Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/23

 barber; indeed, the whole tenor of his conduct evinced the dreadful convulsion which society in France must have undergone during the revolution, for such an ignorant, low-bred fellow to have risen to the command of a frigate. When, however, it was explained to him that midshipmen in the British navy never had commissions, he resumed his composure, and, on my producing Captain Capel's written order, I was dismissed. Whitehurst and Murray underwent similar examinations, but with no better success. During the twenty-one days we were on board the Rhin, under quarantine, the Phœbe frequently hove in sight, and, as we were informed, made repeated proposals for an exchange of prisoners, but unfortunately, they were too well satisfied with such living proofs of their prowess in naval arms, to accede to them. We were occasionally permitted to take exercise in the quarantine ground, until the morning of the 26th of August, when Murray, Whitehurst, and myself, the master of the Transport and ninety men, were