have children, God, I hope, will help him, for I very much fear no one
else will!

Here ends my eventful but matter-of-fact history, which, if it has
afforded my reader any amusement, my pains are well repaid.

APPENDIX.

NOTE A.

If the French accounts are to be credited General Rochambeau had a
garrison of only 600 men, 400 of whom were militia (_cf._ "Victoires et
Conquetes," tome iii., p. 249). At any rate, when Fort Bourbon surrendered
the garrison was found to be only 200, including the wounded (_cf._ James,
vol. i., p. 219).

NOTE B.

James, in his account of this brilliant feat (vol. ii., p. 360 _et seq._),
gives several interesting details of the affair. "Every man was to be
dressed in blue, and no white of any kind to be seen. The password was
'Britannia' and the answer 'Ireland.'" The boarding party proceeded in six
boats, each being instructed to effect an entrance on a particular part of
the _Hermione_. "From the moment of quitting the _Surprise_ till the
_Hermione_ was boarded Captain Hamilton never lost sight of her for a
moment. He stood up in the pinnace with his nightglass, by the aid of
which he steered a direct course towards the frigate." When still a mile
from the _Hermione_ the boats were discovered by two Spanish gunboats.
Some of Hamilton's boats disobeyed orders by attacking these gunboats
instead of concentrating their attention on the _Hermione_, and thus
nearly spoilt the attack.

James adds that: "In effecting this surprising capture the British
sustained so comparatively slight a loss as 12 wounded, including Captain
Hamilton. Of their 365 in crew the Spaniards had 119 killed and 97
wounded, most of them dangerously."

NOTE C.

Copy of letter written by Lieutenant Hoffman to his wife immediately after
the action of Trafalgar:--

"TONNANT, _Oct. 27th, 1805_. Off Cadiz.

"MY BELOVED SARAH,--It has pleased Providence once more to bless our
favoured isle with astonishing success. On the 21st of the month the
combined enemy's fleet, consisting of thirty-four sail of the line, four
frigates, and two brigs, were seen by us. At five minutes after twelve
afternoon we broke their line and engaged them. Captain Tyler gallantly
placed the _Tonnant_, and I hope we as g