zen on board, was their first object, which I make no doubt they found
suited their palate, as they drank it with much zest. My clothes,
spyglasses, knives and forks, as well as the crockery-ware, were seized on
in turn; and it appeared by their smirking looks and lively conversation
that all they had achieved was perfectly to their satisfaction, and that
instead of plundering a few ship-wrecked sufferers they had only been
asked to a _fete_ given by me. The commanding officer of these brave and
honest men desired us to go on shore, where we were met by another
officer, who ordered us to the guard-house near the battery, and an hour
afterwards we marched for Boulogne, which was four miles distant, escorted
by about forty of our tormentors. On our arrival we had the unexpected
happiness of being lodged in the common gaol, cooped up in a dirty tiled
room of twelve feet by eight, with a small well-grated window. "Well,"
said I to the doctor, who had remained behind to dress the wounded, "what
will the marines say to this? The sailors will never believe it." Whilst
we were prosing with our elbows on our knees and our chins on our thumbs,
looking very dolefully at each other, the ill-looking man who had locked
us up made his appearance with a servant in a rich livery, who asked in
French for the commandant. I stood up and said I was that person, on which
he presented me with the following note:--

"Le General Comte Lemaroix, Aide de Camp de sa Majeste l'Empereur et Roi,
Commandant en Chef le Camp de Boulogne, etc, prie Monsieur Hoffeman,
officier, de lui faire l'honneur de venir diner avec lui aujourd'hui,
lundi, a 4 heures.

"_R.S.V.P._"

"Now," said I, "doctor," addressing my surgeon, "you are my senior in age
and I think in experience; be my mentor on this occasion. In the first
place, I have no inclination to go, for I am too sulky; in the second, I
am wet and dirty." "Oh, do go, sir!" they all exclaimed. "It may better
our situation, and we may have our parole." "On your account I will accept
the invitation," said I. As I had no writing implements I sent a verbal
answer in the affirmative, and made myself as much an Adonis as I was
able. At the appointed hour the same servant and two gendarmes made their
appearance, and from the gaol to the general's house I appeared, to judge
by the people staring at me, to be the lion of the day. On my arrival I
was ushered into the general's presence. The Comte Lemaroix, who was abo