hrough the capital of the
British nation. We were three days on our passage. Here we were
transferred to several tenders in order to be transported to Chatham.
We soon entered the _river Medway_, which rises in Sussex, and passes
by Tunbridge, Maidstone and Rochester, in Kent; and is then divided
into two branches, called the east and west passage. The chief
entrance is the west; and is defended by a considerable fort, called
_Sheerness_. In this river lay a number of Russian men of war,
detained here probably by way of pledge for the fidelity of the
Emperor. What gives most celebrity to this river is _Chatham_, a naval
station, where the English build and lay up their first rate men of
war. It is but about thirty miles from London; or the distance of
Newport, Rhode Island, from the town of Providence. We passed up to
where the prison ships lay, after dark. The prospect appeared very
pleasant, as the prison ships appeared to us illuminated. As we were
all upon deck, we enjoyed the sight as we passed, and the commander of
the tender appeared to partake of our pleasure. We were ordered on
board the _Crown Prince_ prison ship; and as our names were called
over, we were marched along the deck between two rows of emaciated
Frenchmen, who had drawn themselves up to review us. We then passed on
to that part of the ship which was occupied by the Americans, who
testified their curiosity at knowing all about us; and sticking to
their national characteristic, put more questions to us in ten
minutes, than we could well answer in as many hours. We passed the
evening and the first part of the night in mutual communications; and
we went to rest with more pleasure than for many a night before.

Our prison ship was moored in what they called Gillingham _reach_. We
would here remark, that the river, and Thames, and Medway make, like
all other rivers near to their outlets, many turnings or bendings;
some forming a more obtuse, and some a more acute angle with their
banks. This course of the river compels a vessel to _stretch_ along in
one direction, and then to _stretch_ along in a very different
direction. What the English call _reaching_, we in America call
_stretching_. Each of these different courses of the river they call
"_reaches_." They have their _long reach_ and their _short reach_, and
a number of reaches, under local, or less obvious names. Some are
named after some of their own pirates, which is here and there
designated by