Bitche, from which fortress they subsequently effected their escape. A biographical memoir of Mr. Ashworth was published in the Naval Chronicle, Vol. 33. We now come to the period when Mr. O’Brien made his fourth effort for liberty, Sept. 1808.
“By this time,” says he, “I had another plan of escaping in contemplation, and with every hope of success. The arrival of Messrs. Hewson and Butterfield, midshipmen, who in March that had escaped from Verdun, favored my scheme very much. Mr. Hewson held an intimate friend and very old acquaintance, I communicated it to him, and he rejoiced exceedingly at an opportunity so soon offering for another attempt to escape. However it was necessary to wait some lime, as he was placed in the souterrain. In a few days he contrived, owing to real indisposition, to be moved up stairs into a room appointed for the sick. I now hoped to be soon able to execute our project, and had procured keys, with which I could at any time get out of my own room; it then only remained to open the hospital room door, and the wished-for meeting between us would he formed. This I attempted two nights successively, but without effect. – I found it was impossible. – As I only waited for the worthy Hewson, it was necessary to endeavour to get him up into my room – no other prospect was left. He made application by letter, to the commandant; and on the 11th of September succeeded. We wanted nothing now but a favorable moment. The next day Dr. Barklimore, an acquaintance of ours, also received permission to reside in our apartment. We were, fortunately, only seven in number; and of these seven three were confined to their beds. The fourth was a Mr. Battley, a dragoon officer of the East India Company’s service; who had been a long time in the room, and informed me that he had conjectured what we were about, and requested to be allowed to join and partake of our danger, – which we agreed to. No opportunity of getting by the sentinels yet presented itself. Our friends arrived from Metz, but were put below. I communicated the business to them, they thought it a very dangerous and hazardous plan: however, they would have willingly run the same risk with us, if they could; but that was impossible.
“It was now the 13th of September, and the third night since Mr. Hewson had joined. Our poor friends were secured, after taking an affectionate leave of us. The night was very inclement, and proved much in our favour. Every thing was put in readiness; our rope made into a ball, and tied up in a handkerchief. Darkness at last set in. It rained – blew – thundered – and lightened; I never recollect a more desperate night. We unlocked our door with the keys already mentioned, and remained at the bottom of the stairs, waiting to see the sentinel go into their boxes; it was about 8 o’clock, and we continued in this position