearing we 
were too great abui'den for the extraordinary expenses which 
they made each day for us, hued a small apartment, and on 
the first of August we took possession of it, to the great re- 
gret of our generous friends, who wished us to stay with them 
till the surrc-nder of the colony. When we were settled in 
our new habitation, my father sent a petition to M. Schmaltz, 
for the purpose of obtaining provisions from the general ma- 
gazine of the French administration; but, angry with the re- 
ception we had met with from the English, he replied he could 
not give him any thing. Nevertheless, S3veral French offi- 
cers, who, like ourselves, had remained at Senegal, each day 
received their rations, or, which was better, were admitto^l 
to the table of M. D , with v<'hom also the governor, his 
family and staff, messed. It may be remarked here, that this 
same M. D advanced to the governor of the forts, m 
29 
