must attend, and frequently they are carried. I took my station in the ranks, expecting in a few minutes to be lodged with my old companions in limbo. Buché, whom I had so long avoided, rivetted his eyes upon me. I had received information that he was going to make known to the commandant or general, that I had importuned him more than the rest, and was the person who prevailed on him to let any down. He was astonished at seeing me, having been informed that I was in the dungeon. Shortly afterwards he passed me, and I saw him go and speak to the above-mentioned officers: I was then confident he had completed the business. The review took place; every one was inspected, and some were asked several questions. I was passed over with very little notice. I could not account for it – yet was of opinion, they would have said something on the subject had they been made acquainted with it. We were all dismissed, and the officers retired. I was confounded at my additional success, yet feared there was some mischief brewing.
“Whilst I was walking to and fro, in a kind of a dilemma, I was accosted by Buché, in nearly those words: – ‘By what miracle have you escaped from the dungeon? and how did you get up out of the souterrain? I have seen you walking about some days, although perhaps you did not see me.’ – ‘Pray, Sir,’ I replied, ‘why should I be put in the dungeon?’ ‘My God!’ exclaimed he, ‘were you not the person, who was chiefly the occasion of my letting the other three and yourself down to visit your friends, as you called it?’ – ‘You must certainly, Sir, have made a mistake, it was not me.’ he replied, he was certain it was me; but added, that it would afford him no satisfaction to have me punished, since his own punishment was over. It had been his intention to tell the general and commandant; but his wife had persuaded him not to do it. I assured him that he should lose nothing by what he had suffered, and that I knew the generosity of the gentlemen on whose account he had been confined. The fellow laughed – we became good friends, and ho took me to the dungeon that afternoon to see my companions.
“August 5th, 1808. – The next day my poor comrades received orders to prepare for a march to Metz; whither they would be escorted to take their trial as conspirators, and Buché to go as prosecutor. I now deemed myself fortunate indeed. I had the mortification to see them loaded with irons, after being a number of days in a most abominable dungeon. In a few days I received a letter from Mr. Ashworth, giving me a detail of the trial, &c. and stating, that himself, Mr. Brine, and several others, were sentenced to remain as slaves fifteen years in the gallies – Mr. Tuthill only nine.”
At the moment these unfortunate gentlemen were on the point of being marched to their destination, an order from Paris came to repeal the sentence, and to re-conduct them to
