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