Copy of Buonaparte's Letter to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent; forwarded to England by General Gourgaud, in the Slaney, on the 14th of July.

"Altesse Royale,

Rochefort, 13 Juillet, 1815.

"En butte aux factions qui divisent mon pays, et à l'inimitié des plus grandes Puissances de l'Europe, j'ai terminé ma carrière politique; et je viens, comme Thémistocle, m'asseoir sur les foyers du peuple Britannique. Je me mets sous la protection de ses lois; que je réclame de V. A. R. comme le plus puissant, le plus constant, et le plus généreux de mes ennemis.

"Your Royal Highness,

"NAPOLEON."

Exposed to the factions which divide my country, and to the enmity of the greatest Powers of Europe, I have terminated my political career, and I come, like Themistocles, to throw myself upon the hospitality (m'asseoir sur les foyers) of the British nation. I place myself under the protection of its laws, which (protection) I claim from your Royal Highness, as the most powerful, the most constant, and the most generous of my enemies. "Rochefort, 13th July, 1815." "NAPOLEON.”

When Napoleon first boarded the Bellerophon, he said to Captain Maitland: I am come to claim the protection of your Prince and Country,' and shortly after said with his usual quickness: Come, Captain Maitland, suppose we walk over your ship. To this the Captain replied, by saying, that the decks were then washing, and that the ship was consequently not in a state to be inspected; that he had better wait an hour or so, &c. To this Buonaparté rejoined, No, no, Captain Maitland, let us go now; I have been accustomed to wet and dry, and confusion, &c. for upwards of twenty years, and I must see her in her present state.' He did so, and inspected her with all the alacrity, minuteness, and curiosity, so characteristic of him, walking several times over the ship; after this, he expressed himself highly delighted with the admirable economy of a British man-of-war. One day, addressing an old marine, he asked him how long he

had served? The reply was, sixteen years,'--- Where are your marks of distinction then? I have none,' answered the marine. Buonaparté shrugged up his shoulders, and retired.

The Bellerophon arrived in Torbay on the 24th of July, with Buonaparté, and his suite, consisting of 50 persons, on board. On the 26th, she arrived in Plymouth Sound, and cast anchor.

On the voyage from Rochefort, the officers and crew of the Bellerophon seem to have treated Buonaparté, who was at times unwell and in bad spirits, with all the respect they would have shown to a reigning Sovereign; and although, on his arrival at Plymouth, orders were issued by the British Government to consider and treat him merely as a General-(" By your King, I have been acknowledged First Consul of France, and by all others as Emperor")-it appears these orders were but indifferently attended to, so much had he ingratiated himself with all on board during his short voyage. The following letters will give an idea of the curiosity and bustle excited at Plymouth, by the presence of this man:--

66

Plymouth, July 29th, 1815.

Yesterday the curiosity of thousands was gratified by the most ample view of the Ex-Emperor. There were at 4 P. M. upwards of 1000 boats in the Sound. The scene at this time beggared all description. The guard-boats, strongly manned, dashed through the water, running against every boat that happened to be too near. The centinels of the Bellerophon, and of the guard-frigates, the Eurotas and Liffey, were every moment presenting their pieces to intimidate the curious multitude. At last a movement was observed on board the Bellerophon---the seamen were seen pressing to the forecastle, the booms became covered, and, with unsatiated curiosity, they pressed so closely on the centinels, that they were obliged to clear the gangways. The marines were now also noticed on the poop, and the officers and seamen, by a simultaneous movement uncovered, without . orders. A moment after, to gratify the people in the boats, as well as to view the sublime spectacle before him, the object of boundless curiosity advanced to the starboard gangway: the mass of boats endeavoured to precipitate themselves on the ship -the guard-boats dashed furiously through the water-some boats were struck-persons overturned into the sea --the centi

nels presented their pieces:-all in vain; the force was overwhelming screams and curses were alternately heard the next moment all was calm-the Emperor was bowing to the multitude-he stood before them six or seven minutes, and retired for a short time. In this manner was the time spent during the whole of Friday, till eight in the evening. Buonaparté certainly is endeavouring to gratify the spectators as much as possible. Hitherto none have boarded the ship but Lord Keith, and Mr. Penn, the pilot, of Cawsand. The time when Buonaparté is most seen, is from three o'clock until eight P. M. The boats get near enough to view his features distinctly, and even to hear him speak. On Friday, Gen. Brown was along-side, and was pointed out to him by an Officer. Buonaparté instantly addressed him in a complimentary manner, in French, which was answered by the General. On Thursday, Sir R. Strachan was also pointed out to him, and he bowed to Sir Richard most courteously, which was returned.

