There were however bright exceptions, and these exceptions deserve the more notice as they occurred in decided opposition to the spirit of the government, and probably would have provoked the displeasure of the Emperor, if he had become acquainted with them; and his displeasure generally found prompt and ample means for exhibiting itself. Among the individuals to be named with respect on this account is M. Decrés, the Minister of Marine. Intimately associated as he was with the government, he always seems to have attended to the representations made by Captain Brenton, and to have made every exertion in his favour that could have been expected. M. Decrés at the moment probably yielded to the sympathy which one brave man has for another, and gladly alleviated, according to his opportunities, the sufferings of an officer whose gallantry entitled him to respect; but he did not foresee that the kindness he shewed to a British officer, was to be the occasion of multiplied kindnesses to his own countrymen; and that many a French heart was to be gladdened by the consolations he procured for a single English one. The Editor therefore feels great pleasure in inserting here extracts from some familiar letters written at a later period, which shew how the circumstances of this captivity were remembered, and the way in which the courtesies of M. Decrés were requited. “SPARTAN, OFF TOULON, NOV. 3, 1807. “… You may remember how determined I was to wreak my vengeance upon the whole nation. At Malta I was senior officer, and I found a number of French prisoners. I did not exactly order them to the Appel twice a day, as used to be the case with us at Verdun. A colonel had been taken with all his family a few days before, and had lost his wife at sea, leaving him with three dear little infants. You may stare, but I gave him leave to return to France with his family and his physician. This I meant as a small token of remembrance to M. Decrés, but firmly resolved that all the others should remain until all our friends at Verdun were liberated; but like other good resolutions this was not a lasting one. A deputation of captive ladies waited upon me. ‘Messieurs les Anglais, sont des gens pleins d’honneur, qui ne font jamais la guerre aux femmes ni aux enfans.’ ‘Eh de grace, Mesdames retournez dens votre patrie, je ne vous empêche pas.’ ‘Hélas, mon Commandant, sans mon Mari? Le deserterai je dans le malheur? Que deviendrai’ je, s’il succombe sous le poids de l’adversité? Sa Santé est chancelante, et Monsieur n’ignore pas la douceur d’être dans le sein de sa famille.’ ‘Madame, je me rends, a vos raisons, partez vous et votre mari.’ ‘Et le mien aussi Monsieur? Vite, vite; allez, allez!’ In this manner I was coaxed out of a dozen; they all set out vowing eternal gratitude,” &c. * * * * *