the city guards to sheath their swords; but the latter replied that they must take the strangers to the magistrates, who were assembling at that early hour to examine them, private intelligence of their arrival having been given.
“It was now too evident that Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne were arrested on a charge amounting to felony, if not to treason. From the vehement remonstrances made by France against arms or soldiers being embarked for England in the Prussian ports, new laws had then recently been enacted, ordaining the punishment of death for the actual enlisters, and the next severest punishment known in Prussia, to each of the inferior agents. A British officer, named Pringle, was at that moment confined in a subterranean cell under the Guildhall, and the police were on the watch for others. There was, consequently, great cause of alarm.
"Luckily Mr. Brown stood on a friendly footing with the burgomasters, and particularly with the senior one, to whose residence he immediately proceeded, first admonishing Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne, who smiled contemptuously on their attendants, to be peaceable during his absence. By that time the city was in a state of agitation, the cry having gone forth that the Germans above alluded to had been treacherously hired as labourers to serve in a London sugar-house, but were in reality to be transported to our condemned regiments in the West Indies. By the time Mr. Brown returned to accompany Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne before the magistrates and senate of Bremen, who were assembled in full council, a considerable concourse of people had collected, and nothing was heard except execrations and denunciations of vengeance against the ‘soul sellers;’ but the moment they saw the fearless and smiling countenances of the British youths, the effect was honorable to their feelings; – in an instant their rage subsided; and, instead of curses, they pronounced it impossible that the accused could be ‘Zielverkaufers.’
“Arrived at the council-chamber, Mr. Brown, for the first time, saw his friends’ travelling companion:– guilt and terror were depicted on his visage. They took care in their replies to injure his cause as little as possible; and he seized an opportunity to get rid of a paper from the War Office in London, which, had it been found upon him, would have endangered his life. Out of compassion, Mr. Brown received it. After a long examination, Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne were honourably acquitted of all knowledge of, or participation in, the offence which the other prisoner had committed; they received many flattering compliments, and were dismissed: whilst he was conducted to a dungeon. Having thus got clear of a dangerous and unpleasant adventure, Mr. Dalyell and the other young officer embarked on board a galliot, bound to London, laden with oats. During a tempestuous passage, this vessel shipped much water, and her cargo swelled to such a degree that her deck parted, and she was in the most imminent danger of being lost. Fortunately, however, she reached Yarmouth roads, and there found the Antelope at anchor.”
