from that behind me.”  This second desertion was the forerunner of another still more cruel; for the officer who commanded the last boat in which was the governor, after having towed us alone, for a moment, caused the rope to be loosened which held it to the raft.  When the towropes were let go, we were two leagues from the frigate; the breeze came from the sea, which was as favorable as could be desired.  This last tow-rope did not break, as the governor has tried to persuade the minister of the marine, and several persons who escaped from the raft.  Walking on the terrace of a French merchant at Senegal, in the presence of Messrs. Savigny and Coudin, the governor explained the affair as follows:  “Some men were on the front of the raft, at the place where the tow-rope was fixed; which they pulled so as to draw the boat nearer to them; they had already pulled several fathoms of it to them, but a wave coming, gave a violent shock; these men were obliged to let go; the boats then proceeded more rapidly, till the rope was stretched; at the moment when the boats effected this tension the effort was such, that the rope broke.”  This manner of explaining this last desertion is very adroit, and might easily deceive those who were not on the spot, but it is not possible for us to accede to it, since we could even name the person who loosened it.

Some persons belonging to the other boats have assured us, that all the boats were coming to resume their post, when a cry of “we forsake them,” was heard:  we have this fact from many of our companions in misfortune.  The whole line was thrown into disorder, and no measures were taken to remedy it:  it is probable, that if one of the first officers had set the example, order would have been restored; but every one was left to himself; hence there was no concert in the little division; every one thought of escaping from personal danger.

Let us here do justice to the courage of Mr. Clanet, pay-master of the frigate, who was on board the governor’s boat; if he had been listened to, this tow-rope would not have been let go; every moment an officer who was in the governor’s boat cried out aloud, “shall I let go?” Mr. Clanet opposed it, answering with firmness, “No no!” Some persons joined him, but could obtain nothing, the tow-rope was let go:  we considered it as certain, that the commander of the other boats, on seeing the chief of the expedition courageously devote himself, would have come and resumed their posts:  but it may be said that each individual boat was abandoned by all the others:  there was wanting, on this occasion, a man of great coolness:  and ought not this man to have been found among the chief officers?  How shall their conduct be justified?  There are, certainly, some reasons to be alledged.  Impartial judges of events, we will describe them, not as unhappy victims of the consequences of this desertion, but as men free from all personal resentment, and who listen only to the voice of truth.