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Mauritius, July 12 1804
Since my imprisonment in this island, I have written to you, Sir Joseph, several letters and by several conveyances; some one of them must no doubt have been received.
General De Caen still keeps me closely confined, but he has lately given me the greater part of my books and papers, and therefore, I shall again be able to proceed in preparing the accounts of our discoveries.
I have now been kept in prison seven months, the time passes drearily along; and I have yet to remain at least five months longer before any orders are likely to be received concerning me from the French government; and then it is uncertain of what nature they may be, since it is not known what statement the general has made of my particular case; and probably the vessels carrying the dispatches will be taken and the letters thrown overboard; in which case it cannot be guessed how long I may be kept: my dependence, therefore, is upon the Admiralty demanding me to be given up, by virtue of the French passport, in which even here it is acknowledged there has been no infringement on my part, further than in intention; which intention has been misconstrued and misunderstood by a man violent angainst the name of an Englishman, and ignorant of what relates to voyages of discovery.
This arbitrary man is now doing me the greatest injury, without even making a plea for it. His own subjects (for he is a most despotic monarch), Frenchmen, who are acquainted with the circumstances condemn him for it; but the generality cannot believe that the commander
To the Right Honble Sir Joseph Banks
[Different hand] Decr 14, 1804