LIBKARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF C.AllhORNlA 
 
 RIVERSIDE
 
 ..^^
 
 ^'c^oa-t^-.
 
 NAPOLEON IN EXILE; 
 
 OB, 
 
 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA 
 
 THE 
 
 OPINIONS AND REFLECTIONS OF NAPOLEON 
 
 ON THE 
 
 MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN HIS LIFE AND GOVERNMENT, 
 IN HIS OWN WORDS. 
 
 BY BARRY E. O'MEARA, ESQ., 
 
 Hia LATE SURGEON. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES.-VOL. I. 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 PETER ECKLER, PUBLISHER, 
 
 No. 35 Fulton Street,
 
 DctJl 
 
 •JK I'KIF. VKS PAIlEyS ET AMLS DE ClWIllE TOUT CE QUE LE DOCTEVB 
 O'MEAKA LEIR DIliA liELAriVEilEyr A LA rOSITlON OU JE ME TkOVVe 
 K^ i CJT SENTIMENS QUE JE COSSER VE * 
 
 //l^ayU_,A^^ 
 
 fa lA^ 
 
 S't/ xxiis tna clu:ie Lnuise, je la 
 inie de permeUre ipi'ff ivi 
 '/aise la main 
 
 Napoleon 
 25 JuOla 181* 
 
 • Vide preface, page vu
 
 THE RIGHT HON. LADY HOLLAND, 
 
 WHOSE HUMANE ATTENTIONS TO 
 
 NAPOLEON IN «T. HELENA, 
 
 t>k£w from him, in his dying moments, the grateful expression ok hm 
 
 "satisfaction 1 nd esteem," 
 
 THESE VOLUMES 
 
 ABE. WITH HER LADTSHIp's PERMISSION, MOST RESPEclTFTJI.I,Y INSORIEKD. 
 ST HER UAJDVSPIf's VEUT OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SKRVaM , 
 
 BARRY E. O'MEARA
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Placed by peculiar circumstauces, arising from nij pro- 
 fession, about the person of the most extraordinary man 
 perhaps of any age, in the most critical junctare of his 
 life, I determined to profit by the opportunities afforded me, 
 as far as I could consistently with honor. The following 
 volumes are the result. The reader will see, in the very 
 outset of the work, how it was that I became attached as a 
 medical officer to the household of Napoleon, Tiiat it was 
 in consequence of his own application, by the advice of 
 my superiors, and with the full concurrence of the lords of 
 the admiralty. I never sought the situation : it was in 
 some degree assigned me ; and most assuredly I should 
 have shrunk from the acceptance of it, had I contemplated 
 the possibility of being even remotely called on to com- 
 promise the principles either of an officer or a gentleman. 
 Before, however, I had been long scorched upon the rock 
 of St. Helena, 1 was taught to appreciate the embarrass- 
 ments of my situation. I saw soon that I must either 
 become accessory to vexations for which there was no 
 necessity, or incur suspicions of no very comfortable nature. 
 Fortunately for my honor, my happiness, and indeed for 
 everything except my interests, I did not hesitate. Hu- 
 manity required of me a consideration for my patient. The 
 uniform I wore imperiously commanded that I should not 
 soil it by indignities to a captive, and my country's cha- 
 racter pledged me to hold sacred the misfortunes of the 
 fallen. This I did. It is my pride to avow it : a pride 
 inferior only to that which I feel in finding those men my 
 enemies who consider it a crime.
 
 fl PREFACE. 
 
 The few alli'viations wliich 1 hail il in mv power to offer, 
 NaioliMM rfpuiil by tlio oondo.^ciiision with which hi; boii- 
 onxl me ; ami my necessary professional int' rcoursi! was 
 8oon increased int(^ an intimacy, ii' I may speak of inti- 
 macy with such a jiersonage. In fact, in the seclusion of 
 lAingwootl, he s»>on almost entirely laid aside the emperor 
 with those al>«'Ut him, he conversed liimiliarly on his past 
 life, and sketcheil the characters, and ilctailcd the anecilotes 
 which are here presented I'aithfully to the reader. The un- 
 reserved manner in which he spoke of everything, can 
 only be conceived by those who heard him ; and though 
 where his own conduct was questioned, he had a natural 
 human leaning towaids himself — still truth appeared to be 
 his j)rincipal, if not his only object. In the delineation of 
 character he was peculiarly felicitous. His mind seemed 
 to concentrate its beams on the object he wished to eluci- 
 date, and ita prominent features became instantly discerni- 
 ble. The intimate acquaintance which he necessarily pos- 
 sessed with all the great characters who ligured in Europe 
 for the last thirty years, gave to his opinions and observa- 
 tions more than ordinary interest : indeed from no other 
 source could such authentic information be acquired. Not- 
 withstanding the interval which elapsed since many of the 
 occurrences alluded to took jj^ace, and the distracting occu- 
 pations which must have employed his mind, it was won- 
 derful to see how freshly he remembered every transaction 
 which became the subject of inquiry. If there was any- 
 ihing more extraordinary than this, it was the apathy with 
 which he perused the libels which were written on him — 
 iie seemed inspired with a conviction of posthumous fame, 
 beyond the reach of contemporary depreciation. But per- 
 haps a knowledge of the man may be better acquired from 
 seeing him — as he really was during the first three years 
 of his residence at St. llelena, than from any speculative 
 deduction — as he appeared, spoke, acted, and seemed to 
 feel, the reader shall have him. It may perhaps be only 
 right to add, that some of the observations or arguments 
 on particular subjects were committed to paper from Na- 
 poleon's own dictation. 
 
 Before, however, we go further, I feel that the public 
 have a right to demand huw lar they can depend on tne
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 authenticity of these volumes. To the friends who know 
 me, I hope no verification is necessary — to my detractors 
 even mathetiiaLical proof would be unavailing — to those 
 who are prejudiced, neither on one side nor the other, the 
 following corroborations are submitted : 
 
 In the first place, then, I refer to the fac-simile of Na- 
 poleon's hand-writing prefixed to the frontispiece, and 
 given to me by himself as a proof of the confidence with 
 which he treated me — the original of this any person who 
 chooses to apply to me shall see. I refer also to the whole 
 Longwood household, and more particularly to the execu- 
 tors, Counts Bertrand and Montholon, and to Count Las 
 Cases, as to the facilities I had, and the familiarity with 
 which I was honored. This, I hope, will be sufficient cv 
 the score of opportunity. 
 
 The next point is as to the accuracy of the transcript. 
 Upon this subject my plan was as follows : I spoke as 
 little and listened as attentively as I could, seldom inter- 
 posing, except for the j)urpose of leading to those facts on 
 which I wished for information. To my memory, though 
 naturally retentive, I did not entirely trust : immediately 
 on retiring from Napoleon's presence, I hurried to my 
 chamber and carefully committed to paper the topica of 
 conversation, with, so far as I could, the exact words used. 
 Where I had the least doubt as to my accuracy, I marked 
 it in my journal, and by a subsequent recurrence to the 
 topic, when future opportunities oft'ered, I satisfied myself; 
 this, although I have avoided them as much as possible, 
 may account for some occasional repetitions, but I have 
 thought it better to appear sometimes tedious, than ever to 
 run the risk of a mis-statement. My long residence at 
 Longwood rendered those opportunities frequent, and the 
 facility of communication which Napoleon allowed, made 
 the introduction of almost any subject easy. Thus did I 
 form my original journal ; as it increased in interest, it 
 became of course to me an object of increased solicitude; 
 and as nothing which could possibly occur at St. Helena 
 would have surprised me, I determined to place its contents 
 at least beyond the power of that spoliation which after- 
 wards was perpetrated on some of my other property. 
 Having purchased in the island a machine for that purpose,
 
 Tiii PUKKACt. 
 
 I InuuuniiUHl at intervalH tlu' portioiis copied to a friend on 
 l»vird one of his njaje^ty's snips in the roads, who for- 
 wiinl.vl tliem, a.s i)p|x>rtunities oeeurreil, to Mr. llnlnies ol' 
 Lvon's Inn, N:»|>«^l«'«>n's respectable agent in London. The 
 entire of this eojiv Mr. Ilolnie^s duly reoi-ived some time 
 
 Ercvious to my return to Kn^land, lus appears bcli)\v by 
 is own authenlieation,* and jtart i»f the silver jiaper niaiiu- 
 acript as he rtveiveil it, 1 have ileposited with my j)ublisher 
 for llic salislaetion of the skeptical. Thus, lor the authen- 
 ticity of the following conversations the reader has the 
 giiarnn teen's, tirst, of the undoubted opportunities ad'orded 
 me- seet)ndly, of their having been t^tken on the spot; 
 and thirdly, of their having been transmitted at the mo 
 mcnt ; and fourthly, of the original document itself, au- 
 tijenticaled by the persotj to whom it had been consigned 
 and now submitted to general inspection. Independent 
 of these, I think I may refer with confidence to those third 
 persons, whose interviews with Napoleon are occasionally 
 introduced ; and some of the oflicial members of his ma- 
 jesty's government cannot, with truth, deny, that many of 
 the political conversations were by me communicated at 
 no great interval after their occurrence. Such communica- 
 tions I considered it my duty to make wherever 1 thought 
 their import might benefit the country. What use min- 
 isters may have made of them I know not, but certainly 
 the preventive system with respect to smugglers was 
 adopted soon after the transmission of Napoleon's conver- 
 sation on the subject. Perhaps, however, after all, the best 
 proof of the authenticity of these volumes will be Ibund 
 in their own contents — independent of the internal evi- 
 dence contained in the anecdotes themselves, there was, on 
 whatever came from Napoleon's mind, an mimitable im- 
 press. On this subject, if 1 appear to many unnecessarily 
 minute, it is because 1 am well aware that every attempt 
 will be made to deny the authenticity of these conversa- 
 tions ; there are too many implicated — too many interested 
 
 * 3 Lyon's Inn, Jiint 22d, 1822. 
 
 I eertify that I received all Uie papers alluded to by Mr. O'Meara io tL** 
 ^»i«*, a c«jii«iderable time before hw arrival in England. 
 
 William UoLUsa.
 
 PREPACiJ. li 
 
 —too many who must wish to cast an impenetrable shade 
 over the transactions of St. Helena, to suffer the truth to 
 obtain an undisputed circulation. The following official 
 letters will show, that it was at least the desire of his 
 majesty's ministers to bury Napoleon's mind with his body 
 in the grave of his imprisonment. If I have disobeyed 
 the injunction, it is because I thought that every fragment 
 of such a mind should be preserved to history, because I 
 despised the despotism which would incarcerate even intel- 
 lect : — and because I thought those only should become 
 subsidiary to concealment, who were conscious of actions 
 which could not bear the light. The following creditable 
 documents emanating from the ministers of a free country, 
 were transmitted by authority to me at St, Helena, soon 
 after the publication of Mr. Warden's book. Every feel- 
 ing heart will make its own comment on them. 
 
 His Majesty's Ship Conqueror, 
 
 8t. Helena Roads, 2d January, 1813. 
 
 Sir, — I herewith inclose to you a copy of a letter I have 
 just received from Mr. Secretary Barrow, (relative to a 
 work published by Mr. Warden, late surgeon of his majes- 
 ty's ship Northumberland,) which I desire you will pay 
 most particular attention to. 
 
 I am, Sir, your most obedient. 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 RoBT. Plampln, . 
 
 Rear Admiral, Commander-in-Chief. 
 To Mr- Barry O'Meara, Surgeojr, 
 
 R. N. Longwood, St. Helena. 
 
 'Jfo. XII.) Admiralty Office, Uth September, 1817. 
 
 Sir, — My Lords Commissioners of the admiralty having 
 had under their consideration a work which has been pub- 
 lished by Mr. Warden, late surgeon of his majesty's ship 
 Northumberland, their lordships have commanded me to 
 signify their directions to you to acquaint all the officers 
 employed under your orders, tlijit they are to understand, 
 tiiat if they should presume to publish any information
 
 X IRKFACE. 
 
 which thev may havt* obUiiuetl by being obiciivlly emi^lojed 
 at St. Helena, they 'vill suflVr Oieir lonlshijs' Louv y dis- 
 |>lf:i.sure. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your nuist ohodient, 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 John Uahkow. 
 
 to AVair Admiral Plampiit, St. J/rlnia. 
 
 Such were the attempts, certainly not unaccountable, to 
 cancel all recollection of Najujlcon, at least in his captivity 
 — those who issued these orders forgot that the jioivrr aid not 
 accompany the will to subject the publications of Knglish- 
 men to an I'ynjmjnatiir. I)cspising the denunciation as I 
 did, and from my heart do, I have, however, thought it 
 only my duty not to publish these conversations till after 
 Napoleon's death ; nor have I done so even now, without 
 the knowledge of his executors. All danger from tliem is 
 past: the tongue which uttered them is silent for ever, and 
 liistorv has a right to them. 
 
 If I wiis disposed to comment on these letters, I should 
 say that they proceed altogether upon a wrong assumption ; 
 namely, that an official footing at Longwood gave to any 
 one the power of obtaining the information which I col- 
 lected. Nothing can be more absurd. If I had acted a 
 different part from what I did — if, in place of reconciling 
 the allegiance of a subject with the compassion of a Chris- 
 tian, and preserving the rights of my country, while 1 took 
 care not to comj»romise the feelings of my nature, I tried 
 to make my office the avenue to fortune — if I sunk the 
 man in the menial — if I became an official slave instead of 
 an honest servant — if I courted power, by straining iny 
 loyalty to suit the purposes of mean vexation and unmanly 
 vengeance — if I lifted uj) my hoof against the dead lion, 
 or disjtlayed my pigmy prowess by a dastard warfare upon 
 the helpless infirmities of a fallen enemy; I should not 
 only have had no opportunities of access, but I should 
 have been proscribed Napoleon's, and man's society. But 
 1 acted altogether upon different principles; alter having 
 devoted the best fifteen years of my life to c<nnbating his 
 soldiers in the field, and on the wave, I forgot, when he
 
 PREFACE. XI 
 
 was mj country's prisoner, that he had ever been my coun 
 try's foe. I thought the conquest of clemency, superior 
 even to that of valor, and that a proud country should 
 make her enemies confess, not only that she conquered, 
 but that she deserved to conquer. In such a place as St. 
 Helena, there could have been no danger from the worst 
 man's deviating into feelings of humanity ; fenced round, 
 as it is, with the most frightful precipices, with only one 
 practicable place of egress, and that one not only bristling 
 with cannon, and crowded with guards, but effectually bar- 
 ricadoed by our squadron, escape could scarcely have been 
 effected by a miracle. The simple precaution which Na- 
 poleon himself suggested, of never suffering any ship to 
 sail, until his actual safety should be ascertained, might 
 have obviated the necessity of almost any other. Having 
 said thus much upon the motives by which my conduct 
 has been actuated, I have only to add, that although I 
 shall contemptuously pass by any anonymous insinuations, 
 I am ready to meet any charge before any tribunal what- 
 soever, where the truth can be investigated. Lei me only 
 have an opportunity of proof, and a responsible accuser. 
 In the face of the world, I challenge investigation. With 
 respect to the mandiite issued by the admiralty againsi 
 publication, it is suited to the meridian rather of Algiers 
 than England — the very attempt in a free country, need 
 only be mentioned to be reprobated; it must have proved 
 as abortive as it was despotic, for even were any English- 
 man base enough to obey it, the Frenchman need not ; 
 so that it was at best but a bungling rellnement on the re- 
 volutionary device said to have been proposed, of burning 
 the books in Paris, to annihilate learning, as if no othei- 
 copies existed in the world. With this remark, howevei', 
 I shall dismiss the subject, as it is difiicult to say, whether 
 the credit of the measure is due to the present literary 
 board, or to those lay philosophers whose future censor- 
 ship has been since cruelly dispensed with by the House 
 of Commons. 
 
 With respect to the views of men and things taken by 
 Napoleon in his remarks, I beg to guard myself against 
 any adoption of them as my own. I an. merely the narra- 
 tor. I give them as the substance of his interesting and
 
 xn PRKFACF. 
 
 anr<».«<orve<l conversations, neither voucliinp f<jr ttic critical 
 esactneKs of his dates, nor the justness of" his opinions, nor 
 indeed for anything but the accuracy of my report. I only 
 engage to the reatlrr to lay iK-fore him Napoleon's senti- 
 ments as that extrat)nlinary man uttered them, 
 
 • Wiiriu from tlu- heart, and faithful to its fires." 
 
 In making this remark, however, I am bound to add, 
 that I neitlu-r avoid nor evade inquiry; in any investiga- 
 tion in which f/w trutJi can be (old, I am perfectly willing to 
 lake my share, ready to abide the event, whether it bring 
 reward or re8v>onsibdity.
 
 NAPOLEON IN EXILE; 
 
 OR, 
 
 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 In consequence of the resolution which had been adopted by 
 the British government to send the former sovereign of France 
 to a distant settlement, and communicated to him by Major 
 General Sir Henry Bunbury, under secretary of state, on board 
 of the Bellerophon, 74, Captain Maitland, at Plymouth, a few 
 days before. Napoleon, accompanied by such of his suite as were 
 permitted by our government, was removed on the 4th of 
 August, 1815, from the Bellerophon to the Northumberland, 74, 
 Captain Ross. The vessel bore the flag of Rear-Admiial Sir 
 George Cockburn, G. C. B., who was intrusted with the charge 
 of conveying Napoleon to St. Helena, and of regulating all 
 measures necessary to the security of his personal detention, 
 after his arrival at the place of his confinement. Out of the 
 suite that had followed his fortunes on board of the Bellerophon 
 and Myrmidon, his majesty's government permitted four of his 
 officers, his surgeon, and twelve of his household, to share his 
 exile. The undermentioned persons were consequently selected, 
 and accompanied him on board of the Northumberland : — Counts 
 Bertrand, Montholon, and Las Cases, Baron Gourgaud, Countess 
 Bertrand and her three children, Countess Montholon and child, 
 Marchand, premier valet de chambre, Cipriani, maitre d'hotel, 
 Pieron, St. Denis, Novarre, Le Page, two Archambauds, Santini, 
 Rousseau, Gentilini, Josephine, Bernard and his wife, domestics 
 to Count Bertrand. A fine youth of about fourteen, son to Count 
 
 1
 
 S A VOICK Flii'M ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 La.1 CiuM^a, wfts also pormittod to accompany his father. Pr(v 
 ri'^us to thoir ri<iiu>val from the RoIU'rnphon, the swords and 
 othrr arms of the prisoners were denian<le(l from them, and 
 thoir hicjiaije suhseqiiently examined, in order that possession 
 inij-ht he taken of any property fonnd, whether in bills, money, 
 or jewels. After paying those of his suite who were not per 
 initted t«) aeeompany him, only four thousand Napoleons in gold 
 were found, which were taken possession of hy persons authorized 
 to that eflect by his majesty's government. 
 
 WhfU the determination of the British ministers to send 
 Napoleon to St. Helena was communicated to his suite, M. 
 Maingaud, the surgeon who had accompanied him from Roche- 
 fort, refused to follow him to the tropics. M. Maingaud was a 
 young man unknown to Napoleon, and had been fortuitously 
 chosen to attend him until M. Forreau de Beauregard, who had 
 been his surgeon in Elba, could join him ; and I was informed 
 that even had he been willing to proceed to St. Helena, his ser- 
 vices wt>uld not have been accepted. On the day that Napoleon 
 first came on board of the Bellerophon, after he had gone round 
 the ship, he addressed me on the poop, and asked if I were the 
 chirurgien major? I replied in the affirmative, in the Italian 
 language. He then asked in the same language, what country I 
 was a native of? I replied of Ireland. " Where did you study 
 your profession ?" " In Dublin and London." " Which of the 
 two is the best school of physic ?" I replied that I thought 
 Dublin the best school of anatomy, and London of surgery. 
 '■ Oh," said he, smiling, "you say Dublin is the best school of 
 anatomy because you are an Irishman." I answered that I 
 begged pardon, that I had said so because it was true ; as in 
 Dublin the subjects for dissection were to be procured at a fourth 
 < if the price paid in London, and the professors were equally 
 good. He smiled at this reply, and asked what actions I had 
 been in, and in what parts of the globe I had served ? I men- 
 tioned several, and amongst others Egypt. At the word Egypt, he 
 commenced a series of questions, which I answered to the best 
 • if rny ability. I mentioned to him that the corps of officers to 
 which I then belonged messed in a house which had formerly
 
 1815 — i^UGUST. 3 
 
 served as a stable for his horses. He Laughed at this, and ever 
 afterwards noticed me when walking on deck, and occasionally 
 called me to interpret or explain. On the passage from Roche- 
 fort to Torbay, Colonel Planat, one of his orderly officers, was 
 taken very ill, and attended by me, as M. Maingaud was incapa- 
 ble, through sea-sickness, of offering any assistance. During 
 the period of his illness, Napoleon frequently asked about him, 
 and conversed with me on the nature of his malady, and the 
 mode of cure practiced. After our arrival at Plymouth, General 
 Gourgaud also was very unwell, and did me the honor to have 
 recourse to me for advice. All those circumstances had the 
 effect of bringing me more in contact with Napoleon than any 
 other officer in the ship, with the exception of Captain Maitland ; 
 and the day before the Bellerophon left Torbay, the Duke of 
 Rovigo, with whom I was frequently in the habit of conversing, 
 asked me if I were willing to accompany Napoleon to St. Helena 
 as surgeon, adding, that if I were, I s>. uld receive a communica- 
 tion to that effect from Count Bertraivi the grand marechal. I 
 replied that I had no objection, provided the British government 
 and my captain were willing to permit me, and also under cer- 
 tain stipulations. I communicated this immediately to Captain 
 Maitland, who was good enough to favor me with his advice and 
 opinion ; which were that I ought to accept of the offer, provided 
 the sanction of Admiral Lord Keith and of the English govern- 
 ment could be obtained, adding, that he would mention the 
 matter to his lordship. On our arrival at Torbay, Count Ber- 
 trand made the proposal to Captain Maitland and myself, which 
 was immediately communicated to Lord Keith. His Lordship 
 sent for me on board of the Tonnant, and after some preliniinai\ 
 conversation, in which I explained the nature of the stipulations 
 I was desirous of making, did me the honor to recommend me 
 in strong terms to accept of the situation, adding, that he could 
 not order me to do so, as it was foreign to the naval service and 
 a business altogether extraordinary ; but that he advised me to 
 accept of it, and expres?ed his conviction that government would 
 feel obliged to me, as they were very anxious that Napoleon 
 should be accompanied by a surgeon of his own choice. His
 
 4 A VOUK FU<»M Sr. HKLKNA. 
 
 lordiihip »*1dod, that it x.-is an .'mplovinoiit which 1 luiild hold 
 porfoctly c«>nsistont with my honi>r, ami with thi- liuty I owed Lc 
 my iH>untry and my sovereign. 
 
 Feeling highly gnitified that the stej) which 1 had in eontoni- 
 plnti.'U had met with the approbation of charaeters so distin- 
 ^ li-hed in the service as. Admiral Lord Keith aiKl Captain 
 Maitland/ I accepted of the situation, and proceeded on board 
 of the Northumberland, stipulating, however, by letter to his 
 lordsliip, that 1 should be always considered as a British officer, 
 and upon the list of na-val surgeons on full j)ay, paid by the 
 British government, and that I should be at liberty to quit so 
 peculiar a service, should I find it not to be consonant to my 
 w ishes.f 
 
 During the voyage, which lasted about ten weeks. Napoleon 
 did not suffer much from sea-sickness after the first week. He 
 rarely made his appearance on deck until after dinner. He 
 breakfasted in his own cabin, a la fourchette, at ten or eleven 
 o'clock, and spent a considerable portion of the day in writing 
 
 • It Is no small gratification to me to be able to produce such a testimonial as 
 the following from a captain with whom I served in three diflferent ships : 
 
 Nuvemher 5th, 1814. 
 
 Dkab Sib:— The attention and meritorious conduct of Mr. Barry O'Meara, 
 while Burjroon with me in the Goliath, calls upon me as an act of justice to him 
 and of benefit to the service, to state, that during the fifteen years I have com- 
 manded some one of his majesty's ships, I have never had the pleasure of sail- 
 ing with an officer in his situation who so fully answered my expectations. Not 
 being a judge of his professional abilities, though I have every reason to believe 
 ihem of the first class, and know that to be the opinion of some of the oldest 
 •ud most respectable surgeons in the navy, I shall only state, tliat during a 
 period of very bad weather, which occasioned the Goliath to be extremely 
 sickly, hi.-* attention and tenderness to the men was such as to call forth my 
 Warmest approbation and the grateful affection of both officers and men. Were 
 it probable that I should soon obtain another appointment, I know of no man 
 in the service I should wish to have as surgeon so much as Mr. O'Meara. As, 
 however, in the present state of the war that is not likely, I trust you will do mc 
 the favor of giving him an appointment, as an encouragement to young men of 
 his de«cription, and believe me, 
 
 Dear Sir, &c., &c., <&c., 
 
 Fbsderiok L. Maitlanik 
 To D». flARsnn, Ac, Ac, Ac, 
 
 Tran^ort Board. 
 
 1 App«odiz No. 1.
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 5 
 
 and reading. Before he sat down to dinner he generally played 
 a game at chess, and remained at that meal, in compliment to 
 the admiral, about an hour ; at which time coffee was brought to 
 him, and he left the company to take a walk upon deck, accom- 
 panied by Counts Bertrand or Las Cases, while the admiral and 
 the rest continued at table for an hour or two longer. While 
 walking the quarter-deck, he frequently spoke to such of the 
 officers as could understand and converse with him ; and often 
 asked Mr. Warden, (the surgeon of the Northumberland,) ques- 
 tions touching the prevailing complaints, and mode of treatment 
 of the sick. He occasionally played a game at whist, but 
 generally retired to his cabin at nine or ten o'clock. Such was 
 the uniform course of his life during the voyage. 
 
 The Northumberland hove too off Funchal, and the Havannah 
 frigate was sent in to procure refreshments. During the time 
 we were off the anchorage, a violent scirocco levante prevailed, 
 which did great mischief to the grapes. We were informed that 
 some of the ignorant and superstitious inhabitants attributed it to 
 the presence of Napoleon. Fourteen or fifteen hundred volumes 
 of books were ordered from England for Napoleon's use, by 
 Count Bertrand. 
 
 We arrived at St. Helena on the 15th of October. Nothing 
 can be more desolate or repulsive than the appearance of the 
 exterior of the island. When we had anchored, it was expected 
 that Napoleon would have been invited to stop at Plantation 
 House, the country-seat of the governor, until a house could 
 have been got ready for him ; as heretofore passengers of dis- 
 tinction had invariably been asked to pass the time they re- 
 mained on the island there. Some forcible reason possibly 
 existed, as this courtesy was not extended to him. 
 
 On the evening of the 17th, about seven o'clock. Napoleon 
 landed at James Town, accompanied by the admiral, Count and 
 Countess Bertrand, Las Cases, Count and Countess Montholon, 
 &c., and proceeded to a house belonging to a gentleman named 
 Porteous, which had been taken for that purpose by the admiral, 
 and was one of the best in the town. It was not, however, free 
 from inconvenience, as Napoleon could not make his appearance
 
 6 A V>'irK FIMM ST HKl-KNA. 
 
 nt thi \\ iixlows, or fvin di-sri'ini (Vnm his licd-c-haiiilu'r, without 
 lioing (XpostMl to tho null' aiul ar«h'iit giize of those who wished 
 to gratify their ourio>flty with a si^lit of the iinporial (•aj)tivo. 
 There was no house in the town at all calcnlated for privacy, 
 except the governor's, to which there belonged a court, and in 
 front there was a walk ujxm the ramparts facing the sea, and 
 '•verli>okiiig the Marino, which proximity to the ocean probably 
 was the cause of it-s not having l»een selected for him. 
 
 The inhabitants of the island were in very anxious expecta- 
 tion during the greatest part of the day to obtain a sight of (hi; 
 exiled ruler when he should make his entree to the place of iils 
 confinement. Numbers of persons of every description crowded 
 the Marino, the street, and the houses by which he was to pass, 
 in the eager hope of catching a glimpse of him. The expectations 
 of most of them were however disappointed, as he did not land 
 until after sun-set, at which time, the majority of the islanders, 
 tired of waiting, and supposing that his landing was deferred 
 until the following morning, had retired to their homes. It was 
 also at this time nearly impossible to recognize his person. 
 
 Counts Bertrand and Montholon, with their ladies. Count Las 
 Cases and son. General Gotirgaud and myself, were also accom- 
 modated in Mr. Porteous's house. 
 
 At a very early hour on the morning of the 18th, Napoleon, 
 accompanied by the admiral and Las Cases, proceeded up to 
 Longwood, a country seat of the lieut. governor's, which he was 
 informed was the spot that was deemed the most proper for his 
 future residence. He was mounted on a spirited little V)lack 
 horse, which was lent for the occasion by the governor. Colonel 
 Wilks. On his way up he observed a neat little spot called the 
 Briars, situated about two hundred yards from the road, belong- 
 ing to a gentleman named Balcombe, who, he was informed, was 
 to be his purveyor, and appeared pleased with its romantic 
 situation. 
 
 Longwood is situated on a plain formed on the summit of a 
 mountain about eighteen hundred feet above the level of the sea; 
 and including Deadwood, comprises fourteen or fifteen hundred 
 acres of land, a great part of which is planted with an indigenoui
 
 1815— OCTOBER. 7 
 
 tree called gumwood. Its appearance is sombre and unproniis- 
 ing. Napoleon, howevei-, said that he would be more cou 
 tented to fix his residence there, than to remain in the town as a 
 mark for the prying curiosity of importunate spectators. Un 
 fortunately the house only consisted ot five rooms on a ground 
 floor, which had been built one after the other, according to the 
 wants of the family, and without any regard to either order or 
 convenience, aud were totally inadequate for the accommoda- 
 tion of himself and his suite. Several additions were conse- 
 quently necessary, which it was evident could not be accom- 
 plished for some weeks, even under the superintendence of so 
 active an officer as Sir George Cockburn. Upon his return from 
 Longwood, Napoleon proceeded to the Briars, and intimated to 
 Sir George that he would prefer remaining there, until the 
 necessary additions were made to Longwood, to returning to 
 town, provided the proprietor's consent could be obtained. This 
 request was immediately granted. The Briars is the name of an 
 estate romantically situated about a mile and a half from James 
 Town, comprising a few acres of highly cultivated land, excellent 
 fruit and kitchen gardens, plentifully supplied with water, 
 adorned with many delightful shady walks, and long celebrated 
 for the genuine old English hospitality of the proprietor, Mr. 
 Balcombe. About twenty yards from the dwelling house stood 
 a little pavilion, consisting of one good room on the ground- 
 floor, and two garrets, which Napoleon, not willing to cause any 
 inconvenience to the family of his host, selected for his abode. 
 Fn the lower room his camp-bed was put up, and in this room he 
 ate, slept, read, and dictated a portion of his eventful life. Las 
 Cases and his son were accommodated in one of the garrets 
 above, and Napoleon's premier valet de chambre, and others of 
 his household, slept in the other, and upon the floor in the little 
 hall opposite the entrance of the lower room. At first his 
 dinner was sent ready cooked from the town ; but afterwards, 
 Mr. Balcombe found means to get a kitchen fitted up for his use. 
 The accommodations were so insufficient, that Napoleon fre- 
 quently walked out after he had finished his dinner, in order to
 
 8 A VOICK FUOM ST. IIKI-KNA. 
 
 allt'W his dotnc-slii^ an opportimit}' o\ nitiiig tlifiis in tlio room 
 \riiicb ho had just quitted. 
 
