her completely under water to get rid of the vermin. After a fortnight they pumped her dry, and the quantity destroyed of these creatures, with centipedes three or four inches long, was incredible. Bencoolen is a most unhealthy place, but Puley is the region of the shadow of death; from thence none escape without the putrid fever. Perhaps the wetness of the ship added not a little to the cause of mortality. Before they left the bay, every man of the crew who were Europeans, except Captain Wilson, died. The captain came down well on Christmas day, only dined on board, returning the same night; the very next day he sickened and died. A recruit of black men were sent from Bencoolen to navigate the vessel. The very day they sailed out of the harbour, Captain Wilson, who had hitherto resisted the intemperature of the climate, and then commanded the vessel, was attacked with the fever. One Swede yet remained. He had always accounted for the death of his companions, and imputed it to their imprudence. He had confidence he should escape.

He was then at the helm, going out of the harbour. The captain, who, though ill, kept the deck, observed the ship very badly steered, and called out; the Swede quitted the wheel, and sat down on the hencoops. The captain himself ran to the wheel to rectify the course, storming at the man who had left the helm. He made no reply; but how great was his surprise, when, on going up to him, he found him a corpse! The ship, however, visited Batavia, and arrived in Bengal; and though his health continued to suffer, the captain made a very profitable voyage. During a year and a half he had repeated and dangerous relapses, and more than once approached the gates of death. He continued, however, to improve his fortune, and became himself a sharer in the vessel, as well as commander. Having thus accumulated a small competency in that country, he resolved to return to England, and settle himself down contented with what he had, and endeavour to recover his health and taste the pleasures of a quieter life.

He was unexpectedly surprised by a mounted piquet of the enemy, who, upon observing him, caused their trumpeter to blow the charge; his horse became instantly unmanageable, the well-known martial sound completely fascinated the animal, so that all his efforts to spur him on proved fruitless. From this unlucky event he was surrounded and made prisoner. The officer in command coming up at the moment in full gallop, made a cut at him with his sabre, which, however, L'Estrange dexterously parried, and then forced him to surrender. The lieutenant was now taken under escort to Verdun, in the east of France, a station selected by their government for English prisoners of war. The journey occupied some time, and was tedious and fatiguing. He arrived at his destination in March 1809, and was detained for a considerable period at that place on parole.

At first he became reconciled in a measure to his position, in consequence of the hospitality evinced by the French residents at Verdun to the English prisoners. Balls and parties succeeded each other, and a variety of amusements introduced, to all of which they were invited. At a bal masqué L'Estrange appeared in female costume, where the following adventure occurred to him, which unfortunately resulted in a duel, and he was severely wounded. His partner in the dance, a naval

officer of the British service, was not aware of the deception; his attentions being encouraged, a flirtation ensued, which gave no little amusement to those in the secret. During the course of the evening, the officer in question discovered the imposition; but instead of taking it in good part, his anger was aroused. An apology was freely offered, and every exertion made by friends on both sides to subdue his resentment. All their efforts were unavailing; nothing would satisfy him but a hostile meeting, which accordingly took place the next morning. L'Estrange fired in the air; his opponent's shot, passing through his right side, seriously wounded him; but he ultimately made a perfect recovery. His adversary expressed deep regret for what had happened, and was particularly kind to him during his illness. They afterwards became great friends.

This incident created no little sensation in the various circles of Verdun. The police were much censured on account of the duel, and the authorities dismissed some from office; this naturally gave rise to increased animosity towards the English. Some time after the duel, he had a disagreement with a tradesman, who exacted payment of his bill over again, the receipt for which could not at first be found amongst L'Estrange's papers. Refusing to wait till further search had been made, the man hurried to the prefect to lodge a com

plaint, glad of an opportunity to exercise his power. L'Estrange was thus unjustly thrown into prison, without even giving him the satisfaction of explaining the circumstance. However, at this period it occurred to him that he could now with propriety and honour effect his escape; he was tired of a life of idleness and dissipation, and longed to resume the active duties of his profession. Full of this idea, he consulted his friends on the subject, for he had many; in fact, he was a universal favourite. They all agreed, that as he was imprisoned, his parole became nugatory. With these assurances, he made up his mind to escape, and succeeded in doing so, disguised as a pedlar. By this arrangement, he was enabled to carry some wearing apparel without attracting particular notice. His knowledge of the French language, which he spoke with fluency, he found of great use; but the want of a passport was a terrible drawback.

