was ruler of France. They are desultory and abrupt, like most of his proclamations and harangues. He takes occasion, in the outset, to protest against the bill in parliament of the 16th of April, 1816, which he stiles an act of proscription similar to those of Sylla. He denies the authority of the parliament to place him at the disposal of ministers, and invest them with the right of subjecting him to restrictions. He denies their power of delegating that right, and then proceeds to argue against the restrictions themselves, namely, the detention at St. Helena; the name imposed, of General Bonaparte; the prohibition of going abroad on the island, unless accompanied by a British officer; and lastly, the obligation of having all letters which he might write or receive, opened and examined by the British authorities. He quotes, in succession, the principal statements in Lord Bathurst's speech, respecting the treatment to which he was subjected at St. Helena, and severally contradicts them in very round terms, entering occasionally into long details, and execrating the conduct of Sir Hudson Lowe, as capricious and cruel in the extreme. Those arguments and declamations are connected with certain domestic disclosures respecting his personal condition, whence it appears that he found himself very ill accommodated at Longwood-house, which he described as having been originally a barn, and situated on the most unhealthy and exposed spot of the island, destitute of water, trees, shade, and verdure. The Governor, whom he continually styles the commandant, having reduced the range originally allowed him; forbidding his holding conversations with the inhabitants, or entering any house; and that having also insisted an English officer should accompany him when he rode out, he had discontinued his favourite exercise, not having been on horseback for eighteen months. Under the conditions prescribed for his correspondence, he declared he would not write or receive any letter. That the dearness of living at St. Helena was such, the stipulated allowance of 8000l. a-year, divided among the number of individuals in his establishment, would scarcely amount to 10d. per head per diem, or soldier's pay. That the flour was so bad, he had not tasted bread for three months; and having betaken himself to a sedentary course of life, his legs had began to swell, and the scurvy attacked his gums. He then finally declared that he was fully convinced the intention existed of terminating his life by agonies so protracted, in order to make it appear he had died a natural death. CHAP. XVI. Conduct adopted towards Napoleon at St. Helena by the Governor, Sir Hudson Lowe-Honourable Conduct of the Officers of the Twentieth Regiment-Count Las Cases and the Baron his Son, separated from the Emperor-Napoleon's Opinions of Mr. Fox and Lord Cornwallis-Interview with Lord Amherst-Vexatious Treatment to which Napoleon was subjected in 1817 and 1818Progress of the Emperor's Disease, and Letters in Confirmation of the same-Note affixed by the Exile to the Letter of Sir Thomas Reade and Count Bertrand-Communication of the latter to Lord Liverpool-Health of the Emperor during the Six Months prior to his Decease-Death-bed of Napoleon according to the Testimony of Dr. Arnott—Effect produced upon the Continent when the Emperor's Decease was announced Opinions delivered by Napoleon respecting himself-Testamentary Paper and Codicils-Funeral of the Imperial Exile-His Character-Chronologicol Account of the Achievements of Napoleon Bonaparte, late Emperor of France, &c. &c. &c. HAVING closed the foregoing chapter with a statement made by Napoleon respecting the grievances to which he was subjected at Saint Helena, we cannot do better than commence this last chapter by some details on that topic, which must prove conclusive to the mind of every unprejudiced reader. The extracts consist of detached statements from Mr. Barry O'Meara's Voice from St. Helena, whose testimony, as an eye-witness, and a man of honour, has never been disproved, notwithstanding the wretched attempts made by Sir Hudson Lowe and his few advocates to impugn that gentleman's manly and unvarnished testimony. On the 14th of April, the Phaeton frigate, Captain Stanfell, arrived from England, having on board Lieut.-General Sir Hudson Lowe, Lady Lowe, Sir Thomas Reade, Deputy-Adjutant General, Major Gorrequer, aide-de-camp to Sir Hudson Lowe, Lieut.-Colonel Lyster, inspector of militia, Major Emmet of the engineers, Mr. Baxter, deputyinspector of hospitals, Lieutenants Wortham and Jackson, of the engineers and staff corps, and other officers. The following day, Sir Hudson Lowe landed, and was installed as governor, with the customary forms. A message was then sent to Longwood that the new governor would visit Napoleon at nine o'clock on the following morning. Ac cordingly, a little before that time, Sir Hudson Lowe arrived, in the midst of a pelting storm of rain and wind, accompanied by Sir George Cockburn, and followed by his numerous staff. As the hour fixed upon was rather unseasonable, and one at which Napoleon had never received any person, intimation was given to the governor, on his arrival, that Napoleon was indisposed, and could not receive any visitors that morning. This appeared to disconcert Sir Hudson Lowe, who, after pacing up and down before the windows of the drawing-room for a few minutes, demanded at what time on the following day he could be introduced two o'clock was fixed upon for the interview, at which time he arrived, accompanied as before by the admiral, and followed by his staff. They were at first ushered into the dining-room, behind which was the saloon, where they were to be received. A proposal was made by Sir George Cockburn, to Sir Hudson Lowe, that the latter should be introduced by him, as being, in his opinion, the most official and proper manner of resigning the charge of the prisoner; for that purpose, Sir George suggested they should enter the room together, which was acceded to by Sir Hudson Lowe. At the door of the drawing room stood Novarre, one of the French valets, whose business was to announce