 Mr. Buloonibo'.s family iH>nsistod of his wife, two daughters, 
 v«no about Iwoivo, and the other fifteen years of age, and two 
 b4.>ys of five of six. The young hidies spoke Krcncli fluently, 
 and Napoleon frequently dropt in to play a rnltber of whist or 
 hold a little conversazione. On one occasion he indulged them 
 by participating in a game of blindman's bull', very much to the 
 Muust>meut of Che yiHiiig ladies. Nothing was left undone by 
 ibis worthy family that could contribute to lessen the inconve- 
 niences of his situation. A captain of artillery resided at the 
 Briars as orderly ofllcer, and at first a sergeant and some soldiers 
 were also stationed there as an additional secAirity ; but upon a 
 remonstrance being made to Sir George Cockburn, the latter, 
 convinced of their inutility, ordered them to be removed. 
 Counts Bertrand and Montholon, with their respective ladies and 
 children, Gen. Gourgaud, and myself, lived together at Mr. 
 Porteous's, where a suitable table in the French style was pro- 
 vided l»y Mr. Balcoinbe. When any of them were desirous of 
 paying a visit to the Briars, or of going out of the town else- 
 where, no further restriction was imposed upon them, than 
 cjHising them to be accompanied by myself or by some other 
 British officer, or followed by a soldier. In this manner, they 
 were permitted to visit any part of the island they pleased, ex- 
 cept the forts and batteries. They were visited by Cokmel and 
 Mrs. Wilks, Lieutenant-colonel and Mrs. Skelton, the members 
 of council, and by most of the respectable inhabitants, and the 
 officers, both military and naval, belonging to the garrison and 
 3Cuadron, and by their wt«ves and faniilics. Little evening par- 
 ties were occasionally given by the French to their visitors, and 
 matters were managed in such a manner that there was not 
 much appearance of constraint. Sometimes the Countesses I'er- 
 Irand and Montholon, accompanied by one or two casual island 
 vi.siters, passed an hour or two in viewing and occasionally pur- 
 chasing some of the productions of the East and of Europe, 
 exhiy)ited in the shops of the tradesmen : which, though far from 
 oflTering the variety or the magnificence of those of the Rue
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 9 
 
 Vivienne, tended nevertheless to distraire them a little from the 
 tedious monotony of a St. Helena residence. 
 
 Sir George Cockburn gave several well attended balls, to all 
 of which they were invited ; and where, with the exception of 
 Napoleon, they frequently went. Attention was paid to their 
 feelings ; and, upon the whole, matters, if not entirely satisfoc- 
 tory to them upon some points, were at least placed upon such 
 a footing as to render their existence tolerable, had not the 
 island in itself presented so many local wants and miseries. It 
 would perhaps, have been much better and more consistent with 
 propriety, had Napoleon been accommodated at Plantation 
 House, until the repairs and additions making to Longwood 
 were finished, instead of being so indifferently provided for in 
 point of lodging as he was at the Briars. I must, however, do 
 the admiral the justice to say, that upon this point I have reason 
 to believe his hands were tied up. In the mean time, no exer- 
 tions were spared by Sir George Cockburn to enlarge and im- 
 prove the old building of Longwood, so as to render it capable 
 of containing so great an increase of inmates. For this purpose, 
 all the workmen, not only of the squadron, but in the island, were 
 put in requisition ; and Longwood for nearly two months pre- 
 sented as busy a scene as ever has been witnessed during the 
 war, in any of his majesty's dock-yards whilst a fleet was fitting 
 out under the personal directions of some of our first naval com- 
 manders. The admiral, indefatigable in his exertions, was fre- 
 quently seen to arrive at Longwood shortly after sunrise, stimu- 
 lating by his presence the St. Helena workmen, who, lazy and 
 indolent in general, beheld with astonishment the dispatch and 
 activity of a man-of-war succeed to the characteristic idleness, 
 which, until then, they had been accustomed both to witness and 
 to practice. 
 
 Every day bodies of two or three hundred seamen were em 
 ployed in carrying up from James Town, timber and other mate- 
 rials for building, together with furniture, which, though the best 
 was purchased at an enormous expense wherever it could be 
 procured, was paltry and old-fashioned. So deficient was the 
 island in tlie means of transport, that almost everything, even 
 
 1*
 
 10 A VOICK HU)M ST. UKI.KN'A. 
 
 tJjt' vory stoin's tor t>iiil(lii)^, wi-r*' raiiifd iip the steep sidf-jmth 
 on tho hfjuls aiiil shoulders of tho soaiiu'ii, ocnisiomilly assisted 
 l»y fsiti^iie partii's of the fiftv-lhird re<<;iiiieiit. H) iin-ans of 
 imx»ssjiiit hihor, Lungwood Ilnuse was enlar<.;ed so as to julmit, 
 on the l>th of Pecemher, Napoleon and j>ail of his ht)Usehold, 
 Count and Countess Montholon and cliildren, Count and youni; 
 Liis Cases. 
 
 Napoleon himself had a small narrow Itcd-room on the ground- 
 lUwr, a writing-room of the same dimensions, and a sort of a 
 small anteehamhcr, in which a hath was put uj). The writing- 
 room opened into a dark and low apartment, whiih was con- 
 verted into a dining-room. The opposite wing consisted of a 
 bed-room, larger than that of Napoleon's, which, with an ante- 
 chamber and closet, formed the accommodation for Coimt and 
 C^iuntess Montholon and son. From the dining-room a door led 
 to a drawing-room, about eighteen feet by fifteen. In prolonga- 
 tion of this, one longer, much higher, and more airy, was built 
 of wood by Sir George Cockburn, with three windows on each 
 side, and a veranda leading to the garden. This, although it 
 labored under the inconvenience of becoming intolerably hot 
 towards the evening, whenever the sun shone forth in tropical 
 splendor, by the rays penetrating the wood of which it was com- 
 posed, was the only good room in the building. Las Cases had 
 a room next the kitchen,* which had formerly been occupied by 
 some of Colonel Skelton's servants, through the ceiling of which 
 an opening was cut so as to admit a very narrow stair, which led 
 to a sort of cockloft above, where his son reposed. The garrets 
 over the old building were flijored and converted into apartments 
 for Marchand, Cipriani, St. Denis, Josephine, &c. From the 
 sloping structure of the roof, it was impossible to stand upright 
 in those garrets, unless in the centre, and the sun, penetrating 
 through the slating, rendered them occasionally insupportalily 
 
 • Some time nftcrwards an apartment wa-s bnilt for the count and liis son at 
 the tack of tlie liouso, wliioh was !<nbs'>qiiPntly divided into a bed and sitliiij- 
 room, witli one for li>eir servant. Tliey were so small that tliere wa.s not room 
 for a chair lietween tlie Ije Jsteads of the liitlier and son ; and so low, that tb< 
 ceiling oould '<c tuuchcd by a perbon standing on the floor.
 
 1815 — DECEMBER, ll 
 
 hot. Additional rooms were constructing fur them, und foi 
 General Gourgaud, the orderly officer, and myself, who, in the 
 meantime, were accommodated with tents. Lieutenant Blood, 
 and Mr. Cooper, carpenter of the Northumberland, with several 
 artificers from the ship, also resided upon the premises ; the two 
 former under an old studding-sail, which had been converted into 
 a tent. A very liberal table (considering St. Helena) was found 
 by order of Sir George Cockburn, for the orderly officers and 
 myself. 
 
 Count and Countess Bertrand and family were lodged in a 
 little house at Hut's Gate, about a mile from Longwood, which, 
 though uncomfortable, was nevertheless hired at their own 
 request, and was the only one which could be procured at a 
 moderate rate in the neighborhood, as it was found impossible 
 to accommodate them at Longwood until a new house, the foun- 
 dation of which was immediately laid down by Sir George Cock- 
 burn, could be finished. 
 
 During the time that Napoleon resided at the Briars, I kept 
 no regular journal, and consequently can give only a brief out- 
 line of what took place. His time was occupied principally in 
 dictating to Las Cases and his son, or to Counts Bertrand, Mon- 
 tholon and Gourgaud, some of whom daily visited him. He 
 occasionally received some visitors, who came to pay their 
 respects to him on the lawn before the house ; and in a few 
 instances, some who had received that permission were presented 
 to him, when at Mr, Balcombe's in the evening. During the 
 whole time he was there, he never left the grounds but once, 
 when he strolled down to the little residence of Major Hudson, 
 of the St. Helena regiment, where he conversed with the Major 
 and Mrs. Hodson for half an hour, taking great notice cf their 
 children, who were extremely handsome. He frequently, how- 
 ever, walked for hours in the shady paths and shruliberies of the 
 Briars, where care was taken to prevent his being intruded upon. 
 During one of these walks, he stopped and pointed out to me 
 the frightful precipices which environed us, and said, " Behold 
 your country's generosity, this is their liberality to the unfortu- 
 nate man, who Ijlindly relying on what he so falsely imagined
 
 U A VOICK FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 ♦.o be their national c>liaiaot«'r, in an evil h«»ur unsuspectingly cou 
 f\6vi\ himself to tliein. I once thouj^ht that you \ver« t'ree : 1 
 now see that yi)ur ministers laugh at your laws, which are like 
 those of other nations, formed only to oppress the <li-fi;iiseless. 
 and screen the powerful, whenever your government lias any 
 object in view." 
 
 At another time he discovered through the interpretation of 
 Las Oises, that an old Malay, who was hired by Mr. Balcombe 
 as gardener, had been entrapped from his native place on board 
 of an English ship several years before, brought to St. Helena, 
 smuggled on shore, illegally sold for a slave, let out to whoever 
 would hire him, and his earnings chiefly a[)propriated to his 
 master. This he communicated to the admiral, who immediately 
 set on foot an inquiry ; the probable result would have been 
 the emancipation of poor Toby, had the admiral remained in 
 command.* 
 
 Arrangements were made with the purveyor to supply certain 
 quantities of provisions, wines, die. The scale of allowances 
 was liberal, and such as was deemed sufficient for the service 
 of the house by Cipriani, the maitre d'hutel. It is true, that 
 sometimes the provisions were deficient in quantity or bad in 
 quality, but this was often caused either by the absojlute want of 
 resources on the island, or by accident, and was generally reme- 
 died wherever such remedy could be applied, by Sir George 
 Cockburn. 
 
 A space of about twelve miles in circumference was allotted 
 to Napoleon, within which he might ride or walk, without being 
 accompanied by a British officer. Within this space was placed 
 the camp of the 53d, at Deadwood, about a mile from Long- 
 wood house, and another at Hut's Gate, opposite Bertrand's, 
 close to whose door there was an officer's guard. An arrange- 
 ment was made with Bertrand, by means of which persons fur- 
 
 ♦ When Napoleon discovered, some time after the departure of Sir George 
 Cockbain, that the poor man liad not been emancipated, he directed Mr. Bal- 
 combe to purchase him from his masitcr, set him at liberty, and charge the 
 junonnt to Count Bertrand's private account. Sir Hudson Lowe, however, 
 honi^ht proper to prohibit this, and the man was still in a elate of slavery wbei 
 i left BU Helena.
 
 1815 — DECEMBER. 13 
 
 nished with a pass from him, had permission to enter Longwood 
 grounds. This was not productive of inconvenience, as no 
 person could, in the first instance, go to Bertrand's without per- 
 mission from the admiral, the governor, or Sir George Bingham, 
 and consequently no improper persons were permitted to have 
 access to him. The French also were allowed to send sealed 
 letters to the inhabitants and others residing upon the island, a 
 •■egulation not likely to prove injurious, as it was evident that if 
 they wished to transmit letters to Europe, this could only be 
 attempted after previous arrangements having been made ; and it 
 was highly improbable that they would send, through the medium 
 of an English servant, or dragoon, letters, the contents of which 
 would compromise either themselves or their friends, when the 
 more simple and natural mode of delivering them personally to 
 the individuals for whom they were intended was entirely in 
 their power, and with whom they were at liberty to visit and 
 converse with at pleasure.* 
 
 A subaltern's guard was posted at the entrance of Longwood, 
 about six hundred paces from the house, and a cordon of senti- 
 nels and picquets, were placed round the limits. At nine o'clock 
 the sentinels were drawn in and stationed in communication with 
 each other ; surrounding the house in such positions, that no per- 
 son could come in or go out without being seen and scrutinized 
 by them. At the entrance of the house, double sentinels were 
 placed, and patroles were continually passing backward and for 
 ward. After nine. Napoleon was not at liberty to leave the 
 house, unless in company with a field ofiicer ; and no person 
 whatever was allowed to pass without the counter-sign. This 
 state of affairs continued until daylight in the morning. Every 
 .anding-place in the island, and indeed, every place which pre- 
 sented the semblance of one, was furnished with a picquet, and 
 sentinels were even placed upon every goat-path leading to the 
 sea, though in truth, the obstacles presented by nature in almost 
 
 * A strong proof of this is, that during tlie nine months Sir George Coekburn 
 had this system put in force, not a single letter was ever sent to Europe, unlesa 
 Ihroii^li the regular government channels.
 
 U A VOICK FKOM ST. MKLEN'A. 
 
 all tlu> paths ill that irni'«tlt>ii. w.niM. (if tluiiist>lvi's, have pnived 
 insuriuountaliU^ to so iiinvirhly ii porsoii us N!i|)oleou. 
 
 From tho various sifinal posts on the islam!, ships art' fViHpKMit- 
 l_v ilisoovofiHl at twoiity-foiir loaijtu's' distance, and always long 
 boforo thov i-an approach tht" shori-. Two ships of war coiiliii- 
 uallv ornized, one to windward and thi- uthrr ti> leewanl. t«> which 
 siijnals were made as soon as a vesst-l was discovertd frmii the 
 pKsts on shore. Every ship, except a British man-of-war, was 
 at'0«>inpaiiieil down to the road by one of the cruizers, who re- 
 mained with her until she was either permitted to anchoi or was 
 sent away. No foreign vessels were allowed to anchor unless 
 uniler oireumstanees of great distress, in which case no person 
 from them was permitted to land, and an officer and party from 
 t>ne of the ships of war was sent on board to take charge of 
 thfiii as long as they remained, as well as in order to prevent 
 any improper communication. Every fishing-boat belonging to 
 the island was numbered, and anchored every evening at sun-sot, 
 under the superintendence of a lieutenant in the navy. No boats, 
 excepting guard-boats from the ships of war, which pulled about 
 the island all night, were allowed to be down after sun-set. The 
 orderly officer was also instructed to ascertain the actual presence 
 of Napoleon, twice in the twenty-four hours, which was done 
 with as much delicacy as possible. In fact, every human pre- 
 caution to prevent escape, short of actually incarcerating, or en- 
 (haining him was adopted by Sir George Cockburn. 
 
 The officers of the 53d, and several of the most respectable 
 inhabitants, the officers of the St. Helena corps and their wives, 
 were introduced to Napoleon, at whose table, some were weekly 
 invited to dine, and among them, Mr. Doveton, Miss Doveton, 
 Colonel and Mrs. Skelton, Captain and Mrs. Younghusband, Mr. 
 Balcombe and family, &c. Officers and other respectable pas- 
 sengers from India and China, came in numbers to Longwood, to 
 reqtiest a presentation to the fallen chief, in which expectation 
 they were rarely disappointed, unless indisposition on his part, 
 or the shortness of their stay on the island prevented it. Many 
 ladies and gentlemen, who came up at an inconvenient time, have 
 remained in my room long after the fore-topsail of the ahip,
 
 1815 — DECEMBER. l6 
 
 which was to waft them to England was loosed, in the hope of 
 Napoleon's presenting himself at the windows of his apartments. 
 I have frequently tieen unable to withstand the solicitations of 
 more than one anxious fair expectant to place some of the ser- 
 vants of the house in a situation where they might be enabled 
 to apprise them of his approach to the windows or door of the 
 drawing-room, whereby they might be afforded an opportunity 
 of stealing a glance at the renowned captive. 
 
 Some short time after his arrival at Longwood, I communicat 
 ed to him the news of Murat's death. He heai'd it with calm- 
 ness, and immediately demanded, if he had perished on the field 
 of battle? At first, I hesitated to tell him that his brother-in- 
 law had been executed like a criminal. On his repeating the 
 question, I informed him of the manner in which he had been 
 put to death, which he listened to without any change of counte- 
 nance. I also communicated the intelligence of the death of 
 Ney. " He was a brave man, nobody more so ; l)ut he was a 
 madman," said he. " He has died without having the esteem of 
 mankind. He betrayed me at Fontainebleau : the proclamation 
 against the Bourbons, which he said in his defense 1 caused to be 
 given him, was written by himself, and I never knew anything 
 about that document until it was read to the troops. It is true 
 that I sent him orders to obey me. What could he do? His 
 troops abandoned him. Not only the troops, but the people 
 wished to join me." 
 
 I had lent him Miss Williams' " Present State of France" to 
 read. Two or three days afterwards he said to me, while dress- 
 ing, " That is a vile production of that lady of yours. It is :i 
 heap of falsehoods. This," opening his shirt, and showing his 
 flannel waistcoat, " is the only coat of mail I ever wore. JSIy 
 hat lined with steel too! There is the hat I wore," pointing to 
 the one he always carried. " Oh, she has doubtless been well 
 paid for all the malice and falsehoods she has poured forth." 
 
 Nap(ileon's hours of rising were uncertain, much depending upon 
 the quantum of rest he had enjoyed during the night. He was 
 in general a bad sleeper, and frequently got up at three or four 
 o'clock, in which case he read or wrote until six or seven, at
 
 1^ A VOICE FHOM ST. HKLKVA. 
 
 which tiino, vNhi'ii tlu' wi'.-itlior was liiic, ln> soiin'tiiiH>s went •»»( 
 to ridi\ nttendod l>y somo of his j^cnornls, or laid down u<jain to 
 rest for a coupK' of hours, Wht-n ho retired to hod, ho could 
 not sleep unless the most perfect state of darkness was t)l>tained, 
 l>v the closure of every cranny through which a ray of light 
 might pass, although I have sometimes seen him fall asleep ot 
 the sofa, and renuiin so tor a few minutes in Itroad daylight 
 When ill, Marchand occasionally read to him until he fell asleep 
 At times he rose at seven, and wrote or dictated until breakfast 
 time, or, if the morning was very fine, he went out to ride. 
 When he breakfasted in his own room, it was generally served 
 on a little round table, at between nine and ten ; when along 
 with the rest of his suite, at eleven : in either case ii la foxirchette . 
 Al'ter breakfast, he generally dictated to some of his suite for a 
 few hmirs, aJid at two or three o'clock received such visitors, as 
 by previous appointment had been directed to present themselves. 
 Between four and five, when the weather permitted, he rode out 
 on horseback or in the carriage, accompanied by all his suite, for 
 an hour or two; then returned and dictated or read until eight, 
 or occasionally played a game at chess, at which time dinner 
 was announced, which rarely exceeded twenty minutes or hulf an 
 hour in duration. He ate heartily and fast, and did not appear 
 to be partial to high seasoned or rich food. One of his most 
 favorite dishes was a roasted leg of mutton, of which I have 
 seen him sometimes pare the outside brown part oft'; he was 
 also partial to mutton chops. He rarely drank as much as a pint 
 of claret at his dinner, which was generally much diluted with 
 water. After dinner, when the servants had withdrawn, and 
 when there were no visitors, he sometimes played at chess or at 
 whist, but more frequently sent for a volume of Corneille, or of 
 some other esteemed author, and read aloud for an hour, or 
 chatted with the ladies and the rest of his suite. He usually 
 retired to his bed-room at ten or eleven, and to rest, immediately 
 afterwards. When he breakfasted or dined in his own aparl- 
 rnent {dans V interieur,) he sometimes sent for one of his suite 
 to converse with him during the repast. He never ate more than 
 two meals a day, nor, since 1 knew him, had ho ever taken mor«
 
 1816 — APRIL. 17 
 
 than a very small cup of coftee after each repast, and at no other 
 time. I have also been informed, by those who have been in his 
 service for fifteen years, that he never exceeded that quantity 
 since they first knew him. 
 
 On the 14th of April, the Phaeton frigate, Captain Stanfell, 
 arrived from England, having on board Lieut.-General Sir Hud- 
 son Lowe, Lady Lowe, Sir Thomas Reade, Deputy Adjt.- 
 General, Major Gorrequer, aid-de-camp to Sir Hudson Lowe, 
 Lieut.-Colonel Lyster, inspector of militia, Major Emmett of 
 the engineers, Mr. Baxter, deputy inspector of hospitals. Lieu- 
 tenants 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. 
 Accordingly, 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, de- 
 manded at what time on the following day he could be intro- 
 duced : two o'clock was fixed upon for the interview, at which 
 time he arrived, accompanied as before by the admiral, and fol- 
 lowed by his staff". They were at first ushered into the dining- 
 room, behind which was the saloon, where they were to be re- 
 ceived. 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 re- 
 signing to him the charge of the prisoner; for which purpose, Sii 
 George suggested, that they should enter the room together. 
 This 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 introduood.
 
 18 A V«>U'K KKoM SI. IIKLKNA. 
 
 Aftrr wnltil)g ft fvv, iiiiiiiitis, llif ilonr was u|>iiiiil jiinl tho go 
 vornor onllrd for. As soini as tlu- word, i^ovi-nior, was jiro- 
 nouiuvd, Sir Iliidsoii Luwi' started up, and stcitju-d forward so 
 hastily that he I'litorod tho room luforeSir Cu'orj^'e Coc-kbiirii was 
 well apprised of it. The door was then elosed, and whi'ii the 
 Hdiniral presented himself, the valet, not having lu-ard his name 
 railed, told him that he could not enter. Sir Hudson Lowe re- 
 mained about a quarter of an hour with Napoleon, during which 
 lime, a conversation was chiefly carried on in Italian, and subse- 
 quently, the *)fllcers of his staff were inlrodiiecd. The admiral 
 did not jigain apidy for admittance. 
 
 On the 18th I brought up some newspapers to Napoleon, who, 
 after asking me some questions concerning the meeting of parlia- 
 ment, inquired who had lent the newspapers? I replied the 
 admiral had lent them to me. Napoleon said, " I believe that 
 he was rather ill-treated the day he came up with the new 
 governor, what does he say about it?" 1 replied, "the admiral 
 conceived it was an insult offered to him, and certainly felt 
 greatly offended at it. Some explanation has, however, been 
 given by General Montholon upon the subject." Napoleon said, 
 " I shall never see him with pleasure, but he did not announce 
 himself as being desirous of seeing me." 1 replied, "he wished 
 to introduce officially to you the new governor, and thought, 
 that, as he was to act in that capacity, it was not necessary to be 
 previously announced." Napoleon answered, " He should have 
 sent me word that he wanted to see me by Bertrand ; but," con- 
 tinued he, "he wished to enibroil me with the new governor, 
 jnd for that purpose persuaded him to come up here at nine 
 o'clock in the morning, though he well knew that I never had 
 received any persons, or never would, at that hour. It is a pity 
 that a man, who really has talents, for 1 l)elieve him to be a very 
 good officer in his own service, should have In-havcd in the 
 manner he has done to me. It shows the greatest want of 
 generosity to iiis\ilt the unfortunate; because, insulting those, 
 who arc in your power, and consequently can not make any op- 
 position, is a certain sign of an ignoble mind." 1 said, that 1 
 was perfectly convinced the whole was a mistake ; that the ad
 
 1816— APRIL. 10 
 
 miral never had the smallest intention of insulting or emhroillng 
 him with the governor. He resumed, " I, in my misfortunes, 
 Bought an asylum, and instead of that I have found contempt, ill- 
 treatment, and insult. Shortly after I came on board of his ship, 
 as I did not wish to sit at table for two or three hours, guzzling 
 down wine to make myself drunk, I got up from table, and 
 walked out upon deck. While I was going out, he said, in a 
 contemptuous manner, ' I believe the general has never read 
 Lord Chesterfield ;' meaning, that I was deficient in politeness, 
 and did not know how to conduct myself at table," I endeavored 
 to explain to him that the English, and above all, naval officers, 
 were not in the habit of going through many forms, and that it 
 was wholly unintentional on the part of the admiral. " If," said 
 he, " Sir George wanted to see Lord St. Vincent, or Lord Keith, 
 would he not have sent beforehand, and asked, at what hour it 
 might be convenient to see him ; and should not I be treated 
 with at least as much respect as either of them? Putting out of 
 the question that I have been a crowned head, I think," said he, 
 laughing, " that the actions which I have performed, are at least 
 as well known, as any thing they have done." I endeavored 
 again to excuse the admiral, upon which he recalled to my mind, 
 what he had just related about Lord Chesterfield, and asked me, 
 " what could that mean ?" 
 
 General Montholon came in at this moment with a translation 
 of a paper sent by Sir Hudson Lowe, which the domestics who 
 were willing to remain were required to sign ; it was accom- 
 panied by the following letter: — * 
 
 Downing-st7'eet, 10 Janvier^ 1816. 
 Je dois a present vous faire connaitre, que la plaisir de S. A. 
 R, le Prince Regent, est, qu'a votre arrivee a Ste. Helene, vous 
 crmmuniqueriez a, toutes les personnes de la suite de Napoleon 
 13onaparte, y compris les serviteurs domestiques, qu'ils sont 
 libres de quitter I'isle immediatement pour retourner en Europe, 
 ftjoutant, qu'ii ne sera permis a aucun de rester a St. Helene, ex- 
 
 * The reader will not consider me to be accountable for the aoouraey vf the 
 French sent from Plantation House to Longwood .
 
 20 A VOICK Ha>M ST. ilKI,ENA. 
 
 3ept^ ceux qui dK-laroront par iin 6orit que sera d^posd dans voa 
 mains, quo cV.st Irur dtsir do restor dans I'isle i-L de parficipcr 
 aux roi.lriotior.s qu'il est iiec^ssaired'iinposiT sur Napolooii lioiia- 
 parte persumiellenu'iit. 
 
 (Sij;ii6) Bathukpt. 
 
 (Vux qui parini eux so dt'teriniuoruiit a rotourner en Europe, 
 dovront 6tro onvov6 par le premier occasion favorable au Cap de 
 Bonne Esp^raiuo, lo gouvcrneur de cette colonic sera charge de 
 poiirvoir aux persoiuies des moyens de transport en Europe.* 
 (Sign6) Bathcrst. 
 
 The tenor of the accompanying declaration, which the domes- 
 tics were thus required to sign, was not approved of by Napo- 
 leon, who, moreover, pronounced it to be too literally translated 
 to be easily comprehended by a Frenchman. He accordingly 
 desired Count MonthoK)n to retire into the next room, where the 
 following was sul)stituted : — " Nous sous-signes, voulant continuer 
 a rester au service de S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon, consentons 
 quelqu'affreux que soit le sejour de Ste. Helene, k y rester, nous 
 soumettant aux restrictions, quoiqu' injustes et arbitraires, qu'on 
 a imposees a S. M. et aux personnes de son service. "There," 
 said he, '' let those who please sign that; but do not attempt to 
 influence them, either one way or the other," 
 
 The demand made to the domestics to sign the paper sent by 
 Sir H. Lowe, had produced a wish for further explanation 
 amongst them ; and some who applied to Sir Thomas Read for 
 that purpose, received answers of a nature to inculcate a belief 
 that those who signed it would be compelled to remain in the 
 island during the lifetime of Bonaparte. This, however, did not 
 prevent any of them from signing the paper which was presented 
 to them. 
 
 19M. — The weather has been extremely bad for some days, 
 which has contributed, with other circumstances, to make Napo- 
 leon a little dissatisfied. *' In this isola maladetta,'^ (cursed island) 
 
 * The Traaslation of this, and the document sigued bj the domeetios, will N 
 (bond ill the Appeudix, No. II. aud IlL
 
 1816 — APRIL. 11 
 
 Mid he, " there is neither sun nor moon to be seen for the great- 
 est part of the year. Constant rain and fog. It is worse than 
 Capri. Have you ever been at Capri ?" continued he. I replied 
 in the affirmative. "There," said he, " you can have everything 
 you want from the continent in a few hours." He afterwards 
 made a few remarl<s upon some absurd falsehoods which had 
 been published in the ministerial papers respecting him ; and 
 asked if it were "possible that the English could be so fool- 
 ishly credulous as to believe all the stuff we published about 
 him f ' 
 
 2lst. — Captain Hamilton, of the Havana frigate, had an audi- 
 ence with Napoleon in the garden. Napoleon told him that 
 when he (Napoleon) had arrived en the island, he had been 
 asked what he desired to have 1 He therefore begged of him to 
 say that he desired his liberty, or le bourreaux (the executioner.) 
 That the English ministers had unworthily violated tl.i4 most 
 sacred rights of hospitality towards him, by declaring him a 
 prisoner, which savages would not have done in the situation in 
 which he stood. 
 
 Colonel and Miss Wilks were to proceed to England in the 
 Havana. Before their departure, they came up to Longwood 
 and had a long interview with Napoleon. He was highly pleased 
 with Miss Wilks (a highly accomplished and elegant young lady), 
 and gallantly told her that " she exceeded the description which 
 had been given of her to him." 
 
 24<A. — The weather still gloomy. Napoleon at first was out 
 of spirits, but gradually became enlivened. Conversed much 
 about the admiral, whom he professed to esteem as a man of 
 talent in his profession. " He is not," said he, " a man of a bad 
 heart; on the contrary, 1 believe him to be capable of a gener- 
 ous action ; but he is rough, overbearing, vain, choleric, and 
 capricious ; never consulting anybody ; jealous of his authority ; 
 caring little of the manner in which he exercises it, and some- 
 times violent without dignity." 
 
