That these circumstances were, to us, highly gratifying, cannot be doubted. That they impressed our minds with opinions and sentiments as highly favorable to our guards, guardians, and the people, through whom we were passing, must be naturally supposed. Yet this gratification was not without alloy. We were captives in a foreign land, on our way to a fortified military prison, under the control of military strangers, far removed from friend or acquaintance, and the consoling endearments of parent, brother, wife, or children. We could not banish the recollection of the prisons in our native country, under the control of our countrymen, and regulated by the mandates of an Irish minister or his executioners. The severities and sufferings in Kilmainham and Newgate, pressed upon the memory, and harrowed up the feelings of some; while others shuddered at the recol lection of the noise and nastiness of a Belfast black-hole: the privations, alarms, and stench of its Prevost prison; and the horrors of a floating Bastile, in which their lives had been twice endangered, by the extremes of heat and cold, in the short space of eight months. With these recollections fresh upon our memory, we could not look forward without bristling apprehensions. Not only confinement, bolts, bars, bayonets, and ball-cartridges, not to mention, ironbound tubs, vapid small-beer, and stinking pork; but narrow, dark, damp, dirty, and

bed-less

bed-less cells, ruthless goalers, heavy irons, brutal sheriffs, deadly doctors, and ruffian turnkeys, presented themselves to our imagination; especially, when the possibility occurred to our thoughts, that the breath of the Irish minister, or his minions, might be wafted across the Northern Channel, and poison the atmosphere, even of Fort George. To these apprehensions, gloomy as they were, a darker hue was given, by the uncertainty how long our confinement and exile might be continued, to what more distant region our banishment might be extended, or to what distresses we, and the dearest objects of our affections might be destined.

Though this uncertainty had continued to hang over us for years, thank god, and the worthy people, into whose charge we were about to be delivered, our apprehensions, were in some particulars, almost immediately soothed, and, soon after, dissipated. The change in our situation and treatment was so great and so pleasing, that sometimes, I could not restrain my imagination from playing with the thought that I had been transported not only to a new heaven and a new earth, but to the society of spirits more perfect, than those, by which I had been haunted, for months before.

On

On Tuesday, April 9th. we arrived at FortGeorge. Our entrance might be called solemn. The very aspect of the place made it so to me, who had never, before, seen a regular fortification. A numerous guard was drawn out, and the multitude assembled, which included great part of the rank, and fashion of the country, was so numerous that persons, unacquainted with the improved state of the northern counties of Scotland, and, consequently encreased numbers of its inhabitants might have supposed that one half of their population was collected, on the occasion. Through them and the guards, our coaches drove to a stair, up which we were conducted to the rampart: and thence along a wooden bridge, thrown across the street on our account, to the third floor of the garrison; and shown into a spacious room, where we found an uncommonly large grate filled with a blazing coal fire.

We had not enjoyed this many minutes, when lieutenant colonel Stewart, (the lieutenant governor) the fort-major, and some other officers, made their appearance. Panting as we were with anxiety to know our fates, their minds did not seem to be much more at ease than ours. After a few polite inquiries concer ning our journey, health, accommodations, &c. &c. the lieutenant governor, taking a paper, from his pocket, said: "gentlemen, it is neces

sary

sary that I should read to you the orders, which I have received from government; though I assure you, to me a very painful task." That he felt it such, was evident, from the tremulous voice and interrupted breath, with which he performed it. On perceiving, the indignation, which these orders excited, expressed by every countenance, and hearing it from one tongue; "gentlemen," said he, " as a servant of government, I cannot hear reflections on government. I own, I cannot reconcile your appearance and these orders; yet, I must obey them. However, it shall be your own fault, if ever they are executed with severity." On this, he, and the other gentlemen, retired, seemingly, and, as I believe, really, affected with our situation.*

Soon after, our table was handsomely laid out, and a good dinner, of five dishes, served up. We had two servants to attend us. Our allowance of drink was, one dozen of porter, one of ale, and ten bottles of port. And we were informed, that we might have tea in the evening, or a cold supper, with a bottle of porter, or ale, for each, as we should choose.

After

*How different this from the conduct of our own petty upstarts, during the preceding years! I am sorry I cannot produce a copy of these original instructions. I had such, but, some how or other, it is mislaid.

After dinner, twenty rooms, each between sixteen and eighteen feet square, were allotted us by ballot, sixteen of which were laid with brick over the boarded floor. On taking possession, we found them clean, dry, airy, well plaistered and ceiled, with windows sufficiently large, well glazed, and secured, on the outside, with iron bars. In each room was a neat fourposted bed with good curtains, paillasse, mattress, sheets, one under and three upper blankets, a cotton coverlet, bolster, pillow and pot; a rush bottomed chair, and small oaken table; a bottle and bason, a commode, fireirons, coal-box, candlestick, snuffers and extinguisher; all entirely new, and good in their kind. To these was afterwards added a bell, on the outside of each door, with two pulls on the inside, one at the fire-place, and one at the bed, that in case of sickness, fire, or alarm, our keepers might be roused, and assistance procured. Four invalids were exempted from duty, for our service, and allowed double pay; two to make our beds, keep our rooms clean, and do other chamber and personal services; and the other two, to keep our knives, forks, spoons &c. as they ought to be, bring our provisions from the inn, and attend us at table. Each of us had captain's allowance of coal and candle; nor did we burn a dipped candle, except for one fortnight, during my residence in the fort. For our health, equal provision was made. The

surgeon