UC-NRLF B 3 437 m7 NARRATIVE OF THE SITUATION AND TREATMENT OF THE ENGLISH, ARRESTED BY ORDER OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES ; WITH THE TRANSACTIONS On the Arrival of the First Consul at Boulogne, Calais, and Dunkirk, and, afterwards^ down to the End of July : CONTAINING Some secret Anecdotes of Bonaparte^s Confidential Commandant at Calais, AND AN ACCOUNT OP THE AUTHOR'S ESCAPE FROM THENCE 31n a Ctun&t BY WILLIAM WRIGHT, Late English Interpreter to General Braluncon, Commandant at Calais, LONDON: Printed by J. D. Dewick., Aldersgate-street, rOH J. BADCOCK, PATERNOSTER-ROW; J. GINGEB, PIC- CADILLY ; J. ASPERNE, CORNHILL ; AND R. BUTION, GRACECHUaCH-STBEET. 1803. T)'C. IW^ \ /•. / 7 ^ JV^RR^TIFE^ ^'^• i^OME recent occurrences, of a particu- larly-interesting nature at this period^ have happened in France immediately under my own observation, the Narrative of which will, I apprehend, conduce to the better understanding the temper and disposition of the people towards this country. The au- thenticity of the relation may be deduced from internal evidence thereof, even though there were not several persons now in London who are mentioned herein, and knew the author to be in the situation he describes himself to have filled. Until very lately, nothing could be heard with more apathy on this side the water than the story of in- » vafion vasion ; but I speak from my own know- ledge of the spirit of animosity which has been excited in all ranks of French citizens against us, that, should we fail to meet the impending danger with sufficient energy, advantages will be thrown into the enemy's hands, we shall recover only with the ut- most difficulty. The following pages, which must be read with great allowances for the inexperience of the writer, furnish another proof, if such were wanting, of the rancour towards Englishmen, the bad faith, and the folly, of /jim who rules re- publican France. Intelligence of hostilities being likely to take place between England and France, agitated the minds of every one, more par- ticularly the English who were in France; for, whether pleafure, curiofity, trade, or neceffity, had placed them in that part of the globe, all were in a great degree inte- rested in the event. The veffels from England in a fhort time ceafed -to come, and the mail-packets were the only importers of n^ws we had; thefe , were anxioufly looked for, and from the captain to the. lowell.Qn^ board, . teazed with _^: . ^ queflions queftions to which they could give no fatif- facftory anfwers : many thought themfelves happy to creep into the favour of the cap- tains or mates, to get a ghmpfe of the ftate of things on the Englifh fide. Day after day thus pafled ; a ftagnafion of trade was the confequence of affairs- being fb un-r fettled ; families from all parts of the con- tinent were daily arriving at Calais, on theii^ return, deprecating as- it were prophetically- the event of a new war. '-'Q''^ {'• ' t" • '• -i A' report was foon circulated, = that^'tll^' Ambaffadors were ordered mutually to re- turn, and a degree of credit appeared attached to. it, as two mail-packets were ftationed in the harbour to convey our Ambaffador and his fuiteto Dover. The day of his arrival was often fixed, and his non-appearance ac- counted for by the fuppofition, that? the Firft Conful had agreed to the propofitionS of the Britifli Government. Earnefi:ly was fiich a- circumftance wiflied for by the majority of the French people. ** We wifh not for war; (faid they) : what have we gained by thelaft? What have we gained by the feas of blood which have been fpilt ? Nothing, but that mofi: of us have to lament a friend or relai-, tive. 4 tive; That war we fought not, it came to us. Now our rulers will not be at peace, nor let others be fo. All the devils out of the infernal regions, were let loofe among the unfortunate French at the revolution; and every man, fo foon as he gets into power, proves he has a devil revelling in his heart, which urges him to ravage and torture his fellow-creatures.'* — Such is the language I have repeatedly heard. Daily, nay hourly, the poftilion's whip rcfounded in Calais* ftreets, every one hsll- ening to his native land, or waiting at the port of embarkation, the refult of what, at that moment, was only fuppofitious. The hotels, large as they are, were fo filled, their owners knew not where to place frefh comers. Many, whofe fears overcame every other confideration, hired vefTels at any price, and happily faved themfelves from an unjuft and inhuman captivity. At length the AmbafTador arrived at the Hotel of DefTein, and the fame day the town was filled with perfons of the firfl diflinc- tion* It was now rumoured the AmbafTador would wait at Calais until he received dif- patches from the court of London ; accord- ingly. ingly after a few days the difpatches arrived, and his lordfliip prepared to fail. All the French packets and bye-boats were hired by the families in town, but such were the fears of the captains and crews, that none would sail without papers under his lordship's hand : and the day after the de- parture of the Ambassador, a vessel which had on board the body of Sir Robert Cham- bers, with baggage, and a carriage, would not proceed on the voyage, although Lady Chambers signed an instrument to pay more than the value of the vessel, with twenty pounds for each day the vessel, or any of the crew were detained after the first three days. The body, baggage, and carriage, were notwithstanding