the names of the persons introduced. After waiting a few minutes, the portal was unclosed, and the governor called for. As soon as the word Governor, was pronounced, Sir Hudson Lowe started up, and stepped forward so hastily, that he entered the room before Sir George Cockburn was well apprised of the circumstance. The door was then closed, and when the admiral presented himself, the valet, not having heard his name called, told him he could not enter. Sir Hudson Lowe remained about a quarter of an hour with Napoleon, during which time the conversation was chiefly carried on in Italian, subsequent to which the officers of his staff were introduced. The admiral did not again apply for admittance. Many changes relative to the treatment of the French took place, subsequent to the arrival of Sir Hudson Lowe. Mr. Brooke, the colonial secretary; Major Gorrequer, Sir Hudson's aide-de-camp; and other official persons, went round to the different shop-keepers in the town, ordering them, in the name of the governor, not to give credit to any of the French, or sell any article, unless for ready moncy, under pain of not only losing the amount of the sum so credited, but suffering such punishment as the governor might think proper to award. They were further directed to hold no communication whatsoever with the exiles, without special permission from the governor, under pain of being dismissed the island. Many of the officers of the 53d, who had been in the habit of calling to see Madame Bertrand,* at Hut's Gate, received hints that their visits were not pleasing to the authorities lately arrived; and the officer of the Hut's Gate guard was ordered to report the names of all persons entering Bertrand's dwelling. Sentinels were placed in different directions, to prevent the approach of visitors, when several, including some ladies, were turned back. A sensation of unwillingness, or rather fear, to approach the exiles, very different from the feeling which had existed a few days previous, appeared pretty general amongst the inhabitants, as well as the military and naval officers. The governor was very minute in his inquiries respecting those persons who had formerly conversed with Napoleon, or any of his suite. Several of the officers of the 53d repaired to Hut's Gate, in order to take leave of Countess Bertrand, (to use their own words,) as they declared the impossibility that existed for men of honour to comply with the new regulations. It was expected and required that all persons who visited Hut's Gate or Longwood should make a report to the governor or to Sir Thomas Reade of the conversations they had held with the French; while several additional sentinels were placed around Longwood-House and the grounds. * Napoleon, after a few questions of no importance, asked O'Meara, both in French and Italian, Count Las Cases being present, the following questions:-"You know that it was in consequence of my application you were appointed to attend upon me. Now I want to ascertain from you, precisely and truly, as a man of honour, in what situation * During Madame Bertrand's stay at St. Helena, she was brought to bed of a girl. The Emperor paid her a lying-in visit, when she took the child in her arms, and presented it to Napoleon, saying, "Sire, I have the pleasure of showing you a great curiosity-in a word, an unique ;—the first stranger that ever was allowed to approach your majesty in this island, without permission from the governor, or an order from the secretary of state." The Emperor was extremely pleased at this bon mot, and laughed heartily. you conceive yourself placed, whether as my surgeon, as M. Maingaud was, or the surgeon of a prison-ship and prisoners? Whether you have orders to report every trifling occurrence, or illness, or what I say to you, to the governor? Answer me candidly: In what situation do you conceive yourself?" The reply was, "As your surgeon, and to attend upon you and your suite. I have received no other orders than to make an immediate report, in case of your being taken seriously ill, in order to have the prompt advice and assistance of other physicians.' "First obtaining my consent to call in others," demanded Napoleon, "is it no so?" O'Meara answered, that he would certainly obtain his previous consent. To which he said, “if you were appointed as surgeon to a prison, and to report my conversations to the Governor, whom I take to be the head of the spies, (un capo di spioni,) I would never see you again. Do not," continued he, (on the surgeon's remark that he was placed about him as a surgeon, and by no means as a spy,) "suppose that I take you for a spy; on the contrary, I have never had the least occasion to find fault with you, and I have a friendship and esteem for your character, a greater proof of which I could not give than asking candidly your own opinion of your situation; as you, being an Englishman, and paid by the British government, might perhaps be obliged to perform what I have asked." O'Meara then answered, as before, that in his professional capacity he did not consider himself as belonging to any particular country. "If I am taken seriously ill," said Napoleon, "then acquaint me with your opinion, and ask my consent to call in others. This Governor, during the few days I was melancholy and laboured under mental affliction, in consequence of the treatment I receive, which prevented me from going out, in order that I might not weary others with my afflictions, wanted to send his physician, under pretext of inquiring after my health. I desired Bertrand to tell him that I had not sufficient confidence in his physician to take any thing at his hands; that if I were really ill, I would send for you, in whom I have confidence, but that a physician was of no use in such cases, and that all I wanted was to be left alone. I understand he proposed that an officer should enter my chamber to see me, if I did not stir out. Any person," continued he with much emotion, "who endeavours to force his way into my apartment, shall be a corpse the moment he enters it. If he ever eats bread or meat again, I am not Napoleon. This |