"The boats get within thirty yards of the Bellerophon, and Buonaparté is seen at the gangway for twenty minutes at a time. He always leaves the cabin, and walks to the quarter-deck and gangway, while the cloth is laying for dinner.

"I observed his person particularly, and can describe him thus:-He is about five feet seven inches in height, very strongly made and well proportioned; very broad and deep chest; legs and thighs proportioned with great symmetry and strength; a small, round, and handsome foot. His countenance is sallow, and, as it were, deeply tinged by hot climates; but the most commanding air I ever saw. His eyes grey, and the most piercing that you can imagine. His glance, you fancy, searches into your inmost thoughts. His hair dark brown, and no appearance of grey. His features are handsome now, and, when younger, he must have been a very handsome man. He his rather fat, and his belly protuberant; but he appears active notwithstanding. His step and demeanour altogether commanding. He looks about forty-five or forty-six years of age. In fact, he is very like the picture exhibited of him. He is extremely curious, and never passes any thing remarkable in the ship, without inquiring minutely about it. He also stops and asks the officers divers ques

tions relative to the time they have been in the service, what actions, &c.; and he caused all of us to be introduced to him the first day he came on board. He has asked several questions about the marines, particularly those who appeared to have been some time in the service, and about the warrant-officers, midshipmen, seamen, &c. He was but a very short time on board, when he asked that the boatswain might be introduced, in order that he might look at him, and was very inquisitive as to the natureof his duty. He dresses in green uniform, with red facings, and edged with red, two plain gold epaulets, the lappels of the coat cut round and turned back, white waistcoat and breeches, with military boots and spurs, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on his left breast. He professes his intention (if he is allowed to reside in England) to adopt the English customs and manners, and declares that he will never meddle with politics any more. The army which left Paris, and united with others on the Loire, wanted him to join them and resume his title, which he refused to do. He declares that not another goutte de sang' shall be shed on his account. Fortunate indeed it would have been, if he really had been of this opinion some years back!"

Buonaparté continued in the Bellerophon till Monday the 7th of August, when he was transferred to the Northumberland man-ofwar, which, under the command of Admiral Sir George' Cockburn, was appointed to convey him to St. Helena,

Sir Henry Bunbury, accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Bathurst, charged with the communication of the determination of Government to Buonaparté, were conveyed on board the Bellerophon by Lord Keith's yacht. Sir Henry was introduced to the Ex-Emperor; and, after mutual salutations, he read to him the resolu tion of the Cabinet, by which he was informed of his intended transportation to the Island of St. Helena, with four of his friends, to be chosen by himself, and twelve domestics. He received this intimation without any mark of surprise, as he said he had been apprised of the determinations: but he protested against it in the most emphatic manner; and, in a speech of three quarters of an hour, delivered with great coolness, selfpossession, and ability, reasoned against the outrageous proceeding. He recapitulated the circumstances under which he had been forced, he said, by the breach of the treaty made with him

by the Sovereigns of Europe, to quit the Island of Elba-that he had exerted himself to prevent the renewal of hostilities— but that when they became unavoidable, and that the fortune of war had decided against him, he yielded to the voice of his enemies; and as they had declared in the face of the world that it was against him only that they had taken up arms, he abdicated the Imperial Crown of France, in the full confidence that the Allies would be faithful to their solemn declaration, and leave his country to the settlement of their own affairs; then, unarmed, and with the view of seeking an asylum as a private individual in England, he had first sought to be received under the King's allegiance, and under the protection of our laws, and had finally voluntarily put himself into the British power. In this predicament, he felt himself entitled to protest against the measure now announced to him, and in a long argument, in which he showed himself to be well versed in our laws, he reasoned against the act.

Sir H. Bunbury and Mr. Bathurst say, that his manner was temperate, his language eloquent, and that he conducted himself throughout in the most prepossessing way. The account they give of his persuasive manner, is, we understand, highly interesting. Sir Henry answered to his discourse, that he had no commission, but to make known to him the resolution of his Majesty's Ministers--but said, that he should faithfully report the reasons that he had stated against the proceeding.

Before the Northumberland sailed, a yacht or large boat, with several gentlemen of the Pay-Office, had arrived to pay the ship, who, availing themselves of the opportunity presented by the folding doors of the cabin being open, beheld, to their surprise, Buonaparté playing at vingt-un with his companions as cheerfully as if nothing had happened to him. When Sir G. Cockburn saw Buonaparté for the first time, he simply pulled off his hat, in the same manner as he would have done to another General, and said:"How do you do, General Buonaparte?" which was returned by him in a manner equally laconic, but with his head uncovered. Every thing was so well conducted in this removal, that the greatest order prevailed, and so little was it known at Torbay, off which place it occurred, that very few boats were present to witness it. The Northumberland has part of the military on board, and is full of stores and baggage. The cabin