unshipped, and put on board the English Mail, Capt. Sutton. The departure of the Ambassador was not attended with any marks of respect, by the officers of the town, or by any salute being given j but he took leave as a private gen- tleman, and although we considered the se- cretaries* being still in France, as a protec- tion, and affording a glimmering of hope, yet Calais feemed more dreary to every En- gliihman from the moment of lord Whit- worth's |6 worth's failing. To add to our inquietude two French paffage veffels were detained at Dover, and it was ilated they were con- demned; we dreaded fomething from the hand of power, but knew not what, if it were true; however, to our joy they arrived the following day with the French Ambaffador and his fuite with about eighty other paflen- gers. Hopes were flill cherifhed by the mails paffing regularly, and pafTengers without any other than the ufual reftridtions of that land of liberty, viz. pajjports ! which even a na-^ tive muft have to go from one town to ano- ther, and mufh wait the office hours to ob- tain, let his bufinefs be ever fo urgent. French couriers were alfo continually paffing, fometimes in open boats when the £ea was fo high as to make it an undertaking of the greateft rifque ; all thefe circumftan- ces naturally led every one to fuppofe adtive negociations were carrying on; and what we wified, teo eajily we believedy that all would terminate favourably. Thus were we led on, from one thing to another, to repofe confidence in the honour of a trea- cherous and vindidive government. In In the early part of the month of May, the Englifh Mail Captain Hammond, and the French Mail failed ahout four o'clock in the morning, both full of palTengers, baggage and carriages, they had but juft reached the road, when a boat was difpatch- ed, ordering the French Mail to return, the palTengers went on board the Englifh vellel, happy fo to efcape with the lofs of moft of their baggage, and fome their carriages. Meantime the Prince of Wales Captain Sutton, and the Nancy Captain Latimore, were in port waiting for the fecreta- ries ; their crews were called up, a guard placed on the veffels, and about eleven o'clock the fame morning, the Captain and Mate of each veffel were put upon their parole, and all the reft fent to prifon; although fecurity to any amount was offered for thefe alfo to be allowed to remain in the town. The commifTary of marine was feverely cenfured for fuffering Captain Ham- mond to efcape; and after this period we had no mails but w^hat came as flags of truce, when the Captain was received by a guard, the pafTports of all pafTengers ftrid:ly examined, and any pcrfon found without 8 one, conduced to Mr. Mengaud the com- milTary general of police, and probably thence to prifon, without regard being had to their country, age, fex, or condition. The Cap- tain and c^w were particularly fearched for letters or papers, and if found they were taken away, and conveyed to that hedoring bully of Calais, for his perufal, and at his option to be committed to the flames, de- tained, or fent to the party for whom they were deftined. Our troubles were now about to begin. The reafons I have before ftated, induced many to wait the final termination of the negociation, flill conceived to be on the tapis; and the firm belief that the French Govern- ment would give fufficient time for all to return, urged many not to prefs the fettle- ment of their affairs, or to haften their departure; joined to this, the people of Ca- lais behaved fo well in every particular, that all were lulled into perfedt fecurity for fome days, when orders were iffiied to the officer appointed to receive thepafTports on entering the town by land, to retain all the paffports, and fend them to General Braba^on the commandant of Calais ; whereas before it was was the cuftom to regifler the pafTports at the gate, and give them again to the parties to whom they belonged. About the fame time the great man, Mr. Mengaud, either was, or rather pretended to be abfent, and no pafTports could be obtained until he return- ed ; this firft ftep of paltry management created fome little uneafinefs, ftill no one imagined what was fhortly to happen. Judge, if poflible, the confternation and aftonifliment which pervaded all ranks, the day the creature Mengaud again became vifible, to hear the drum beating in all the principal ftreets, (the ufual way of no- tifying any thing to the public in France), and the tovvn-ferjeant reading the orders, for all Englifhmen between the ages of eighteen and fixty, inftantly to repair to the general's houfe. Accordingly, every one went, when having figned his name, mentioned his age, profelTion, &c. he was politely told, ** that in confequence of the Englifh Government having made prizes of many French veiTels, previous to their having formally declared war againfl the Republic, the French Go- vernment had decreed, that all the Englifh- men within their territories from the age of c eighteen 10 eighteen to fixty were prifoners of war on parole ; that thofe in Calais had that town for their prifon ; but if they fliould have the misfortune to be tempted to pafs the gates, they would be ordered into clofe confine- ment j that women, children, the aged, and thofe who had been patentees* twelvemonths, were not required to fign their names, and the former were at liberty to go to England, or in fad: where they chofe.