 He then made some observations about the bullocks which 
 had l>een brought from the Cape of Good Hope by the govern- 
 ment, and amongst which a great mortality had taken olaoB.
 
 22 A VOICK KKOM ST. IIKl.KNA. 
 
 *'Tli«' ndniir.'il," sniil hi>. "tuight to hiive i-oiitmctod for them, 
 in-itoad of making tljciii govormiu'iit jiropcrty. It is woll kiiuwn 
 that wliatovor ln'Iungs to a govfriiint'iit is lu-vcr taken any cart' 
 «>f, and is phiniliMi'tl by i-vorybody. If ho had contracted with 
 some person, I will venture to say very few would have died, 
 instead of a third, as has been the case." He then asked me 
 many questions abojit the relative price of articles in England 
 and St. Helena, and concluded by asking me if 1 took any fees 
 lor attending the sick people on the island. I replit.«d in the 
 negative, which seemed to surprise him. "Corvisart," said he, 
 "notwithstanding his being my first physician, possessed of great 
 wealth, and in the haliit of receiving many rich presents from 
 me, Constantly tt»ok a Napoleon for each visit he paid to the sick. 
 In yoar country, particularly, every man has his trade : the mem- 
 ber of parliament takes money for his vote, the ministers for 
 their pkices, the lawyers for their opinion." 
 
 29th. — Napoleon asked several questions relative to the ships 
 w hich had l)een seen to approach the island. Was anxious to know 
 if Lady Bingham, w ho had lieen expected for some time, had arriv- 
 ed. Observed how anxious Sir George Bingham must be about 
 her. Asked me if the ship was furnished with a chronometer by 
 government J to which I replied in the negative. He observed 
 that the vessel might very probably miss the island through the 
 want of '^•uf. ''How shameful it is," said he, "for your gov- 
 ernment to put three or four hundred men on board of a ship 
 destined for this place without a chronometer, thereby running 
 '.he risk of ship and cargo, of the value perhaps of half a mil- 
 "i ju, together with the lives of so many poveri diavuH, (poor 
 devils) for the sake of saving three or four hundred francs for a 
 watch. 1," cntiiuied he, "ordered that every ship employed 
 in the French service should l)e supplied with one. It is a weak 
 ness in your government not to be accounted for." He then 
 asked me if i*. were true that a court of inquiry was then holding 
 upon some rtHicer for having made too free with the bottle. " Is 
 it a crime," added he, "for the English to get drunk, and will a 
 court-marlial be the consequence? for, if that were the case, ycu 
 would have nothing but c<jurt-raartials every day. WHg
 
 1816 — APRIL. 28 
 
 A little merry on board every day after dinner.*' I observed 
 that there was a wide difference between being merry and getting 
 drunk. He laughed, and repeated what he had said relative to 
 court-martials. *' Is it true," said he then, "that they are sending 
 out a house and furniture for me, as theie are so many lies in 
 y<»ur newspapers, that I have my doubts, especially as I have 
 heard nothing about it officially V I told him that Sir Hudson 
 Lowe had assured me of the fact, and that Sir Thomas Read* 
 professed to have seen both the house and the furniture. 
 
 Many changes relative to the treatment of the French have 
 taken place since Sir Hudson arrived. Mr. Brooke, the Colonial 
 Secretary, Major Gorrequer, Sir Hudson's aid-de-camp, and other 
 official persons, went round to the different shopkeepers in the 
 town, ordering them, in the name of the governor, not to give 
 credit to any of the French, or to sell them any article, unless 
 for ready money, under pain of not only losing the amount of 
 the sum so credited, but of suffering such other punishment as 
 the governor might think proper to award. They were further 
 directed to hold no communication whatsoever with them, with- 
 out special permission from the governor, under pain of being 
 turned off the island. 
 
 Many of the officers of the 53d, who were in the habit of call- 
 ing 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 house. Sentinels 
 were placed in different directions to prevent the approach of 
 visitors, several of whom, including some ladies, were turned 
 back. A sensation of unwillingness, or rather fear, tq, approach 
 the exiles, very different from the feeling which existed a few 
 days ago, appeared to be pretty general amongst the inhabitants, 
 and even amongst the military and naval officers. The governor 
 was very minute in his inquiries to those persons who had for- 
 merly conversed with Napoleon, or any of his suite. Several of 
 the officers of the 53d went to Hut's Gate, to take leave of 
 Countess Bertrand, (to use their own words,) as they declared 
 the impossibility there was for men of honor to comply with the
 
 24 A VUICK FROM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 now rcpulntions. ll wus i-xprotod ami ivciuired tlial. all persons 
 who visited at Hut's Gate, or at l^ingwoud, should make a report 
 of the conversations the\- had held with the Freneh to t.ie gov- 
 ernor, or [o Sir Tht>inas IJeade. Several adtiitional sentinels 
 were plaeed around Lon<;wood House and grounds. 
 
 .Vdt/ 'Anl — Tiic weather has liecwi extremely wet and foggy, 
 with high wind for several days, during whieh time Napoleon 
 did not stir nut of doors. Messengers and letters eontinnally 
 arrived from IMantation House. The governor was apparently 
 very anxious to see Napoleon, and seemingly distrustful, although 
 the residents of Longwood were assured of his actual presence 
 by the sound of his voice. He had some communications with 
 Count Bcrtrand relative to the necessity which he said there was, 
 that some of his officers should see Napoleon daily. He also 
 came to Longwood frequently himself, and, finally, after some 
 difficulty, succeeded in obtaining an interview with Napoleon in 
 his bed-chamber, which lasted about a quarter of an hour. Some 
 days before, he sent for me, and asked a variety of questions 
 concerning the captive, walked round the house several times, 
 and before the windows, measuring and laying down the plan of 
 a new ditch, which he said he would have dug, in order to pre- 
 vent the cattle from trespassing. On his arrival at the angle, 
 formed by the unic^n of two of the old ditches, he observed a tree, 
 the branches of wliiih considerably overhung it. This appeared to 
 excite consideralde alarm in his excellency's breast, as he desired 
 me to send instantly for Mr. Porteous, the superintendent of the 
 company's gardens. Some minutes having elapsed after I had dis- 
 patched a messenger for that gentlemen, the governor, who had 
 his eyes continually fixed upon the tree, desired me, in a hasty 
 manner, to go and fetch Mr. Porteous instantly myself. On my 
 return with him, I found Sir Hudson Lowe walking up and down, 
 contemplating the object which appeared to be such a source of 
 alarm. In a hurried manner, he ordered Mr. Porteous to send 
 some men instantly to have the tree grubbed up, and before 
 leaving the ground directed me, in an under tone, to " see that 
 it was done." 
 
 On the 4th, Sir Hudson Lowe went to see Count Bertrand,
 
 1816— MAY. 26 
 
 with whom he had an hour's conversation, which did not appear 
 to be of a nature very pleasing to him, as, on retiring, he 
 mounted his horse, mutteiing something, and evidently out of 
 humor. Shortly afterwards, I learned the purport of his visit. 
 He commenced by saying, that the French made a great many 
 complaints without any reason ; that, considering their situation, 
 they were very well treated, and ought to be thankful, instead of 
 making any complaints. It appeared to him, however, that in- 
 stead of being so, they abused the liberal treatment which was 
 practiced towards them. That he was determined to assure 
 himself of General Bonaparte's actual pi-esence daily, by the ob- 
 servation of an officer appointed by him, and that this officer 
 should visit him, at fixed hours, for such purpose. During the 
 whole of it, he spoke in a very authoritative and indeed con- 
 temptuous manner, frequently referring to the great powers with 
 which he was invested. 
 
 bth. — Napoleon sent Marchand for me at about nine o'clock. 
 Was introduced by the back door into his bed-room, a descrip- 
 tion of which I shall endeavor to give, as minutely and as cor- 
 rectly as possible. It was about fourteen feet by twelve, and 
 ten or eleven feet in height. The walls were lined with brown 
 nankeen, bordered and edged with common green bordering pa- 
 per, and destitute of surbace. Two small windows, without 
 pulleys, looking towards the camp of the 53d regiment, one of 
 which was thrown up and fastened by a piece of notched wood. 
 Window-curtains of white long cloth, a small fire-place, a shabby 
 grate, and fire-irons to match, with a paltry mantle-piece, of wood 
 painted white, upon which stood a small marble bust of his son. 
 Above the mantle-piece hung the portrait of Marie Louise, and 
 four or five of young Napoleon, one of which was embroidered 
 by the hands of the mother, A little more to the right hung 
 also a miniature picture of the Empress Josephine, and to the 
 left was suspended the alarm chamber watch of Frederic the 
 Great, obtained by Napoleon at Potsdam ; while on the right, 
 the consular watch, engraved with the cypher B, hung by a chain 
 of the plaited hair of Marie Louise, from a pin stuck in the nan- 
 keen lining. The floor was covered with a second-hand carpet, 
 
 2
 
 M A VOk'K FKOM ST. HKLK^fA. 
 
 which hud uiHv dicumlj-d the dining room <>f ii linitonant of the 
 St. Ildenji aitilliTV. In tin- li^ht hiuul corner was placed the 
 little {)lain iron canij) bedstead, with <;reen silk curtains, upon 
 which its n. aster had reposed on the fields of Murengo and Aus- 
 terlitz. Between the windows there was a paltry second-hand 
 chest of drawers ; and an old houk-case with green blinds stood 
 on the left of the door leading to the next apartment. Four or 
 five can* -bottom chairs, painted green, were standing here and 
 there about the room. Before the l)ack-door there was a screen 
 covered with nankeen, and between that and the fire-place an 
 old fashioned sofa covered with white long cloth, upon which re- 
 clined Napoleon, clothed in his white morning gown, white loose 
 trowsers and stockings all in one. A chequered red madras upon 
 his head, and his shirt collar open without a cravat. His air was 
 melancholy and troubled. Before him stood a little round table, 
 with some books, at the foot of which lay, in confusion upon the 
 carpet, a heap of those which he had already perused, and at the 
 foot of the sofa, facing him, was suspended a portrait of the Em- 
 press Marie Louise, with her son in her arms. In front of the 
 fire-place stood Las Cases, with his arms folded over his breast 
 and some papers in one of his hands. Of all the former magni- 
 ficence of the once mighty emperor of France, nothing was pre- 
 sent except a superb wash-hand stand, containing a silver basin, 
 and water-jug of the same metal, in the left hand corner. 
 
 Napoleon, after a few questions of no importance, asked me 
 in both French and Italian, in the presence of Count Las Cases, 
 the f(jllowing questions : — " You know that it was in consequence 
 of my application that you were appointed to attend upon me. 
 Now I want to know from you precisely and truly, as a man of 
 honor, in what situation you conceive yourself to be, whether as 
 my surgeon, as M. Maingaud was, or the surgeon of a prison 
 ship and prisoners 1 Whether you have orders to report everj 
 trifling occurrence, or illness, or what I say to you, to the gov- 
 ernor? Answer me candidly. What situation do you conceive 
 yourself to be in ?" I replied, " As your surgeon, and to at- 
 tend upon you and your suit. I have received no other orders 
 than to make an immediate report in case of your being taken
 
 1816— MAY. i7 
 
 seriously ill, in order to have promptly the advice and assistance 
 of other physicians." "First obtaining my consent to call in 
 others," demanded he, " is it not so V I answered that I would 
 certainly obtain his previous consent. He then said, " If you 
 were appointed as surgeon to a prison, and to report my conver- 
 sations to the governor, whom I take to be un capo di spioni, (a 
 captain of spies) I would never see you again." " Do not," 
 continued he, (on my replying that I 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 for you and an 
 esteem for your character, a greater proof of which I could not 
 give you than asking you candidly your own opinion of your 
 situation ; as you, being an Englishman, and paid by the English 
 government, might perhaps be obliged to do what 1 have asked." 
 I replied as before said, and that in my professional capacity 1 
 did not consider myself to belong to any particular country. 
 " If I am taken seriously ill," said he, " then acquaint me with 
 your opinion, and ask my consent to call in others. This gov- 
 ernor, during the few days that I was melancholy, and had a 
 mental affliction in consequence of the treatment I receive, which 
 prevented me from going out, in order that I might not ennuyer 
 (weary) others with my afflictions, wanted to send his physician 
 to me under the 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 from 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 I only wanted to 
 be left, alone I undei-stand that he proposed an officer should 
 enter my chamber to see me, if I did not stir out. Any person," 
 continued he, with n)uch emotion, " who endeavors 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 I am determined on ; I know that I shall be killed after- 
 wards, as what can one do against a camp ? I have faced death 
 too many times to fear it. Besides, I am ^nvinced that thia 
 governor has been sent out by Lord I told him a few
 
 S8 A VOICK FKOM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 days ago, that if lie waiiU'd t>' jmt an t'ud to mo, he would have 
 a very gi>«>d ojipuitmiily \>\ si-iuliiig sKiin'Uudy to forcf his way 
 into my chamluT. 'I'liat I wtnild iiunu'diatoly maki' a corpse ol 
 the first that enteii-d, and then I >liould he of course dispatched, 
 and he luiyht write home to liis goveriunent that 'Bonaparte' 
 was killed in a brawl. I alst> told him to leave me alone and 
 not to torment me with his hateful presence. I have seen Prus- 
 sians, I'artars, Cossacs, Calmucks, &c., but never before in my 
 life have I beheld so ill-favored, and so forbidding a counten»fice. 
 
 // parte le enrprehtt sur son visage. (He carries the 
 
 imprint on his face.) 
 
 I endeavored to convince him that the English ministry would 
 never be capable of what he supposed, and that such was not the 
 character of the nation. " I had reason to complain of the admi- 
 ral," said he ; " but, though he treated me roughly, he never 
 behaved in such a manner as this Prussian. A few days ago, he 
 in a manner insisted upon seeing me, when I was undressed and 
 a prey to melancholy, in my chamber. The admiral never asked 
 to see me a second time, when it was intimated to him that 1 
 was unwell or undressed ; as he well knew, that though I did not 
 go out, I was still to be found." 
 
 After this, he mentioned his apprehensions of being afflicted 
 with an attack of gout. I recommended him to take much more 
 exercise. "What can I do," replied he, "in this execrable isle, 
 where you cannot ride a mile without being wet through ; an 
 island, that even the English themselves complain of, though 
 used to humidity V He concluded by making some severe 
 remarks upon the governor's conduct, in having sent his aid-de 
 camp and secretary round the shops, forbidding the shopkeepers 
 to give the French credit under pain of severe punishment. 
 
 6^. — Had some more conversation with Napoleon upon the 
 same subject as yesterday, which commenced by my submitting to 
 him, that, according to the strict letter of the conversation of 
 yesterday, it would be impossible for me to reply to any ques- 
 tion addressed to me relative to him or to hisailairs, whether made 
 by the governor or any one else, which he must be aware, was, 
 ill my situati"n, bnpossible. Moreover, that I had been, from
 
 1816~MAY. 29 
 
 the time of my arrival, and was then, frequently employed a* a 
 medium of communication to the authorities of the island, which 
 I hoped I had executed to his satisfaction. He replied, "Are 
 you to be my surgeon, or surgeon d?un gallre ; (of a galley ;) 
 and are you expected to report what you observe or hear?" I 
 answered, " I am your surgeon, and not a spy, and one in whom 
 I hope you may place confidence ; I am not surgeon d''un gaUre^ 
 nor do I consider it imperative on me to report anything which 
 is not contrary to my allegiance as a British officer, &;c." I also 
 endeavored to explain, that I would regulate my conduct with 
 respect to his conversations by the rules which existed to that 
 effect amongst galantuomini, (gentlemen,) and as I would do, 
 were I attached in a similar capacity to an English nobleman ; 
 but that total silence w^as out of my power, if he wished me to 
 preserve any communication with the governor, or with any 
 other English persons on the island. He replied, that all he 
 wanted of me was to act as a galantuomo, and "as you would 
 do were you surgeon to Lord St. Vincent. I do not mean to bind 
 you to silence, or to prevent you from repeating any bavardagi 
 (trifle) you may hear me say ; but I want to prevent you from 
 allowing yourself to be cajoled and made a spy of, unintention- 
 ally on your part, by this governor. After that to your God, 
 your duty is to be paid to your own country and sovereign, and 
 your next, to your patients." 
 
 " During the short interview that this governor had with me 
 in my bed-chamber," continued he, " one of the first things which 
 he proposed was to send you away, and to take his own surgeon 
 in your place. This he repeated twice ; and so earnest was he 
 *.o gain his object, that, although I gave him a most decided re- 
 fusal, when he was going out he turned about and again proposed 
 it I never saw such a horrid coiuitenance. He sat on a chair 
 opposite to my sofa, and on the little table between us there was 
 a cup of coffee. His physiognomy made such an unfavorable 
 impression upon me, that I thought his looks had poisoned it, and 
 I ordered Marchand to throw it out of the window ; I could not 
 have swallowed it for the world." 
 
 Count Las Cases, who entered Napoleon's room a few minutes
 
 (M A VOICK KIMM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 .ilur tho tUpsirtiirc of tlu' guvi-riHir, itiM me thai the oinperor 
 hail said t«» him: — '* J/<»/j />icii ! ci'sf unc jiyurc bicn sinistre; 
 fott a peine le (fire, titais c^esl a nc pos prmJre une tassc de ca/c, 
 s'«/ etait Uemeure iiii instant seul aupies."'' (My God ! hi' has a 
 vtTv bad «.'o»intiiiaiu'o--I daro hardly say so, Imt .lie should r.o 
 .fiituiv to drink a cup of cofleo, if ho had been near it alone foi 
 in instant.) 
 
 V2(fi. — A proclamation was issued yesti'iday by Sir Ilud.son 
 1-owe, prohibiting "any person from receiving or being the 
 bearer of any letters or communications from General Bona- 
 parte, the officers of his suite, his followers or servants of any 
 description, or to deliver any to them, under pain of being ar- 
 rested immediately, and dealt with accordingly." 
 
 14//i. — Saw Napoleon in his dressing-room ; he complained of 
 being alTected with catarrhal symptoms, the cause of which 1 at- 
 tributed to his having walked out in the wet with very thin 
 shoes, and recommended him to wear galoches, which he ordered 
 Marehand to provide. "I have promised," added he, "to see a 
 number of people to-day ; and, though 1 am indisposed, I .shall 
 do so." Just at this moment some of the visitors came close to 
 the window of his dressing-room, which was open, tried to put 
 aside the curtain, and i>eep in. Napoleon shut the window, 
 asked some questions alniut T.ady Moira, and observed, "The 
 governor sent an invitation to Bertrand for General Bonapaite to 
 come to Plantation House to meet Lady Moira. I told Bertrand 
 to return no answer to it. If he really wanted me to see her, 
 he would have put Plantation House in the limits; but to send 
 such an invitation, knowing that I must go in charge of a guard, 
 if I wished to avail myself of it, was an insult. If he had sent 
 word that Lady Moira was sick, fatigued, or pregnant, I would 
 have gone to see her; though I think, that under all the circum- 
 stances, she might have come to see me, or Madame Bertrand, 
 or Montholon, as she was free and unshackled. The first sover- 
 eigns in the world have not been ashamed to pay me a visit." 
 
 " It appears," added he, " that this governor was with Blu- 
 cher, and is the writer of some official letters to your govern- 
 ment, descriptive of part of the operations of 1814. I pointed
 
 1816 — MAY. Si 
 
 them out to him the last time I saw him, and asked him, Est-c4 
 vous^ Monsieur ? (Is this you, Sir ?) He replied, 'Yes.' 1 told 
 him that they were pleines de fuussetes et de solises, (full of false- 
 hoods and foolishness.) He shrugged up his shoulders, appeared 
 confused, and replied, ' J^ai cru voir cela.'' (I believe that I sav^ 
 that.) •' If," continued he, " those letters were the only accounts 
 he sent, he betrayed his country." 
 
 Count Bertrand came in and announced that several persons 
 had arrived to see him, besides those who had received appoint- 
 ments for the day. Amongst other names, that of Arbuthnot 
 was mentioned. Napoleon asked me who he was. I answered, 
 that I believed him to be brother to the person who had been 
 ambassador at Constantinople. " Ah, yes, yes," said Napoleon, 
 with a sly smile, " when Sebastiani was there. You may say 
 that I shall receive them." 
 
 " Have you conversed much with the governor's physician ?" 
 said Napoleon. I replied in the affirmative, adding, that he was 
 the chief of the medical staff, but not attached to the governor 
 as his body physician. " What sort of a man is he 1 Does he 
 look like an honest man. or a man of talent?" I replied, that 
 his appearance was very much in his favor, and that he was con- 
 sidered to be a man of talent and of science. 
 
 16th. — Sir Hudson Lowe had an interview of about half an 
 hour with Napoleon, which did not appear to be satisfactory. 
 Saw Napoleon walking in the garden, in a very thoughtful man- 
 ner, a few minutes subsequent to the governor's departure, and 
 gave to him the Dictioniiaire des Girouettes (Dictionary of 
 Weathercocks) and a few newspapers. After he had asked me 
 from whom I had procured them, he said, " Here has been this 
 viso di boja a lormentarmi (the torturing executioner.) Tell him 
 that I never want to see him, and that I wish he may not come 
 again to annoy me with his hateful presence. Let him never 
 again come near me, unless it is with orders to dispatch me ; 
 he will then find my breast ready for the blow; but until then, 
 let me be free of his odious countenance ; I cannot accustom 
 myself to it." 
 
 17^"^. — Napoleon in very good spirits. Demanded what the
 
 S2 ▲ VOICK FU(»M ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 uews was, I infonntul him that tlic ladifs lie liad received afein 
 days before were hii;lily ileliyliteil with liis iiiaiiiiers, especially, 
 as from what they had n-ad and heard, they had been prepos- 
 sessed with opinions of a very diflerent nature. "Ah," said he, 
 laughing, " I siijipose that they iinuijined I was some feroeiou!* 
 horned animal." 
 
 Some conversation occurred touching what Sir llobert Wiisoii 
 had written respecting hint about . I alia, Captain Wright, &e., 1 
 observed, that as those assertions had never been fully contra- 
 dicted, they were V)elieved by numbers of English. " liah," 
 replied Napoleon, "these calumnies will fall of themselves, espe- 
 cially now that there are so many English in France, who will 
 soon find out that they are all falsehoods. Were Wilson him- 
 self not, convinced of the untruth of the statements which he had 
 once believed, do you think that he would have assisted Lava- 
 lette to escape out of prison ?" 
 
 igiJi, — Napoleon in very good humor. Told him that the 
 late governor of Jaffa, Mr. Raffles, and his staff, had arrived on 
 their way to England, and were very desirous of having the 
 honor of paying their respects to him. " What kind of a man 
 is the governor]" I replied, Mr. Urmston informed me that he 
 is vn bravissimo vomo (very fine fellow) ; and possessed of great 
 learning and talents. " Well, then," said he, '• I shall see them 
 in two or three hours, when I am dressed." 
 
 " This governor," said he, " e um imbecile, (is a simpleton.) 
 He asked Bertrand the other day if he (Bertrand) ever had asked 
 »ny of the passengers liound to England, whether they intended 
 to go to France, as, if he had done so, he must not continue such 
 a practice. Bertrand replied, that he certainly had, and more- 
 over, had begged of some to tell his relations that they were it 
 good health. ' But,' says this imbecile, ' you must not do so.' 
 ' Why,' says Bertrand, ' has not your government permitted me 
 to write as many letters as I like, and can any government deny 
 me the liberty of speaking?' Bertrand," continued he, "ought 
 to have replied, that galley-slaves and prisoners under sent€DC*i 
 of death were permitted to inquire after their relations." He 
 then observed how unnecessary and vexations it was to reauire
 
 1816 — MAY. SS 
 
 that an officer should accompany him, should he be desirous of 
 visiting the interior of the island. " It is all right,'* continued 
 he, " to keep me away from the town and the sea-side. I would 
 never desire to approach either the one or the other. All that 
 is necessary for my security, is to guard well the sea-borders of 
 this rock. Let him place his picquets round the island close by 
 the sea, and in communication with each other, which he might 
 easily do, with the number of men he has, and it would be im- 
 possible for me to escape. Cannot he moreover put a few horse- 
 men in motion when he knows I am going out? Cannot he 
 place them on the hills, or where he likes, without letting me 
 know anything al)out it, I will never appear to see them. Cannot 
 he do thvs, without obliging me to tell Poppleton that 1 want to 
 ride out — not that I have any objection to Poppleton — 1 love a 
 good soldier of any nation ; but I will not do anything which 
 may lead people to imagine that I am a prisoner — I have been 
 forced here contrary to the law of nations, and 1 will never 
 acknowledge their right in detaining me. My asking an officer 
 to accompany me would be a tacit acknowledgment of it. I 
 have no intention to attempt an escape, though I have not given 
 my word of honor not to try. Neither will I ever give it, as 
 that would be acknowledging myself a prisoner, which I ■will 
 never do. Cannot they impose additional restrictions when 
 ships arrive ; and above all, not allow any ship to sail until my 
 actual presence is ascertained, without inflicting such useless, and 
 because useless, vexatious restrictions. It is necessary for my 
 health that I should ride seven or eight leagues daily, but I will 
 not do so with an officer or guard over me. It has always been 
 my maxim, that a man shows more real courage in supporting 
 and resisting the calamities and misfortunes which befall him^ 
 than by making away with himself. That is the action of a 
 losing gamester, or a ruined spendthrift, and is a want of cour- 
 age, instead of a proof of it. Your government will be mis- 
 taken, if they imagine, that by seeking every means to annoy 
 me, such as sending me here, depriving me of all communica- 
 tion with my nearest and dearest relatives, so that I am ignorant 
 if one of my blood exists, isolating me from the world, imposing 
 
 a*
 
 84 A VOICK FKOM .->:•. IIKIKNA. 
 
 UBcK'ss ftiitl voxalioiis rest rid ions, \vlii<h iiiv daily gt'ttiiig wor»e, 
 somrmg Its ffcis den fnnnwes (tlic sruin of iiiaiikiinl) as keepers, 
 thev will \v«'iiiy out my patieiioo, and induce ine to e»>inmit sui- 
 cide. They are iiiisiakcn. Even if I ever liad cntcrlaincd a 
 thought of tlie kind, the idea of the gratification it would afford 
 to them, would prevent me from eomj)leling it." 
 
 *' That /><//(iff," .'^aid he laughing, "which they say they have 
 sent out for me, is .so much money thrown in the sea. I would 
 rather that they had sent me four hundred volumes of books, 
 than all their furniture and houses. In the lirst place, it will re- 
 tjuire -some years to luiild it, and before that time I shall be no 
 more. All nmst be done by the lalior of those pijor soldiers and 
 sailors, I do not wish it, I do nt)t wish to incur the hatred of 
 those poor fellows, who are already sufficiently miserable by 
 havinji been sent to this detestable place, and harassed in the 
 manner they are. They will load me with execrations, suppos- 
 ing me to be the author of all their hardships, and perhaps may 
 wish to put an end to me." I obsc i^ed, that no English soldier 
 would become an assassin. He interrupted me by saying, "I 
 nave no reason to complain of the English soldiers or sailors; on 
 the contrary, they treat me with every respect, and even appear 
 to feel for me." 
 
 He then spoke of some English officers. " Moore," said he, 
 " was a brave soldier, an excellent officer, and a man of talent. 
 He made a few mistakes, which were probably inseparable from 
 the difficulties with which he was surrounded, and caused perhaps 
 by his information having misled him." This eulogium, he re- 
 |ieated more than once, and observed, that he had commanded 
 the reserve in Egypt, where he had behaved very well, and dis- 
 played talent. 1 remarked, that Moore was always in front of 
 the battle, and was generally unfortunate enough to be wounded. 
 "Ah !" said he, "it is necessary sometimes. He died gloriously 
 — he died like a soldier. Menou was a man of courage, but no 
 soldier. You ought not to have taken Egypt. If Kleljer had 
 lived, you would never have conquered it. An army without 
 artillery or cavalry ! The Turks signified nothing. Kleljer was 
 au irreparable loss to France and to me. He was a man of tha
 
 1816 — MAY. 36 
 
 brightest talents and the greatest bravery. I have composed the 
 history of my own campaigns in Egypt and of yours, while I 
 was at the Briars. But I want the Moniteurs for the dates." 
 
 The con\ersation then turned upon Fi'ench naval officers. 
 " Villeneuve," said he, " when taken prisoner and brought to 
 England, was so much grieved at his defeat, that he studied 
 anatomy on purpose to destroy himself. For this purpose, he 
 bought some anatomical plates of the heart, and compared them 
 with his own body, in order to ascertain the exact situation of 
 that organ. On his arrival in France, I ordered that he should 
 remain at Rennes, and not proceed to Paris. Villeneuve, afraid 
 of being tried by a court-martial for disobedience of orders, and 
 consequently losing the fleet, for I had ordered him not to sail, 
 or to engage the English, determined to destroy himself, and 
 accordingly took his plates of the heart, and compared them with 
 his breast. Exactly in the centre of the plate, he made a mark 
 with a large pin, then fixed the pin as near as he could judge in 
 the same spot in his own breast, shoved in to the head, pene- 
 trated his heart, and expired. When the room was opened, he 
 was found dead ; the pin in his breast, and a mark in the plate 
 corresponding with the wound in his breast. He need not have 
 done it," continued he, " as he was a brave man, though pos- 
 sessed of no talent." 
 
 " Barre," said he, " whom you took in the Rivoli, was a very 
 brave and good officer. When I went to Egypt, I gave direc- 
 tions, after 1 had disembarked and had taken Alexandria in a 
 few hours, to sound for a passage for the fleet. A Venetian 
 sixty-four (and a fifty-gun ship I think he said) got in, which I 
 suppose you have seen there, but it was reported that the large 
 ships of the line could not. I ordered Barre to sound. He re- 
 ported to me that there was a sufficiency of water in one part of 
 the channel. Bruyes, on the contrary, said there was not enough 
 of water for the eighty -gun ships. Barre insisted that there was. 
 In the mean time, I had advanced in the country after the Mame- 
 lukes. All communication with the army from the town by 
 messengers, was cut off" by the Bedouins, who took, or killed 
 them all. My orders did not arrive, or 1 would have obliged
 
 3ft A VOICK Vium ST. HELENA. 
 
