. I think my mother
would rather go there than anywhere else."

Mr Schank who was not at all offended by the liberty I took, replied
that he thought the idea a very good one. When, however, my mother was
asked, she said that she would rather go and be among her own people, if
they would receive her. The truth was, I think I remarked, that her
friends were much above my father's position; and now that she would
have a pension, and a good deal of prize-money, she felt that she could
return and be on an equality with them, as far as fortune was concerned.
These ideas were, however, not on her own account as much as on mine,
as her great ambition was that I might rise in the world. It was, I
truly believe, her only weakness, if weakness it could be called, for
she was proud of me, and I suspect thought a good deal more of me than I
deserved. After this misfortune, we shaped a course for Malta, for the
purpose of replacing the officers and men we had lost, and from thence
the Captain intended to send home my mother and me. Towards evening,
three or four days after the occurrences I have described, several sail
were perceived inside of us, that is to say, to the east. As we were to
windward, we stood down towards them till we made out a line-of-battle
ship, two frigates and a brig. As there was no doubt they were enemies'
ships, our Captain determined to watch them during the night, to
ascertain in what direction they were proceeding. They, however,
objected to this, and were soon seen crowding all sail in chase. We had
now to run for it; and though the "Grecian" was a fast frigate, we well
knew that many of the Frenchmen were faster, and that, short-handed as
we were, it was too certain that we should be captured if they came up
with us. Fortunately the breeze continued, and we made all sail the
frigate could carry. But not only could we distinguish the enemy still
in chase, but the opinion was that they were rapidly gaining on us. I
remember coming on deck and looking out, seeing on our lee-quarter, far
away through the gloom, their dark outlines as they came on in hot
chase. I, saw that everybody was anxious, and I heard several of the
men talking of Verdun, and the way prisoners were treated there. For
the men this was bad enough, but for the officers to be made prisoners
was sad work. Unless they could make their escape or get exchanged, all
prospect of advancement was lost, as was the case with many; the