** Words can but imperfedly paint the ftate of diftradion and diftrefs apparent among the thus-unjuflly-made prifoners ; fome by this unforefeen event preying upon iheir fpirits, were ferioudy indifpofed ; while in- dignation burnt in the breafl of moft, againft a Government who in a manner totally unprecedented, rendered captives in- difcriminately of the gentleman and fervant, the merchant and the mechanic, the tutor * Every perfon carrying on any kind of bufinefs whatever, muft take out a patent ; if a merchant, or more properly a negociaut (as all are merchants in France, even the man who cries vinegar or brooms), he is ftated to be in the firfl clafs, and pays a certain fum according to his concerns yearly ; others are eftimated according to their rental about 10 per cent, and a trifle for fees, flamps, &c, and It and the fludent, who had entered their country under the protcdion of their laws, and the hand and feal of their ambaflador. Such IS French faith ; fuch the protection afforded to thofe who, under the ideas of improving their fortunes by commerce, or their minds by travel, truft to the perfidious guarantee of France ; that guarantee, which has been fo eminently made to fuit the views of its government on a large fcale, defcends alfo to the weakeft individual within its grafp. After thus remaining a fhort time, every one in eager expe(5lation fome arrangement would be made for their releafe, and we had become fomewhat more tranquil from that perfuafion, information was received we were to be fent to Valenciennes, about one hundred miles from Calais ; and again by the drum was it notified all the Englifh muil repair to Mengaud*s office for paff- ports. Accordingly, thofe whofe finances enabled them to be above fuing for favours at the hands of that government which had thus entrapped them; or who had no par- ticular ties to induce a preference of one place beyond another, obtained their pafl- c :; ports ports and departed, fomc in the barks by the canals, others in cabriolets, coaches, and on horfeback ; while fome of our unfortu- nate countrymen, who had fmall incomes fufficient to live in one place, but who could not bear the confequent expences of travel- ling, and who at Calais had always appeared as gentlemen, ad:ually marched with knap- facks at their backs, (under the dread of being fent to prifon by the gendarmerie, or thief-takers, with which they were threat- ened), after having fliared their little flock •with their families, which were thus left upon the charity of their countrymen who were patentees, or who were determined not to go till the lafl extremity. One fa- mily, of two brothers, a wife, together with tjiree children, the eldeft not more than three years old, the father was unwilling to leave behind, they attempted to carry; after proceeding miferably fome way, they were obliged to return, and the wife and children were generoufly taken into the houfe of Mr. King, the York Hotel, an Englifhman eflablilhed there upwards of twenty years, and whofe humanity to his countrymen has been dangerous to him- felf 13 felf and family, in the time of the Revo- lution. Many were the petitions prefented to Men- gaud, backed by the intereft of the firft ne- gotiants in the place. Out of the number, only three were not treated by that worthy reprefentative of the fanguinary Bonaparte, with fupercilious contempt, viz. Mr. Im- pete, a gentleman of fortune, and his family j the other two, fingle gentlemen, Mr. Love- lace and Mr. Stephenfon. The former un- der the plea of ill health ; the latter, as a flu- dent in phyfic. Thefe three petitions were referred to the grand judge at Paris, and they were to wait at Calais for his anfwer. Various other perfons remained under the idea, that a favourable alteration might yet take place ; they were, however, allowed Very little refpite, for again the drum re- founded in the ftreets, and damped the fpirits of our unfortunate, and too credulous countrymen. All were once morefummoned to theGene- raPs houfe, when they were afked very ab- ruptly, ** What is the reafon you are not yet gone from this place, according to the or- ders ifTued } " Some dated they only wifhed to 14 to fee their wives and families fafe ai)oard for England; others, the want of means to depart ; and, in Ihort, moft had reafons to give. They were told to return the next day, when the poorer fort were ordered to depart in two days ; and thofe who could create, or pay for friends, were exempted, and fuffered to remain. Application had been made by a friend of mine of fome confe-^ quence in the town, to fuffer me alfo to re- main. Permiffion was granted to that ef- effett, on condition of my adling as inter- preter for the general, which procured me no other advantage than the favour I afked, and of courfe excited the jealoufy of my countrymen.