454

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

to agree to any arrangement of that sort, nor do I believe my government would consent to it; but I think I may venture to receive him into this ship, and convey him to England. If, however,' I added, 'he adopts that plan, I cannot enter into any promise, as to the reception he may meet with, as, even in the case I have mentioned, I shall be acting on my own responsibility, and cannot be sure that it would meet with the approbation of the British Government.'

"There was a great deal of conversation on this subject, in the course of which Lucien Bonaparte's name was mentioned, and the manner in which he had lived in England alluded to; but I invariably assured Las Cases, most explicitly, that I had no authority to make conditions of any sort, as to Napoleon's reception in England. In fact, I could not have done otherwise, since I had no positive instructions my guidance, and was, of course, in total ignorance of the intention of His Majesty's ministers as to his future disposal. One of the last observations Las Cases made before quitting the ship, was, Under all circumstances, I have little doubt but you will see the Emperor on board the Bellerophon; and, in fact, Bonaparte must have determined on that step before Las Cases came on board, as his letter to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent is dated the 13th of July, the day before this interveiw.

"During the above-mentioned conversation, I asked Las Cases where Bonaparte then was? He replied, At Rochefort: I left him there yesterday evening. General Lallemand then said, 'The Emperor lives at the Hotel in the Grand Place, and is now so popular there, that the inhabitants assemble every evening in front of the house, for the purpose of seeing him and crying Vive l'Empereur !'

"I then asked how long it would take to go there? Las Cases answered, As the tide will be against us, it will require five or six hours.' Why these false statements were made I cannot pretend to say; but it is very certain that Bonaparte never quitted the frigates or Isle d'Aix after his arrival there on the 3d of July. General Lallemand took occasion to ask me if I thought there would be any risk of the people who might accompany Bonaparte being given up to the government of France? I replied, Certainly not; the British government never could think of doing so, under the circumstances contemplated in the present arrangement.' They then took their departure. "About seven p. m. Count Las Cases, accompanied by

General Baron Gourgaud, one of Bonaparte's aide-decamps, again came on board. On mounting the deck, I immediately addressed Las Cases, saying, 'It is impossible you could have been at Rochefort and returned since you left me this morning.' He replied, 'No, it was not necessary; I found the Emperor at Isle d'Aix, on my arrival there.' He then told me he was charged with a letter from General Bertrand. We walked into the cabin, when he delivered it to me; it was as follows:

'SIR,

Count Las Cases has reported to the Emperor the conversation which he had with you this morning. His Majesty will proceed on board your ship with the ebb-tide to-morrow morning, between four and five o'clock.

'I send Count Las Cases, Counsellor of State, doing the duty of Marechal de Logis, with the list of persons composing His Majesty's suite.

If the Admiral, in consequence of the despatch you forwarded to him, should send the passport for the United States therein demanded, his Majesty will be happy to repair to America; but should the passport be withheld, he will willingly proceed to England, as a private individual, there to enjoy the protection of the laws of your country.

His Majesty has despatched Major General Baron Gourgaud to the Prince Regent with a letter, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose, requesting that you will forward it to such one of the ministers to whom you may think it necessary to send that general officer, in order that he may have the honour of delivering the letter with which he is charged to the Prince Regent.

'I have the honour to be, &c.

'COUNT BERTRAND.'

"Enclosed was likewise a copy of the well known letter addressed by Bonaparte to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent :

• Your Royal Highness,

Rochefort, July 13, 1815.

A victim to the factions which distract my country, and to the enmity of the greatest powers of Europe, I have terminated my political career, and I come, like ThemisLocles, to throw myself upon the hospitality of the British people. I place myself under the protection of their laws; which I claim from your Royal Highness, as the most powerful, the most constant, and the most generous of my

enemies.

'NAPOLEON.'

On reading the above, I told Monsieur Las Cases that I would receive Bonaparte on board, and immediately forward General Gourgaud to England by the Slaney, along

with my despatches to the Admiralty; but that he would not be allowed to land until permission was received from London, or the sanction of the Admiral at the port he might arrive at, should be obtained. I assured him, however, that the copy of the letter with which he was charged would be forwarded without loss of time, and presented by the Ministers to his Royal Highness. Count Las Cases then asked for paper, that he might communicate, by letter, to Bertrand, my acquiescence in the proposal he had brought, for my receiving and conveying to England Bonaparte and

his suite.

"When General Gourgaud was about to write the letter, to prevent any future misunderstanding, I said, 'Monsieur Las Cases, you will recollect that I am not authorized to stipulate respecting the reception of Bonaparte in England, but that he must consider himself entirely at the disposal of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.' He answered, 'I am perfectly aware of that, and have already acquainted the Emperor with what you said on the subject.'

