He was nearly two years in the frigate before he could find an opportunity of deserting from her, and returning to France, when he joined the French privateer.
During the time that he was in the frigate, he bore an excellent character.

The greatest point against him was, that on his arrival at Gibraltar he had been offered, and had received the bounty.

When the Englishman was asked what he had to say in his defence, he replied that he had been pressed out of an American ship, that he was an American born, and that he had never taken the bounty.

But this was not true.

The defence of the Frenchman was considered so very good for a person in his station of life, that I obtained a copy of it, which ran as follows:-- "Mr President, and Officers of the Honourable Court;--It is with the greatest humility that I venture to address you.