* After the firft interview, I received orders to make out two lifts : one of the poor perfons, who 1 confidered were unable to defray the expences of a journey inland ; the other, of thofe in eafier circum- llances. I was in hopes the government intended to convey the lower clafs at its own expence, but it afterwards appeared the * I often felt my fituation to be far from agreeable, as the tafk I had to perform was invidious in the extreme. However, it gave me an opportunity of obferving clofely the rapacioulT- aefs of a jack in office, and his fateilites. general 15 general was acfluated by a different motive, in thus afcertaining who were pofiefTed of money. All the pcrfons remaining at Ca- Caiais not having paid a vifit to the general the fecond day, and the third day they ap- pearing rather tardy in coming, the general sent the names of thofe he conceived were wanting in this mark of refped:, to the commandant of the gendarmerie, ordering gens d*armes to fcarch for, and bring before him all the perfons mentioned in the lift. All were thus publicly brought through the ilreets, when the fame queflion was put to them in the mod fevere and auftere manner, " Why they were not gone ?" — Moft had their paifports figncd by the general to depart the next day ; he at the fame time declar- ing, if they were found in the town after the following day, he would commit them to prifon, and fend them up the country in cuftody of the gendarmerie, I know of many artificers and manufadurers, who went into France feduced with the promifes and hopes of encouragement, that they were ab- folutely obliged to fell or pledge their tools and cloaths for a mere nothing, to obtain money for their journey, and to pay three '' fliillings 1ft fliilllngs and four-pence for the palTport they were fhus forced to take ; and fome adlually departed from Calais with no more than two (Inllings in their pockets, therefore were forced to depend on the aflifhance of their countrymen, who were travelHng the fanie road. No adequate idea can be formed of the peculation carried on by thofe placed in of- lice : needy, avaricious, and unprincipled, they, in the molt barefaced manner, prey on thofe who are fo unfortunate as to fall with- in their power. Some inftances came within the fcope of my knowledge, from the fita- ation I was placed in widi the general. One poor gentleman, of the name of Mallifon, a cripple, who had repaired to Calais for the benefit of fand-baths, and whofc remo- val to the interior would probably fhorten his life, petitioned to remain, as having an abfcefs removable by no other method in the opinion of his furgeons. I was fent to him, (not immediately from the general, but through his orders) to return him his petition, and to tell him unlefs he paid ten guineas into the hands of a perfon named to him he would be fent off. I could not make ail 17 an offer of the kind to him, but pointed out to him the pcrfon alluded to; and who, I told him, could obtain him the permiiTion fo neceflary for his health : he fettled it with him, I believe, for he was not fent off. Another gentleman, of the name of Patter- fon, to whom I was alfo fent, offered two guineas for permiffion to ffay a fhort time. He was alfo introduced to this friend of the general's, and five guineas were demanded; this he with proper fpirit refufed to give, and departed for Valenciennes the next morning. — An Englifli merchant alfo gave three dozen of the bell Bourdeaux wine, value fix guineas, to gain permiffion for himfelf to go to England, while his brother took care of his houfe. All thefe had rea- fon to repent of their credulity, as will ap- pear by the fubfequent tranfactions. French rapacity, and French faith, followed thefe apparently friendly agreements, and prove that they are as arrant cheats in the detail, as they are in national tranfad:ions. In this manner were our countrymen treated ; thus were the ties of confanguinity burft afunder. The parent, who had . fent the fon to ffudy foreign manners, and thereby D improve 18 improve his own, hears of his detention and finks into the grave denied the prop of declining years; and the fon is thus pre- vented paying the laft fad duty to a fond in- dulgent parent. The merchant who by extended commerce fought to improve his fortune, is torn from wife, children, and connections, is ruined in circumflances. — Want, and mifery are the portion of a family that but for this cruel ilroke, might have been happy. The lover*s hopes are blailed, and tortur- ing fancy continually paints to his view the dear idol of his tendereft affedlions, while anxious doubts and fond alarms, difl:ra(^ his breaft: a knowledge of the intended inva- iion — preparation for the defcent and the horrid threats of worfe than death, to the juflly celebrated beauties of this favoured ifle, add agonizing poignancy to his feel- ings; under the reflec^lion that he is unable to fly, to defend, or of proving his love, by dying in defence of the adored objedl, of his country and friends. The fons of glory, whofe courage has often made the infolent foe yield the palm of vi6lory, now bafely entrapped, doubly feel the 19 the infults offered to their king, and the threatened deftrudtion of their country ; they burn to rev^enge their monarch's caufe and defend the dear diftin(5lion purchafed by their own blood, and that of their anceftors* Manufacturers and mechanics, how do they now repent, being feduced by the promifes> of a faithlefs government; in the interior of an enemy's country, reduced from fubfifting by honefl: labour, to living on charity of their unfortunate countrymen; feparated from their families, and never again able to re-viiit their native ihore, they pine in mi- fery and fland the fad mementoes pf the folly of trufling to the protection of French laws;. and as a warning to all manufacflurers and mechanics, to be content with the compara-. tive affluence their native land affords. Such were the fcenes prefenting thcm- felves to viev/ at Calais, fimilar ones were pradifed at Boulogne, Dunkirk, St. Omers, and all parts in the vicinity. I am inadequate to the talk of dcfcribing every fcene of wretchednefs and mifery to which I was witnefs, and none but thofe who were actually prefent, would credit that fuch, could be inflicted by a