Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/69

 Notwithstanding that during the first five years of the war, escapes had frequently taken place, yet of about one thousand prisoners, I recollect but three who really violated parole, and it would have been well for British honour, had an exchange taken place at that period; but as I would be the last to cast a stone at those who differed from me in opinion, I shall merely observe, that Buonaparte caused an indiscriminate list of all who escaped, to be published, representing them as having broken parole, in which list I had the honour to be included; but of the truth or falsity of this accusation, I leave the reader to judge by the sequel.

With respect to the personal treatment of the prisoners in Verdun (setting aside extortion), every candid mind will confess that it was generally apportioned to individual desert, and if occasional acts of oppression occurred, they were exceptions emanating from the petty malice of vulgar minds, unaccustomed to exercise authority, rather than the result of systematic dis