by the political prejudices of an ardent partisan.

Delivered into the hands of Pano di Grano, the ex-galley slave, now a
royalist chief, Pépé was kindly treated, and, being carelessly guarded,
effected his escape. Recaptured, he was about to be shot, when an order
for his release was obtained from Sir John Stewart, who offered him, he
informs us, the command of an English regiment, if he would change sides
and serve King Ferdinand. He blames that general for having been in such
haste to re-embark his troops, thus abandoning the insurgents to their
fate; and is of opinion, that if he had continued to advance, flanked by
the Calabrian bands, his forces would have increased, and he would have
reached Naples. On the departure of the British, Massena commenced
vigorous operations for the suppression of the insurrection, and Pépé
was actively employed in the organisation of the Calabrian patriots.
Massena promised him the colonelcy of a light infantry regiment about to
be raised; but upon the Marshal being summoned to Germany by Napoleon,
the project was given up, and Pépé could not even get employment in his
rank of lieutenant-colonel. Disgusted at this injustice, and preferring
foreign service to residence in his own country, where he had the
mortification of seeing the French paramount, he embarked for Corfu as
major on the staff.

After a year's absence, during which he narrowly escaped death by
shipwreck and met with various other adventures, Pépé returned to
Naples. It was in 1808: Napoleon had created his brother King of Spain,
and given the Neapolitan crown to the Grand Duke of Berg. _Soldat avant
tout_, Murat's first care was the amelioration of the army, then in a
deplorable state. To this end he sent for all the Neapolitan officers
employed in the Ionian islands. Pépé was amongst the number. Presenting
himself before King Joachim, he exhibited his testimonials of service,