pedition; and on your arrival you are not to permit any communication whatever with the shore, except as herein after directed; and you will be held responsible for keeping the whole transaction a profound secret, until you receive their Lordships' further orders.

"In case you should arrive at a port where there is a flag-officer, you are to send to acquaint him with the circumstances, strictly charging the officer sent on shore with your letter, not to divulge its contents: and if there should be no flag-officer at the port where you arrive, you are to send one letter express to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and another to Admiral Lord Keith, with strict injunctions of secrecy to each officer who may be the bearer of them."

Messrs. Savary and Las Cases, who came on board, from the Schooner above mention

ed, at seven o'clock on the 10th of July, presented the following letter to me :

"Le 9 Juillet, 1815.

"Monsieur l'Amiral,

"L'Empereur Napoléon ayant abdiqué le pouvoir, et choisi les États Unis d'Amérique pour s'y refugier, s'est embarqué sur les deux frégates qui sont dans cette rade, pour se rendre à sa destination. Il attend le sauf conduit du Gouvernement Anglais, qu'on lui a annoncé, et qui me porte à expédier le présent parlementaire, pour vous demander, Mons. l'Amiral, si vous avez connoissance du dit sauf conduit; ou si vous pensez qu'il soit dans l'intention du Gouvernement Anglais de se mettre de l'empêchement à notre voyage aux États Unis. Je vous serai extrêmement obligé de me donner la-dessus les renseignemens que vous pouvez avoir.

"Je charge les porteurs de la présente

lettre de vous faire agréer mes remercîmens

et mes excuses, pour la peine qu'elle a pu vous donner."

"J'ai l'honneur d'être,

Monsieur l'Amiral,

de Votre Excellence, &c. &c.

Le Grand Maréchal Ct. BERTRAND."

"A Monsieur l'Amiral commandant

les Croisières avant Rochefort."

"SIR,

TRANSLATION.

"The Emperor Napoleon having abdicated the throne of France, and chosen the United States of America as a retreat, is, with his suite, at present embarked on board the two frigates which are in this port, for the purpose of proceeding to his destination. He expects a passport from the British Government, which has been promised to him, and which induces me to send the present flag of truce, to demand of you, Sir, if you

have any knowledge of the above-mentioned passport, or if you think it is the intention of the British Government to throw any impediment in the way of our voyage to the United States. I shall feel much obliged by your giving me any information you may possess on the subject.

"I have directed the bearers of this letter to present to you my thanks, and to apologize for the trouble it may cause.

"I have the honour to be,

Your Excellency's most obedient, &c. &c. Grand Marshal Count BERTRAND."

"To the Admiral commanding the

Squadron before Rochefort."

The bearers of the letter had instructions to demand of me, whether I would prevent Buonaparte from proceeding in a neutral vessel, provided I could not permit the frigates to pass with him on board. Having received,

in my orders, the strictest injunctions to secrecy, and feeling that the force on the coast, at my disposal, was insufficient to guard the different ports and passages from which an escape might be effected, particularly should the plan be adopted of putting to sea in a small vessel; I wrote the following reply to the above communication; hoping, by that means, to induce Napoleon to remain for the Admiral's answer, which would give time for the arrival of reinforcements.

66

SIR,

"H. M. S. Bellerophon,

off Rochefort, July 10th, 1815.

"I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, addressed to the Admiral commanding the English cruisers before Rochefort, acquainting me that the Emperor, having abdicated the throne of France, and chosen the United States of America as an asylum, is now embarked on