Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/51

 which have already appeared before the public, in various shapes, but confine myself to the leading features of the discipline of the depôt, and a few other particulars which may not be altogether uninteresting. But I shall first recall to mind, that on the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, Buonaparte detained all British subjects, between the ages of nine, and sixty, throughout the republican dominions, as an alleged act of retaliation for the seizure of French merchant vessels, on the immediate declaration of war; whether the blow preceded or followed the word, might be said to be nothing to a midshipman; but the fact proved, that it concerned him very materially, inasmuch as there was in consequence no exchange of prisoners. But, as it is equally unnecessary, and contrary to my inclination to give an opinion upon that political subject, I shall keep within the limits I have marked out for myself, and state, that the unfortunate Englishmen who had been thus captured, were denominated "déténus," without the