 Bruvos to iMitor ; for v«'ii imist kimw tliat I li.ul lln- loiiiinaiid of 
 the floet, Jis wt'll as tlu> arm v. In tlir iiu'aii timi', Nolsoii caiiu' 
 aiul dostrnvod Hiiim-s and liis fliH'l. Hy what I liavc U-aim-d 
 from you, I soo tliat Uanc was right, as you saw \hv Tign- and 
 Taiiopiis enter." 
 
 Al\er this, he made some observations npun tlic island. 
 •*Sueh,'' sai<l he, " is the deplorable state of this roek, that the 
 nbscnee of aetiial want or starvation is eonsidered as a great 
 blessing. Piontkowski went down to Robinson's the oilier day, 
 where they said to him, 'Oh, how happy you 7nus/ be to have 
 frt's/i meat every day to dinner. Oh, if we could enjoy t/iat, 
 how happy should we be.' Is this a place," continued he, "fit 
 for any person who has been accustomed to live amongst human 
 beings?" 
 
 28M. — Napoleon asked me if I had not had a very large party 
 to dinner yesterday. 1 replied, "a few." " IIow many of you 
 were drunk?" I said, "none." "Bah, bah ; what, none ? Why 
 they could not have done any honor to your entertainment. Was 
 i.ot Captain Ross a little gay?" I replied, "Captain Ross is 
 hi ways gay." lie laughed at this, and said " Ross is a very fine 
 ft.llow {^un bravissimo uomo) and the ship's company are very 
 happy in having such a captain. I saw," said he, " that poor 
 clergyman, Jones.* They have used that poor man most cruelly 
 in depriving him of his employment. For the sake of his family, 
 if not for himself, they ought not to have superseded him. He 
 is a good man, is he not ?" I replied, that he w as a man of 
 good heart, but that he was accused of being too fond of med- 
 dling with what did not concern him. 
 
 I told him that news had arrived that the Queen of Portugal 
 was dead, and also, that a French frigate had arrived at Rio 
 Janeiro to demand one of the king's daughters in marriage for 
 the Due de Berri. " The queen," said he, " has been mad for 
 a long time, and the daughters are all ugly." 
 
 29M. — A ship arrived from England ; went to town, saw the 
 governor, and on my return, went to Napoleon, who was play- 
 
 * Mr. JoncB had been a tutor to Mr. Balcombe's childrcu during Napoleon'8 
 reftidcnce at the Briars,
 
 3816 — ^JUNE. 87 
 
 iug at nine pins with his generals in his garden. I told (by 
 desire of the governor) that a bill concerning him had been 
 brought into parliament, to enable ministers to detain him in St 
 Helena, and to provide the necessary sums of money for his 
 maintenance. He asked if it had met with opposition ? I re- 
 plied, " scarcely any." " Brougham or Burdett," said he, "did 
 they make any ?" 1 replied, " 1 have not seen the papers, but 1 
 believe that Mr. Brougham said something." Gave him some 
 French newspapers, which the admiral had given me before he 
 had read them himself. " Who gave you those papers ?" " The 
 admiral." "What, for me?" (with some surprise.) "He told 
 me to give them to Bertrand, but in reality they were intended 
 for you." After some conversation, he desired me to endeavor 
 to procure the Morning Chronicle, the Globe, or any of the oppo- 
 sition or neutral papers. 
 
 June 1th. — Breakfasted with Napoleon in the garden. Had a 
 long medical argument with him, in which he maintained, that 
 liis practice in case of malady, viz., to eat nothing, drink plenty 
 of barley water and no wine, and ride for seven or eight leagues 
 to promote perspiration, was much better than mine. 
 
 Some conversation took place about the mode of solemnizing 
 marriage, in which I said, that in England, when a protestant and 
 catholic were married, it was necessary that the ceremony should 
 be performed, first by a protestant clergyman, and afterwards by 
 a Roman catholic priest. "That is wrong," said he, "marriage 
 ought to be a civil contract ; and on the parties going before 
 a magistrate in the presence of witnesses, and entering into an 
 engagement, tney should be considered as man and wife. This 
 is what I caused to be done in France. If they wished it, they 
 might go to the church afterwards and get a priest to repeat the 
 ceremony : but this ought not to be considered as indispensable. 
 It was always my maxim that those religious ceremonies should 
 never be above the laws, [prendre Pessor.) I also ordained, that 
 marriages contracted by French subjects in foreign countries, 
 when performed according to the laws of those countries, should 
 be valid on the return of the parties to France." 
 
 15</i. — Napoleon at breakfast in his bath, a little sliding table
 
 JJ8 -V VOITK ri;<iM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 w«5 put «>vcr the Imlli, ii|i(>ii whii-h tin- dislirs wi'ic pliiooH. I told 
 him that WanU'ii had loiiiul a IkmiU lu'loiigiiig to him, wliich was 
 Mippnscil to have 1)0011 K>st (III hoard of the Northumhorhuid. 
 "Ah! Wardi-ii, re brave /lomwe (that fine nmn), how is he' 
 \Vh\ ih'i's lio not oomo and soo nio — I shall ho glad to sco him ! 
 How is tho )H(decin-cii-chijr (chiif physician.) I said that ho 
 would foil higlily honored hy hoing prcsoiitcd to him,if lif would 
 oonsont to soo him us a private person, and not as a physiciiin. 
 " As yuti say that ho is \in (/alaiilnuiiio (a gciitU'iuaii), I shall 
 see him; you may introduoo him to me in the gardon any day 
 you like. Have you seen Miledi Liiwel 1 have lieen told that 
 she is a graceful and a fine woman." I replied that I had heard 
 so, and also that she was very lively. " It is a pity," said ho, 
 " that she cannot bestow a portion of her wit and grace upon her 
 hushand : as. fur a public character, I never saw a man so defi- 
 cient in both." He asked me a number of questions about Lon- 
 don, of which I had lent him a history, which had been made a 
 present to me by Cajttain Ross. He appeared to be well 
 acquainted with the contents of the book, though he had not had 
 it in his possession many days ; described the plates, and tried 
 to repeat several of the cries, — said that if he had been king of 
 England he would have made a grand street on each side of the 
 Thames, and another from St. Paul's to the river. The conver- 
 sation afterwards turned upon the manner of jiving in France 
 and England. " Which eats the most," said he, "the French- 
 man, or tho Englishman ?" I said, " I think the Frenchman." 
 " I don't believe it," said Napoleon. I replied that the French, 
 though they nominally make but two meals a day, really have 
 four. "Only two," said he. I replied, they take something at 
 nine in the morning, at eleven, at four, and at seven or eight in 
 the evening." " 1," said he, "never eat more than twice daily. 
 Y"ou English always eat four or five times a day. Your cookery 
 is more healthy than ours. Your soup is, however, very bad : 
 nothing )>ut bnad, pepper, and water. You drink an enormous 
 quantity of w inc." I said, " Not so much as is supposed by 
 the French." Why," replied he, "Piontkowski, who dines 
 Bomotimo in cauip with the officers of the 53d, says that
 
 1816— JUNE. 89 
 
 Ui«7 drink by the hour ; that after the cloth is removed, 
 they pay so much an hoiii-, and drink as much as they like, which 
 sometimes lasts until four o'clock in the morning." I said, "So 
 for fiom the truth is it, that some of the officers do not drink 
 wine more than twice a week, and that on days in which stran- 
 gers are permitted to be invited. There is a third of a bottio 
 j)Ui; on for each member that drinks wine, and when that is 
 exhausted, another third is put on, and so on. Members only 
 pay in proportion to what they drink." He appeared swrprised 
 with this explanation, and observed how easily a stranger, hav- 
 ing only an imperfect knowledge of the language, was led to give 
 a wrong interpretation to the customs and actions of other nations. 
 
 \lth. — Told Napoleon that the Newcastle frigate was in sight, 
 with the new admiral. He desired me to fetch my glass, and 
 point her out to him. Found him on my return on his way to 
 the stables. Pointed out the vessel beating up to windward. 
 Shortly afterwards Warden came up, and Napoleon invited me 
 to breakfast with him, and to bring Warden and Lieutenant 
 Blood with me. At breakfest, some conversation took place 
 about the Abbe de Pradt, &c. ; and about some of the absurd 
 falsehoods detailed in the Quarterly Review respecting his con- 
 duct while at the Briars, were repeated to him. " Cela anmsera 
 le public,''' (that will amuse the public,) replied Napoleon, War 
 den observed that all Europe was very anxious to know his 
 opinion of Lord Wellington as a general. To this he made np 
 reply, and the question was not repeated. 
 
 Three commissioners arrived in the Newcastle : Count Bal- 
 maine for Russia; Baron Sturmer for Austria, accompanied by 
 the Baroness, his wife; Marquis Montchenu for France, with 
 Captain Gor his aid-de-camp. An Austrian botanist also accom- 
 panied Baron Sturmer. 
 
 18^/i. — Told Napoleon th,at I had been to town, and that the 
 commissioners for Russia, France, and Austria had arrived. 
 " Have you seen any of them V " Yes, I saw the French com- 
 missioner." " What sort of a man is he V " He is an old 
 emigrant, named the Marquis of Montchenu, extremely fond of 
 talking ; but his looks are not against him. While I was stand
 
 40 A VOICE FUOM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 iiig in a group of oflirors on llu« tfiraco opposite the admiral's 
 hoiiso, ho camo out. and addiossing himself to me, said in French, 
 ' if von or any of vou sju-ak Frenrli, for the love of God make 
 il known to me, for I do not speak a word of En,<ili>h. i have 
 arrived here to fniish my days amongst those roeks (pointing to 
 i.adder Hill,) and I cannot speak a word of the language. 
 .Napoleon laughed very neartily at this, and repeated, bevanl^ 
 i;/i/itfci7f, several times. "What folly it is," said he, " to send 
 those commissioners out here. Without charge or responsiljility, 
 ihey will have nothing to do but to walk about the streets and 
 creep up the roeks. The Prussian government has displayed 
 more judgment and saved their money." I told him that Drouot 
 had been acquitted, which pleased him much. Of Drouot's 
 talents and virtues he spoke in the highest terms, and observed, 
 that by the laws of France he could not be punished for his con 
 duct. 
 
 20//i. — Rear-admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm, Captain Meynell, 
 (the flag captain,) and some other naval ofllicers, were presented 
 to Napoleon. 
 
 21s/. — Saw Napoleon walking in the garden, and went down 
 towards him with a book that I had procured for hiu). After he 
 had made some inquiries about the health of Mrs. Pierie, a 
 respectable old lady whom I visited, he said that he had seen the 
 new admiral. '"Ah, there is a man with a countenance really 
 pleasing, open, intelligent, frank, and sincere. There is the face 
 of an Englishman. Truly I felt as much pleasure in contemplat- 
 ing his countenance as I would in beholding that of a fine woman; 
 nothing dark, downcast, or dissimulating. His countenance be- 
 speaks his heart, and I am sure he is a good man : 1 never yet 
 beheld a man of whom I so immediately formed a good opinion 
 as of that fine, soldier-like old man. He carries his head erect, 
 and speaks out openly and boldly what he thinks, without being 
 afraid to look you in the face at the time. His physiognomy 
 would made every person desirous of a further acquaintance, and 
 render the most suspicious confident in him," 
 
 Some conversation now passed relative to the protest which 
 had been made by Lord Hijlland against the bill for his deten-
 
 1816 — JUNE 41 
 
 tion.* Napoleon expressed that opinion of Lord Htilland to 
 which his talents and virtues so fully entitle him. He was high- 
 ly pleased to find that the Duke of Sussex had joined his lord- 
 ship in the protest, and observed, that when passions were calm- 
 ed, the conduct of those two peers would be handed down to 
 posterity with as much honor, as that of the proposers of the 
 measure would be loaded with ignominy. 
 
 He asked several questions concerning the reduction of the 
 English army, and observed, that it was absurd in the English 
 government to endeavor to establish the nation as a great mili- 
 tary power, without has \ng a population sufficiently numerous to 
 afford the requisite number of soldiers to enable them to vie with 
 the great, or even the seccnd-rate continental powers, while they 
 neglected and seem to undervalue the navy, which was the real 
 force and bulwark of England. "They will yet," said he, "dis- 
 cover their error." 
 
 23rt/. — Several cases of books which had been ordered by 
 Bertrand at Madeira, and were brought out in the Newcastle by 
 Sir Pulteney Malcolm, were sent up to him the day before. 
 Found him in his bed-chamber, surrounded with heaps of books : 
 his countenance was smiling, and he was in perfect good humor. 
 He had been occupied in reading neai'ly all the night. " Ah," 
 said he, pointing to some books that he had thrown on the floor, 
 
 * PROTEST 
 
 TO THE SECOND READING OF BONAPAHTE's DETENTION BILL. 
 
 Because, witliout reference to the character or previous coinluct of the person, 
 who ia olie object of the present bill, I disapprove of the measure which it sanc- 
 tions and continues. 
 
 To consign to distant exile and imprisonment a foreign and captive chief, who 
 after the abdication of Iiis authority, relying on British generosity, bad snrren- 
 de'"ed liimseif to us in preference to his other enemies, is unworthy of the mag- 
 nanimity of a great country; and tlie treaties by which, after liis captivitj, we 
 have bound ourselves to detain him in custody, at the will of sovereigns, to 
 whom he had never surrendered himself, appear to rne repugnant to the piinei- 
 ples of equity, and utterly uncalled for by expedience or necessity. 
 
 (Signed.) VASSAL HOLLAND. 
 
 And, on the third reading, His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, entered 
 his protest for the same reasons.
 
 42 A VOICK KKt)M ST. IIKI^KNA. 
 
 acwriliiig (»• his nistoiii, al'iir li;i\ iiii,' read tluiii, " vhat a pleaburs 
 I havo fiijovi'il. Wliat a (lilVi'ioiui'. I can read forty pa^es nf 
 Kroiich in tlh> tinii> that it wouM rfqiiiri' ino to coinpri-hi iid lv,o 
 of English." I tonnd al'triwanls that his anxioty to see ihi-ni 
 was so great, that he had labored hard himself, with a liaiiirner 
 and ehistl, in opening the eases whieh eontainod them. 
 
 21///. — Saw Napoleon in the garden. Told him that Sir 
 'lljomas Reade had sent up seven cases of books to ine ft)r him, 
 and that the governor had sent me two guns on the percussion 
 prinfij>le for his use, and had desired me to explain the manner 
 in whieh they were constructed. " It is useless," replied he, " to 
 send me guns, when I am confined to a place where there is no 
 game." I told him that Mr. Baxter had come up to have the 
 honor of being introduced to him. lie desired me to call him. 
 On being presented, he said, smiling, " Well, signor medico, how 
 many patients have you killed in your time?" Afterwards, he 
 conversed with him for nearly an hour on various subjects. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe told me that "he was so far from wishing 
 to prevent any letters or complaints being sent to Europe, that 
 he had offered to Bonaparte to forward any letters or statements 
 he wished to England, and not only would he do so, but he 
 would have them i)rinted in the newspapers, in French and 
 English." 
 
 2"///. — A Proclamation issued by Sir Hudson Lowe, declaring 
 that any person holding any correspondence or communication 
 with Napoleon B()naparte, his followers or attendants, receiving 
 from or delivering to him or them letters or communications, 
 without express authorization from the governor, under his hand, 
 was guilty of an infraction of the acts of parliament for his safe 
 custody, and would l»e prosecuted with all the rigor of the law. 
 Also, that any person or persons who received any letters or 
 communic'itions from him, his followers, or attendants, and did 
 not immediately deliver or make known the same to the governor, 
 or, w ho should furnish the said Napoleon Bonaparte, his followers, 
 or attendants, with money, or any other means whatever, whereby 
 his escape might be furthered, would be considered to be aidinij
 
 1816— JULY. 43 
 
 and assisting in the same, and would be proceeded against ao 
 cordingly. 
 
 July \st. — A letter sent by Sir Hudson Lowe to Count Ber- 
 trand, prohibiting all sort of communications, either written or 
 verbal, with the inhabitants, except such as shall have been 
 previously made known to him (the governor) through the 
 orderly officer. 
 
 Since the arrival of the books, the Emperor has been daily 
 occupied for several hours in reading and collecting dates and 
 other materials for the history of his life, which is written up to 
 his landing in France from Egypt. The state of the weather 
 also, the almost constant rain or fog, with the strong wind con- 
 tinually blowing over the bleak and exposed situation of Long- 
 wood, had contributed much to keep him within doors, and disgust 
 him with his present residence. He expressed a wish to be 
 removed to the leeward side of the island, which is warmer, and 
 protected from the eternal sharp south-east wind. 
 
 Ath. — Sir Pulteney and Lady Malcolm had an interview of 
 nearly two hours with Napoleon, who was much pleased with 
 both. During the conversation he entered much into a descrip- 
 tion of the battle of Waterloo, naval tactics, &c. The officers of 
 the Newcastle were also presented to him. The meat, which has 
 generally been of a bad quality, is to-day so detestable, that 
 Captain Poppleton felt himself obliged to send it back, and write 
 a complaint to the governor. 
 
 Qth. — Madam Bertrand informed Captain Poppleton and 
 myself, that she had written a letter to Montchenu, in which she. 
 requested of him to call and see her at Hut's Gate, as she had 
 heard that he had seen her mother, who was in an indifferent state 
 of heiilth, and was very desirous to inquire about her. That 
 Las Cases would also come and meet him on his arrival at her 
 house, as he was informed that Montchenu had seen his wife a 
 short time before his departure from Paris. 
 
 8iA. — The servants from Longwood, bringing the provisions to 
 Bertrand's^. stopped by the sentinels, and not allowed to enter the 
 court, i-uc viands were, at last, handed over the wall, in pre- 
 sence of a sentinel, who said, he c(ni1d not permit any conversa
 
 41 A VOICE FROM SI. IlfXENA. 
 
 tion to tflko phico. A similar scono took place, when my set. 
 vunt hrouijht some nu'diciiu's for Bertrand's servant, Bernard, 
 who was dajigerousiy ill. llouiid one of the bottles there was » 
 lahel in my handwriting, eontaining directions how to take the 
 medieine. This was written in French, and the sentinel not 
 lining al)le to miderstand it, thought it his duty not to suffer it t> 
 fiitiT, and it was aeeordingly torn c»ff. A sentinel was relieved 
 the day before, and sent to camp to be tried by a court-martial, 
 for having allowed a black to go into Bertrand's court to get a 
 drink of water, which probably has given rise to this increased 
 rigor on the part of the soldiers. 
 
 9th. — A letter of expostulation sent this morning to Sir Hud- 
 son Lowe. Some conversation at Longwood, relative to a ma- 
 chine for making ice, said by some of the officers of the New- 
 castle to have been sent by Lady Holland for Napoleon's use, 
 but which has not yet made its appearance. 
 
 \OtJi. — A great deficiency has existed for several days in the 
 quantity of wine, fowls, and other necessary articles. Wrote to 
 Sir Thomas Reade about it. Captain Poppleton also went to 
 town himself to lay the matter before Sir Hudson Lowe. 
 
 11///. — While at Hut's Gate, a serjeant came in with a mes- 
 sage from Sir Hudson Lowe, desiring me to follow him. His 
 excellency inquired of me in what part of the island General 
 Bonaparte would wish to have his new house built? I replied, 
 "He would like the Briars." Sir Hudson said, that would never 
 do, that it was too near the town, and in fact out of the question. 
 He then asked me, if I thought he would prefer any part of the 
 island to Longwood ? I said, " most certainly he would prefer 
 a habitation on the other side of the island." His excellency 
 then desired me to find out from himself what part of the island 
 he would prefer. He also said, that Napoleon had refused to 
 see the commissioners, and desired me to ascertain whether he 
 was still of that opinion. His excellency asked me whether I 
 knew what they wanted with the Marquis Montchenu. I applied, 
 that Madame Hertrand wished to inquire after her mother's 
 health, and that Las Cases was to have met him at Hut's Gate ; 
 and that 1 was informed he was very anxious to inquire about
 
 1816— JULY. 46 
 
 his wife, as he had been told that Montchenu had seen her shortly 
 before his departure from Paris. Sir Hudson observed that he 
 would report Las Cases to the British government, for having 
 Bontemptuously refused to receive or accept some articles sent 
 for the supply of the generals and others with Bonaparte, while 
 at the same time he wrote a letter to Lady Clavering, desiring 
 that some articles of a similar nature to those so offered might 
 be purchased and sent ore to him. He then again assured me 
 of his readiness, not or y to transmit their complaints to his 
 majesty's government, but that he would also cause them to be 
 published; and told me that he much wished me to let him 
 know General Bonaparte's wants and wishes, in order that he 
 might communicate them to his government, which would thus 
 know how to anticipate and provide for any demands. Desired 
 me also to tell Madame Bertrand that he was very sorry any 
 restrictions, which he had imposed, were disagreeable to her or 
 hurtful to her feelings, though it appeared to him that she had 
 been made a tool of, which he advised her not to try again. 
 After this, he went to Longwood, where he had a long conversa- 
 tion with General Montholon, chiefly about altering, enlarging, 
 and improving Longwood House. 
 
 I2(h. — Napoleon rather melancholy. I informed him that the 
 governor had been at Longwood yesterday, in order to see if he 
 could aflford greater comfort and accommodation to him, either 
 by building some additional rooms to the house already existing 
 at Longwood, or erecting a new house in some other part of the 
 island ; and that the governor had charged me to inquire from 
 him which he would prefer. He replied, "^ q^^esla casa, o in 
 questo luogo tristo non voqlio niente di lui (In this house, or in 
 this sad place, I will have nothing of him.) I hate this Long- 
 wood. The sight of it makes me melancholy. Let him put me 
 in some place where there is shade, verdure, and water. Here 
 it either blows a furious wind, loaded with rain and fog, die mi 
 taglia Vanima (which cuts me through) ; or, if that is wanting, 
 il sole mi brucia il cervello (or the sun broils my brain), through 
 the want of shade, when I go out. Let him put me on the 
 Plantation House side of the island, if he really wishes to do
 
 44 ▲ VOICE FUOM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 ui^'thing fur iiu-. Hiit \\ liat is tlic use of his ottining up here 
 proposing things, imil doing nolliing. 'I'liore is not rand's house 
 Mot thr li'iist ndvam-rd siiur his arrival. The admiral at h'ast 
 sent his i'ar|Hnti'r hiTo, who made the work go on." I ri-plied, 
 that the governor had desired me to say, that he did not like to 
 undertake anything with«)ut first knowing that it would meet 
 v\ilh his approval ; hut that if he (Napoleon) would fix, or pro- 
 pose ft plan for the house, he would order ev<"ry workman on the 
 island, with a j)rt)portionate numner ^ engineei officers, 4ic., to 
 proceed to Ivongwood, and set about it. ''hat the governor feared, 
 that making additions to the present Imilding would annoy him 
 by the noise of the workmen. lie replied, " Certainly it 
 would. I do not wish him to do do anything to this house, or 
 on this dismal place. Let him build a house on the other side 
 of the island, where there is shade, verdure, and water, and 
 where I may be sheltered from this venfo agro (disagri-ealde 
 wind.) If it is determined to build a new house for my use, I 
 would wish to have it erected on the estate of Colonel Smith, 
 which Bert rand has been to look at, or at Rosemary Hall. But 
 his projposals are all a delusion. Nothing advances since he 
 came. Look there," pointing to the window. " I was obliged 
 to order a pair of sheets to be put up as curtains, as the others 
 were so dirty I could not approach them, and none could be ob- 
 tained to replace them. ' E un trist' uomo, e peggio delV isola 
 (He is a bad man, and worse than the island.) Remark his con- 
 duct to quella povera dama (this poor lady), Madame Bertrand. 
 lie has deprived her of the little lil)erty she had, and has pre- 
 vented [Kople from coming to visit and havarder (discourse) for 
 an hour with her, which was some little solace to a lady who had 
 always been accustomed to see company." I observed, that the 
 governor had said it was in consequence of Madame Bcrtrand's 
 having sent a note to the Marquis Montchenu, without having 
 first caused it to pass through the governor's hands. "Trash," 
 replied he; " by the regulations in existence when he arnVed, it 
 was permitted to send notes to residents, and no communication 
 of an alteration having taking place was made to them. Be- 
 tides, could not she and her husband have gone to town to se«
 
 1816— JULY. 47 
 
 Montchenu 1 Weak men are always timorous and suspicious. 
 This man is fit to be un capo di sbirri (a captain of spies), but 
 not a governor." 
 
 ISth. — Went to town, and communicated Napoleon's reply to 
 Sir Hudson Lowe, who did not seem to like it ; and said that he 
 could not so easily be watched. I observed that I thought 
 easier, as he would then be in the midst of his (Sir Hudson's) 
 staff; and, moreover, as the spots in question were nearly sur- 
 rounded with high and unequal rocks, it would be extremely 
 easy to place picquets in such a manner as to preclude the pos- 
 sibility of escape, and, at the same time, be unseen by the 
 captive. His excellency, at first, assented to this ; but a moment 
 afterwards observed that he should not know where to place the 
 Austrian commissioner, who had taken Rosemary Hall. I ven- 
 tured to suggest to him that however desirable an object the ac- 
 commodation of the Baron Sturmer might be, still it was one 
 of much minor importance to that of the principal detenu. Sir 
 Hudson Lowe, after a moment's silence, asked me if I had com- 
 municated his message to Madame Bertrand, to which I replied 
 in the affirmative. He observed that he had not sufficiently ex- 
 plained his motives in imposing some additional restrictions, as 
 the fact was, that Sir George Cockburn, prior to his departure, 
 had pointed out to him the great inconveniency of the existing 
 order of things, and the necessity there was of perventing such 
 free access to Bei'trand's house. That he had strongly recom- 
 mended the adoption of the restrictions which he (Sir Hudson) 
 had since thought it his duty to impose, which the admiral de- 
 clared it was his own intention to have ordered, had he not been 
 in daily expectation of the new governor's arrival. That the 
 liberal access to Bertrand had been originally permitted in con- 
 sequence of a supposition, that the new house for his use at Long- 
 wood would soon be finished, after which he would be placed on 
 a similar footing with the other attendants of General Bonaparte. 
 This he desired me to communicate to the countess; and said, 
 that he would consider about building the new house upon the 
 spot which I had pointed out; adding, that "Colonel Smith's and 
 Rosemary Hall must go together."
 
 48 A VOICE FROM ST. IIKLRNA. 
 
 15/A. — Nup<>l«»«>ii Milt very early in the caniufre. 
 
 lO/A. — Napolomi, who had j»ono down to the stal)I«'s at an 
 early hour, and ortlorod the horses to l>e put to himself, overtook 
 ine in the park, and made me get into the earriage. Complained 
 of his teeth. Breakfasted with him. During the meal, th»' suh 
 ject of the commissioners was introduced. He asked, " if Ma- 
 dame Sturmer had ever seen him at Paris." 1 repli«'d, that she 
 had, and was very desirous to see him again. " And who prevents 
 herl" said he. I replied, that herself and her husband, as well 
 jis the rest of the commissioners, believe that you will not receive 
 them. " Who told them so?" said he, *' I am willing to receive 
 them, whenever they please to ask through Bertrand. I shall 
 receive them as private characters, I never refuse to see any per- 
 son, when asked in a proper way, and especially, I should be 
 always glad to see a lady." 
 
 " It appears," said he, " that your ministers have sent out a 
 great many articles of dress for us, and other things, which it is 
 supposed might be wanted. Now, if this governor was possessed 
 of the feelings of a gentleman, he would have sent a list of them 
 to Bertrand, stating that the English government had sent a 
 supply of certain articles which it was thought we might want, 
 and that if we stood in need of them, we might order such as we 
 pleased. But. instead of acting in a manner pointed out by the 
 rules of politeness, this gedlier converts into an insult what pro- 
 bablv your government intended as a civility, by selecting what 
 things he himself pleases, and sending them up in a contemptuous 
 manner, without consulting us, as if he were sending alms to a 
 set of be^cars, or clothing to convicts. Veramente ha il cunre di 
 bfjja, (he has indeed the heart of a hangman,) for nobody but a 
 boja would unnecessarily increase the miseries of people situated 
 like us, already too mihappy. His hands soil every thing that 
 passes through ihcin. See how he torments that poor lady, 
 Madame Bertrand, by depriving her of the little society she was 
 accustomed to, and which is necessary to her existence. It is not 
 punishing her husband, who, if he has a book, is contented. I am 
 astonished that he allows you, or Poppleton to remain near me. 
 He would willingly watch me himself always, were it in his
 
 1816— JULY. 49 
 
 power. Have you any galley-slaves in England ?" I replied, 
 No; but ihat w^e had some convicts who were condemned to 
 work at Portsmouth and elsewhere. " Then,'' said he, " he ought 
 to have been made keeper of them. It would be exactly the 
 office suited for him." 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe came up to Longwood, and had an inter- 
 view with him for a short time. 
 
 nth. — Napoleon called me into the garden to him. Informed 
 me that he had t<jld the governor that he had unnecessarily in 
 creased their restrictions ; that he had, without any reason, pun- 
 ished Madame Bertrand ; that he had insulted them by his 
 manner of sending up the articles sent for their use ; that he had 
 insulted Las Cases, by telling him that he had read his letters, 
 and by informing him, that if he wanted a pair of shoes or 
 stockings, he must first send to him. " I told him," added he, 
 " that if Bertrand or Las Cases wanted to foi-m a plot with the 
 commissioners, (which he appeared to be afraid of,) that he had 
 nothing more to do, than to go to the town and make an appoint- 
 ment with any of them to come up inside of the alarm-house, 
 and meet him. I told him that it was a disgrace to him, who 
 was vested with authority, to insult a man like Bertrand, who 
 was esteemed by all Europe." 
 
 He then spoke about the new house, and said, that if he ex- 
 pected to remain long in St. Helena, he would wish to have it 
 erected at the Plantation House side ; " but," continued he, " I 
 am of opinion that as soon as the afiairs of France are settled, 
 and things quiet, the English government will allow me to re- 
 turn to Europe, and finish my days in England. I do not be- 
 lieve that they are foolish enough to be at the expense of eight 
 millions annually, to keep me here, when I am no longer to be 
 feared ; I therefore am not very anxious about the house." He 
 then spoke about escape, and said, that even if he were inclined 
 to try it, there were ninety-eight chances out of a hundred against 
 his succeeding ; " notwithstanding which," continued he, " this 
 gaoler imposes as many restrictions, as if I had nothing more to 
 do than to step into a boat and be off. It is true, that while one 
 lives, there is always a chance, although chained, enclosed in a 
 
 3
 
 M) A VOIC'K FROM SI. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 oell, ami ovorv Iniinaii pr-'i-autioii taken, there is still a eiiancc o/ 
 escHpo, and tlie o\\\y elVeetiial way tu prevent it is to put nie to 
 death. // ;i'y a ijue lis marts qui tie rcvicnnent pas. (It is only 
 the dead who do not return.) Then all uneasiness on the part 
 (.>f the European powers, and Lord Castlereagh, will cease : no 
 more expense, no more squadrons to watch me, or poor soldiers 
 fatigued to death, with ]>ie(piets and guards, or harassed carrying 
 loads up those rocks." 
 