government calling itfelf civilized, i> % The 20 ' The fame day that the Englifli were thus dragged through the flreets of Calais, by French thief-takers, an engagement took place on the coaft, about a league from the town, io clearly difcernable, that the holes made by the fhot in the fails were vifible tb the naked eye. Two French gun brigs, the crews having ran them afhore under the pirotecftioh of the forts, which kept up an iht:eflant fire, trufted to their situation for fafety, but when they faw our tars ap-' pi'oach in fmall boats, they forfook their Ihijys, and a detachment from the garrifon, who were marched down on the fands, about two hours after the commencem.ent of the efcg'^gem^nt, arrived in time to fee the tri- umph of the Britifh afms, the two veflels being gallantly cut out and carried off: although' the Englifh balls rolled on the lafttis afid' even paffed their forts, I heard not of 'ah'6Ve 'two perfons wounded: in the forts they had fome confcripts, whenever Moving feeri fe'rvice, fell down at the noife of every ball that palTed. ' The intention of Bonaparte to vifit Calais, beins made known, the inhabitants were repeatedly invited by publications read to them 21 them and fluck up in the ftreets, to manifeft their joy at the approaching honour, they were further told that from that point fhould be made the attack on the proud people who daily infulted their coafts, calling to mind their anceftor Euftace St. Pierre, ftyling the people of Boulogne the brave, and obferving what glory they had acquired by the defeat of Nelfon. They painted in all the pompous language of the revolution, the faith, ho- nour, and glory of the republic, and its Firfl Conful, afcribing tyranny to our king, want of faith in our government, reprefenting us as a band of pirates', and robbers, and in the end denouncing on our heads, a vengeance which fhould make all the nations of the earth fliudder by its feverity. In rather milder terms a fucceeding publication de- fired them to behave with decency and good arder, and requefled if they knew of any one difafte(5led to denounce him, or them, for the 2:ood of the nation : ao;ain in humbler mode the people were addreifed, and invited to difplay flags from their windows, to keep the jftreets clean, and to illuminate the houfes on 9th or icth of meflidor, being the days ap- pointed for the vifit, to ufe their words, pointed 22 *• of thegreateft man in the world." Mean- time the advanced guard of about two hundred and fifty men had arrived on fine horfes, and good proportioned well dreffed men; they were quartered in the houfes of the better fort of inhabitants, and behaved with propriety. With them alfo came nine mamalukes, as they are called, although in fad, there are not more than one quarter of them who are fo, the reft being Haves. Thefe are armed with a fcy- metar, a dagger, a brace of piftols in their belt, a brace on their faddle, and a Ihort fufee; to be admitted into the guard of Bonaparte the perfon muft be of the exacfl height of fix feet Engliili meafure ; he muft have ferved fix years without reproach, and in every particular deferve the name of a good foldier. The Town-Hall was decorated with boughs of trees, the windows and images newly painted, and a range of flags of all nations prettily difplayed from the balcony over the entrance ,• the market place was ftrewed with fine fand, and all the principal ftreets tafte fully adorned with rows of trees, made 23 made artificially with boughs. Feftoons and garlands of leaves and flowers length- ways and acrofs were fufpendcd with a pleafing effed: ; and in fome parts of the town white linen neatly bordered with gilt paper, and tied in feftoons with flowers, the whole length of the ftreet, added to the appearance of the other decorations. In the fl:reet leading to the church were feveral triumphal arches, with tl e temple of concord, and m.edallions infcribed with the names of thofe nations, with whom France confiders hc^rfelf at peace; the whole being executed in paper, and that not very neatly, only rendered it an objed: to be viewed at a diflance with any advantage. The gates of the town were alfo ornamented with wreaths and flowers ; an infcription was placed in the fl:reet leading to the port *' T/jc hiberty of the Seas^* and over the gate through which the paffage lays for embarkation, was '* The Road to London \* thereby meaning, ** 'The Road of Bonaparte to London -y'** but the writer, a German, contented himifelf with the firft and fhortefl, probably thinking it alfo the moft true infcription, as it certain- ly is the road for pafTengers, but I truft the unanimity 24 unanimity and courage of Britons, will de- feat this hoflile vaunt, and prevent him ever reaching that emporium of the world, unlefs indeed as a captive. From every window depended flags; lines were ftretched acrofs the ftreet from window to window, and on thefe were hung flieets ornamented with gilt and coloured paper, flags of all nations ; and bed curtains of all colours, fizes, and forts, fome clean, but more dirty, filled up the motley decorations of Calais flreets. Some of the young men of the town, hav- ing provided themfelves with drefles and arms, upon the report of the Firft Conful making this tour twelve months flnce, again came forward as a guard of honour to re- ceive him, and the morning of the I2th of mefliidor, the day of his arrival received their flag of light blue fllk, a white fringe, the national fcarfe tied on the top, the two ends ferving as