I was suspected and watched. One day as I was seeking
to obtain a situation on board a vessel bound to Marseilles, I was
accosted by a suspicious individual. I was soon made acquainted with his
business, and in a few hours I was on my way to prison. I did not much
regret it. My money was all gone; and as the date of my first imprisonment
was from an early period, I was in hopes of being among the first sent
home, should a cartel be despatched with any of the prisoners. I was in a
sad mistake, as it was only United States' seamen and soldiers who were
exchanged. Had I imagined half of the trouble and sorrow that awaited me,
I should have acted with more caution; but it was too late, and I had to
abide my fate.

It was a beautiful morning in autumn, and our journey was through a
delightful country. The fields were enclosed in hedges instead of fences,
which had a novel and pleasing effect, especially to me, as I was not
accustomed to seeing the like; and I should have enjoyed it very much had
I been on any other errand than going to prison. It was near sunset when
we arrived at a bend in the river Medway, where lay moored several huge
dark hulls, that were once the bulwark of the fast-anchored isle, but now
used as receptacles for those who had the misfortune to become prisoners
of war. We were soon swept alongside by one of the watermen in attendance,
and in a few moments more were on board the 'Irresistible.' I was
conducted below and introduced to my future associates.

It was several minutes before I could discern the objects around me. It
was like going into a cellar. The only air and light were admitted through
port-holes, few and far between, which were left open for the purpose, and
secured by strong iron gratings to prevent escape. As soon as I regained
the use of my sight, I began to look around me to 'define my position;'
and I believe it would have puzzled the ingenuity of the most acute
politician to know where he stood, had he been placed in the same 'fix' as
myself. Casting a glance around, I found myself amidst a squalid,
cadaverous throng of about six hundred, ranging from about fourteen to
sixty years of age; and I never beheld a set of more wretched human
beings. They were nearly starved and almost naked, and wholly unable to
take exercise, from their crowded condition. It was too dark to read, and
they yielded their minds up to corroding despondency, and became sullen
and morose. Their features became