 IS///. — !Sir Hudson came to Longwood, antl arranged some 
 matters with General Montholon relative to the house. Every 
 thing connected with the alterations in the building put under 
 the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, assisted l)y Lieu 
 tenant Jackson of the staff corps. A billiard-taltle brought up 
 to Longwood. 
 
 \9th. — ITie drawinii-room of Longwood House discovered to 
 be on fire at about five o'clock in the morning. It was extin- 
 guished in about half an hour, by great exertions on the part of 
 Captain Poppleton, and the guard, aided by the household. It 
 had reached within a few inches of the upper flooring, which 
 was formed of a double boarding. ILad this caught fire, it 
 Would have been nearly impossible to have saved the building, 
 as there is no water at Longwood. 
 
 20///. — Some curtains for the emperor's bed sent up to me by 
 Sir Thomas Reade. 
 
 22/1(1. — Dined in camp, on occasion of the anniversary of the 
 battle of Salamanca. Present, his excellency and staff, heads of 
 department, &c. 
 
 24th. — The admiral sent up a lieutenant and party of seamen 
 to pitch a tent, formed of a lower studding-saii, as no shade was 
 afforded by the trees at Longwood. Colonel Maunsell, of the 
 53d, asked me to exert myself in order to procure, through 
 Count Bertrand, for Dr. Ward (who had been eighteen years in 
 India) an interview with Napoleon. Count Bertrand accordingly 
 made the application to the emperor, who replied, that " Dr 
 Ward must apply in person to Count Bertrand." 
 
 2r)fh. — Told Napoleon that the Griffon had arrived from Eng 
 l»nd the night before, and had brought the news of the ccndemna
 
 1816 — JULY. 51 
 
 tiou of General Bertrand to death, though absent. He appeared 
 for a nionient lost in astonishment, and much concerned; but re- 
 collecting himself, observed, that by the laws of France, a man 
 accused of a capital offence might be tried, and condemned to 
 death, par contiimace, but that they could not act upon such a 
 sentence; that the individual must be tried again, and be actually 
 present ; that if Bertrand were now in France, he would be ac- 
 quitted, as Drouot had been. He expressed, however, much 
 sorrow at it, on account of the effect which it might probably 
 produce upon Madame Bertrand. " In revolutions," continued 
 he, " every thing is forgotten. The benefits you confer to-day, 
 are forgotten to-morrow. The side once changed, gratitude, 
 friendship, parentage, every tie vanishes, and all sought for is 
 selfinterest." 
 
 26^/i.— Saw Napoleon at his toilette. While dressing, he is 
 attended by Marchand, St. Denis, and Novarre. One of the 
 latter holds a looking-glass before him, and the other the neces- 
 sary implements for shaving, while Marchand is in waiting to 
 hand his clothes, eau de Cologne, &c. (cologne water.) When he 
 has gone over one side of his face with the razor, he asks St. 
 Denis or Novarre, " Is it done?" and after receiving an answer 
 commences on the other. After he has finished, the glass is held 
 before him to the light, and he examines whether he has re- 
 moved every portion of his beard. If he perceives or feels that 
 any remains, he sometimes lays hold of one of them by the ear, 
 or gives him a gentle slap on the cheel<, in a good-humored man- 
 ner, crying, "Ah, coqum, why did you tell me it was done?" 
 This, probably, has given rise to the report of his having been in 
 the habit of beating and otherwise ill-treating his domestics. He 
 then washes with water, in which some eau de Cvhujne has been 
 mingled, a little of which he also sprinkles over his person, very 
 carefully picks and cleans his teeth, frequently has himself rubbed 
 with a flesh-brush, changes his linen and flannel waistcoat, and 
 dresses in white kerseymere (or brown nankeen) breeches, white 
 waistcoat, silk stockings, shoes and gold buckles, and a green 
 single-breasted coat with white buttons, black stock, with none 
 of the white shirt-collar appearing above it, and a three-cornere<^
 
 62 A VOICE FKO.M ST. HELENA. 
 
 Miiuill Ci>cl><d hut, with h litlle tri-culor(.'il coekado. When 
 dre.^sod, he ttl\va\ s woais the cordon and grand cross uf the 
 K'jjion of honor. When he has put on his coat, a lillle hotibon- 
 nitrt\ (htix of sweetmeats,) liis snntl'-liox, and handkcreliief, 
 sceiited with can de C(>ii'(/ne, are handed to iiini Itv Mareliand, 
 and he leaves the chamber. 
 
 Napoh'oii coinphiined of a slight jiain in his right side. 1 ad- 
 viseil him to get it well rublied with euii de CuUxjne and flannel, 
 and also suggested a dose of physic. At this last ho laughed, 
 and gave nie a friendly slap on the cheek. lie asked the causes 
 of the liver complaint, now very prevalent in the island. I enu- 
 merated several, and amongst others, drunkenness and hot cli- 
 mates. " If," said he, " drunkeiniess be a cause, 1 ought never 
 to have it." 
 
 'ilth. — Colonel Keating, late governor of the isle of Bourbon, 
 had an interview with Napoleon, which lasted for nearly an 
 hour. 
 
 2Sth. — Informed by Cipriani, that in the beginning of 1815, 
 he had been sent from Elba to Leghorn, to purchase 100,000 
 francs worth of furniture for Napoleon's palace. During his 
 stay, he became very intimate with a person named * * *, who 
 had a * * * at Vienna, from whom a private intimation was 
 sent to him, that it was the determination of the congress of Vi- 
 enna to send the emperor to St. Helena, and even had sent him 
 a paper containing the substance of the agreement, a copy of 
 which he gave to Cipriani, who departed instantly for Ell»a, to 
 communicate the information he had received to the emperor. 
 This, with the confirmation which he afterwards received from 
 M * * * A * * and M * * * at Vienna, contributed to deter, 
 mine Napoleon to attempt the recovery of his throne. 
 
 Accompanied Napoleon in his evening drive. Informed him 
 that Sir Thomas Reade had begged me to acquaint him that the 
 Russian commissioner had taken no part in the official note ad- 
 dressed to the governor, and containing a request to see him 
 (Napoleon.) He observed, that if they wished to see him, they 
 had taken very Ijad measures, as all the powers of Europe should 
 uot induce him to receive them as official characters. They
 
 1816 — AUGUST. 53 
 
 might break open the door, or level the house down and find 
 him. He then observed, that a book* relative to his last reign 
 in France had been lately sent out by the author, (an English- 
 man,) to Sir Hudson Lowe, with a request that it should be de 
 livered to him. On the back was inscribed, in k'tters of gold, — 
 to the Emperor Napoleon, or, to the Great Napoleon. '• Now,'' 
 continued he, " this galeriano would not allow the book to be sent 
 to me, because it had the ' Emperor Napoleon' written upon it ; 
 because he thought that it would give me some pleasure to see that 
 all men were not like him, and that I was esteemed by some of his 
 nation. Non credevo die un xiomo poteva essere basso e vile a tal 
 segno.'''' (I did not believe that a man could be so low and vile.) 
 
 Since the arrival of Sir Hudson Lowe, there has been a great 
 alteration in the number of newspapers sent to Longwood. In- 
 stead of receiving, as heretofore, a regular series of some papers, 
 as well as many detached ones, only a few irregular numbers 
 of the Times have arrived, and occasionally a Courier. This 
 has caused great anxiety at Longwood to those who have rela- 
 tions in France, and given much displeasure to Napoleon, to 
 whom Sir George Cockburn frequently sent up papers, before 
 perusing them himself. 
 
 August 2d. — Made a complaint to the purveyors that no vege- 
 tables, except potatoes, had been sent up for three days ; and re- 
 quested, that if he was not permitted to furnish any more, my 
 letter might be transmitted to Major Gorrequer. 
 
 Sd. — Received an answer from Mr. Fowler, clerk to the pur- 
 veyors, informing me that they had been ordered to send no 
 more vegetables, which, they had been informed by Major G. 
 were in future to be furnished from the honorable company '& 
 garden 
 
 Colonel Maunsel presented this day by Sir George Bingham. 
 Napoleon conversed for a short time with the latter. 
 
 bth. — Sir Hudson Lowe came to Longwood, and calling me 
 aside in a mysterious manner, asked if I thought that " General 
 Bonaparte " would take it well if he invited him to come to a 
 ball at Plantation House, on the Prince Regent's birth-day 1 I 
 
 * *' The last Keiga of the Emperor Napoleou," by Mr. Hobhou»«.
 
 M A TOICK FKOM ST nKI.KNA. 
 
 roplit'tl, tlmt iiiuliT all circimistiuicc^^, I llioiii^lii it most probable 
 that ho wouKl lock upon it as an insult, especially if made to 
 " General Bonaparte.'''' His exeelleney reniarked, that ho would 
 avoid that, hy asking him in person. I said, that I would recom- 
 mend hit!) to consult Count Ri-rtrand fin the subject, which he said 
 ho would do. He then referred to a [irior conversation, and in- 
 formed me that he was of opinion my .«ialary ought to be aug- 
 mented to 500/. per annum, and that he would certainly write to 
 Lord Bathursl and recommend it. After this, he spoke about 
 Mr. ITobhouse's book, observed, that he could not send it to 
 Longwood, as it had not been forwarded through the channel of 
 the secretary of state ; moreover, that Lord Castlercagh was ex- 
 tremely ill spoken of, and that he had no idea of allowing Gen- 
 eral Bonaparte to read a book in which a British minister was 
 treatea in such a manner, or even to know that a work contain- 
 ing such reflections could be published in England. I ven- 
 tured to observe to his excellency, that Napoleon was very 
 desirous to see the book, and that he could not confer a much 
 greater favor than to send it up. Sir Hudson replied, that Mr. 
 Hobhouse, in the letter which accompanied it, had permitted 
 him to place it in his own library, if he did not think himself 
 authorized to send it to its original destination. 
 
 6th. — Napoleon again entered on the suVjject of the book, the 
 detention of which by the governor he declared to be illegal ; and 
 that even if he were a prisoner under sentence of death, the 
 governor's conduct would not l)e justifiable in detaining a printed 
 and published book, in which there was no secret correspondence 
 or treason, because there were some bki.ses in it. By " bitiaes,^' 
 he meant the inscription addressed to him. 
 
 A lieutenant, two midshipmen, and a party of seamen em- 
 ployed in repairing the tent, which had suffered materially in the 
 late bad weather. Napoleon went up, and conversed for a short 
 time with the midshipmen, one of whom, by a strange coin- 
 cidence, happened to the son of Mr, Drake, notorious for his 
 conduct at Munich. 
 
 10/A. — Sir Hudson Lowe came up, while Napoleon was at 
 breakfast in the tent, in order to see him, but did not succeed.
 
 1816 — AUGUST. 56 
 
 I2th. — Grand field day at camp, in iionor of tlie prince regent. 
 Explained to him that in all our colonies his royal highness'a 
 birth-day was celebrated. " Gia, gia,^'' (already, already) said 
 he, '■'■ naturalmente.'''' Asked me if I were asked to dine with the 
 governor 1 I replied, no; but that I was asked to the ball in the 
 evening. 
 
 Wth. — Napoleon went out to ride this morning for the first 
 time for eight weeks. Informed me that he had so severe a 
 headache, that he had determined to try the effect of a little exer- 
 cise. " But," continued he, " the limits are so circumscribed, 
 that I can not ride for more than an hour ; and in order to do me 
 any good, I should ride very hard for three or four. Here has 
 been," continued he, " that sbirro Siciliano, (Sicilian spy.) I 
 would have remained in the tent an hour longer, if I had not 
 been informed of his arrival. Ml ripugna Vanima il vederlo. (It 
 disgusts me to the soul to see him.) He is perpetually unquiet, 
 and appears always in a passion with somebody, or uneasy, as if 
 something tormented his conscience, and that he was anxious to 
 run away from himself" 
 
 " A man, to be well fitted for the situation of governor of St. 
 Helena," he observed, "ought to be a person of great politeness, 
 and at the same time of great firmness — one who could gloss 
 over a refusal, and lessen the miseries of the defenvs, (prisoners) 
 instead of eternally putting them in mind that they were con- 
 sidered as prisoners. Instead of such a man, they had sent out 
 un uomo non conosciuto, che non a mai cotnandato, che non ha 
 nessun ordine, ne sistema, che non sa farsi uhbidire, che non ha ne 
 manifira, ne creanza — e che pare che abbia sempre vhsitto con del 
 hdrV (A man unknown, who has never commanded, who has 
 aeither order nor system, who knows not how to make himself 
 obeyed, who has neither manners nor credit, who seems rather 
 to have vegetated than lived, and that with villains.) 
 
 \bth. — Anniversary of Napoleon's birth-day. Breakfasted in 
 the tent with the ladies and all his suite, including Piontkowski 
 and the children. There was, however, no change of uniform 
 or additional decorations. In the evening, the second class of 
 domestics, including the English, had a grand supper, and a dance
 
 C6 A V.'ICK KUOM ST. HKLKNA. 
 
 sftorwards. To tlu' Hstonishiiioiil of tin' Freiicli, not an EnglUb 
 mail ^ot drunk. 
 
 1()///. — Sir Hudson I.owi' <.'anic u|>, ami liad a long tonvcrsa- 
 tioii with Gonoral Mt)ntlu)li>n and nivsill". principally about the 
 necessity of redueing the expenses of the estahlishnient ; which 
 ho observed was not conducted with a due regard to eoonon^y. 
 Amongst other examples of what he considered wasteful expon- 
 dilure, he stated to General Monlholon that he had observed, on 
 looking over the accounts of Plantation House and Longwood, 
 that there was a niuch greatt-r tpiantity of basket-salt consumed 
 at the latter than at the fonia-r; he desired, therefore, that in 
 future, common salt [scl (/ria) ^Imuid be nsed as much as possible 
 in the kitchen and at the table of the servants. 
 
 One «if Leslie's pneumatic machines for making ice sent up to 
 Longwood this day. As soon as it was put up, I went and 
 informed Napoleon, and told him that the admiral was at Long- 
 wood. He asked several questions about the process, and it 
 was evident that he was perfectly acquainted with the principles 
 upon which air-pumps are formed. He expressed great admira- 
 tion for the science of chemistry, spoke of the jrreat improve- 
 ments which had latterly been made in it, and observed that he 
 had always promoted and encouraged it to the best of his power. 
 1 then left him, and proceeded to the room where the machine 
 was, in order to commence the experiment in the presence of the 
 admiral. In a few minutes Napoleon, accompanied by Count 
 Montholon, came in and accosted the admiral in a very pleasant 
 manner, seemingly gratified to see him. A cup full of water 
 was then frozen in his presence in about fifteen minutes, and he 
 waited for upwards of half an hour to see if the same quantify of 
 lemonade would freeze, which did not succeed. Milk w-as then 
 tried, but it would not answer. Napoleon took in his hand the 
 piece of ic« produced from the water, and observed to me, what 
 a gratification that would have been in Egypt. The first ice 
 ever seen in St. Helena was made by this machine, and was 
 viewed with no small degree of surprise by the ya/?i stoc/,-s ;* 
 H)iue of whom could with difficulty be persuaded that the solid 
 
 • A cant uamo for the natives of the islaad.
 
 1816 — AUGUST. 67 
 
 lump in their hands was really composed of water, and were not 
 fully convinced until they had witnessed its liquefaction. 
 
 Mth. — Went to Hut's Gate to visit Bertrand's servant Ber 
 nard, who was very il.. The Serjeant of the guard ordered the 
 sentry to be confined for letting me in. Went out to inquire, 
 and was informed by the Serjeant that he had orders to prevent 
 every one from going in except the general staff. Sir Hudson 
 Lowe had, it appeared, given some directions yesterday himself, 
 on going out of Bertrand's, to whom he showed a letter from 
 Lord Bathurst, stating that the expenses of the establishment 
 must be reduced to 8000/. per annum for everything. Th, -iien 
 who l)rt)ught the provisions were not allowed to enter, but m 
 obliged to hand them over the wall. The sei-vants from Long- 
 wood were also refused admittance. Mr. Brookes, the colonial 
 secretary, was also denied entrance. A letter sent by Sir Hud- 
 son Lowe to Count Montholon, making a demand of 12,000/. a 
 year for the maintenance of Napoleon and suite.* 
 
 \9>th. — The governor and admiral, accompanied by Sir Thomas 
 Reade and Major Gorrequer, arrived at Longwood while Napo- 
 leon was walking in the garden with Counts Bertrand, Montho- 
 lon, Las Cases, and son. His excellency sent to ask an inter- 
 view, which was granted. It tcjok place in the garden. The 
 three principal personages, Napoleon, Sir Hudson, and Sir Pul- 
 teney, were a little in front of the others. Captain Poppleton 
 and myself stood at some distance from them, but sufficiently 
 near to observe their gestures. We remarked that the conver- 
 sation was principally on the part of Napoleon, who appeared 
 at times considerably animated, frequently stopping and agaiii 
 hurried in his walk, and accompanying his words with a good 
 deal of action. Sir Hudson's manner also appeared hurried and 
 greatly agitated. The admiral was the only one who appeared 
 to discourse with calmness. In about half an hour we saw Sir 
 Hudson Lowe abruptly turn about and withdraw, without salut- 
 ing Napoleon. The admiral took off his hat, made his bow, 
 and departed. Sir Hudson Lowe came up to where Poppleton 
 and myself were standing, paced up ami down in an agitated 
 
 • See Appemlix, No. IV. 
 3*
 
 68 A VOICE riiOM ST. HKI-KNA. 
 
 ninniier, whilo his horses wore coining, ami suid to nu-, "(Jouerai 
 Hontipaito lias lioon very abusive U) ine. I |iailetl with him 
 rather aUrnptly, and toKl him, Vous ties malhomtctt', Moitsietir,^^ 
 (you are impolito. Sir.) He then mounted his liorsc and gal- 
 loped awav. The admiral appeared troultled and pensive. It 
 was evidiiit that the interview had Keen very unpleasant. 
 
 lOM. — Saw Napoleon in his dressing room. lie was in very 
 good humor — asked how Ginirgaud was, and on lieing informed 
 that I had given him some remedy, he laughed and said, he 
 would have done better to have dieted himself for some days: 
 let h" . drink plenty of water, and eat n()thing. Medicines," he 
 SH '' were only fit for t)ld people." 
 
 He then said, " That governor cainc here yesterday to annoy 
 nie. He saw me walking in the garden, and in consequence I 
 Could not refuse to see him. He wanted to enter into some de- 
 tails with me, about reducing the expenses of the establishment. 
 He had the audacity to tell me that things were as he found 
 them, and that he came up to justify himself: that he had come 
 up two or three times before to do so, but that I was in a bath. 
 I replied, ' No, sir, I was not in a bath, but I ordered one on pur- 
 pose not to see you. In endeavoring to justify yourself, you 
 make matters worse.' He said that I did not know him ; that 
 if I knew him, I should change my opinion. ' Know you, sir,' I 
 answered, ' how could I know you ? People make themselves 
 known by their actions; by commanding in battles. You have 
 never commanded in battle. You have never commanded any 
 but vagabond Corsican deserters, Piedniontese and Neapolitan 
 origands. 1 know the name of every English general who has 
 iistinguished himself, Imt I never heard of you except as a 
 scrivano* toBlucher, or as a commandant of brigands. You have 
 never commanded, or been accustomed to men of honor." He 
 said, that he had not sought for the employment. I told him, 
 that such employments were not asked for ; that they were 
 given by governments to people who had dishonored themselves. 
 He said, that he only did his duty, and that I ought not to blame 
 him, as he only acted according to his orders. I replied, 'so 
 
 • Clerk.
 
 1816 — AUGUST. 59 
 
 does the hangman. He acts according to his orders. But when 
 he puts a rope round my neck to finish me, is that a reason that 
 I should like that hangman, because he acts according to his 
 orders. Besides, I do not believe that any government could be 
 so mean as to give such orders as you cause to be executed.' I 
 told him, that if he pleased, he need not send up any thing to 
 eat. That 1 would go over and dine at the table of the brave 
 officers of the 53d ; that I was sure there was not one of them 
 who would not be happy to give a plate at the table to an old 
 soldier. That there was not a soldier in the regiment who had 
 not more heart than he had. That in the iniquitous bill of par- 
 liament, they had decreed that I was to be treated as a prisoner, 
 but that he treated me worse than a condemned criminal, or a 
 galley slave, as those were permitted to receive newspapers and 
 printed books, which he deprived me of. I said, ' you have 
 power over my body, but none over my soul. That soul is as 
 proud, fierce, and determined at the present moment, as when it 
 commanded Europe." I told him that he was a sbirro Sicillano, 
 and not an Englishman ; and desired him not to let me see him 
 again until he came with orders to dispatch me, when he would 
 find all the doors thrown open to admit him. 
 
 " It is not my custom," continued he, " to abuse any person, 
 but that man's effrontery produced bad blood in me, and I could 
 not help expressing my sentiments. When he had the impu- 
 dence to tell me before the admiral that he had changed nothing; 
 that all was the same as when he arrived, I replied, ' Call the 
 captain of ordonnance here, and ask Jiim. I will leave it to his 
 decision.' This struck him dumb, he was nmte." 
 
 " He told me, that he had found his situation so difficult, that 
 he had resigned. I replied, that a worse man than himself could 
 not be sent out, though the employment was not one which a 
 galantuomo would wish to accept. If you have an opportunity," 
 added he, "or if any one asks you, you are at liberty to repeat 
 what I have told you." 
 
 Gave him Sarrazin's "Account of the Campaign in Spain." 
 " Sarrazin," said he, "was a traitor, and a man without honor. 
 truth, or probity. When I returned fi om Elba to Paris, he wrot«
 
 60 A VOTCK FROM ST. IIKLEXA 
 
 an offer of Irs services to iiu", in which In- prdjiosi-d, if I would 
 forgive and tiuploy him, to l)ctruy to me all the secrets ami 
 plans of tlie Eniilish. It was my intention to have had him tried 
 as a traitor, as he deserved, instead of accepting his offt'i-, l»iit I 
 was so much hurried that it escaped my memory." 
 
 2\st. — A ship arrived from p]ngland. Went to town, where I 
 saw Captain Stanfell, to whom 1 mentioned in the course of 
 «onversation that a very unpleasant conversation had taken place 
 hetween the governor and Napoleon, and that Sir Hudson Lowe 
 had told the latter that he had given in his resignation. On my 
 return, called at Hut's Gate, along with Captain Maunsell of the 
 53d, and Captain Po|)pleton. Madame Bertrand asked if there 
 were any letters. Captain Maunsell said, that he had seen some 
 for them, at the post office. On my arrival at Longwood, 
 Napoleon asked me the same question, to which I replied, that 
 Captain Maunsell had informed Madame Bertrand there were 
 some at the post office. It was not my intention to have men- 
 tioned them until I had ascertained whether they would be sent 
 to Longwood, as I did not wish to embroil him further with the 
 governor; but as I was assured that he would hear it from Hut's 
 Gate, I could not conceal my knowledge of the tact. 
 
 22nd. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me to Plantation House. 
 Found him walking in the path to the left of the house. He said 
 that he had some communication to niake to government, wished 
 to know the state of General Bonaparte's health, and whether 1 
 had any thing to say. "I understand," continued he, "that 
 Bonaparte told you I had said that 1 had given in my resignation 
 as governor of this island, is it true?" 1 replied, "he told me 
 that you had said so to him." Sir Hudson added, "I never said 
 any such thing, nor ever had an idea of it. He has either in- 
 vented it, or perhaps mistaken my expressions. I merely said, 
 that if the gtivernment did not approve of my conduct, I would 
 resign. 1 wish you, therefore, to explain to him that I never 
 either said so, or had any intention of doing it." He then asked 
 me if I had heard the subject of their conversatirm. I replied, 
 "some part of it." He wished to know what it was. I replied, 
 " that I supposed he remembered it, and that I iid not wish to
 
 1816 — AlTGtJST. (J1 
 
 repeat what must be disagreeable to him." He observed that I 
 had mentioned it elsewhere, and that he had a right to hear it 
 from my own lips. Although I had permission to communicate 
 it, I was not pleased to be obliged to repeat to a man's 'ace 
 opinions such as those which had been expressed of him ; but 
 under the circumstances of the case, I did not think proper to 
 refuse ; I therefore repeated some parts. Sir Hudson said, that 
 though he had not commanded an army against him, yet that he 
 had probably done him more mischief, by the advice and in- 
 formation which he had given, prior to and during the conferences 
 at Chatillon, some of which had not been published, as the con- 
 ferences were going on at the time — than if he had commanded 
 against him. That what he had pointed out, had been acted upon 
 afterwards, and was the cause of his downfall from the throne. 
 "I should like," added he, "to let hini know this, in order to 
 give him some cause for his hatred. I shall probably publish an 
 account of the matter." 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe then walked about for a short time, biting 
 his nails, and asked me if Madame Bertrand had repeated to 
 strangers any of the conversation which had passed between 
 Genera'l Bonaparte and himself? I replied, that I was not aware 
 that Madame Bertrand was yet acquainted with it. " She had 
 better not," said he, " lest it may render her and her husband's 
 situation much more unpleasant than at present." He then re- 
 peated some of Napoleon's expressions in a very angry manner, 
 and said, "did General Bonaparte tell you, sir, that I told him 
 his language was impolite and indecent, and that I would not 
 listen any longer to it?" I said, "no." " Then it showed,'' oh- 
 served the governor, " great littleness on the part of General 
 Bonaparte not to tell you the whole. He had better reflect on 
 his situation, for it is in my power to render him much more un- 
 comfortable than he is. If he continues his abuse, I shall make 
 him feel his situation. He is a prisoner of war, and I have a 
 right to treat him according to his conduct. I'll build him up." 
 He walked about for a few minutes repeating again some of the 
 observations, which he charactized as ungcntlemanlike, <fec. until 
 hn had worked himself into a passion, and said, " tell General
 
 (IS A VOICK KKOM sr. HKLKN'A. 
 
 Bonapnrtf that In- hml lu-llrr take care wlial lu' does, as, if he 
 conlimu'S his jiirsont roiidiut, 1 sliall lio t)liligid to tjikc lueusurea 
 to iiuri'aso the rostriotioiis alroaily in fuiro." After observing 
 tliat he had l>ei-ii the eause of tlie loss of tin- lives of iiiillions of 
 men, and might l>e again, if he got loose, he eoneluded liy saying, 
 " I coii>ider AH Pacha to he a much more respccfahle scoundrel 
 than Bonoporte.^'* 
 
 2'Srd. — Told Napoleon in the course of conversation, that the 
 governor had said that he had mistaken his expressions, as he had 
 never saitl, or intended to say, that he had given in his resigna- 
 tion ; that he had certainly expressed, that if the government did 
 not approve of his conduct, he would resign, &ic. "That is very 
 extraordinary," said Napoleon, " as he told me himself that he 
 had resigned, at least I understood him so. Taiito peggio." (So 
 much the worse.) I then observed, that in consequence of what 
 had occurred at the last interview, it was probable that he would 
 not seek another. " Tan/o ineglio" (so much the better,) said 
 the emperor, " as then I shall be freed from the embarrassment 
 del suo brutto viso, &c." (of his vile visage.) 
 
 20///. — Napoleon asked me, " if I had seen the letter written 
 by C<Dunt Montholon to Sir Hudson Lowe, containing a list of 
 their grievances ;" I replied that I had. " Do you think," said 
 he, " that this governor will send it to England ?" I assured 
 him, that there was not a doubt of it. ITiat moreover, the go- 
 vernor told me, that he had offered to him not only to send their 
 letters home, but even to get them published in the newspapers. 
 " It is a falsehood," replied the emperor. " He said, that he 
 would send letters to Europe, and have them published, with 
 this proviso, however, that he approved of their contents. Be- 
 sides, if even he wished to do so, his government would not per- 
 mit it. Suppose for example, that 1 sent him an address to the 
 French nation 1 — I do not think," continued he, " that they will 
 allow a letter, which covers them with so much disgrace, to be 
 published. The people of England want to know why 1 call 
 myself emperor, after having abdicated — I have explained it in 
 
 • Mr. Baxter camo up and joined us uboat the moment tliat the expreBsioo 
 WM tued.
 
 1816 — AUGUST. 63 
 
 that letter. It was my intention to have lived in England as a 
 private person incognito, but as they have sent me here, and 
 want b) make it appear that I was never chief magistrate or em 
 peror of France, I still retain the title ; * * * told me, that he 
 heard Lords Liverpool and Castlereagh say, that one of the prni 
 cipal reasons why they sent me here was a dread of my cabal 
 ling with the opposition. It is likely enough that they were 
 afraid of my telling the truth of them, and of my explaining some 
 things which they would not like, as they knew that if I remained 
 in England, they must permit people of rank to see me." 
 
 He afterwards complained of the unnecessary severity exer- 
 cised in depriving him of a series of newspapers ; and restrict- 
 ing him to some unconnected numbers of the Bourbon paper, 
 "The Times." 
 
 Within a few days some more picquets have been established, 
 and sevei'al additional sentinels placed, some in sight of Napo- 
 leon, if he chose to walk after sunset. Ditches of eight or ten 
 feet deep nearly completed round the garden. 
 
