The event of this day was different from what Campbell had expected, for _Le Succès_ of fifty guns appeared in sight; and, after a desperate engagement with her, in which Walsingham was severely wounded, and every other officer on board killed or wounded, Walsingham saw that nothing was left but to make a wanton sacrifice of the remainder of his crew, or to strike. “After a contest of six hours, he struck to _Le Succès_. Perfect silence on his deck; a loud and insulting shout from the enemy! “No sooner had Walsingham struck, than La Force, the captain of _Le Succès_ hailed him, and ordered him to come in his own boat, and to deliver his sword. Walsingham replied, that ‘his sword, so demanded, should never be delivered but with his life.’[2] The Frenchman did not think proper to persist; but soon after sent his lieutenant on board the Resolute, where the men were found at their quarters with lighted matches in their hands, ready to be as good as their word. La Force, the captain of _Le Succès_, was a sailor of fortune, who had risen by chance, not merit.” “Ay, ay,” interrupted Mr. Palmer, “so I thought; and there was no great merit, or glory either, in a French fifty gun taking an English frigate, after standing a six hours’ contest with another ship. Well, my dear sir, what became of poor Walsingham? How did this rascally Frenchman treat his prisoners?” “Scandalously!” cried Beaumont; “and yet Walsingham is so generous that he will never let me damn the nation, for what he says was only the fault of an individual, who disgraced it.” “Well, let me hear and judge for myself,” said Mr. Palmer. “La Force carried the Resolute in triumph into a French port,” continued Mr. Walsingham. “Vain of displaying his prisoners, he marched them up the country, under pretence that they would not be safe in a sea-port. Cambray was the town in which they were confined. Walsingham found the officers of the garrison very civil to him at first; but when they saw that he was not fond of high play, and that he declined being of their parties at billiards and _vingt-un_, they grew tired of him; for without these resources they declared they should perish with _ennui_ in a country town. Even under the penalty of losing all society, Walsingham resisted every temptation to game, and submitted to live with the strictest economy rather than to run in debt.” “But did you never send him any money? Or did not he get your remittances?” said Mr. Palmer. “My dear sir, by some delays of letters, we did not hear for two months where he was imprisoned.” “And he was reduced to the greatest distress,” pursued Beaumont; “for he had shared all he had, to the utmost farthing, with his poor fellow-prisoners.” “Like a true British sailor!” said Mr. Palmer. “Well, sir, I hope he contrived to make his escape?” “No, for he would not break his parole,” said Beaumont, “His parole! I did not know he was on his parole,” said Mr. Palmer. “Then certainly he could not break it.”