and conveyed in safety from place to place, till they had passed the frontiers.
“At this period, the politics of France were the politics of Prussia; and never could British officers have arrived at a more inauspicious hour. The strictest orders were given to prevent any of the disorganized Hanoverian army from escaping to England; whilst the most severe edicts were published relative to the clandestine enlistment of troops, or their embarkation for British ports. Mr. Brown, who was aware of the many dangers that might arise from the open and unsuspecting candour of young minds, had written to Mr. Hofhout, entreating him to warn Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne against talking of politics on their journey, praising our navy, or forming an intimate acquaintance with any one; – but, forgetful of the admonitions they had received, they admitted a stranger to their company, whom they met with on the road, near Lingen, escorting a party of Germans to Eems, to be privately embarked for England. This person pretended to our young officers, that he was a man of rank and consequence, and did them the honor to borrow nearly all the money they had in their possession.
“It was late in the evening when Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne arrived at Mr. Brown’s lodgings: their clothing was neither very good nor very fashionable; they had left their uniforms in Holland, and the latter gentleman wore a coat which was far from fitting him. When the first compliments were over, Mr. Brown wished to go to the principal inn, to bespeak beds; but neither of them would listen to such a proposal; they had pledged their words to return to the inn where they had left their travelling acquaintance. Upon inquiry, Mr. Brown found it was a very common house, and of bad repute. Fearful that the young travellers had fallen in with a character called on the continent ‘a seller of souls,’ and in England, a kidnapper, he was truly uneasy, aware of the destruction in which it might involve, not only themselves, but him also. He arose by six o’clock the next morning, in hopes of removing them before they might be denounced, and of explaining to the magistrates whom and what they were. On reconnoitring their tavern, however, he found it in a state of strict blockade, and the city gate-keepers stationed with drawn swords at every avenue and door.
“All seemed silent within: and being now too well convinced of the reality of what he had anticipated, namely, that his friends had fallen in company with a kidnapper, he thought it most advisable to return to his own lodgings, and put away all letters he had by him respecting them. This accomplished, he hastened back to attempt their deliverance. On his return, he saw lights in the windows, – heard angry voices, and the clashing of swords. He made his way to a miserable bed-room, where Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne, only half dressed, were keeping at bay some feeble old men, of whose language they knew not a word. He entreated the former to lay down their weapons – a couple of ricketty chairs – and
