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this enviable situation, before I began to reconnoitre, in order to form plans of escape. That part of the citadel in which the men were allowed to walk, and which might be termed their playground, occupied about an acre; in this confined spot fourteen hundred men were mustered, three times a day, and no one permitted to go out, but under escort.[1]
On the arrival of the mids, the number of sentinels was considerably augmented, and strict orders issued to watch them. From the citadel, escape appeared impossible, it being surrounded with ditches, containing about six feet of mud, on the surface of which was not more than a foot of water: so that swimming was deemed
- ↑ It had been the custom for about two years, to allow one-third of the whole, to go into the town to work, on condition of each paying ten sols per day to the commandant. Fearing this disgraceful practice might some time be exposed, he reduced it one half, till, at length, it was entirely abolished by the pretended discovery of the government, who superseded him in this lucrative command, after having permitted him to fill his coffers with nearly seven thousand pounds.