 '21th. — Napoleon asked me if the French commissioner and 
 Madame Sturmer had not had a quarrel? I replied, that Mont- 
 chenu had said that Madame Sturmer did not know how to come 
 into a drawing-room. He laughed at this, and said, " I will ven- 
 ture to say that the old booby says so because she is not sprung 
 from some of those imbeciles, the old noblesse. Because her 
 father is a plebeian. These old emigrants hate, and are jealous 
 of all who are not hereditary asses like themselves." 1 asked 
 him if the king of Prussia was a man of talent. " Who," said 
 h<=', " the king of Prussia ?" He burst into a fit of laughter. 
 ' He a man of talent ! The greatest blockhead on earth. Un 
 if/norantaccio die nou lia ne talento, lie informaziDiie, (A block- 
 nead, who has neither talents nor information.) A Don Quixote 
 in appearance. 1 know him well. He cannot hold a conversa- 
 tion for five minutes. Not so his wife. She was a very clever, 
 fine woman, but very unfortunate. Era be/la, (jraziosa, e piena 
 Wintelliffenza." (She was beautiful, full of grace and intelligence ) 
 He then conversed for a considerable time about the Bourbons. 
 "They want," said he, " to introduce the old system of nobility
 
 M A VOICK FUOM ST. HKI-KNA. 
 
 iuto the nrniy. Instoad of jillo\vIii<i tlu> sons of poasiuits and 
 Iftborors to bo t-ligible to In* inailo goiirrnis, as tlicy were in my 
 tiiuo, they want to confine it entirely to the old nobility, to 
 emiijres like that old bjorkhead Montchenu. Wluii ynii have 
 seen Montchenu, you have seen all the old nobility of France 
 licfore the revolution. Such were all the race, and such tlu-y have 
 returned, iirnorant, vain, and arrojiant as they left it I/s rCont 
 cien apjiris, iis nout ricn nublie. ('J'hey have learned nothing, they 
 have forgotten nothing.) They were the cause of the revolution, 
 and of so much bloodshed ; and now, after twenty-five years of 
 exile and disgrace, they return loacled with the same vices and 
 crimes for which they were expatriated, to produce another revo- 
 lution, I know the French. Believe me, that after six or ten 
 years the whole race will be massacred, and thrown into the 
 Seine. They are a curse to the nation. It is of such as them 
 that the Bourbons want to make generals. 1 made most of mine 
 de la boue (of clay.) Wherever I found talent and courage, I 
 rewarded it. ^ly principle was, la carriere onvert oux tolens (the 
 career open to talents), without asking whether there were any 
 quarters of nobility to show. It is true, that I sometimes pro- 
 moted a few of the old nobility, from a principle of policy and 
 justice, but I never reposed great confidence in them. The mass 
 of the people," continued he, "now see the revival of the feudal 
 times; they see that soon it will be impossible for their progeny 
 to rise in the array. Every true Frenchman reflects with an- 
 guish, that a family for so many years odious to France, has 
 bofn forced upon them over a bridge f)f foreign bayonets. What 
 I am going to recount will give you some idea of the imbecility 
 of the family. When the Count d'Artois came to Lyons, 
 although he threw himself on his knees before the troops in 
 order to induce them to advance against me, he never put on the 
 cordon of the legion of honor, though he knew that the sight of 
 it would be most likely to excite the minds of the soldiers in his 
 favor, as it was the order so many of them bore on their breasts, 
 and required nothing but bravery to obtain it. But no, he decked 
 himself out with the order of the Holy Ghost, to be eligible for 
 which you must prove one hundred and fifty years of nobility,
 
 1816 — AUGUST. 65 
 
 ST. order formed purposely to exclude merit, and one which ex- 
 cited indignation in the breasts of old soldiers. ' We will not,' 
 said they, 'fight for orders like that, nor for emigres like those j' 
 he had len or eleven of these imbeciles as aid-de camps. Inslead 
 of showing to the troops some of those generals who had so 
 often led them to glory, he brought with him a set of misera- 
 hleSy who served no other purpose than to recall to the njinds oi 
 the veterans their former sufferings under the noblesse and tht 
 priests. 
 
 "To give you an instance of the general feeling in France to- 
 wards the Bourbons, I will relate to you an anecdote. On my 
 return from Italy, while my carriage was ascending the steep 
 hill of Tarare, I got out and walked up, without any attendants, 
 as was often my custom. My wife and my suite were at a little 
 distance behind me. I saw an old woman, lame, and hobbling 
 about with the help of a crutch, endeavoring to ascend the 
 mountain. I had a great coat on, and was not recognized. 1 
 went up to her and said. Well, ma bonne^ (good woman,) where 
 are you going with a haste which so little belongs to your years'? 
 What is the matter 1 ' Ma/oi,^ (my faith,) replied the old dame, 
 ' they tell me the emperor is here, and I want to see him before 
 I die.' Bah, bah, said I, what do you want to see him for ? 
 What have you gained by him 1 He is a tyrant as well as the 
 others. You have only changed one tyrant for another, Louis 
 for Napoleon. '■Mais, monsieur, [hut, Sir,) that may be; but 
 after all, he is the king of the people, and the Bourbons were the 
 kings of the nobles. We have chosen 1dm, and if we are to 
 have a tyrant, let him be one chosen by ourselves.' There," 
 said he, "you have the sentiments of the French nation ex- 
 pressed by an old woman." 
 
 I asked bis opinion about Soult, and mentioned that 1 had 
 heard some persons place him in the rank next to himself as a 
 general. He replied, "He is an excellent minister at war, or 
 major-general of an army : one who knows much better the ar- 
 rangement of an army, than to command in chief." 
 
 Some officers of the 53d told Madame Bertrand that Sir 
 Thomas Reade had said, that Bonaparte did not like the sight of
 
 66 A VOICK KKoM Sr. HKI,ENA. 
 
 tlu'iii, <»r of any otlior red coat, as it put liiiii in tiiiiid of Watv: 
 loo. Mndaino Ri'itranii as-^rnvd ihi'iii, that it was directly con 
 trarv to cvcrythiiijj that he had ever expressed in her hearing. 
 The sail e was nientiiMied to nie, yesterday, liy Lieutenants Fit? 
 jjeraKl and Mael\ay. 
 
 28///. — Infiiriiu'd that tht- faindus K'ttrr was shown to several 
 ofticers (if the arniN and ihi" navy, and prolialdy some copies 
 sent to Enghmd. 
 
 A letter given by Count Montholon this evening, to Captain 
 Poppleton, for the governor, expressing a wish, that, if the gov- 
 ernor did not think proper to put matters with respect to passes 
 on the same footing as they were in Sir George Cockl>urn's time, 
 which had been approved of by his government, he should nc 
 longer grant passes to any person. 
 
 SOth. — Napoleon rose at three A. M, Continued writing until 
 six ; when he retired to rest again. At five o'clock Count Bcr- 
 trand came to Captain Poppleton, and told him that the emperor 
 desired to see him. Poppleton, being in his morning walking- 
 dress, wished to retire and change, but was desired to come sans 
 ccremonie, (without ceremony.)* He was accordingly ushered 
 into the billiard-room in his dishabille. Napoleon was standing 
 with his hat under his arm. " Well, M. le capitaine" (captain,) 
 said he, " I believe you are the senior captain of the 53d ?" " 1 
 am." " I have an esteem for the officers and men of the 53d. 
 They are brave men, and do their duty. I have been informed, 
 that it is said in camp, that I do not wish to see the officers. 
 Will you be so good as to tell them, that whoever asserted this 
 told a falsehood. I never said or thought so. I shall be always 
 happy to sec them. I have been told, also, that they have been 
 prohibited liy the governor from visiting me." Captain Popple- 
 ton replied, that he believed the information which he had re- 
 ceived was groundless, and that the officers of the 53d were 
 acquainted with the good opinion which he had previously ex- 
 pressed cf them, which was highly flattering to their feelir.gs. 
 That they had the greatest respect for him. Napoleon smiled, 
 and replied, "c7e )ie suis pas vielllc femnie^ (I am nf>t an old wo- 
 man.) I love a brave soldier who has undergone le hapteme dv
 
 1816 — SEPTEMBER, 67 
 
 fm, (the baptism of fire,) whatever nation he may belong to." 
 
 31s^. — Sir George; Bingham and Major Fehrzen of the 53d had 
 a long conversation with Napoleon. 
 
 September \st. — Sir Hudson Lowe came to Longwood. Two 
 or three days ago, the " letter " had been shown and read by 
 Count Las Cases, to Captain Grey of the artillery, and some 
 other officers. Sir Hudson was very desirous to know whether 
 any of them had taken a copy of it. I informed him, that any 
 person at Longwood who liked might get one. His excellency 
 appeared greatly alarmed at this, and observed, that it was an 
 infraction of the act of parliament in any person, not belonging 
 to Longwood, to receive it. He then asked, if I had communi- 
 cated to General Bonaparte, what he had directed me to say on 
 the 22d instant I replied, that I had ; that Napoleon had replied, 
 " that he might act as he pleased, that the only thing left undone 
 now, was to put sentinels at the doors and windows to prevent 
 him from going out ; that as long as he had a l)Ook, he cared but 
 little about it,"' The governor remarked, that he had sent his 
 letter of complaints to the British government, and that it rested 
 with the ministers how to act. That he had put them in full 
 possession of every thing, which he desired me to tell him. He 
 added, that it was true he could not be much worse than he was. 
 
 Ath. — Told Napoleon that the governor had directed me to 
 say that Count Montholon's letter had been sent to his majesty's 
 government, and that it rested with the ministers how to act. 
 That he had put them in full possession of every thing. " Per- 
 haps," replied he, " it will be published in the English newspa- 
 pers before his copy arrives." 
 
 5/A. — Major Gorrequer came up to Longwood, in order to ar- 
 range matters with General Montholon, relative to the proposed 
 reduction of the expenditure, at which he begged me to be pre- 
 sent. The purport of his communication was, that when the 
 British government had fixed 8,000^. as the maximum of the 
 whole of the expense attendant upon General Bonaparte's estab- 
 lishment, they had contemplated that a great reduction would 
 take place in the number of persons composing it, by some of 
 the general officeis and others returning to Europe. But as that
 
 M A V(»U'K KKi'M SI. IlKLKNA. 
 
 hiui iiol takfii jt|;ii'i', tln' i^oMiiinr li;ul, on his own ii'S|ioiisiliility 
 dinvtoil tliiil ail additional sum of 1,000/, should !>»• aildi'd 
 ■unking in thi" vshoK- 12,000/. fur all and even t-xpi-iisf ; that 
 General Montlu)lon must thoreforo be infurined, that on no ac- 
 count oowld till' expenditure be allowed to exceetl 1,000/. per 
 month. Should General Honaparte be averse to the reduction 
 Kvessary to Itring the disburseini'uts within that sum, the sur- 
 plus Miust be paid by himself, by bills drawn u[)on some banker 
 in Eur«)pc, or by such of his friends as were willin<; to pay them. 
 C'«>unt Montholon replied, that the emperor was willing to pay 
 jUI the expenses of the establishment, if they would allow him 
 the means of doing so; and that if they permitted a mercantile 
 or banking-house in St. Helena, London, or Paris, chosen by the 
 British government itself, to serve as intermediators, through 
 whom they could send sealed letters and receive answers, he 
 would engage to pay all the expenses. That on the one side, 
 his honor should be pledged that the letters should relate solely 
 to pecuniary matters; and on the other, that the correspondence 
 should be held sacred. Major Gorrequer replied, that this could 
 not be complied with; that no sealed letters would be suffered to 
 leave Longwood. 
 
 Major Gorrequer shortly afterwards told Count Montholon, 
 that the intended reductions would take place on the 15th of the 
 present month, and begged of him to arrange matters with Mr. 
 Balcombe, the purveyor, about the disposition of the 1,000/. 
 monthly, unless he chose to give drafts for the surplus. — Count 
 Montholon replied, that he would not meddle with it; that the 
 governor might act as he pleased ; that at the present moment 
 there was not any superfluity of provisions supplied ; that as 
 soon as the reductions took place, he, for his part, would give up 
 all charge, and would not meddle further in the matter. That 
 the conduct of the English ministry was infamous, in declaring 
 to Europe that the emperor should not be suffered to want for 
 any thing, and refusing the offers of the allied powers to defray 
 a part of the expenses, and now reducing him and his suite nearly 
 to rations. Major Gorrequer denied that the allied powers had 
 ever made such an offer. Montholon replied, that he had read
 
 1816 — SEPTEMBER. 69 
 
 it in some of the papers. Major Gorrec^uer then observcQ, that 
 a gread reduction could be made hi the wine, viz. that it could be 
 reduced to ten bottles of claret daily, and one of madeira; that 
 at Plantation House, the consumption was regulated on the 
 average of one bottle to each person. Montholon replied, that 
 the French drank much less than the English ; and that he hao 
 already done at the emperor's table, what he never had done in 
 his own private house in France, viz. corked up the remnants of 
 the bottles of wine, in order to produce them on the table the 
 next day ; that, moreover, at night there was not a morsel of 
 meat remaining in the pantry. Gorrequer observed, that 12,000/. 
 a year was a very handsome allowance. " About as much as 
 4,000/. in England," replied Montholon. This business was then 
 deferred until Saturday. Before leaving Longwood, Major Gor- 
 requer himself allowed to me that the establishment could not 
 be carried on for 12,000/. annually ; but that he thought a 
 reduction of about 2,000/. yearly might be made. I observed 
 that it might, provided that a store of every thing necessary was 
 established at Longwood, together with a stock-yard, under the 
 direction of a proper person, 
 
 1th. — Major Gorrequer came up, and had a long conversation 
 with Count Montholon, in my presence. The latter told him, 
 that orders had been given to discharge seven servants, which, 
 with the consequent saving of provisions, and a reduction of 
 wine, would diminish the expenses of the establishment to about 
 15,104/. annually ; but that sum was the minirmim of ininimums, 
 and that no further reductions could possibly take place. Maj'>i 
 Gorrequer observed, that it was nearly what he had calculated 
 himself. However, he still persisted in declaring that on the 
 15th, not more than 1,000/. per month would be allowed. Count 
 Montholon, then, after renewing the offer made on the last con- 
 versation, said, that as the emperor was not permitted by the 
 British government to have access to his property, he had no 
 other means left than to dispose of his property ; and that, ac- 
 cordingly, a portion of his plate would be sent to the town for 
 sale in order to obtain the sum required monthly, in addition to 
 that allowed by Sir Hudson Lowe, to provide them with the
 
 70 A Yi'ICK Ki:oM .<T. JlKIiENA. 
 
 necessnrlis of life. Major Gorivquer said, that lie wmild at (jimint 
 tlio uovtTiior with it- 
 Sir lliiilstm Lowo, acc«>m|iaiiit'd by nt'iiiTal Mcado (wlio liad 
 arrived a day or two l)eforo), cnme up and iiuK- nmnd Loii}^- 
 wood. Ho appeared to point out to the general tlic liinits, and 
 t'thor matters oouneeted with the prisoners. 
 
 At night Napoleon sent for me, and complained of severe 
 headache. lie was sitting in his bedroom, with only a wood fire 
 I'urning, the flames of whii-h, alternately blazing and sinking 
 gave at moments a most singular and melancholy expression tc 
 his Countenance, as he sat opjjosite to it with his hands crossed 
 upon his knees, probably reflecting upon his forlorn condition. 
 After a moment's pause, " Z>c»/A>re," said he, '■'■ potete dar qual- 
 cosa a Jar dnnnire vn tiomo che non puote? (Doctor, said he, 
 can you make a man sleep who is not inclined ?) This is beyond 
 your art. I have been tryii^g in vain to procure a little rest. I 
 cannot," continued he, " well comprehend the conduct of your 
 ministers. They go to the expense of 00 or 70,000^. in sending 
 out furniture, wood, and building materials for my use, and at 
 the same time send orders to put me nearly on rations, and 
 oblige me to discharge my servants, and to make reductions 
 incompatible with the decency and the comfort of the house. 
 Then we have aid-de-camps making stipulations about a bottle 
 of wine and two or three pounds of meat, with as much gravity 
 and consequence as if they were treating about the distribution 
 of kingdoms. I see contradictions that I cannot reconcile : on 
 the one hand, enormous and useless expenditure; on the other, 
 unparalleled meanness and littleness. Why do not they allow 
 me to provide myself with everything, instead of disgracing the 
 character of the nation. They will not furnish my followers 
 with what they have been accustomed to, nor will they allow me 
 to provide for them, by sending sealed letters through a mercan- 
 tile house even of their own selection. For no man in France 
 would answer a letter of mine, when he knew that it would be 
 read by the English ministers, and that he would consequently 
 be denounced to the Bciurbons, and his property and person 
 exposed to certain destruction. Moreover, your own ministera
 
 1816 — SEPTEMBER. 71 
 
 h^ve not given a specimen of good faith in seizing upon the 
 trifling sum of money that I had in the Bellerophon ; which gives 
 reason to suppose that they would do the same again, if they 
 knew where any of my property was placed. It must be," con 
 tinued he, " to gull the English nation. John Bull, seeing all 
 this furniture sent out, and so much parade and show in the pre 
 parations made in England, concludes that I am well treated 
 here. If they knew the truth, and the dishonor which it reflects 
 upon them, they would not suffer it." He then asked who was 
 " that strange general officer V I replied, General Meade, who, 
 with Mrs. Meade, had arrived a few days back. That I had been 
 under his command in Egypt, where he had been severely 
 wounded. "What, with Abercrombie?" "No," I replied, 
 "during the unfortunate attack upon Rosetta." "What sort of 
 a man is he?" I replied, that he bore a very excellent charac- 
 ter. " That governor," said he, " was seen stopping him fre- 
 quently, and pointing in different directions. I suppose that he 
 had been filling his head with bugie (lies) about me, and has told 
 him that I hate the sight of every Englishman, as some of his 
 canaille have said to the officers of the 53d. I shall order a letter 
 to be written to tell him that I will see him." 
 
 8th. — A letter written by Count Montholon to General Meade, 
 containing an invitation to come to Longwood, and stating that 
 the emperor would be glad to see him. This was given to Cap- 
 *;ain Poppleton, who was also requested to inform Mrs. Meade 
 that Napoleon could scarcely request a lady to visit him, but 
 that if she came he should be happy to sec her likewise. Cap- 
 tain Pop])leton delivered this letter open to Sir Hudson Lowe. 
 His excellency handed the note to General Meade. On the road 
 down to Jauics Town, General Meade reined back his horse, and 
 spoke to Captain Poppleton nearly as follows: That he should 
 have been very happy to have availed himself of the invitation, 
 but that he understood restrictions existed, and that he must 
 apply to the governor for permission ; and in the next place, the 
 vessel was under weigh, and he could not well detain her. This 
 he begged of him to ('(nivey to Longwood. A written apology 
 ■was afterwards sent by him to the Count, expressing his thanks
 
 (2 A VOICK FKitM SI'. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 for tho lioiiDT doiio to him. and excusing hiinsi-lf mi the <Trtiiinfl 
 of tho vessel's being uiulor weigh. 
 
 J)/A. — Nnpoloiui eom[)hiinetl of hoatJaehe, colic, &c. — I wished 
 him to take a di'se of physic, which he declined, saying, that ho 
 would cure himself \>\ diet and chicken water. He said, that 
 Gi-neral Meade had writteii an apology to Count Monthohm, ex- 
 pressinii his inahility to accept of the invitation; hut "I am 
 convim-ed," continued he, "' that in reality he was prevented hy 
 tho governor. Tell hin\ the fwst time you see him, that I said 
 ho prevented (Toneral Meade from coming to see me." 
 
 General Gourgaud and Montholon complained of the wine, 
 which they suspected contained lead, as it gave them the colic, 
 and desired me to get some tests in order to analyze it. 
 
 \\)ung Las Cases and Piontkowski went to town this day, and 
 had a conversation with the Russian and Fi'ench Commissioners. 
 On their return Piontkowski said, that on their arrival Sir 
 Thomas Reade had sent orders to the lieutenant who accompanied 
 them, not to allow them to separate; and that he must folhnv 
 them everywhere, and listen to their conversation. While they 
 were speaking to the Rose-bud, (a very pretty young lady, so 
 denominated from the freshness and fineness of her complexion,) 
 one of Sir Thomas Reade's orderlies brought out their horses by 
 his orders, with directions to inform them that their servant was 
 drunk, and that if they did not leave the town directly, he, (Sir 
 Thomas.) would confine him, as he was a soldier, and punish him 
 for being drunk. That young Las Cases, who was cooler than 
 him, had desired him to demand an order in writing to that 
 effect ; but that in his passion he could not help saying that he 
 would horsewhip any person who attempted to lead the horses 
 away. 
 
 lO^A. — Napoleon, after some conversation touching tho state 
 of his health, said that, "while young Las Cases was speaking 
 to the Russian Commissioner yesterday, the governor was 
 walking up and down before the house where they were, watching 
 them. I could not have believed it possible before, that a lieu- 
 tenant-general and a governor, could have demeaned himself by 
 acting as a gendarine. Tell him so the next time you see him."
 
 1816 — SEPTEMBER. 78 
 
 NaDoleon then made some observations upon the bad quality 
 of the wine furnished to Longwood, and remarked that when he 
 was a sous lieutenant of artillery, he had a better table, and 
 drank better wine than at present. 
 
 I saw Sir Hudson Lowe afterwards, who asked me if General 
 Bonaparte had made any observations relative to General 
 Meade's not having accepted the offer made to him? I replied, 
 that he had said he was convinced that he, (Sir Hudson,) had 
 prevented him from accepting of it, and had desired me to tell 
 him that such was his opinion. No sooner had I pronounced 
 this than his excellency's countenance changed, and he exclaimed 
 
 in a violent tone of voice, " he is a d d lying rascal, a 
 
 d d black-hearted villain. I wished General Meade to accept 
 
 it, and told him to do so." He then walked about for a few 
 minutes in an agitated manner, repeating, " that none but a 
 black-hearted villain would have entertained such an idea ;" then 
 mounted his horse, and rode away. He had not proceeded more 
 than about a hundred paces, when he wheeled round, rode back 
 to where I was standing, and said in a very angry manner, " Tell 
 General Bonaparte that the assertion that I pi-evented General 
 Meade from going to see him, e ««« bugia infame, e che e un 
 bvffiardone cite V ha detto* Tell him my exact words." 
 
 Sir Thomas Reade informed me that Piontkowski's account 
 of the transaction in town was false ; that the only orders he had 
 given to Lieutenant Sweeny, were not to lose sight of them. 
 That seeing their servant was so drunk, that he could not sit on 
 horseback, he had sent his own orderly to assist in bringing the 
 horses out, merely as an act of civility. 
 
 \2th. — Napoleon still unwell; complained of slight colic. 
 Recommended him strongly to take a dose of Epsom salts. In 
 a good-humored manner he gave me a slap in the face, and said, 
 if he was not better to-morrow, he would take his own medicine, 
 crystals of tartar. During the conversation, I informed him that 
 
 * The words were delivered in Italian, and signify in Englisli, '■^ is an in- 
 famous lie, and the person tvho said it, is a great liar.'''' — It is almost unnecessary 
 lor me to say, that I did not deliver this message in the manner I was directed 
 to convey it. 
 
 4
 
 74 A VOiri.; KUOM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 the gi»vi»rii<>r hail a^suii'il n\v tlial In- liail iml only imi |iic\ cnti^d 
 (iflUTul Mi'Uik' iVuiu soring him, Iml that In- liail ri'ioniiiieudcd 
 him to acri'pt of tin- invitation. "1 do not l)i-lic'\i' liiin," said 
 Napoleon, "or if hi' did, it was doiu' in sm h a nnuniT as to let 
 the other know that hi- woiiM lathi-r w i>h lu' ilid imt avail him- 
 self of it." 
 
 I ri'lati'd arteiwards to him the explanation yiven to mo by 
 Sir Thi>mas lieade, of Piontkowski's alVair. "What 1 conijjluin 
 of," said he, "is the disingenuous maniur in wliirh tiny act, in 
 order to prevent any of tlie Freneh from going to the town. 
 Why do they ntit say at once manfully, ' You cannot go to town?' 
 and then nohody will ask, instead of converting officers into 
 spies and ffc/iilarmes, by making them follow the French every- 
 where, and listen to their conversation. But their design is to 
 throw so many impediments in the way, and render it so dis- 
 agreeable to us, as to amount to a prohibition, without giving 
 any direct orders, in order to enable this governor to say that 
 wt' have the liberty of the town, but that we do not choose to 
 avail ourselves of it." 
 
 I saw Sir Hudson Lowe in town, to wlioni 1 explained what 1 
 had said to Napoleon at)out I'iontkuwski, liis reply, also the 
 complaint made by Generals Gourgaud and Montholon of the 
 wine, and his request that 1 might procure some tests to analyze 
 it. A few bottles of claret have been borrowed from Captain 
 Poppleton for Napoleon's own use. 
 
 \Stfi. — Napoleon much better. Had a conversation with Mr. 
 Balconil)e relative to the concerns t)f the establishment. 
 
 A large quantity of plate weighed for tlie jtiupose of being 
 broken up for sale. Information given of this by Captain Pop- 
 pleton to Sir Hudson Lowe. Complaints made by Count 
 Montholon and T'ipiiani of the state of the copper saucepans at 
 Longwood. Found them, on examination, to be in want of ina- 
 mediate tim.ing. CiJinmunicated the above to Major Gorrequer, 
 with a request tliat a tradesman might be sent fortliwith lu repair 
 them. A letter came from Mr. Balcombe to Cc^inl Montholon, 
 aontaining the scale (jf provisions,* &c., whidi had been fixed fol 
 
 • See Appendix, No. V.
 
 1816— SEPTEMBER. 75 
 
 their daily use, according to the reduction ordered by the gov- 
 ernor. Montholon refused to sign any more receipts. 
 
 In the evening, Cipriani went to Captain Maunsell, and re- 
 quested of him to obtain for him a dozen or two of the same 
 claret which for two or three days they had borrowed from 
 Captain Poppleton for the emperor, and which had been got from 
 the 53d's mess, as that sent up from James Town had given him 
 the colic, adding that they would either pay for it, or return an 
 equal quantity. This request was interpreted by me to Captain 
 Maunsell, who said that he would endeavor to procure it. 
 
 Received an answer from Major Gorrequer, acquainting me 
 that he had ordered a new hatterie de cuisine (kitchen apparatus) 
 to be sent to Longwood, &c., &c. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe and statf in camp; he was very angry at 
 the request which had been made to Captain Maunsell to pro- 
 cure the wine. It appeared that Captain Maunsell had mentioned 
 it to his brother, and to the wine committee of the regiment, who 
 proposed to send a case of claret to Napoleon. This was told to 
 Sir George Bingham, and reported by him to the governor, who 
 sent for me, and said that I had no business to act as interpreter 
 on such an occasion. Majoi- Gorrequer observed, that the wine 
 had been sent out for the use of General Bonaparte, and that he 
 ought to be obliged to drink it, or get nothing else. 
 
 \bth. — Wrote to Major Gorrequer, in answer to some points 
 of his last letter, and gave him an explanation about tlie wine 
 affair of yesterday, in which I stated that General Gourgaud 
 had affn-med that there was lead in the wine, and had begged of 
 me to procure some tests for the purpose of ascertaining the 
 fact ; adding, that I had acquainted Sir Hudson Lowe with this 
 request the last time I had seen him in town. I hinted also that 
 it was natural for Napoleon to believe General Gourgaud's asser- 
 tion (who was considered to be a good chemist), until it was 
 proved not to be correct. This letter I requested him to lay be- 
 fore the governor. 
 
 Mtli. — Gave a minute explanation to Sir Hudson Lowe in per- 
 aou of the wine transaction between Captain Maunsell, Cipriani
 
 7$ 
 
 A VOK'K KHoM ST. JIKJ.KNA. 
 
 itiid niyi»rlf, whh wliicli his i\»tIIciu"\ \mis pIcjiM-il li> hji\ In- w!U 
 
 jM>rlV«'tl_\ MltislUil, 
 
 ThiN «li«\ , Mnj'T (iorn'i|iH"r, in llio oouiso of i-din t'isnti«>ii wilh 
 ino rrUtivo tti the proviMiuiiiiig of lAHi^NVtxMl, sitid iliat Sir lliid- 
 ii«»n i.t)Nvr liiui olis«>rv»'»l, thai aii_> s(iI«li»Ts \\\\o wuiild iillfiul at 
 lA>n^W(>l)(l US •««<rvaiits to (iciMTal Moiiapaito, tvrre tinwurthu of 
 rations. Sir 'IhoinaH lu-ailo lu'i;m-d ««t" iiu' lu try aiitl ^vi him 
 Hoiiic t»f Nji|H>K<»>irs |i|at«' i/'A<»/f, whirh lio ulist-rvt il w.iulil.vr// 
 lu'ltor in that Nintr, ihaii if it wrrc lirckni ii|>. 
 
 IH/A, Sir IlutlMtii l,(i\v»> at I-on^wooil. Sir 'llioinas KiinU- 
 toKI iiio that Mrrtranil hati injiirt'd hiiitsolf very iiiiirh in his 
 t'oiivrrsatidn witli thr pivornur, as ilic I.illcr hml lo\ni(l it to 
 hv his ilntv Id writ*" a strong Ulhr on tin- sul'ic*"! to Lord 
 Italhiirst. 
 
 WUfi. — A larm> jiorlion of Napoh-on's |)lal»> hrokrii uj), tin- 
 iMi|irrinl arms and tho i-a^U-s cut out and put h\. Count Mon- 
 lhoU>n a|>]>li«'d to Captain l*opplt>lon for an i)iru'»M to aivoinpany 
 him to .lanu's Town, for tho purpose of disposini; of thr plato, 
 with wliiih thi' hittrr ar<pn»iiiti'd the i^ovrrnor forthwith l>v an 
 i>rdrrly. IvtHvivod hark an onlcr to a»(|uaint Count Montliolon, 
 "that tht' monov proilurfd l>v thr saK* of thr silver shouM wot 
 III- paid to him, hut he di-posilrd in th«* hands i<t' Mr. HaU'ombo, 
 thr purvryor, for thr uso of (J«MH«ral l>onapart«"." 
 
 '2lfl. — Sir I'ultonoy Mah'olm i-anu' \ip to l.onjiwcod, in iudor 
 to lako loayo of Napoh'on, prior to his iK'parturo for iho C\Hpt' 
 of (lood llopo, whirh was i'\p»'ot»'d to taki< plai'o in a tow da\ s. 
 Mad H liMi^ intfrvii'W, anil was nvoiytnl vory i;rariousIy h\ 
 Najiolrun ; tho iH>nvorstttion was I'hii'tly rtOati\o to th«> SrhoKIl, 
 Antwerp, liattli's in iJorniany, tho l*oU<s, \i>. 
 
 NVrotc last niuht to Sir 'I'homas IJoaih', l>y roipiost of Madanu- 
 lU-rtrand, to know whcthi-r pormissiou woidd ho jjrantod that t. 
 phaotoii, which had hooii purohasod with Napidoon's own monoy, 
 und uHorwardH giyoii hy him to Maihtmo Hortrand, lui^hl bo 
 soul lt> tho Capo for saU' Ity Sir Tidtonoy MaU'olm's sliip. Con- 
 chidod hy rotpiostinj^ him to U"t mo know, hoforo ho appliod \v 
 iho govornor, if thoro was an_\ iniproprioty in tlio m^uost, as lu 
 ihat oiuso it shouKl not l>o mado.
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. ' 77 
 
 2Srd. — Received an answer fiom Sir Thomas Reade, an- 
 nouncing that the governor had given his consent for the sale of 
 the phaeton, with a proviso, that the money derived from it 
 should not be paid to themselves, but deposited in Mr. Bal- 
 combe's hands. Three of Bertrand's servants very seriously ill. 
 
