When put upon their defence, the prisoners all boldly justified their conduct. “The appeal made to our humanity and national generosity,” declared Sir Robert Wilson, “was irresistible. We would have done as much for the most obscure person in the same dread situation. Perhaps we were imprudent, but we would rather incur that reproach than that of having abandoned a man in sore straits, who threw himself into our arms.” “Whatever respect I owe this tribunal,” added Mr. Bruce, “I owe it also to myself to affirm that I do not feel the slightest compunction for what I have done.” The judge summed up impartially, but declared that the law must be vindicated, and a verdict of guilty was returned, followed by the minimum sentence of three months’ imprisonment. The large verdict of public opinion was and still is entirely in their favor. Even the outraged majesty of the French law was soon soothed, for the Government repented of its vindictive treatment of men, whose chief offence was loyalty to a fallen master, and, although unhappily they could not bring the gallant Marshal Ney to life, they pardoned La Valette and suffered him to return to France. The hardest measure meted out to the two officers came from their military superiors. The Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief of the British army, forfeited their commissions with a scathing reprimand. The infraction of discipline was soon condoned by the nobility of the action, and ere long the offenders were reinstated in their commands. CHAPTER II THE GREAT SEAPORT PRISONS The _bagnes_, the survival of the old galleys at Brest, Rochefort and Toulon--Character and condition of the convicts--Day and night at the galleys--Forgery of official documents and bank notes--Robberies cleverly effected by expert thieves--Severe discipline enforced--The _bastonnade_--Cruelties of the warders--Escapes very frequent--Petit, a man impossible to hold--Hautdebont--The _payole_ or letter-writer, a post of great profit--Usury at the _bagne_--Wanglan an ex-banker does a large business in money lending, and creates a paper currency--Some convicts always in funds--Collet lives in clover--Sharp measures taken with usurers. Some attempt was made in 1810 to improve the French prison system, and the _maisons centrales_, or district prisons, were instituted; but no great progress was made with them. At that time the principal punishment inflicted was labor in chains at the seaports in the so-called _bagnes_ of Brest, Rochefort and Toulon, or the _travaux forcés_, the survival of the old galleys, the population of which found a permanent home ashore, when the warships ceased to be propelled by human power. These _bagnes_ will now be described. The earlier records have already been given in the volume immediately preceding.