approbation of the ministry; who again laid before the Governor the distinction which he was to draw betwixt expenses necessary to maintain the table and household of a general officer, and such as might be of a nature different from, and exceeding, those attendant on the household of a person of that rank; which last, and those alone, the French might be called on to defray. The order is dated 24th October 1817:

"As I observe from the statement contained in your dispatch, No. 84, that the expense of General Buonaparte's establishment exceeds L.12,000 per annum, and that the excess beyond that sum has, up to the date of that dispatch, been defrayed from his own funds, I deem it necessary again to call your at tention to that part of my dispatch, No. 15, of the 22d November last, in which, in limiting the expense to L.12,000 a-year, I still left you at liberty to incur a farther expenditure, should you consider it to be necessary for the comfort of General Buonaparte; and to repeat, that, if you should consider the sum of L.12,000 a-year not to be adequate to maintain such an establishment as would be requisite for a general officer of distinction, you will have no difficulty in making what you deem to be a requisite addition. But, on the other hand, if the expenses which General Buonaparte has himself defrayed are beyond what, on a liberal construction,

might be proper for a general officer of distinction, you will permit them, as heretofore, to be defrayed from his own funds."

These positive and reiterated instructions serve to show, that there was never a wish on the part of Britain to deal harshly, or even closely, with Napoleon; as the avowals of General Gourgaud prove on the other hand, that if the Governor was too rigid on the subject of expense, the prisoner possessed means sufficient to have saved him from any possible consequences of self-denial, which might have accrued from being compelled to live at so low a rate as twelve thousand pounds a-year.

The subject of the RESIDENCE of Napoleon continued to furnish great subjects of complaint and commotion. We have recorded our opinion, that, from the beginning, Plantation-House, as the best residence in the island, ought to have been set apart for his use. If, however, this was objected to, the building a new house from the foundation, even with the indifferent means which the island affords, would have been far more respectable, and perhaps as economical, as constructing a great wooden frame in London, and transporting it to St Helena, where it arrived, with the furniture destined for it, in May 1816. It was not, however, a complete parapluie house, as such structures have been called, but only the mate rials for constructing such a one; capable of being

erected separately, or, at Napoleon's choice, of being employed for making large and commodious additions to the mansion which he already occupied. It became a matter of courtesy to inquire whether it would best answer Napoleon's idea of convenience that an entirely new edifice should be constructed, or whether that end would be better attained by suffering the former building to remain, and constructing the new one in the form of an addition to it. We have recounted an interview betwixt Napoleon and the Governor, in the words of the former, as delivered to O'Meara. The present we give as furnished by Sir Hudson in a dispatch to Lord Bathurst, dated 17th May 1816:

"It becoming necessary to come to some decision in respect to the house and furniture which had been sent from England for the accommodation of Gene ral Buonaparte and his followers, I resolved on waiting upon him, communicating to him the arrival of the various materials, and asking his sentiments with respect to their appropriation, before I made any disposition of them. I previously called on General Bertrand, to ask if he thought General Buonaparte would be at leisure to receive me; and on his reply, which was in the affirmative, I proceeded to Longwood-House, where, having met Count Las Cases, I begged he would be the bearer of my message to the General, acquainting him with my being there, if his

I re

convenience admitted of being visited by me. ceived a reply, saying, the Emperor would see me.'

"I passed through his outer dining-room into his drawing-room. He was alone, standing with his hat under his arm, in the manner in which he usually presents himself when he assumes his imperial dignity. He remained silent, expecting I would address him. Finding him not disposed to commence, I began in the following words :- Sir, you will probably have seen by our English newspapers, as well, perhaps, as heard through other channels, of the intention of the British government to send out hither for your accommodation the materials for the construction of a house, with every necessary furniture. These articles have now for the first time arrived. In the meantime, government has received information of the building prepared for your reception at this place, and I have instructions for appropriating the articles as may seem best, whether for making a new building, or adding to the conveniencies of your present one. Before making any disposition on the subject, I waited to know whether you had any desires to communicate to me regarding it.' He stood as before, and made no reply.

Observing his silence continue, I again commenced by saying, 'I have conceived, sir, that possibly the addition of two or three good rooms-(deux ou trois salons)—to your present house, with other im

provements to it, might add to your convenience in less time than by constructing a new building.' He then commenced, but spoke with such rapidity, such intemperance, and so much warmth, that it is diffi cult to repeat every word he used. Without apparently having lent an ear to what I said, he began• I do not at all understand the conduct of your government towards me. Do they desire to kill me? And do you come here to be my executioner, as well as my gaoler?-Posterity will judge of the manner in which I have been treated. The misfortunes which I suffer will recoil upon your nation. No, sir; never will I suffer any person to enter into the interior of my house, or penetrate into my bed-chamber, as you have given orders. When I heard of your arrival in this island, I believed that, as being an officer of the army, you would be possessed of a more polite character than the Admiral, who is a navyofficer, and might have more harsh manners. I have no reason to complain of his heart. But you, sir,in what manner do you treat me? It is an insult to invite me to dinner by the name of General Buonaparte. I am not General Buonaparte-I am the Emperor Napoleon. I ask you again,—have you come hither to be my gaoler-my hangman ?' Whilst speaking in this manner, his right arm moved backward and forward; his person stood fixed; his eyes and countenance exhibiting everything which could