 Heard a curious anecdote of General Vandamme. When 
 made prisoner by the Russians, he was brought before the Em- 
 peror Alexander, who reproached him in bitter terms with being 
 a robber, a plunderer, and a murderer; adding that no favor 
 could be granted to such an execrable character. This was fol- 
 lowed by an order that he should be sent to Siberia, whilst the 
 other prisoners were sent to a much less northern destination. 
 Vandamme replied, with great sang froid, " It may be, sire, 
 that I am a robber and a plunderer ; but at least I have not to 
 reproach myself with having soiled my hands with the blood of 
 my father !" 
 
 Met Sir Hudson Lowe on his way to Longwood, -who ob- 
 served, that General Bonaparte had done himself a great deal of 
 mischief by the letters which he caused Count Muntholon to 
 write, and that he wished him to know it. That by conducting 
 himself properly for some years, the ministers might believe him 
 to be sincere, and allow him to return to England. He added, 
 that he (Sir Hudson) had written such letters to England about 
 Count Las Cases, as would effectually prevent his ever being per- 
 mitted to return to France. On his arrival at Longwood, the 
 fowls which had been sent up for the day's consumption were 
 shown to his excellency by Captain P. He was pleased to ad- 
 mit that they were very bad. 
 
 21th. — The commissioners came up to Longwood gate, and 
 wanted to enter, but were refused admission by the officer of the 
 guard, as their passes did not specify Longwood, but merely 
 " wherever a British officer might pass." 
 
 2Sth. — Napoleon occupied in reading Denon's large work on 
 Egypt, from which he was making some extracts with his own 
 hand. 
 
 October 1st. — Repeated to Napoleon what Sir Hudson Lowe 
 had desired me on the 23d. He replied, " I expect nothing from
 
 7d A \o\CV. ri;<>M ST. HKI.ESA. 
 
 the pr«'sent ininistiv luit ill tn-atniiiii. Tlic luoic llifv \saiit t<^ 
 lessi'ii iiu», llic iimii' I will rxiilt tiiysi If. \l was my iiitfiifioii 
 to havo nssuiiuii tlit> iiaiiu' «)f t'dloin-l Mi-uioii, wlio was killiil 
 h\ in\ sitlf at Ar«'ii!a, covi-ring mo with his liocly, ami to have 
 livi'il as a privato person in England, in some part of tin- ciHiiitiv , 
 whtTt' I might havo lived rotirod, withont ivi r dcsiiinij tn mix 
 ill tho giand world. I would novor have gout- to London, noi 
 have dined ont. Prol)ably I should have seen very few persons. 
 Perhaps I might liave formed a friendship with some savaiis. I 
 would have rode out every day, and then returneil to my hooks." 
 1 observed, that as long as he kept up the title of majesty, the 
 Englisli ministers would have a prete.xt for keeping him in St. 
 Helena. He replied, "they forec me to it. 1 wanted to assume 
 an incognito on my arrival here, whieh was proposed to the ad- 
 miral, l»ut they will not permit it. They insist on calling mo 
 General Bonaparte. 1 have no reason to he ashamed of that 
 title, but 1 will not take it from them. If the re|iulilic had not 
 a legal existenee. it had no more right to constitute me general, 
 than first magistrate. If the admiral had remained," continued 
 he, " perhaps matters might have been arranged. He had some 
 heart, and to do him justice, was incapable of a mean action. 
 Do you think," added he, " that ho will do us an injury on his 
 arrival in England 1" I replied, " I do not think that he will ren- 
 der you any service, particularly in consequence of the manner 
 in which he was treated when he last came up to see yon, but he 
 will not tell any falsehoods ; he will strictly adhere to the truth, 
 and give his opinion aVjout you, which is not very favorable." 
 "Why so," replied he, "we were very well together on board 
 ship. What can he say of me 1 that I want to escape, and 
 mount the throne of France again ?" I replied, that it was very 
 probable he would Itoth think and say so. " Bah," replied Na 
 poleon. " If 1 were in England now, and a deputation from 
 France were to come and offer me the throne, I would not ac- 
 cept of it, unless I knew such to be the unanimous wish of the 
 nation. Otherwise I should be obliged to turn bourremi, (execu 
 tioner,) and cut off the heads of thousands to keep myself upon 
 '.V — oceans of blood nnisi flow to keep me there.— l have made
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 7fi 
 
 noise enough in the world already, perhaps too much, and am 
 now getting old, and want retirement. These," continued he, 
 "were the motives which induced me to abdicate the last time." 
 I observed to him, that when he was emperor, he had caused Sir 
 George Cockburn's brother to be arrested, when envoy at Ham- 
 burg, and conveyed to France, where he was detained for some 
 years. He appeared surprised at this, and endeavored to re 
 collect it. After a pause, he asked me, if I was sure that the 
 person so arrested was Sir George Cockburn's brother. I re- 
 plied, that I was perfectly so, as the admiral had told me the 
 circumstance himself. "It is likely enough," replied he, " but I 
 do not recollect the name. I suppose, however, that it must 
 have been at the time when I caused all the English I could find 
 on the continent to be detained, because your government had 
 seized upon all the French ships, sailors, and passengers they 
 could lay their hands upon in harbor, or at sea, before the decla- 
 ration of war, I, in my turn, seized upon all the English that 1 
 could find at land, in order to show them, that if they were all- 
 powerful at sea, and could do what they liked there, I was equally 
 so by land, and had as good a right to seize people on my ele- 
 ment as they had upon theirs. " Now,'''' said he, " I can compre- 
 hend the reason why your ministers selected him. I am sur- 
 prised, however, that he never told me any thing about it. A 
 man of delicacy would not have accepted the task of conducting 
 me here under similar circumstances. You will see," continued 
 he, "that in a short time the English will cease to hate me. So 
 many of them have been, and are in France, where they will 
 hear the truth, that they will produce a revolution of opinion in 
 England — I will leave it to them to justify me, and I have no 
 doubts about the result." 
 
 Learned that the commissioners had obtained permission from 
 Sir Hudson Lowe to come as far as the inner gate of Longwood. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe, accompanied by Sir Thomas Reade, Major 
 Gorrequer, Wynyard, and Prichard, and followed by three dra- 
 goons and a servant, rode into Longwood, alighted in front of the 
 billiard-room, and demanded to "see Gene^-al Bonaparte." A 
 reply was given l)y General Monlholon, that he was indisposed.
 
 BO ▲ VOU'K KKt'M sr. IlKLKNA, 
 
 Tills ilid not sniist'v his f\i't'll»'iu_\ , wlio st-iil jij^aiii in rjiliR-r au 
 iiuthoritativo maiiiu'r, lo suy, that h»; had sonu'thiiij^ to com 
 iiumicato, whith hi- waiilod to deliviT in jumsou to (umutuI Mo 
 napartc. and to no othiT porson woiihl ht- >/\\v it. An answrr 
 Has sent, that notioe wonld ho jjjivfn to him when he ctiuld Ite 
 received, that Napoleon was then snUeiiiifj; with a had tooth. At 
 four, 1*. M., Napoleon sent for me, and desired me to look at 
 i>ne of the dtiiteti saplenlia;, wliieh was carions and h)ose. He 
 tiien asked me if I knew what the governor wanted, or why he 
 wished to see him. I replied, that, perhaps, he liad some com- 
 munieation from Lord lialliurst, which he did not like to deliver 
 to any other person. " It will lie better for ns not to meet," said 
 Napoleon. " It is probahly some belise of Lord Bathnrst, which 
 he will make worse by his ungracions manner of communicating 
 it. 1 am sure it is nothing that is good, or he would not be so 
 an.xious to deliver it himself. Lord * * * * is a bad man, his 
 communications are bad, and /te is worse than all. Nothing good 
 can arise from an interview." 
 
 " The last time I saw him, he laid his hand upon his sabre two 
 or three times in a violent manner, therefore go to him or to 
 Sir T. Reade to-morrow, and tell him that if he has anything to 
 communicate, he had better send it to Bertrand, or Bertrand will 
 go to his house ; assure him that he may rely upon Bertrand's 
 making a fjiithful report. Or let him send Colonel Reade to me 
 to explain what he has to say ; 1 will receive and hear him, be- 
 cause he will be only the bearer of orders, and not the giver of 
 them; therefore if he comes upon a bad mission, I shall not be 
 angry, as he will only obey the orders of a superior." I endeav- 
 oicd to induce him to meet the governor, in order, if possil>le, to 
 make up matters between them ; but he replied, " To meet him 
 would be the worst mode of attempting it, as he was confident 
 it was some belise of Lord Bathurst's, which he would make 
 worse, and convert into an insult by his brutal mode of deliver- 
 ing it. You know," added he, " I never got into a passion with 
 the admiral, liecause even when he had something bad to com- 
 municate, he did it with some feeling ; but this man treats us as 
 if we were so many deserter.s."
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 81 
 
 Knowing that Sir Thomas Reade was quite incapable of ex- 
 plaining to him, in either French or Italian, the purport of any 
 communication exceeding a few words, I asked him, " In case 
 Sir Thomas Reade should not find himself capable of explaining 
 perfectly every particular, and should commit what he had to say 
 to paper, if he would read it, or allow it to be read to him?" 
 he replied, "certainly, let him do this, or send it to Bertrand. 
 As to me, perhaps I shall not see him for six months. Let him 
 break open the doors or level the house, I am not subject to the 
 English laws, because they do not protect me. I am sure," con- 
 tinued he, " that he has nothing pleasant to communicate, or he 
 would not be so anxious to do it personally. Nothing but 
 insults or bad news ever came from Lord Bathurst. I wish they 
 would give orders to have me dispatched. I do not like to commit 
 suicide ; it is a thing that I have always disapproved of. I have 
 made a vow to drain the cup to the last draught ; but I should 
 be most rejoiced if they would send directions to put me to death." 
 
 2nd. — Saw Napoleon in the morning. A toothache, he said, 
 had prevented him from sleeping a great part of the night : his 
 cheek was swelled. After having examined the tooth, I recom- 
 mended the extraction of it. He desired me to go to the governor 
 and deliver a message, the purport of which was, that in conse- 
 quence of indisposition, pain, and want of sleep, he found him- 
 self unfit to listen calmly to communications, or to enter into 
 discussions ; therefore, that he wished the governor would com- 
 municate to Count Bertrand whatever he had to say. That 
 Count Bertrand would fiiithfully report it to him. If he would 
 not communicate it to Count Bertrand, or to any other resident 
 at Longwood, Napoleon would have no objection to receive it 
 from Colonel Reade. The remainder of the message was similar 
 to what he had said on the same subject yesterday. "If," added 
 he, " that man were to bring me word that a frigate had arrived 
 for the purpose of taking me to England, I should conceive it to 
 be bad news, because he was the bearer of it. With such a 
 temper of mind, you must see how improper it would be that 
 an interview should take place. He came up here yesterday, 
 •urroundsd with his staff, as if he were going in state to asiist 
 
 4*
 
 82 A VOK'K FROM ST. IIKl-ENA. 
 
 at an iwociiticii, iiistcjul of a^lviiii^ piivjitfly tn sec nu'. Three 
 tinii's has ho jjuiio away in a jtassion, thoii-foii' it will l»c better 
 that no in«ne interviews should take plaee l)etween lis, as iiu 
 good ean arise fnun it ; and as he represents his nation here, I 
 do not like to insult or make severe remarks to him, similar tc 
 those 1 was ol)liged to express before." 
 
 Went to Sir Hudson Lowe, to whom I made known the mes- 
 sage with whieh I had been charged, suppressing the ofTensive 
 parts, liut communicating all that was necessary to elucidate its 
 meaning. His excellency desired me to give it to him in writing, 
 and then told me, that the secretary of state had sent directions 
 to him to inquire very minutely concerning a letter which had 
 aj)peared in one of the Portsmouth papers concerning Bunaparte, 
 a!id which had given great offence to his majesty's ministers; 
 particularly as it had been reported to them by Captain Hamil- 
 ton, of the Havannah frigate, that I was cither the author, or had 
 V)rought it on board. His excellency then asked me who I had 
 written to, adding, "there is no harm in the letter. It is very 
 correct in general, but the ministers do not like that any thing 
 should be published about him. Every thing must come through 
 them ;" also that Captain Hamilton had reported that it was an 
 anonymous letter, and expressly intended for publication. I 
 replied to Sir Hudson Lowe, that I had never written an anony- 
 mous letter in my life, and that several letters has been published 
 in the newspapers, of which I had been supposed the author, 
 until another individual had acknowledged them to have been 
 written by him. Sir Hudson Lowe desired me to write a letter 
 of explanation to him on the subject ; after w hich he dictated to 
 Sir Thomas lleade what he wished me to express in answer to 
 General Bonaparte, of w hich I took the following copy ; which 
 the governor read before I left the house. 
 
 " The principal object of the Governor's visit to Longwood to 
 see General Bonaparte, was from a sense of attention towards 
 him, in order to acquaint him, first, with instructions received 
 concerning his officers, which could only be decided by him, 
 before informing them. The gDvernor would wish the communi- 
 Ofttion with General Bonaparte should be made by himself, in tha
 
 1816— OCTOBER. 80 
 
 presence of Sir Thomas Reade, or some of his own staff, and oua 
 of the French generals. He never intended to say any thino 
 which would affront or insult General Bonaparte ; on the con- 
 trary, he wished to conciliate and modify the strict letter of his 
 instructions, with every attention and respect to him, and can- 
 not conceive the cause of so much resentment manifested by 
 General Bonaparte towards him. If he would not consent to an 
 interview with the governor, in the presence of other persons, the 
 governor would send Sir Thomas Reade, (if he consented to it,) 
 to communicate the general purport of what he had to say, leav- 
 ing some points for future discussion. If Count Beitrand was 
 sent to the governor, some expression of concern would be re- 
 quired from him, for the language made use of by him to the 
 governor, on the last interview which the governor undertook, by 
 desire of General Bonaparte himself; and the governor conceives 
 the same expression of concern necessary from Count BcJti'and, 
 on the part of General Bonaparte himself, for his intemperate 
 language in the last interview with the governor; and theii.^ the 
 latter will express his concern for any words made use of by him 
 in reply, which may have been deemed unpleasant, as there was 
 no intention on his pai't of saying any thing offensive, his words 
 being merely repelling an attack made upon him, and this he 
 would not do to a person in any other situation than General 
 Bonaparte. But if the latter is determined to dispute with the 
 governor for endeavoring to execute his orders, he sees little hope 
 of a proper understanding between them." 
 
 On my return to Longwood, I minutely explained the above 
 to Napoleon, both alone, and in the presence of Count Bertrand. 
 Napoleon smiled contemptuously at the idea of his apologizing 
 to Sir Hudson Lowe. 
 
 3r-G?. — Saw Napoleon in the morning. After I had inquired 
 into the state of his health, he entered upon the business of 
 yesterday. " As this governor," says he, " declares that he will 
 not communicate the M'hole to Reade, but intends to leserve 
 some fut\u'e points to discussion, I shall not see him, for I only 
 agree to see Reade, in order to avoid the sight of the other; and 
 by reserving the points he speaks of, he might come up again to
 
 84 A VitlCK FKt>M ST. IlKLKNA. 
 
 morrow or next day, and doinand another interview. If he 
 wants to oomniunicato, lot liini send his adjutant-general to Her- 
 trand, or to Montholon, or to Las Cases, or Gourgaud, or to you; 
 or send for one of them, and explain it himself; or let him com- 
 munieate the whoh' to Koade, or t<> Sir (ieorge Hingham, or 
 someh«)dy else ; and then I will see the poison so chosen. If lit- 
 still insists to see me, I will write myself in answer, 'The em 
 jieror Napoleon will not see you, because the three last tinies 
 you were with him, you insulted him, and he does not wish more 
 communieatiun with you.' I well know, that if we have another 
 interview, there will be disputes and abuse ; a suspicious gesture 
 might produce, I know not what. lie, for his own sake, ought 
 not to desire one, after the language which I applied to him the 
 last time. I told him before the admiral, when he said that he 
 only did his duty, that so did the hangman, but that one was not 
 obliged to see that hangman until the moment of execution. Ci 
 sono state tre scene, Scene vergognose ! (There have been three 
 acts, shameful acts!) I do not wish to renew them. I know 
 that my blood will be heated. I will tell him that no power on 
 earth obliges a prisoner to see and debate with his executioner ; 
 for his conduct has made him such to me. He pretends that he 
 acts according to his instructions ; a government two thousand 
 leagues distant can do no more than point out the general man- 
 ner in which things must be conducted, and must leave a great 
 discretionary power, which he distorts and turns in the worst 
 possible manner, in order to torment me. A proof that he is 
 worse than his government, is, that they have sent out several 
 things to make me comfortable ; but he does nothing but torment, 
 msult, and render my exi.stence as miserable as possible. To 
 complete the Vjusiness, he writes letters full of smoothness and 
 sweetness ; professing every regard, which he afterwards sends 
 home, to make the world believe that he is our best friend. I 
 want to avoid another scena with him. I never, in the height of 
 my power, made use of such language to any man, as I was 
 compelled to apply to him. It would have been unpardonable 
 at the Tuillerie.s. I would .sooner have a t<joth drawn, than have 
 an interview with him. He has a bad mission, and fulfils it
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 85 
 
 bndry. I do not think that he is aware how much we hate and 
 despise him ; I should like him to know it. He suspects every 
 body, even his own staff are not free from it. You see that he 
 will not confide to Reade. Why does he not go to Montholon, 
 or Las Cases, if he does not like Bertrand ?" I replied, that Sir 
 Hudson Lowe had said he could not repose confidence in th<. 
 fidelity of either of them, in reporting the purport of his cor 
 versation. " Oh," said he, " he is offended with Montholon 
 about that letter, written in August last, and with Las Cases, 
 because he not only writes the truth to a lady in London, but 
 tells it everywhere here." 1 replied, " the governor has accused 
 Count Las Cases of having written many falsehoods respecting 
 what has passed here." " Las Cases," replied he, " would not 
 be blockhead enough to write lies, when he was obliged to send 
 the letters containing them through his hands. He only writes 
 the truth, which that geolier (jailor) does not wish to be known. 
 1 am sure that he wants to tell me that some of my generals are 
 to be removed, and wishes to throw the odium of sending them 
 away upon me, by leaving the choice to me. They would send 
 you away too, if they were not afraid you would do some mis- 
 chief in England, by telling what you have seen. Their design, 
 I believe, is to send every body away who might be inclined to 
 make my life less disagreeable. Truly, they have chosen a 
 pretty representative for Bathurst. I would sooner have an 
 interview with the corporal of the guard, than with that galeriano. 
 How different it was with the admiral ! We used to converse 
 together sociably, on different subjects, like friends. But this 
 man is only fit to oppress and insult those whom misfortune has 
 placed in his power." 
 
 After this he conversed upon various subjects. He nuide some 
 observations upon the marriage of the Princess Charlotte with 
 Prince Leopold, and spoke in terms of praise of the latter, whom 
 he had seen at Paris during his reign. 
 
 According to his desire, I wrote an account of what he had 
 said, to Sir Hudson Lowe ; avoiding, however, to repeat the 
 strongest of his expressions. 
 
 4</i. — Sir Thomas Reade came up to my room at Longwood,
 
 86 A VOU'K KKOM ST IIKI.KNA. 
 
 \»ith a writti'ii |>a|ur from tin- i,'nv(rii(»r, coiilniiiing llir ii. v» 
 instruolii>iis whiih tin- latter had ri'i-i-ivetl fntin Eiiglaiid. I wnit 
 to NnjH>lo<iii and aiuioiinri'd liim. IK' aski-d iih> " if lie was ii; 
 full p<.)s,>iession «>f ovi-rvthiii}!; ?" I rojdicd, that he had told ino 
 80 Ih- dosiri'il iiir tu iiitrodiioo him. Wlini 1 went hack, Sir 
 Thomas lu-ade toM iiu' that his mission was noi a very pleasant 
 Olio, and that he iiopid " Bonaparte wouM not lie on'einled with 
 him," and asked me how he slionld explain it to him. I told 
 him how to o.\press himself to this efl'eet, in Italian. We 
 then went into the garden where Napoleon was: I introduced 
 him, and letl them together. In a few minutes, Napoleon 
 called Connt Las Cases, and told him to translate aloud, in 
 French, the contents of the paper, according as Reade repeated 
 it. When Reade came to my room, on his return, he said that 
 Napoleon had been very civil to him, and that so far from being 
 offended, he had asked him the news and laughed, and only ob- 
 served (as the knight repeated in his Italian), "Piti mi si persegui- 
 (era, meglio andrli e riioislrera al moiido cite rahhia di persecuziuiii. 
 Fra pijco tempo mi si leverenno tutti i/ll (i/lri, e qiialche mattiua 
 in''aminazzeranuoy (If he should persecute longer, I shall do 
 better, and I shall show to the world that I am enraged l)y per- 
 secutions. In a short time, all the others will rise up, and some 
 morning they will kill me.) Sir Thomas then allowed me to 
 read the paper, the contents of which were as follows: "That 
 the French who wished to remain with General Bonaparte, must 
 sign the simple form, which would be given to them, of their 
 willingness to submit to whatever restrictions might be imposed 
 upon General Bonaparte, without making any remarks of their 
 own upon it. Those who refused would be sent off* directly to 
 the Cape of Good Hope. The establishment to be reduced in 
 number foui- persons ; those who remained were ti; consider 
 themselves to be amenable to the laws, in the same manner as 
 if they were British subjects, especially to those which had been 
 framed for the safe custody of General Bonaparte, and declaring 
 the aiding and assisting of him to escape, feiony. Any of them 
 abusing, reflecting upon, or behaving ill to the governor, or the 
 government they were under, would be forthwith sent to the
 
 1816 — OCTOBER, 87 
 
 Cape, where no facilities would be afforded for their conveyance 
 to Europe." It explained, also, that it was not to be understood, 
 that the obligation was to be eternal to those who signed. Thera 
 was also a demand for 1,400^. paid for books, which had been 
 sent out. The whole was couched in language of a highly 
 peremptory nature. Sir Thomas then told me that Count Bei- 
 trand was to go the following day to Plantation House, and that 
 I might hint to him, that if he behaved himself well, perhaps 
 none but domestics would be sent away, but that all depended 
 upon his '■'■good behavior.''^ 
 
 5th. — While walking down the park in the morning, thinking 
 of the occurrences of yesterday, I heard a voice calling me. 
 Turning about, 1 was surprised to see the emperor beckoning to, 
 and calling me. After he asked how I was, he said, '■'■ Ebbene, 
 bugiardo sempre quesio governatore ! (well, does this governor 
 continue to lie !) There was nothing in the intelligence, which 
 he said he could only communicate to myself, which might not 
 have been made known through Bertrand, or any one else. But 
 he thought that he had an opportunity of insulting and grieving 
 me, which he eagerly embraced. He came up here with his 
 staff, just as if he were going to announce a wedding, with exul- 
 tation and joy painted on his countenance, at the idea of having 
 it in his power to afflict me. He thought to plant a stilo in my 
 heart, and could not deny himself the pleasure of witnessing 
 and enjoying it personally. Never has he given a greater proof 
 of a bad mind, than thus wishing to stab to the heart one whom 
 misfortunes had placed in his power." He then repeated some 
 parts of the communication of yesterday, and observed that it 
 ought to be sent to them in writing, as it was impossible for a 
 F''enchman to understand a communication in English, by having 
 heard it read only a few minutes. 1 took the liberty of strongly 
 recommending that matters should be accommodated as much 
 as possible : as I said I had reason to believe that the governor 
 was inclined to grant that domestics should be sent away, instead 
 of any of the generals ; but that if irritated he might act other 
 wise. He replied, " Voi ragionale come un uomo libero, (you 
 speak like a free man,) hut we are not free : we are in thepowei
 
 S8 A VOICE FIU>M ST. HKLKNA. 
 
 of 11 ffoja, mm ce rinu'ilio, (Itaiiginaii, tlit'ir is no roiiu-ci} .) Tluj 
 will si'iiil uway tlu> losl \>\ dt-jiii'i's, ami il is as wrll fur tlii'ii; lo 
 jjo iu>\v, as ill a littii' time. What advantam' sliall I gain by 
 having tluiu lu ro until tlio arrival "f tlu- nr\i .s|ii|i from Eng- 
 .nd, or until that anitmtle finds out some pniixi lt> send them 
 Away ? 1 wtnild rather they were all gone, than to iiave four oi 
 five persons tremhling ul)oiJt me, having the dread of being 
 f'ireeif on board ship constantly hanging over their head. For, 
 by that eommuniialiou of yi'sterday, they are placed entirely at 
 his discretion. Let him send everybody away, plant sentinels 
 ut the doors and windows, and send up nothing but bread and 
 water, I regard it not. My mind is free. I am just as inde- 
 pendetit as when I commanded an army of six hundred thousand 
 men — as 1 told him the other day. This heart is as free as when 
 1 gave laws lo Europe. lie wants them to sign restrictions 
 without knowing what they are. No honest man would sign an 
 obligation, without first knowing what it was. But he wants 
 them to sign to whatever he likes to impose hereafter, and then, 
 with lies always at command, he w ill assert that he has changed 
 nothing. He is angry with Las Cases, because he wrote to his 
 friends that he was badly lodged, and badly treated. Was there 
 ever heard of such tyranny ? He treats people in the most bar- 
 barous manner ; heaps injuries and insults upon them, and then 
 wants to deprive them of the liberty of complaint. I do not," 
 continued he, " think that Lord Liverpool, or even Lord Castle- 
 reagh, would allow me to be treated in the way I am. I believe 
 that this governor only writes to Lord Bathurst, to whom he tells 
 what he likes." 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe signified to me yesterday, that he had done 
 every thing in his power to prove (after my communication to 
 him) that there was nothing vindictive in his conduct towards 
 General Bonaparte ; but that not having been met, he was better 
 pleased to leave matters to their natural course, and to the judg- 
 ment of the authority to which they had been submitted ; and 
 that I might most distinctly contradict to General Bonaparte, 
 that he had laid his hand upon his sword ; that witnesses could 
 prove it; that none but a confiruifd villain could think of doing
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 89 
 
 do against an unarmed man. That with respect to the instruc- 
 tions he had received, and his manner of making them known; 
 never having regarded General Bonaparte's opinion in any point, 
 whether as to matter or manner, as an oracle by which to regu- 
 late his judgment, he was not disposed to think less favorably 
 of the instructions, or of his mode of executing them ; on the 
 contrary, that Bonaparte was, he feared, insensible to any deli 
 eacy of proceeding ; so that with him, one must either be a blind 
 admirer of his frailties, or a yielding instrument to work with, a 
 mere slave in thought to him. Otherwise, he who has business 
 which opposes his views, must make up his mind to every species 
 of obloquy. He added, that he had sent Sir Thomas Reade with 
 his communication ; and concluded by intimating, that before 
 General Bonaparte proposed any other style of appellation, he 
 should himself drop the title of emperor, and if he wished to 
 assume a feigned name, why did he not propose one ? 
 
 Count Bertrand went to Plantation House, where he learned 
 that Piontkowski and three of the domestics, were to be sent 
 away. 
 
 0/A. — Sir Hudson Lowe came up to Longwood, accompanied 
 by Colonel Wynyard. They went into Captain Poppleton's 
 room, where they appeared to be very busily occupied for two 
 hours. During this time, the governor frequently came out, and 
 walked up and down before the door, with one of his arms ele- 
 vated, and the end of a finger in the angle of his mouth, as was 
 his general custom when in thought. When they had finished, a 
 sealed packet was given to Captain Poppleton, to be delivered to 
 Count Bertrand ; after which his excellency came to me, and 
 after some conversation, asked if I thought that any copies had 
 been distributed of Montholon's letter to him 1 I replied, that it 
 was very probable, as there was no secret made of its contents ; 
 and that the French, as he well knew, publicly avowed their in- 
 tention and desire to circulate copies of it. He asked me, if I 
 thought that the commissioners had got a copy. I replied, "very 
 likely." He appeared very uneasy at this at first ; but after- 
 wards said, that he had shown the letter to them himself. He 
 then asked me if I had got a copy. I replied, I had. This
 
 90 A VOkK FICOM Sr. HKLKNA. 
 
 alarmed his t'xct'lItMio) much ; wli" (iciuaiiiJod to st-e it, and said, 
 that it woidii In j'floni/ to .si-iid it to Engliiiid. After soiiu- dis. 
 rus,sii>n ujH'ii the Mil>j»it, during which 1 i)i)soivi'(l, that, consi- 
 dering n>v situation, and n\)- l>eing employed as I was between 
 Longwood and l^hintation House, 1 could not he ignorant of the 
 principal part of wiiat was passing. His excellenc} said, true; 
 and that it was luy duly to tell him ever\ thing that occurred 
 helwecii (icneral Bonaparte and myself, 1 n-piied, that if there 
 was an) plot for his escape, or correspondence tending in it, or 
 any thing sus])icious, 1 >hould conceive it my duty U> give him 
 notice of it; also if any thing of political importance was uttered 
 by Napoleon, or anecdote clearing up any part of his history, or 
 which might prove serviceable to him, I would make him ac- 
 quainted with it; but that I could not think of telling him every 
 thing, especially any thing abusive or injurious, that passed be- 
 tween us, or whatever might tend to generate bad blood, or in- 
 crease the ditlerence already unhappily existing between them, 
 unless ordered so to do. Sir Hudson at first agreed that it would 
 not be proper to tell him any abuse of himself; but imme- 
 diately afterwards said, that it was essential for me to repeat it; 
 that one of the 7neuns loltich General Bonajjurle hud of escaping^ 
 wu-s vilify iiKj him ; that abusiiuj and lessening the character of the 
 ministry, teas an underhand and a vile way of endeavoring to 
 escape from the island ; and therefore, that it was incuml)ent on 
 me to communicate every thing of the kind instantly. That as 
 to himself, he did not care about his abuse, and would never be 
 actuated by vindictive feelings towards him ; but that he wished 
 to know every thing: that nothing ought to i)e made known or 
 eomnmnicated in England, except through him; and that he 
 himself only communicated with Lord Hathurst. Not perfectly 
 agreeing with his excellency's sophistry, especially when I re- 
 flected upon the conversation which I had had with him under the 
 trees at Plantation House tw<j days after his last interview with 
 Napoleon, I replied, that it did not appear that all the memberj 
 of his majesty's government were of a similar opinion, as I had 
 received letters from official persons, with a re(4uest to com- 
 municate circumstances relative to Bijiiaparte, and returning
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 91 
 
 thanks for my former letters, which had been shown to some of 
 the cabinet ministers. The governor was excessively uneasy at 
 this, and observed, that those persons had nothing to do with 
 Bonaparte; that the secretary of state, with whom he corres- 
 ponded, was the only one who ought to know any thing about 
 the matter; that he did not even communicate what passed 
 to the Duke of York. That none of the ministers, except Lord 
 Bathurst, ought to know what passed ; and that all communica- 
 tion, even to his lordship, ought to go through him, and him only. 
 His excellency then observed, that my correspondence ought to 
 be subject to the same restrictions as those on the attendants of 
 General Bonaparte. I replied, that if he was not satisfied with 
 the manner in which matters stood, I was ready to resign the 
 situation I held, and go on board ship, as soon as he liked, as I 
 was determined not to give up any of my rights as a British 
 officer. Sir Hudson said, that there was no necessity for this ; 
 ' that it would be very easy to arrange matters ; concluded by 
 observing that it was a business which required consideration, 
 and that he would renew the subject on another day. 
 