taflels, and inscribed in gold letters BONAPARTE AMIDST THE DESCENDANTS OF EUSTACE ST. PIERRE, 13th of Meflidor, year U. About 25 About four o'clock in the afternoon arrived this long expelled man, he was met at the gates by the officers of the town, where the keys were prefented to him. The head of the clergy alfo attended with a canopy, under which he hoped to introduce him into the town ; but Bonaparte noticed him not, and entered in company with the officers of the regiment, and of the municipality. He was attended by about one hundred and fifty guards, mamalukes, &c. and went to the hotel of DefTein ; he then, in company with four or five officers of note, one favourite mamaluke near him, and nearly twenty guards, mamalukes, and Gens D'Armes, went on the port, where none were fuflfered to follow, and in a boat croffed to the Red Fort, at the mouth of the harbour, when having infpeded that, and the port, for nearly three hours, he returned to his hotel, the boys and rabble fhouting ** vive Bona- parte.** So foon as it was dark, in obedience to orders ilTued in the form of an invitation, all the windows of the firft fiory, had more or lefs candles, the hotel of Deflein was neatly ornamented with lamps, forming in the front £ a flar 26 a liar with R. F. above, and *' vive Bona^ parte^' below : the windows of the Town- Hall were filled with candles, and a tranf- parcnt cypher of N. B. furrounded by lamps was in the middle over the entrance; the hoiife of the mayor was alfo illuminated with lamps, and an infcription expreflive of his attachment and good opinion of his chief. Balls were given by the municipality at the Town Hall, and two large rooms to the inhabitants; Bonaparte in difguife viewed the town, and fome little gallantry took place, by a lady afking him a queftion, re- fpeding the Firfl Conful vifiting the ball. In the flreet fo neatly decorated with linen, flowers, &c. no lights were difplayed from the windows, but fefloons of lanthorns made of different coloured paper and oiled, fupplied the place and produced a good effed. At one o'clock moffc people had quitted the ftreets, and the candles were out, no fymptoms of diforder took place during the whole of the day, or night; but the inha- bitants having fatisfied their curiofity, retired quietly to their beds. Bonaparte ^f^t^r a very flight fupper, about twelve 27 twelve o'clock retired to his room, and continued fome time writing; and at four o'clock in the morning was again at the Red Fort, where having remained fome time, he returned to his hotel. On his wav out in the morning I had an opportunity of noticing his countenance mofl particularly, as he crolTed the market-place. He was advancing with a fullen look, and as he came near the fpot I occupied, he feemed to recognise an Englifliman, and a ftorm gathered on his brow, which I wifhed to fhun. At ten he made another vifit to the Port, when on his return he was folicited to enter the Town Hall by the Munici- pality ; he difmounted, and ftaid fome con- fiderable time, in the courfe of which he expreffed his fatisfacftion at the reception he had met with, his high approbation of the Mayor's condu(ft : and fince his depar- ture the Minifter has written from Paris, to affure the citizens of Calais no requeft they can make, which can be complied with, fhall ever be denied them. Whilft the Firft Conful was at Boulogne an Englifh frigate fired among the work- men, and drove them from their work ; E 2 Ihot 28 fhot were fired in return, but not reaching half wiy, excited a degree of fufpicion, and on weighing cartridges which fliould contain eight pounds of powder, they were found three pounds deficient; fuch an ad of treachery fo enraged him, that with a ferocioufnefs natural to his chara^ery he tore the epaulet from the fhoulder of the refpon- iible officer, put him in prifon, and every one any way concerned with him fhared the fame fate : finding alfo the works not ex- ecuted according to the orders he had given, he broke all the officers in f^iult, and fuf- pended the operations in hand. A confiderable fum of money was ex- pended to prepare the town of Dunkirk for the reception of Bonaparte ; and we under- ftood from thence many Englifh were put in prifon during his flay, and afterwards were, as well as thofe at Boulogne, ordered to quit the coafl immediately. We therefore naturally fuppofed fimilar orders would be given to the remaining few at Calais, and fo it eventually proved : within two or three days after this little great man's departure, men, women, and children were obliged to vifit the general, when 29 when patentees pleaded their right as French citizens to remain, thofe who had heen pa- tentees a twelve-month being prctedled by the French laws from removal as foreifrners: and thofe who had been {o feven years, having by thofe laws the fame privileges as natives ; but it did not matter, they were indifcriminately told they muft fell their property, or remove it with them in a few days. The fame fpecies of protection was given to men who have been eftablifhed twenty or thirty years in France, all m.ufl: remove: patentees had the indulgence of not being oftenfibly made prifoners of war, but they really were fo, as unlefs they were aged, no permiffion could be granted for them to re- turn to the country which gave them birth ; women, children, and aged, were permitted to have paiTports for England, and fix leagues was the difl:ance from the coaft for thofe who were not in the number fent to Valenciennes, and who