"At break of day, on the 15th of July, 1815, l'Epervier French brig of war, was discovered under sail, standing out towards the ship, with a flag of truce up; and at the same time the Superb, bearing Sir Henry Hotham's flag, was seen in the offing. By half-past five the ebb-tide failed, the wind was blowing right in, and the brig, which was within a mile of us, made no further progress; while the Superb was advancing with the wind and tide in her favour. Thus situated; says Captain Maitland, and being most anxious to terminate the affair I had brought so near a conclusion, previous to the admiral's arrival, I sent off Mr. Mott, the first lieutenant, in the barge, who returned soon after six o'clock, conveying Napoleon with him.

CHAP. XV.

Reception of Napoleon on Board the Bellerophon and Conduct in that Vessel-His Opinion of the English Marines-Minute Inspection of a British War-Ship-Sails for the English Coast-Anchors off Torbay-Curiosity evinced to behold the Ex-Emperor-Proceeds to Plymouth-Sound-Visit of Lord Keith to Napoleon-Endeavour to serve the Emperor with a Habeas Corpus-A second Letter sent by Napoleon to the Prince Regent-His solemn ProtestBarry O'Meara, Esq. appointed Physician to attend the Ex-Emperor-His Removal on board the Northumberland-Farewell Interview with Generals Savary and Lallemand-Warden's Account of the Emperor's Reception on board the NorthumberlandVoyage to Saint Helena-Crossing the Line-Anecdote of Baron Las Cases-Anchorage at Saint Helena and Landing of Napoleon -He is established with the Balcombe family at Briars-His Reflections on Slavery-Removal to Longwood-A Soldier of the Fifty-Third-Dwelling described, and the Emperor's usual Habits -His Dressing Room and Wounds-Santini's Address to the British People-Hardships to which the Emperor was subjected by Sir Hudson Lowe-Sale of his Plate, &c.-Protest of Lord Holland in the House of Peers-Restrictions as to Napoleon's Correspon dence, &c. &c.

NAPOLEON, having mounted the side of the Bellerophon, was received by Captain Maitland, without any of the honours generally paid to persons of high rank being manifested; the guard was, however, drawn out on the break of the poop, but without presenting arms. Government had merely given directions, in the event of the Emperor's capture, that he should be removed into any one of his Majesty's ships that might fall in with him, but no instructions were issued respecting the light in which he was to be viewed.

Bonaparte wore an olive-coloured great coat over a green uniform, with scarlet cape and cuffs, green lapels, edged with scarlet skirts, hooked back with bugle horns embroidered in gold, plain sugar-loaf buttons and gold epaulettes, such being the uniform of a Chasseur à Cheval of the Imperial Guard. He was decorated with the star or grand cross of the Legion of Honour, as well as the small cross of that order: the insignias of the Iron Crown and the Union being appended to the button-hole of his left lapel. He wore a small cocked hat, with a tri-coloured cockade; plain gold-hilted sword military boots, and white waistcoat and VOL. IV.-62.

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short clothes. The following day he appeared in shoes, with gold buckles, and silk stockings: the dress he afterwards uniformly adopted.

Ou quitting the French vessel Epervier, Napoleon had been cheered by her ship's company as long as the boat was within bearing; most of the officers and men being bathed in tears. General Bertrand first ascended the ship's side, and informed Captain Maitland that the Emperor was in the boat, who then ascended, and, when on the quarter-deck, pulled off his hat, and, addressing the Captain in a firm tone of voice, said, "I am come to throw myself on the protection of your prince and laws." When shown into the cabin, he looked round, saying, "This is a handsome cabin."-"Such as it is, Sir," replied the commander, "it is at your service while you remain on board the ship I command." He next requested the officers might be summoned and introduced; which was done according to their rank; when he put several questions to each, respecting the place of his birth, the situation he held in the ship, the length of time he had served, and the actions in which he had participated. He then expressed a desire to go round the ship; but, as the men had not done cleaning the vessel, he was informed that it was customary to clean the lower decks immediately after their breakfast, and that they were then so employed, but, if he would defer visiting the ship until they had finished, she would appear to more advantage.

In a quarter of an hour Napoleon again intimated a desire to inspect the ship; and although informed that he would find the men rubbing and scouring, he persisted in his wish, and accordingly went over all the decks, asking many questions, particularly respecting any thing that struck him as being different from what he had been accustomed to see in French ships of war. He seemed particularly attracted by the cleanliness and neatness of the men, remarking,

that English seamen were certainly a different class of people from the French; and that he conceived it was owing to them we were so uniformly victorious at sea."

Breakfast was served about nine o'clock, in the English style, consisting of tea, coffee, cold meat, &c. The Emperor did not eat much, or seem to relish the repast; and when, on inquiry, it was found that he had been accustomed to a hot meal in the morning, directions were given that he should invariably be served in that manner in future. During breakfast he asked many questions about English customs,