CHAPTER XIV.

Dismissal of Count Las Cases from Longwood-Letter to Prince Laucien Bonaparte intercepted by Sir Hudson Lowe-Napoleon's Apprehensions for the Fate of his Manuscripts-his Reflections upon the Governor-Decline of Napoleon's Health-Etiquette observed by his Attendants-Remarks on his bodily Constitution-his Mode of preserving Health-Testimony of Dr. Arnott-Progress of his Disease-his Death--his Interment-Remarks upon his Character.

ONE of the most mortifying inconveniences, inflicted upon Napoleon by Sir Hudson Lowe, appears to have been the removal of Count Las Cases from the emperor's service at the latter end of the year 1816. Ever since the count had attended him at Longwood, he kept, as a servant, a free mulatto. After some months had elapsed, Sir Hudson Lowe expressed his doubts as to the propriety of the count's being attended by a native of the island, and signified his intention of removing this servant, and sending one of his own choosing: the latter proposal was promptly and decidedly rejected; but the man was withdrawn.

Some months after this, the mulatto, who still remained in the island, found an opportunity of visiting his old master's residence: being favoured by the darkness of the night, and his knowledge of the localities of the island, he had surmounted every obstacle, avoided sentinels, and scaled precipices, to come and see the count, in order to tell him that he had got a situation with a person who was going to set off for London in a few days, and to offer him his services without reserve. Not seeing the count the first time he came, he returned the next

evening, and renewed the unreserved offer of his services, saying he would take charge of any thing that might be intrusted to him, and would call for it on the eve of his sailing. Accordingly, a letter was written upon a piece of satin, to Prince Lucien Bonaparte, which the young mulatto, having some knowledge of the business of a tailor, sewed into his clothes, and took his leave. Las Cases went to bed with a light heart, and a feeling of satisfaction from the contemplation of a day well employed, and marked by a fortunate event, little thinking that he had just cut, with his own hands, the thread of his destiny at Longwood, from which, in less than twenty-four hours, he was snatched away, never to return. The bearer of the letter, it is supposed, confided the affair to his mother, who could not conceal it from her husband, by which publicity it came to the ears of Sir Hudson Lowe, who issued his orders accordingly.

Napoleon was frequently under great apprehensions for the fate of his manuscripts: this was occasioned by the treatment which Las Cases had suffered from Sir Hudson Lowe, and the detention of his own papers. He said "it was contrary to all law, to detain papers belonging to him (Napoleon). Perhaps," said he, "he will come up here some day, and say that he has received intimation that a plot is in agitation to effect my escape. What guarantee have I, that, when I have nearly finished my history, he will not seize the whole of it? It is true that I can keep my manuscripts in my own room, and, with a couple of brace of pistols, I can despatch the first who enters. I must burn the whole of what I have written. It served as an amusement to me in this dismal abode, and might,

perhaps, have been interesting to the world: but with this Sbirro-Siciliano there is no guarantee nor security. He violates every law, and tramples decency, politeness, and the common forms of society, under foot. He came up (here to Longwood) with a savage joy beaming from his eyes, because he had an opportunity of insulting and tormenting us. While surrounding the house with his staff, he reminded me of the savages of the South Sea islands dancing round the prisoners whom they were about to devour."

While looking over a number of papers, (chiefly Portsmouth,) "Ah!" said Napoleon, "some of my money has gone to pay for these estates. After the abdication at Fontainebleau, upwards of forty millions of francs, my private property, was seized, and taken from my treasurer at Orleans. Of this money, about five and twenty millions were divided amongst T***, M**, and C**. The money thus seized included the marriage-portion of the empress Marie Louise, which had been paid in sovereigns of gold-an old German coin. The remainder was placed in the French treasury. The whole of these sums had been guaranteed to me by the treaty of Fontainebleau. The share which C** obtained was very large, and the exact amount of it is known to me."

The health of Napoleon, during the six months preceding his establishment at Longwood, did not seem to undergo any change, notwithstanding his regimen was so completely altered. Neither his hours nor his food were any longer the same; his former habits, in fact, were totally deranged. Formerly, he had been used to much exercise; but he had been long confined to a room. He

now,

had been continually in the habit of bathing; but for this indulgence he had no opportunity till after his arrival at Longwood. Here, when he began to ride on horseback, and returned to the use of the bath, his attendants first began to perceive a sensible alteration in his health.

In the autumn of 1817, he had a smart attack of fever, &c., and was several days obliged to retire occasionally to his bed. Whilst he was well, the etiquette observed by his attendants prevented any of them from entering his apartment without being sent for; and if any thing of importance was to be communicated to him, he was previously made acquainted with it. If he walked separately with any of them, no other presumed to intrude. At first, his attendants constantly remained uncovered near his person, which appeared strange to the English, who had been ordered to put on their hats after the first salute. The contrast between them seemed ridiculous to Napoleon, and he ordered his servants, once for all, to behave like the English. No one, except the two ladies, took a seat in his presence. He was never spoken to but at his own peculiar instance, and when the conversation became general, which was always and in all cases under his own control and guidance. It is scarcely needful to add, that the long period of his declining health nearly put an end to the ceremonials previously observed.

Upon the score of the emperor's general health, M. Las Cases observes-" Contrary to the common opinion, in which I myself once participated, the emperor is far from possessing a strong constitution. His limbs are large, but his fibres are relaxed; with a very expanded chest, he is constantly labour

ing under the effects of cold. His body is subject to the influence of the slightest accidents. The smell of paint is sufficient to make him ill; certain dishes, or the slightest degree of damp, immediately take a very severe effect upon him. His body is far from being a body of iron, as has been supposed; all his strength is in his mind; although no sovereign ever underwent so much bodily fatigue.

"The most remarkable instance of the emperor's activity and exertion, was his ride, without stirrups, from Valladolid to Burgos, at the rate of more than seven Spanish leagues an hour, in five hours and a half. He had set out accompanied by a numerous escort, in case of danger from the guerillas; but at every yard he left some of his attendants behind him, and arrived at Burgos with but few followers. Ilis ride from Vienna to the Simmering, a distance of eighteen or twenty leagues, is frequently talked of. The emperor rode to breakfast to the Simmering, and returned to Vienna immediately after. He often hunted to the distance of thirty-eight leagues, and never less than fifteen. One day a Russian officer, who had come as a courier from St. Petersburgh in the space of twelve or thirteen days, arrived at Fontainebleau at the moment the emperor was about to set out on a hunt. The officer had the honour to be invited to join the hunting party. He, of course, accepted the invitation; but he dropped down in the forest, overcome by fatigue, and was not found until after a considerable search had been made for him.

"I have known the emperor," continues Las Cases, "to be engaged in business in the council of state for eight or nine hours successively, and