considered the best pilot on the island for the Mamusson
passage, being the only person that had ever taken a frigate through;
that a large sum of money had been offered to him to pilot a vessel to
sea from that passage, and that it certainly was Buonaparte's
intention to escape from thence; either in the corvette, which had
moved down some days before, or in a Danish brig, which was then lying
at anchor near the entrance.

On receiving this information, I immediately got under weigh, and
though the flood-tide had just made in, beat the ships out of the
Pertuis d'Antioche before it was dark, when I sent the Myrmidon off
the Mamusson, with orders to anchor close in with the entrance, when
the weather would admit of it; while I remained with the Bellerophon
and Slaney, which rejoined me that evening, under weigh between the
light-houses.

On the 12th of July, the Cyrus being seen in the offing, I ordered her
by telegraph to take a position close in with the Baleine
light-house, and to examine strictly every vessel that might attempt
to put to sea from the Pertuis de Breton, as Buonaparte was on the
spot, endeavouring to escape to America.

The same evening, the white flag made its appearance for the first
time on the towers of Rochelle; on seeing which, I felt it my duty to
run into Basque Roads, accompanied by the Slaney; and having anchored,
I hoisted the Bourbon colours at the main-top-gallant mast-head, and
fired a royal salute. During the whole of this afternoon, however, two
tri-coloured flags were kept flying in Rochelle; and before sunset all
the white flags were struck, and every where replaced by those of
Buonaparte.

On the 13th of July, nothing of importance occurred, except the white
flag being once more hoisted all over Rochelle, as well as on the
Isle of Oleron, to the entire exclusion of the tri-coloured ensign. We
could plainly perceive, that the frigates, from whom we were distant
about three miles, were perfectly ready to put to sea, should an
opportunity offer; having their sterns covered with vegetables, their
top-gallant yards across, studding sail gear rove, and numerous boats
passing between them and the island the whole day:--all indications,
well known to professional men, of preparing for sea.

The ships under my command were accordingly kept with slip buoys on
their cables, and, as soon as it was dark, the top-sail and
top-gallant yards were swayed to the mast-heads, the sails stopt with