On board the Harriet cartel
                                      Isle of France May 11. 1810

      At length, my dearest friend, I have the happiness to tell thee of
my approaching departure from this island. This cartel brought prisoners
from India about five months since, and a request from Lord Minto,
the governor-general of India, that I might be allowed to leave the island
with the other English officers. This request, which had been so often before
refused, the general was at length brought to comply with, by M^r Hugh
Hope the commissary of prisoners, whose prudent conduct and amiable
manners have succeeded in conciliating the good will of a man, who
who [sic] was thought to be intractable.
      I am permitted to return to my country on condition "not
"to serve in a hostile manner against France and its allies during the
"continuance of the present war"; but under the pretext that the French
government having has not finally decided upon my case, my journal,
and any account ^ ^of my vessel and ^ ^of every thing taken from me, is refused; from
whence, and to get back my parole, if not to obtain some justice, I shall
be obliged to go to France soon after my arrival in England, if the Ad-
miralty does not oppose it.
      If the general had permitted me to go to the Cape of G. Hope in
the French cartel which sailed from hence in January last, I should pro-
bably have been very near to England at this time; the forcing me to go to