To avoid the police, who were constantly on his track, often puzzled him, and he was obliged to journey on foot at night, taking refuge in the woods by day. He had provided himself with a variety of costumes; yet, with all his precautions, he had the utmost difficulty to outwit the vigilance of the gendarmerie in pursuit of him. One adventure is worth relating, and is somewhat romantic. He was so closely pressed by his tor

mentors, that he adopted the disguise of a female peasant, having purchased a dress in a village at nightfall. Returning with it to a neighbouring wood, his late hiding-place, he put it on, concealing his other garments there. Repairing to an auberge for refreshment in his new character, and while in the act of partaking it, the police suddenly made their appearance. He heard them eagerly inquiring after a fugitive English prisoner, describing to the landlord a person resembling himself in all particulars. They were actually in the same room within a few steps of him; but quietly continuing his repast, he did not attract their observation.

In the same costume, he approached a cottage in the vicinity of the village, and begged a night's lodging. His request was granted. In order to baffle the designs of the police, he resolved to remain in his present concealment. The cottagers were extremely kind; and not arousing their suspicions, he passed a week with those good people, assisting them to work in the fields, it being harvest-time; in this manner he made himself very useful; the family consisted of the farmer, his wife, two sons, and a daughter. After a few days, the latter discovered his deception. She promised faithfully not to betray him; and she kept her word. To get away from this perilous position without delay was not an easy matter. His inventive genius

did not desert him now. Feigning sickness one morning, he proposed to take charge of the dwelling while the family were at work; during their absence he fled from the cottage, and reached his hiding-place in the wood,-without attracting any notice, where he had previously left his bundle.

In the afternoon, observing a party of mounted gendarmerie proceeding towards the village, he felt convinced they were the very same that he had been in such unpleasantly close proximity to at the auberge: he was afterwards confirmed in this supposition. Later in the day he saw a man advancing on horseback with a pillion. Reflecting upon the wisest plan to pursue, he suddenly decided how to act, and coming out of his shady recess, asked the rider to give him a lift. His request was willingly complied with. 'Monter, Mademoiselle!' said the equestrian, and backing the animal, our adventurer was soon seated on the pillion. While conversing, his unsuspecting companion told him as an amusing piece of information, he had just met the gendarmerie, and they were in search of an English prisoner who had escaped from Verdun! Prudence prompted him not to be too inquisitive, in case it might lead to more awkward consequences. He had ascertained the fact, without doubt, that the party referred to were retracing their steps in pursuit of the fugitive,

and like hounds at fault in the chase, were turning back to find their game.

This circumstance removed considerable uneasiness from his mind, and he now hoped to be able to continue his journey with less risk of being captured. When they had travelled about two leagues he dismounted, wishing him good-night, with many thanks for his politeness, and directed his steps towards a plantation which was some little distance from the road, where, throwing of his woman's garb for that of his own sex, and feeling less apprehensive than he had done for some time, he lifted up his heart in gratitude to God for thus far preserving him from falling into the hands of his enemies; then, sitting down to rest in this tranquil spot, he began considering which would be the safest character to personate on his way to Rotterdam. The female he thought objectionable, as the police might have gained information from the cottagers of his late proceedings, and the pedlar's was equally imprudent; so he resolved to equip himself as a sailor; but, alas! on seeking through his little stock of requisites, he did not possess the necessary additions to make his toilet complete as a jolly tar. At last he decided to try the dress of a labourer seeking harvest work; with a red wig, and a patch on his eye, he was sure it would be difficult for any one to recognise him. After re

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