In consequence of those orders, several of the officers of inferior rank, and some of the servants, were sent to the frigates appointed to guard us.

In the afternoon Sir Richard and Lady Strachan, accompanied by Mrs. Maitland, came alongside the ship. Buonaparte was walking the deck, and, when I told him my wife was in the boat, he went to the gangway, pulled off his hat, and asked her if she would not come up and visit him. She shook her head; and I informed him, that my orders were so positive, I could not even allow her to come on board. He answered, “C'est dur, ça." "That is very hard." And addressing himself to her, Milord Keith est un peu trop sevère; n'est-ce pas, Madame?" "Lord Keith is a little too severe; is he not, Madam?" He then said to me, "Ma foi, son portrait ne la flatte pas; elle est encore plus jolie que lui." "I assure you he

portrait is not flattering; she is handsomer than it is." I told him Sir Richard Strachan was in the boat with her, and that he was second in command of the Channel fleet: he bowed to him, and said, "He appears a very young man to hold so high a rank.”

There were this day a great many boats round the ship, full of people, among which were a number of well-dressed females. He expressed himself in strong terms of admiration of the beauty of the English women, and was desirous of knowing which were the ladies," les dames comme il faut," as he termed it; as they were all so well dressed that he could not distinguish them.

In the evening a letter was sent to me by Lord Keith, of which I subjoin an extract:

Extract of a Letter from Admiral Viscount Keith, G. C. B. addressed to Captain Maitland of H. M. S. Bellerophon, dated Ville de Paris, Hamoaze, 27th July, 1815.

"From the representation you have made to me of the dissatisfaction expressed by Buonaparte, on observing by the newspapers that he was to be sent to St. Helena; it will be necessary that you redouble your vigilance to prevent his escape; and you are therefore to station double sentinels, and resort to every other means that may be necessary for frustrating any such intention."

On the 28th of July, Lord Keith came on board, between eleven and twelve o'clock, and was shown by me into the cabin, where Count Bertrand introduced him to Buonaparte. I immediately withdrew, and cannot therefore state what passed between them; but Lord Keith afterwards informed me,

that Buonaparte had been very anxious to know whether the Government had come to any determination with regard to his disposal; of which his Lordship professed total ignorance.

After Lord Keith came out of the cabin, he remained some time with Buonaparte's suite, who were collected in the state room. Madame Bertrand drew him aside, and entered into conversation with him, saying what she had repeated to me a hundred times, that it would be the height of injustice to send them to St. Helena, and endeavouring to persuade him to interfere in preventing her husband at least from going, should Napoleon be sent there.

During the whole of the 29th of July it rained incessantly, and nothing worth relating took place: the Frenchmen were deprived of their usual amusement of ad

miring the ladies, and being admired in return, not a boat having made its appearance. They often remarked, with the characteristic vivacity of their nation, that they were placed in the situation of Tantalus, -so many beauties in view, without the possibility of approaching them.

On Sunday, the 30th of July, the crowd of boats was greater than I ever remember to have seen at one time. I am certain I speak within bounds when I state, that upwards of a thousand were collected round the ship, in each of which, on an average, there were not fewer than eight people. The crush was so great, as to render it quite impossible for the guard-boats to keep them off; though a boat belonging to one of the frigates made use of very violent means to effect it, frequently running against small boats, containing women, with such force as nearly to upset them, and alarming the