r, were of course not to be put off without examination; and a
boat was immediately despatched from the _Vincejo_ to board, and see
what could be made of her. The officer who was sent on board was
received by the captain with a good deal of bluster and swagger: he
loudly asserted his rights as a neutral, and threatened the vengeance
of Congress if they should be infringed. His account of himself was,
that he had come out from Boston with a cargo of 'notions,' which he
had traded away at Leghorn; and finding some difficulty in getting a
return cargo, he had agreed with some invalid French officers to take
them home, and he was now bound for the first port in France he could
make. This account appeared to be confirmed by his papers, and by the
presence on board of several gaunt, sickly-looking figures, who had
all the appearance of being military invalids. There were no visible
signs of any cargo; and after a somewhat cursory examination, the
lieutenant returned to his ship, after telling the skipper, more for
the sake of annoyance than from any expectation of its being realised,
'that Captain Long would certainly detain him.'

This threat had the effect of determining the Yankee skipper to
proceed on board the _Vincejo_, and try his eloquence on the captain;
and in this expedition he was accompanied by some of his passengers.
After their several natures they assailed Captain Long: the Yankee
blustered and bullied; the Frenchmen were all suavity and politeness:
'They were quite sure M. le Capitaine was much too generous to take
advantage of the chance which had thrown them into his hands--a few
poor wounded and disabled invalids on their way home! The English were
a brave people, who do not make war on invalids. What object could be
gained by making them prisoners? Assuredly, M. le Capitaine would not
think of detaining them.' Captain Long was sorely puzzled how to act.
It must be owned, that the circumstances were suspicious. Here was a
vessel just come from a port in possession of the enemy--for the
French still occupied Leghorn--bound avowedly for the enemy's country,
and with enemies on board. Were not these grounds enough to detain
her? On the other hand, the captain's story might be true: no
appearance of any cargo had been discovered; Captain Long doubted
whether the presence of the Frenchmen on board would be sufficient to
condemn the vessel; and there seemed something pitiful in making them
prisoners under such c