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O

NARRATIVE

OF THE

Surrender of Buonaparte,

AND OF HIS RESIDENCE

ON BOARD H.M.S. BELLEROPHON;

WITH A DETAIL OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS THAT OCCUR
RED IN THAT SHIP,

BETWEEN THE 24th OF MAY AND THE 8th OF AUGUST, 1815

Sis Frederick Lewis

BY CAPTAIN F. L. MAITLAND, C. B.

BOSTON:

WELLS AND LILLY-COURT-STREET.

1826.

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PREFACE.

Some explanation seems called for, when, after a lapse of eleven years, I present to the Public my Narrative of the reception and residence of Napoleon Buonaparte on board H. M. S. Bellerophon; as it will naturally be asked, why it has been so many years in seeing the light, and from what cause it makes its appearance at this particular period.

Immediately after the extraordinary and interesting events took place which are here recorded, I was, by the earnest solicitations of my friends, induced to throw together the notes and memoranda in my possession, of the proceedings in which I bore so prominent a part.

I was further led to undertake this task, so foreign to my usual occupations, in consequence of the many misrepresentations that appeared at that time, respecting the conduct of Buonaparte while on board the ship I commanded, as well as my treatment of him.

The following Narrative was then written solely for the private perusal of my friends, and not with a view to publication, many reasons combining, at that time, in my opinion, to render such a measure inexpedient.

I made it my study to state events exactly as they occurred, and, in doing so, to avoid, as much as possible, all prejudice, either against or in favour of the extraordinary man whom it was my fortune to secure and bring to this country. It may appear surprising, that a possibility could exist of a British officer, being prejudiced in favour of one who had caused so many calamities to his country; but to such an extent did he possess the power of pleasing, that there are few people who could have sat

at the same table with him for nearly a month,. as I did, without feeling a sensation of pity, allied perhaps to regret, that a man possessed of so many fascinating qualities, and who had held so high a station in life, should be reduced to the situation in which I saw him.

Although many of the causes for withholding my Narrative from the public eye, have long been removed, I had no intention of bringing it forward, until by accident it fell into the hands of a most celebrated literary character. He did me the honour, on returning it, to express an opinion which I was not at all prepared to expect, and so strongly to recommend its being published, that however averse to appearing as an author, I have been induced under the sanction of such high authority, to present it to the public.

The habits of my life, since I entered my profession at a very early age, have been very different from those of a literary man; and therefore the following Narrative has no preten

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