LANGTON'S CAPTIVITY IN FRANCE.
WHILST pleasantly pursuing his voyage to the West Indies, in the spring of 1809, Mr. LANoTors was engaged in admiring two men-of-war standing under easy sail. Being a passenger, their change of course and making sail at the sight of his vessel, gave him no distutliance; for he knew he should not be impressed ; and it was not until two shots threatened to hull them, and they were ordered under the lee of the headmost ship, that he and his comates discovered they were prisoners of war. After a most un- courteous reception and an unpleasant run, Mr. LANGTON was landed at Cherbourg. Thence he was removed to Cambrai, and confined in the citadel. He was then despatched to Auxonne; whence, like a great many others, he took advantage of his parole to escape. After a variety of hardships and adventures, he reached South Beveland, an island at the mouth of the Scheldt ; where he was arrested as a spy. Having with some difficulty escaped death by proving that he was only a runaway mercantile prisoner on parole, he was committed to the sugar-loaf citadel of IBItche—a clerk of punishment not far from Metz. At this place, with some three hundred more Englishmen confined for a like offence, he endured great inconveniences and many hardships ; but not more, we must confess, than he might have been pre- pared for on the failure of his attempt. After a residence of a year and a half, he was permitted to reside at that resort of gay detenues Verdun, and again placed on parole. The approach of the Allied armies caused his removal far into the interior; whence he was released on the abdication of NAPOLEON; and, passing through France whilst occupied by the Allies, he finally returned to England, by way of Dover. Whatever temporary interest once belonged to this subject, evaporated more than twenty years ago. Neither the nature nor circumstances of Mr. LANGTON's captivity were such as to imbue it with an enduring character ; and he is not gifted with literary accomplishments to invest it with any adventitious charm. But, although literal and commonplace enough, and sometimes ex- panded into tediousness, the book is at least real. It contains pretty full accounts of the life of a prisoner of war; it marks, though slightly and dimly, the odd conjunction of characters that are found in a depot ; and it indicates their behaviour and their modes of passing the time. We have, moreover, some sketches of the conduct of the French military under NAPOLEON, a few slight hints of the conditions and feelings of the civilians towards him, and a tolerable picture of the inconveniences which even the most friendly invasion inflicts upon the objects of its friendship. On the whole, although the world might certainly have done without the detail of Mr. LANGTON'S troubles, yet his volumes add some- thing to our stock of facts, and something to our knowledge of human nature in a pcculiar condition. His opinions, and those of his French friends, are of less value.
The most sustained section of the volumes is unqestionably the narrative of the author's attempted escape ; which will faintly
remind the reader of a similar adventure in Peter Simple : but the whole is too long, and the separate parts are rather too bald for quotation. Instead of it, we will take a few samples of a mis- cellaneous kind.
COMPANY AT BITCIIE.
On the establishment of the deptit, it was of little importance as to the respec- tability of the party coming here—he was sure to be confounded with charac- ters of the worst description. Although intended that persons who had at- tempted to escape alone should be confined here, many were seen to arrive from the different depots whom it had been impossible to keep under control. Of the entire number thus confined, two thirds were composed of seamen, princi- pally of the navy. When with (as they termed it) too much grog on board, rioting, drunkenness, and fighting, were carried on to an extent that a residence in these vaulted cellars was scarcely to be borne. No longer under restraint, the sailor seemed to consider he was on an equality with those whom, when at sea, he would not dare disobey.
A strong spirit, denominated snique, extracted, as it was said, from potatoes, and generally used by the inhabitants, was exceedingly cheap—a tumbler glass costing but two sous; owing to this, particularly on the pay-days, scenes oc- curred-of which it would be in vain to give an adequate description. Sleep, for nights together, could not be obtained. When the sailor arrived at Bltehe, if he had the appearance of a boxer, his prowess was soon tried : there were several scientific pugilists among them, and fights of the most determined cite- meter frequently took place in the souterra ins. The larger one usually con- tained 140 to 160, and the smaller 80 to 100 persons ; there were likewise a. few confined in a vaulted cellar, which the prisoners denominated St. Giles.
PRISONERS AT LARGE IN A WAR DISTRICT.
During the morning, a party of cuirassiers, going likewise to Chalons, mixed with us ; owing to cold, they walked, leading their horses ; some even allowed our countrymen to mount in their stead. The first stage was to be Clermont, where we arrived at about three o'clock in the afternoon. The Mayor directly ordered each to move forward, alleging there were no billets, a detachment of cavalry having to be accommodated that night. This extension of the journey was not only excessively fatiguing, but fat it to many, as it afterwards appeared, who were aged and it& m, and likewise others having passed years in idleness at Verdun. There were some, although not at an advanced pericd of life, totally unfitted, owing to debility, to bear the fatigue of such a journey. It was not till long aftet dal k that such as were able to proceed could find a rest- ing.place ; this was at a small village about half way thence to St. Meuehould. Even here, very few could be accommodated ; the greater part of the cottages being occupied by national guards and some chasseuts proceeding towards the army. Such as were not fortunate enough to meet with accommodation passed the night in a barn. The owner, a peasant, stood at the door to announce to each person arriving, that it was the only refuge to be obtained ; for which the sum of five sous was exacted from each visiter. Two lanterns, susrended from a beam, showed the inmates to amount to about one hundred: they were all English. A quantity of clean straw had been provided. The view of this place was really amusing : in one corner there were several English ladies; an officer's lady and her three daughters were compelled to take refuge here, their carriage having broken down. The greatest decorum was obsetved and respect paid to our coo 'rywomen on this extraordinary occasion. Parties continued to arrive durin the night, reporting they had passed others scateely able to proceed. Notwithstanding the fatigue of the day's march, few were able to obtain sleep. Of the coup devil which this barn afforded, I shall ever retain a recollection. The moment the knapsacks were, as it was termed, doffed, the remainder of the stores each had provided were spread out. Those who, owing to keenness of appetite and unquenchable thirst, were reduced to short allow. ance, participated with others differently situated.
WORKING THE BERLIN AND MILAN DECREES.
On passing Chalons, in 1810, on my way to Attxonne, I witnessed the carrying into effect of the Berlin and Milan decrees; which, it will be remembered, con- signed to the flames manufactured goods, whatever their description, if of Eng- lish origin and found within the territory of France. The exhibition was as amusing to my companions and myself as it was distressing to the French spec- tators, many of whom needed greatly the omollen goods destroyed on the occa- sion. In the centre of the Grande Place a large fire was made of wood. The whole were brought in a wagon under escort of a party of gens d'armes: the authorities attended to see they were completely destroyed. The greater part were coarse blue cloths, with some frieze goods, and an inconsiderable quantity of the coarser description of shirting. The pieces were separately thrown on the pile ; and as the flames issued, the common expression of "Oh, mon Dieu V' was heard from the bystanders.
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