of their permission to go out of town (what the French termed parole), and making their escape to their native country. This was to me the most flattering intelligence – it was what I had been revolving in my own brain for some days. We accordingly met to deliberate upon the best method of putting in execution the business we were about to commence; and agreed it was necessary to procure knapsacks, provisions, bladders to contain water, &c. prior to our getting close confined; as we should be under the necessity of travelling by night, and concealing ourselves in the woods during the day-time.
“The requisite materials having been provided, viz, files, gimlets, saws, &c.; that, in case of being taken, we might be able to break our fetters and to escape from the slavery and punishment we were well aware would await us, we commenced by missing one appel; but to our great astonishment this breach of discipline was overlooked[1]. We next remained out of town very late; this was also forgiven, though we got into the guard-house, &c. In short, it was several days before we succeeded in being deprived of our passports or permissions; and we now felt confident, from the lenity shewn us, that they suspected our intentions. However, August 28ih, 1807, having found, from the opinion of several officers whom we consulted, that no tie of honor could, under our present circumstances, retain us, being literally in close confinement, and that, perhaps, we might never have so good an opportunity again, we determined to lake ‘French leave,’ having an excellent rope to scale the ramparts.
“The sea coast was the place fixed upon for us to make for; and we agreed, that about Etaples was the most likely part to procure a boat. The anxiety and uneasiness which we felt the next day, were beyond description. Some of our countrymen, who called to see us, en passant, threw out such insinuations and made such remarks upon our conduct of late, that we were under the most serious apprehensions of being shackled, and on the road to Bitche, before the much desired hour, eleven at night: being well aware, that there were several Englishmen employed and paid regularly, for conveying the most trivial occurrence that might take place amongst the prisoners, to the French general. I have frequently known prisoners of war, through malice, to be taken out of their beds in the night, fettered and conducted to the dépôts of punishment, without ever being informed of the crime or fault they had been accused of, from some of those rascals giving false information, to be revenged for any private animosity they might have had against the persons so treated. These spies were so numerous, I repeat it with regret, that it was morally impossible to know them all; conse-- ↑ Midshipmen were allowed to walk in the suburbs of Verdun, but ordered to attend two appels or musters per day; and offenders against this regulation were generally sent either to $t. Louis or Bitche, the dépôts of punishment.