wished to remain in the country. The natives were aftonifhed at the unjuft detention of the Englifli, and the fubfequent meafures of cruelty towards them : it excited pity; but awed as tuey are by the military, they 30 they almoft ceafe to think of their rights as men, much lefs of the fufferings of foreign- ers : for the dread of experiencing the repe- tition of flmilar fcenes of horror they had fo lately witnelTed, in fighting for a iliadovv of liberty, deters them from emancipating them- fclves from a lower ftate of fiavery than they endured in the time of Royalty. The lower, as well as the higher orders among them, fay, ** formerly the perfons in office being by birth, education, and manners, gentle- men, were civil and courteous in difcharge of their duties ; but now how widely different 1 thofe in power fupport and enrich them- felves by extortion of every kind, and the moft unprincipled, unfeeling condud:, evi- dently evince the origin of their manners.** Happily for the inhabitants of Calais, M. Mengaud is ftripped of a great part of his power, and will moft probably lofe the remainder; it is now vefted in the mayor and corporation. It was a change long ferioufly wilhed for, as all perfons, whether French or Englifh, were infulted by his language, beat with his hands, cane, or whip, fometimes in his office, in the ftreet, or at the theatre, and afterwards put in prifon 31 prifon at ^is plcafure, without reafon or remedy. From the moment I was fo unjuftly de- tained, I determined to efcape the firft op- portunity that prefented itfclf, and to faci- litate its execution, I fent my wife and fa- mily to England. After their departure 1 revolved many plans, and at lad thought of efcaping by means of a trunk j I therefore marked with a pencil the fize I could com^ prefs myfelf into, and noting the meafure* waited for an opportunity to put it into ex- ecution ; a fortnight nearly elapfed before 1 vefTel was about to fail, and in that time not being able to heat of thofe I had fent before me, my anxiety increafed to a ftate unbear- able; three other perfons opened their minds to me, as wifhing alfo to efcape. Being then four, our plan was to take a fmall boat, and go to fea in the night j finding there was a fmall boat lying near the pier head with ftones in her to repair a broken part in the pier, we refolved to fecrete ourfelves among the wood work, and drop out with the tide ; this however was found impradicable by a centiners being placed near the fpot ; and for all four to hide on board of a vefTcl was 32 was impoflible, from the fearch made hy the cuftom-houfe officers ; for large as are the neutral veffels, yet their going out in ballafl leaves no place but what is eafily explored. Fully confident I could trufl my partners in trouble, I mentioned my plan of a trunk; they did not approve of it ; and two, dif- couraged, gave up all thoughts of effeding their efcape at that time, the other depended on being fecreted in the veflel, and I deter- mined to ad: according to my original in- tention. As the Danifh brig the St. Anna, was to fail the following day, I went with a friend to all the dealers in trunks, to find one to my purpofe, and curious to relate, was shewn a trunk in which a man had efcaped from England ; at length my friend bought one as for himfelf, and on trial it anfwered very well ; holes were made to admit air, and having loofely put my cloaths, Sec. in, it was fent to the cuflom-houfe with other baggage, and being examined was conveyed on board. Meantime 1 went down on the port dreffed as a failor, and within ten yards of the velTel overtook the commilTary of police, 33 police, who in war time, attended by the tovvn-ferjeants and a guard, takes all the paflportSa Well knowing if he went on board, it would be impoffible for me to effed: my piirpofe, I afked him if he was going on board ? He replied in the affirma- tive. I told him it was too foon, as we had not got all the baggage from the cuf- tom-houfe, and none of the palTengers were yet come down >• he returned, imagining probably" I belonged to the veflel, and I pafTed the centinel placed at the fide, and defcended into the cabin. I then ordered my trunk down there, faying it was a gen- tleman^s who defired I would fee it placed there ; they on board believing I was autho- rized fo to do, inftantly lowered it down. The captain being a man I could not trufl:, it was neceffary to have him out of the way ; this alfo was accomplifhed by a little fineire, when my friend entered and held the cabin door, while I tumbled every thing out of the trunk into a bag I had ready for the purpofe, then ftripping off my jacket and waiftcoat, I leaped in. Agitated and hurried, not having a mo- ment's time, I could not compreis n^yfelf fufficiently to allow the trunk to be locked at the firft or fecond trial, and my friend F 34 being terrified, was on the point of quitting me, fay'rg, our lives were forfeited. At that morr.ent, determination enabled mc to comnrefs myfelf as much as poflible, and I bejTgcd him to jump on the iid, which forced it down, and I was locked up. He had fc.ircely done fo, when the cuftom-houfe ofEcers came on board, alfo the commiffary i when the velTel having undergone the fearch, joyftslly did 1 hear the order to caft off, and ftill more happy to feel the velTel under way. The heat of a very warm day was fo in- creafed from m.y confined fituation, as to be fcarcely bearable, and the cramp feized my legs in about ten minutes after I was locked in. Great as was the pain, 1 dared not breathe hard, fearful of being heard ; the pain at lafl: fubfided, and from my knees downwards, 1 loll all fenfe of feeling, and, even at the moment I am writing, I feel the effects of that confinement. Weil convinced if detecled, my life w^ould be facrificed to their vengeance, under the pretence that I was carrying over intelligence to the Englifli, but in reality as an example to others, and to gratify the avarice of in- dividuals in power, I had made up my mind fully to fucceed, or periflri in the attempt. 35 My fpirits being fo haraded by anxiety, tliat death would have been far preferable to a (late like mine, feparated as I was from thofe fo dear to me, for whom and for my country I would again hazard my life, or bleed m defending. On gaining the Roads, an anchor was let go, to wa t for the ttirn of tide, which runs to the eaftward about three hours after hieh- water, and the wind being wefterly would have taken us out of our courfe for Dover. The key of my trunk had been given to a gentleman on boaid, who, fearful I iliould be fuffjcated, came down into the cabin, and finding by the mark which was the right, opened it in prefence of the captain, when I, naturally thinking all was fafe, lifted up my head. The captain was terri- fied beyond expreilion, as the pilot-boat had not quitted the vefTel. However, I got out of my confinement j and, though at firfl not able to fland, put on another drefs. Scarcely had I fo done, when the pilots came down into the cabin for their money, one of them the grcateft villain in Calais. Anorher perfon alfo came down with them, who knew me at Calais; and, whether I am to attribute to his good offices, the pi- Ict^s not giving information refped:ing me, 36 or whether it was owing to the pilot*s being employed in taking out the palTengers of the mail-packet, Captain Dell, which came into the Roads juft at this time, I am at a lofs to determine. Be it which it may, Pro'vi^idence favoured me; and, after fuffer- ing the moft uneafy fenfations for two or three hours, the pailcngers urged the captain to get under weigh ; when, as we were on the point of getting the anchor up, a boat came out of Calais harbour, and made di- re(ftly for us. It was to me a fubjed: of alarm ; but feeing only three perfons, I re- mained tolerably eafy, until we afcertained it was not after me. The boat came aboard juil as we were under fail, and there jumped upon deck another unfortunate prifoner, of the name of Eftill, now in London. He had walked down on the pier, when two young men, who had been waiting for him feized the opportunity, when no one was obferving, of placing their boat fo as to re- ceive him : he fprung into it, and was faved. The young man who had performed this friendly office, on his return was denounced ; and, to efcane from the death that awaited him, was under the neceffity of flying to Dover to fave his life. Being an alien, he of courfe was there flopped ; but applica- 37 tion bcinor made for his liberation, I have reafon to beheve he is come to London. His name is Lutz. To Mrs. Ann Putland, of No. 42, Manchefler-ftreet, lam indebted for my conveyance to town in her carriage, and for other civiHties in a ftrange place. I cannot conclude without making: a few obfervations on the fentiments they exprefs concerning the invafion of this country. In the town of Calais, and indeed along the coaft, the non-military part of the inhabi- tants, with the women, are averfe to the attempt; but the foldiery and moft of the officers, denounce the utmofl vengeance they can inflidl, and feaft their imagination with the hope of plunder and debauch. The comparative affluence of the Englirti pea- fantry is a fubjed: of continual refled:ion, they thence infer that every ftep will afford abundance of riches; the facking of Ifpahan or Seringapatam thofe repofitories of eaftern magnificence, could not infpire ideas of greater booty than is exped:ed will be found in London. Moft of the general officers encourage this fpirit among the troops; if they part, a jeft is excited that they may meet next in London. Of our women, both officers and men talk in the mofl lafci- vious manner, fo as to fhock the ears of Englifhmen, who feel for the honour of as thofe moil dear to them, and equally diU graceful to the nation to which thty belong. Thus fanning the envy, the 'ufl:, and the avarice of their men, the officers receive back the breeze, and believing that fpon- taneous which they themfelves created, reckon nothing more certain than the full accomplifliment of their purpofes and their defircs. The conqueft of this country is not then, as is falfely reprefented, a bugbear exifting only in the head or the heart of the Firfl: Conful ; wherever it may have ori- ginated fcarcely is there a man but burns for the expedition, and is purfuaded of ulti- mate fuccefs. Avert it heaven! you, En- gliflimen," who have property to lofe, look to the confequences of fupinenefs and negli- gence ; you that have none, at leail: you will notTubmit your wiyes, your daughters and Otler.fepiale relations to the brutal embrace of *i^ncljjTie,nr?^ '^frenchmen ! detefted, de- graded nanie, how fallen in the fcale of hurrian nature, fince you are not, 0-nly un- worthy and incapable of enjoying liberty, but are yourfelves the inftruments in the hands of a fanguinary monfler for impofing his ll\aclvles on furrounding nations who would preferve their's. F INIS. THE UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNIA UBRARY