 10^/i. — Had some conversation with Napole(jn in his dressing- 
 room, during which I endeavored to convince him that Sir Hud- 
 son Lowe might in reality have intended to offer civilities at 
 times when his conduct was supposed to be insulting; that his 
 gestures sometimes indicated intentions far from his thoughts ; 
 and particularly explained to him that Sir Hudson Lowe's having 
 laid his hand upon his sword, proceeded entirely from an invol- 
 untary habit which he had of seizing his sabre, and raising it be- 
 tween his side and his arm (which I endeavored to show him by 
 gestures) ; that he had himself expressed to me that none but a 
 confirmed villain would attempt to draw upon an unarmed man. 
 ' Per i ragazsi, dottore^^^ replied Napoleon, "se non e boja, almeno 
 ne ha V aria. (For the ladies, doctor, he is not an executioner, 
 at least he has not the appearance of it.) Has he shown you 
 the new restrictions he has sent to usf I replied, that he had 
 not said a word about them, " ^A," answered the emperor, 
 " son certo che abbia qaalche com sinistra in vista.'''' (I am certain 
 he had something fatal in his views.)
 
 ft2 A VdIi'K KKOM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 'I'his evoiiin;; Count Hoitr.-iinl ojiiiif to in) room in ortliT thni 
 I sljonld assist him in (ranshitin^ sonn- pail of ilic new rcstrii* 
 tions,* whirli wno, lu> said, of a iialiirc so oiilnigoous to tlit- 
 emporor, (hat \w was iiulucod to (hitti-r himself with the idea 
 that ht' hat! not understood thorn. 'J'liey were those parts wheio 
 Napoleon was prohibited from going ofl" the high road ; froii' 
 going on the path leading to Miss Mason's; from entering into 
 any house, and from eonversing with any person whom he inigiit 
 meet in his rides or walks. Prepared as I was l)y the governor's 
 manner, and by what I had observed this day, to e.xpect some- 
 thing very severe, I confess that at the first sight of these restric- 
 tions I remained thunderstruck, and even after reading them 
 over three or four times could scarcely persuade myself that I 
 had properly understood them. While I was employed in 
 assisting Count Bertrand in the translation. Colonel Wynyard 
 knocked, and came into my room. When the Count had gone, 
 I told the Colonel what he had wanted, and asked him if 1 
 was right in the construction which I had given, which 1 ex- 
 plained to him. Colonel Wynyard replied, that I was perfectly 
 right. 
 
 IIM. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me to town. Breakfasted 
 in company with him at Sir Thomas Reade's; after which, he 
 told me that he had something particular to say, but that the 
 place was not a proper one, and another time would do. Showed 
 to him and to Sir Thomas the translation which I had made of 
 those f>oints in the restriction, of which Count Bertrand had been 
 doubtful. Sir Hudson observed, that I had translated one part 
 rather too strongly, viz : " will be required to be strictly adhered 
 to," but that 1 had given a perfectly correct explanation of the 
 sense. That the French were not to go down into the valley, or 
 separate from the high road, as space was given them to exer- 
 cise, only to preserve their health. That they were not to speak 
 to any person, or enter any house; and that there needed nc 
 further explanatiijn, as every restriction upon General Bonaparte 
 equally applied to his followers. He concluded by observing, 
 that I had better take an opportunity of telling Bonaparte \hat J 
 
 'See Aiipeiidix, No. V'l.
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 93 
 
 had heard the governor say, that the orders originated with the 
 British government, and that he was merely the person who car- 
 ried them into execution, and not the framer. 
 
 12^/i. — Napoleon, after asking many questions concerning a 
 trial which took place yesterday, at which 1 had appeared as an 
 evidence, spoke about the new restrictions, and observed that 
 Bertrand could not be brought to think that he had rightly com- 
 prehended them, and asked me my opinion, which I explained to 
 him as briefly and delicately as I could. When I had finished, 
 '■'■ Che rahhia di perseciizioni,^'' ([ am maddened by persecution,) 
 exclaimed Napoleon. I observed, that I had heard the governor 
 say yesterday, that the orders had originated with the British 
 government, and that he was merely the person who carried 
 them into execution, and not the framer. Napoleon looked at 
 me in a most incredulous manner, smiled, and gave me, in a 
 good-natured manner, a slap in the face. 
 
 A quantity of plate sent to town to-day, and sold in the pre- 
 sence of Sir Thomas Reade, to Mr. Balcombe, who was ordered 
 by Reade to pay a certain sum an ounce for it, and the money 
 which it produced, viz. about two hundred and forty pounds, was 
 to lie in Balcombe's hands, and to be drawn for in small sums, 
 as their necessities required. 
 
 Two letters arrived from Sir Hudson Lowe for Bertrand. I 
 did not see their contents, but was informed that one related to 
 the new restrictions, and contained assertions that but little 
 alteration had taken place in them, and that very little change in 
 the limits had been ordered. The other, a reprimand to Count 
 Las Cases for having presumed to give Mr. Balcombe, (the 
 purveyor,) an order on the count's banker in London, without 
 having first asked the governor's permission, and also containing 
 a demand for the price of the books sent out by government for 
 General Bonaparte's use. Notwithstanding this, it appeared that 
 Las Cases had acquainted the governor with his intentions, and 
 obtained his consent, which his excellency had forgotten, and 
 detained Las Cases' order when presented to him by Mr. Bal- 
 combe. 
 
 13//i. — Napoleon in his bath. Complained of headache, and
 
 04 A VoirK KIU.M ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 gtiuTiil iiiKii.sim'ss ; ;iii(l was a litlli- l\'vciisli. He railed iigaitiHl 
 thi" isUnd, aiul ulist'ivcd, ili.it lu' roiiKl not walk jt, wlu-ii the 
 sun was to lu* s»h'Ii, for liall" an Imiir, wiilioul getting u liradat-lu', 
 in c*>nsoqui'nct» t>f tlio uaiil uf sliailc " I'cmmefite,^^ (really,) 
 saitl lu\ "it nijuircs gnat ii'solulion and sln-n^lh of mind to 
 siip|H>it siu'h an t'xistriu'f as mint' in this liorrilili' abode. Every 
 ■Juy fresh O'ljn ill stilo al ciiore tfa ijiies/o hnjn, c/ie ha j)iar<'ie a fur 
 di timli\ (thrusts of the stiletto to my heart, from that executioner, 
 who delights in doing evil.) It appears to he his only amusement. 
 Daily \\v imagines modes of annoying, insulting, and making nu^ 
 undergo fresh privations. lie wants to shorten my life by daily 
 irritations. By his last restrictions, I am not permitted to speak 
 to any one I may meet. To peo|>le under sentence of death, tluH 
 is not denied. A man may be ironed, confmed in a cell, and 
 kept on bread and water, but the liljerty of speaking is not de- 
 nied to him. It is a piece of tyranny unheard of, except in the 
 instance of the man with the iron mask. In the tribunals of the 
 incpiisition, a man is heard in his own defence; but 1 have been 
 condemned unheard, and without trial, in violation of all laws 
 divine and human ; detained as a prisoner of war, in a time of 
 peace; separated from my wife and child, vi(tleiitly transported 
 here, where arbitrary and hitherto unknown restrictions are im- 
 posed upon me; extending even to the privation of speech. I 
 am sure," continued he, " that none of the ndnislers except Lord 
 Bathurst, would give their consent t(j this last act of tyranny. 
 His great desire of secrecy shows that he is afraid of his conduct 
 being made known, even to the ministers thein.selves. Instead 
 if all this mystery and espionage, they would do better to treat 
 me in such a manner as not to be afraid (jf any disclosures being 
 made. You recollect what I said to you when this governor told 
 me, in presence of the admiral, that he would send any coniplaints 
 we had to make to England, and get them published in the 
 journals. You see now, that he is in fear and trembling lest 
 Montholon's letter should find its way to England, or be known 
 to the inhabitants here. They profess in England to furnish all 
 my wants, and, in fact, they send out many things : this man 
 then comes out, reduces every thing, ol)liges me to sell my plate
 
 1816— OCTOBER. 96 
 
 (n order to purchase those necessaries of life which he either 
 denies altcigether, or supplies in quantities so small as to be in- 
 sufficient ; imposes daily new and arbitrary restrictions ; insults 
 me and my followers; concludes with attempting to deny me the 
 faculty of speech, and then has the impudence to write, that he 
 has changed nothing. He says, that if strangers come to visit 
 me, they cannot speak to any of my suite, and wishes that they 
 should be presented by him. If my son came to the island, and 
 it were required that he should be presented by him, I would not 
 see him. You know," continued he, "that it was more a trouble 
 than a pleasure for me to receive many of the strangers who 
 arrived ; some of whom merely came to gaze at me, as they 
 would at a curious beast • but still it was consoling to have the 
 right to see them, if I pleased." 
 
 Examined his gums, which were spongy, pale, and bled on the 
 slightest touch. Recommended him to use a larger quantity 
 than ordinary of vegetable and acescent food, an acid gargle, 
 and exercise. 
 
 I'ith. — The paper sent by the governor to Longwood, contain- 
 ing an acknowledgment from the French of their willingness 
 to submit to such restrictions as had, or might be, imposed upon 
 Napoleon Bonaparte, was signed by all, and sent to Sir Hudson 
 Lowe. The only alteration made by them, was the substituting 
 of '■'■ V Einpereur Napoleon^'' for '■'■Napoleon Biionuparte.'''' 
 
 \bth. — The papers sent back by the governoi- to Count Ber- 
 trand, with a demand that Napoleon Buonaparte should be inserted 
 in the place of V Emjjereur Naptoleoa. 
 
 Saw Napoleon, who told me that he had advised them not to 
 sign it, but rather to quit the island, and go to the Cape. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe came up to Longwood. I informed him 
 that I believed the French would not sign the declaration worded 
 in the manner he wished. "I suppose," replied his excellency, 
 " that they are very glad of it, as it will give them a pi-etext to 
 leave General Bonaparte, which I shall order them to do." He 
 then sent for Count Bertrand, Count Las Cases, and the rcinuin- 
 der of the officers (except Piontkowski), with whom he had a 
 long conversation. At eleven o'cloci< at, night, a letter was sent
 
 98 A VOICK FROM SI. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 l>v Sir Hudson Lowe to (\niiii Hcilriiinl, in uliidilit' iiiforni«'(i 
 him, that in oonsequtMuu' of tin* ivliisal of tin- Krone)) oflioors lo 
 sign tho dochiration with tho words Xiijuj/con Buonaparte, thi-y 
 «nd tho doniostios nui>l all dfpiirl for the Cape of Good Hope 
 instatttly, in a ship whirli wjis ri-ady for their reception, with the 
 exoeption of a cook, niaitre do hotel, and one or two of the valets; 
 that in consideration of the advanced state of Countess Bertrand's 
 prerjnancy, her hnshand would he pi-rinitted to remain until she 
 Has ahle to hear the voyage. 
 
 The prospect of separation from the emperor caus«-d great 
 grief and consternation among the inmates of Longwood, who, 
 without the knowledge of Napoleon, waited upon Captain Pop- 
 pleton after midnight, and signed the obno.xious paper (with the 
 exception of Santini, who refused to sign to any in which he 
 was not styled VEmpenur), which was transmitted to the gov- 
 ernor. 
 
 16/A. — Napoleon sent Novarrc for me at half-past six in the 
 morning. On my arrival, he looked very earnestly at me, and 
 said, lavighing, " You look as if you had been drunk last night." 
 1 replied no, but that I had dined at the camp, and sat up very 
 late. ^^ Quante lottiplie, tre ?" (liovf many bottles, three ?) he 
 added, holding up three of his fingers. He then communicated 
 the following to me, viz : that Count Bertrand had had a conver- 
 sation with the governor yesterday, which partly related to him. 
 That he had sent for me, in order that I might explain to the 
 governor his real sentiments on the subject ; and " here," con- 
 tinued he, taking up a piece of paper, in which were contained 
 words in his own hand-writing, of a meaning similar to the paper 
 which he subsequently gave to me, " is what I have written, and 
 which I intend to send to him." He then read it aloud, asking 
 me every now and then if I comprehended him, and said, "You 
 will take a copy f)f thisto the governor, and inform him that such 
 are my intentions. If he asks you why it is not signed by me, 
 you will say, that it was unnecessary, because I had read it out 
 and explained it to you from my own hand-wiiting." After ob- 
 serving that the name of Napoleon was (roppo ben conosciuto (too 
 well known), and might bring back recollections which it were
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 97 
 
 better should be dropped, he desired me to propose his being 
 called Colonel Meuron, who had been killed at his side at 
 Areola, or Baron Duroc ; that as colonel was a title denoting 
 military rank, it might perhaps give umbrage, and therefore 
 probably it would be better to adopt that of Baron Duroc, which 
 was the lowest feudal title. " If the governor," continued he^ 
 "consents, let him signify to Bertrand that he acquiesces in one 
 of them, and such shall be adopted. It will prevent many diffi- 
 culties and sraoothen the way. Your eyes," continued he, " look 
 very much like those of a man who had been committing a de- 
 bauch last night." I explained to him that it was the effect of 
 the wind and dust. He then rung the bell, called St. Denis, 
 took the paper which he had copied from him, made me read it 
 aloud, underlined some passages with his own hand, gave it to 
 me, and gently pushing me out of the room in a smiling manner, 
 told me to go to the governor, and tell him that such were his 
 'utentions. 
 
 The paper was as follows -.* 
 
 " II me revient que dans la conversation qui a eu lieu entre 
 le General Lowe et plusieurs de ces Messieurs, il s'est dit des 
 choses sur ma position qui ne sont pas conformes a mes pensees. 
 
 " J'ai abdique dans les mains des representans de la nation et 
 au profit de mon fils ; je me suis porte avec confiance en Angle- 
 terre pour y vivre la, ou en Amerique, dans la plus profonde 
 retraite et sous le nom d'un colonel tue a mes cotes, resolu de resier 
 etranger a toute affaire i^olitique de quelque nature qu'elle puisse 
 etre. 
 
 "Arrive a bord de Northumberland, on me dit que j'etai^ 
 prisonnier de guerre, qu'on me transportait au-dela de la ligne. 
 et que je m'appellais le General Bonaparte. Je dus porter 
 ostensiblement mon titre d'empereur en opposition au titre de 
 General Bonaparte qu'on voulait m'imposer. 
 
 " II y a sept ou huit mois, le Conte de Montholon proposa de 
 pourvoir a des petites difficultes qui naissent a chaque instant en 
 adoptant un nom ordinaire. L'amiral croit devoir en ecrire k 
 Londres, cela en resta la. 
 
 * The traaslatiou will be found in the Appendix, No. VIJ. 
 5
 
 98 A VOICK KUOM sr, IIKLKNA. 
 
 " On nn" doiilir Jiiijoiiiiriiiii nil iioiii (|iii a ctl a\iiiil;i^f iju'il 
 lie pr^jug*.' \ms lo j>asM>, niais i|ui n'ol dans la lorim' do lu 
 soci»'to. Je siiis tniijours (lisjiDsc a prendre tin iium (jiii ciitre 'lans 
 Viisoife itrtlitiairr vl loitiHc (|iii' (jiiaiul on jnycia a piopos de 
 fjiire ctssor co cruel si'jour, _;"6 .»«/.'>• <lans In ro/mitv dc rcstrr etran- 
 ger a la j>vli(iqitf i/uclt/iie c/iose qui se passe dans le inondr. Vuila 
 ma pi'iisci, toute autre rhose qui aurail c'tu iliU' sur crtle i.iiir 
 lioro nr \c si>iail pas," 
 
 I prt'i'ft'dod iniini>diaU-]y to I'lanl.itlnn lldiisc, wlioic I de- 
 livered thf paper to the governor, and nnnle known to liiin the 
 conversation whieli 1 had had. His excellency apju-ared much 
 surprised, and said that it was a very imj)ortant coniiminication, 
 and one which required consideration. After I had made a de- 
 position, the governor wrote on a sheet of paper tiie following 
 words: "The govi-rnor will lose no time in forwarding to the 
 British government the paper presented to him this day hy 
 Doctor O'Meara. IK- tiiinks, however, that it would be more 
 satisfactory if it was signed liy the persctn in whose name it was 
 presented. The governor does not, however, intend to cast by 
 this the slightest doubts upon the authenticity or validity of the 
 paper, either as to the words or spirit, but merely that it would 
 be better to send it in a form to which no oVijection could be 
 offered. The governor will consider attentively whether iho 
 tenor of his instructions will jiermit him to adopt either of the 
 names proposed. He would naturally, however, be desirous to 
 defer the use of them in any pnl)lic communication, until he ob- 
 tains the sanction of his government for that purpose. Th< 
 governor will be ready at any time to confer with General Ber 
 trand on the subject." This communication he desired me to 
 «how Na|)oleon, and added, " indeed it is no great matter if yor 
 leave it with him." He then asked me if 1 thought Napoleor 
 would sign it. I replied, perhaps he might, particularly if hd 
 (Sir Hudson) would authorize him to use cither of the names in 
 question. This, however, he said, he could not yet decide upon. 
 After this, his excellency told me that I must have n(j com 
 miinication whatever with any official j)ersons in Englaiifl about 
 Bonaparte J therefore lu', insisted that 1 would not mention a
 
 1816 — OCTOBER, 99 
 
 word to them of the proposal which I hud just made, that he had 
 written to Lord Bathurst altout me, and that tliere was no doubt 
 I should do well •, that my situation was one of great coniidence, 
 and that none of the ministers, except the one he communicated 
 with, ought to know any thing about what passed at St. Helena. 
 After which he desired me to go back and endeavor to get Na- 
 poleon to sign the paper. 
 
 On my return, 1 explained to Napoleon the governor's reply 
 and wishes. lie observed, he had not intended that the paper 
 should be left with the governor, but merely read and shown to 
 him, and then returned, as had taken place once before. That 
 he wished to communicate his sentiments to hin), in order to 
 know if he were inclined to meet him halfway. That after com- 
 munications with Hertrand, a i)roper letter would be written, and 
 that woiild be the time to sign. He concluded by directing me 
 to get back the paper. 
 
 Went accordingly to Plantation House, and acquainted Sir 
 Hudson Lowe that I was directed to bring back the paper, which, 
 after some expression of surprise on the part of the governor, and 
 a hint that such a demand had been caused by shuffling or want 
 of sincerity on the part of Bonaparte, or bad advice from some 
 ■ )f his generals, he returned to me. He then asked my opinion 
 whether "Count Montholon imagined himself secure of remain- 
 ing in the island because he had signed the declaration'?" He 
 desired me to say, that applying to the British government, was 
 not asking permission for General Bonaparte to change his name, 
 but merely a demand whether they would recognize such a 
 change. Returned the paper to Napoleon, and explained the 
 governor's sentiments. He observed, that if Sir Hudson Lowe 
 irould make known to Bertrand, or even to me, that he autho- 
 rized the change of name, and would address him accordingly, he 
 (Napoleon) would write a letter, declaring that he would adopt 
 one of the names which had been proposed, which he would sign 
 and send to the governor. " Za mcta de' disynsti die Ito provato 
 qui,'''* said he, " has arisen from that title." I observed, that 
 many were surprised at his having retained the title after abdica- 
 * One half of the voxiilioiiH tluil 1 huvu cxpcrioijeod here."
 
 100 A VohK FIvOM 8T. HKI.KNA. 
 
 tioii. Ho ii'|tlifil, "I al'iliiatrtl tin- tlirniii' of* Fraiici', liiit i.ul 
 llu' titio of iinjH'ior. I ilo not call iii) self Napoleon, einj)er(»r of 
 Kraiiee, but tlu- Kin|>t'ror Napoleon. Sovereigns geiienillv re- 
 tain their titles. Thus Charles of S[)ain retains the tille of king 
 :ind niajestv. after having alulicated in favor of his son. If I were 
 in Kiigland. 1 would not eall myself emperor. But they want tc 
 make it appear thai the Freneh nation had not a right to make 
 mc its sovereign. If they had not a right to make me emperor, 
 they were equally incapable of making me general. A man, 
 when he is at the head of a few, during the disturl)ances of a 
 country, is called a chief tif rebels ; but when he succeeds, cllects 
 great actions, and exalts his country and himself, from bi-ing 
 styled chief of rebels, he is culled general, sovereign, &c. It is 
 only success which makes him such. Had he been unfortunate, 
 he would be still chief of rebels, and perhaps perish on a scan'old. 
 Your nation," continued he, "called Washington a leader of 
 rebels for a long time, and refused to acknowledge either him oi 
 the constitnti(jn of his country ; but his successes obliged them 
 to change, and acknowledge l)Oth. It is success which makes the 
 great man. It would appear truly ridiculous in me," added he, 
 " to call myself emjieror, situated as I am here, and would re- 
 mind one of those poor wretches in Bedlam, in London, who 
 fancy themselves kings amidst their chains and straw, were it not 
 that your ministers force me lo it." 
 
 He then spoke in terms of great praise of Counts Bertrand, 
 Montholon, Las Cases, and the rest of his suite, for the heroic 
 devotion which they had manifested, and the proofs of attachment 
 to his person which they had given, by remaining with him con- 
 trary to his desire. "They had," continued he, "an excellent 
 pretext to go, first, by refusing to sign Napoleon Bonaparte, and 
 next, because 1 ordered them not to sign. But, no : they would 
 have signed tiranno Bonaparte, (the tyrant Bonaparte,) or any 
 other opprobrious name, in order to remain with me in misery 
 here, rather than return to Europe, where they might live in 
 splendor. The nxjre your government tries to degrade me, so 
 much more respect will they pay to me. They pride themscivea
 
 1816 — OC3TOBER. 101 
 
 in paying me more respect now than when I was in the height of 
 my glory." 
 
 " Pare^^ said he, then, " che questo governatore e stato sempre 
 spione, (it seems that that governor has always been a spy.) He 
 is fit to be commissary of police in a small town." I asked him 
 which he thought had been the best minister of police, Savary or 
 Fouch6, adding, that both of them had a bad reputation in 
 England. "Savary," said he, "is not a bad man; on the con- 
 trary, Savary is a man of a good heart, and a brave soldier. 
 You have seen him weep. He loves me with the affection of a 
 son. The English, who have been in France, will soon undeceive 
 your nation. Fouche is a miscreant of all colors, a priest, a ter- 
 rorist, and one who took an active part in many bloody scenes in 
 the revolution. He is a man who can worm all your secrets out 
 of you with an air of calm and of unconcern. He is very rich," 
 added he, "but his riches were badly acquired. There was a tax 
 upon gambling houses in Paris, but, as it was an infamous way 
 of gaining money, I did not like to profit by it, and therefore 
 ordered, that the amount of the tax should be appropriated to an 
 hospital for the poor. It amounted to some millions, but Fouche, 
 who had the collecting of the impost, put many of them into his 
 own pockets, and it was impossible for me to discover the real 
 yearly sum total." 
 
 I observed to him, that it had excited considerable surprise, 
 that during the height of his glory, he had never given a dukedom 
 in France to any person, although he had created many dukes 
 and princes elsewhere. He replied, " because it would have pro- 
 duced great discontent amongst the people. If, for example, 1 
 had made one of my marshals Duke of Bourgogne, instead of 
 giving him a title derived from one of my victories, it would 
 have excited great alarm in Bourgogne, as they would have con- 
 ceived that some feodal rights and territory were attached to the 
 title, which the duke would claim ; and the nation hated the old 
 nobility so much, that the creation of any rank resembling them 
 would have given universal discontent, which I, powerful as I 
 was, dared not venture upon. I instituted the new nobility to 
 6craser the old, and to satisfy the people, as the greatest pa^t cf
 
 108 A VOK'K FKOM .<T. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 lh.»»' I riiHlrtl li;ul >^jiriinu froiu tlii'iiistlvrs, and v\vv\ piivalf 
 soldirr had u riglit t<> look ii|» to tlio title of duke. 1 hilieve 
 that I acted wrong in doing even this, as it l»-ssened that system 
 of etiualit) whieh pleased the people so nuuh ; Imt, if 1 h.-id ereat- 
 od dukes with a Freneh title, it W(»u]d have been considered as ii 
 revival of the old feodal privileges, with whieh the nation had 
 been cursed so long." 
 
 His gums were in nearly the same state as before; eomplaintd 
 of his general health, and added, that he felt convinced that he 
 could nut last long, under all the circumstanecs. I aavised, a.-^ 
 remedies, e.xereise and the diet 1 had formerly recommended. 
 He observed, that he had jiut in practice the diet and the oth«r 
 remedies, but as to taking exercise (which was the most essential) 
 the restrictions presented an insurmounlaMe obstacle. He asked 
 many anatomical questions, particularly about the heart, and ob- 
 served, Credo chc il nuu cuore non batte moi, non Vho centito inai 
 battersi* He then desired me to feel his heart. I tried for 
 some time, but could not feel any pulsation, which I attributed 
 to obesity. I had before observed, that the circulation in him 
 was very slow, rarely exceeding fifty-eight or sixty in a minute, 
 and most frequently fifty-four. 
 
 \Wi. — Captain Poinlkowski, Rousseau, Santini, and Archam- 
 baud, cadet, were the persons named hy Sir Hudson Lowe to be 
 removed from Longwood. Count Montholon desired me to in- 
 form the governor, that the emperor did not wish to separate the 
 brothers Archambaud, which moreover would totally disorganize 
 the carriage, and must consequently deprive the emperor of the 
 little means he had of taking exercise, as the governor was aware, 
 that in such a place as St. Helena, where the roads were so 
 dangerous, it was very necessary to have careful drivers. He 
 added, that if the choice were left to Napoleon, of those who 
 were to go, he would fix upon Rousseau, Santini, and Bernard, 
 "vho was a useless subject, and much given to intoxication, or 
 ^entilini, as he thought that it would be a great piece of cruelty 
 to separate two brothers. 
 
 Communicated this to Sir Hudson Lowe, who replied, that the 
 
 * '' I Ihink that my heart doen not beat ; I have never felt it po'iBate."
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 108 
 
 choice was not left to General Buiiaparte ; that the servants weie 
 to be taken tVoni Longwood, and not from Count Bertrand ; and 
 moreover, that the orders were to send away Frenchmen^ and not 
 natives of other cc untries. That Bernard was a Flainand, and 
 Gentilini an Italian, and, therefore did not come within the strict 
 application of his orders, and that if Santini had not refused to 
 sign the paper, he would not have accepted of him as one, as he 
 was a Corsican, and not a Frenchman. He had no objection, 
 however, that all the Frenchmen in General Bonaparte's service 
 should draw lots. These circumstances he desired I might im- 
 press upon General Bonaparte's mind. He added, that, as the 
 choice was left to him, by his instructions, he would give written 
 directions to Captain P(jppleton to send away Piontkowski, and 
 both of the Archambauds, if Rousseau remained, or one of them, 
 if Rousseau were to go. He then directed me to ask if he were 
 to expect any further communication respecting the change of 
 name, as the vessel containing his dispatches on the subject 
 would sail for England in the evening.* 
 
 On my return to Longwood, communicated this to Napoleon ; 
 who replied, " Has the governor it in his power to authorize the 
 change ? in the note he sent, the contrary appears." I answered, 
 that I knew nothing more than what I had already communicated. 
 "Then," said he. "before any further steps are taken, let him 
 reply positively whether he is authorized or not, Si o no,^'' (yes 
 or no.) Informed him of his excellency's opinion and decision rela- 
 tive to the domestics who were to leave St. Helena. " Santini 
 not a Frenchman?" said he, "Doctor, you cannot be imbecile 
 enough not to see that this is a pretext to convey an insult to 
 me. All Corsicans are Frenchmen. By taking away my drivers, 
 he wants to prevent me from taking a little carriage-exercise." 
 
 * The only reply which His Majesty's ministers condescended to make to thii 
 proposp,] was contained in a scurrilous article in the Quarterly Review, No. XXXII, 
 which Sir Hudson Lowe took care should be sent to Longwood as soon as a copy 
 had reached the island. I think that I am justified in attributing the articles 
 alluded to, to some ministerial person, as the transaction was known only to of- 
 'Icers in their employment, and to the establishment at Longwood, and it ia 
 evident that the persons composing the latter, could not have been the authoni 
 jf it.
 
 104 A VOICK FHOM ST. HKI.ENA. 
 
 I9th. — Piontkowski, Santini, Koussoiiii, mid Archatnbaud the 
 younger, sent by ordor of Sir Hudson Lowe to town in ordor to 
 embark. Santini had a pension of fifty pounds, Archani])aud and 
 Rousseau twenty livi' each, annually, settled upon theni ; Piont- 
 kowski had also a pension and a letter of recoriiinendation. On 
 embarkation, their persons and baggage were searched by Captain 
 Maunsell, and the provost Serjeant. They sailed in the evening 
 for the Cape. Piontkowski was stripped to the skin by Captain 
 Maunsell. 
 
 Communicated to Sir Hudson Lowe, Napoleon's last expres- 
 sions concerning the change of name, who replied, " I believe 
 that it is in my power to approve of it." I then recommended 
 him to see Count Bert rand upon the subject, and his excellency 
 proceeded to Hut's Gate accordingly. 
 
 '20/A. — Count and Countess Bertrand and family moved from 
 Hut's Gate to Long wood. 
 
 21s/. — Dined at Plantation House in company with the Rus- 
 sian and Austrian Commissioners, the botanist, and Captain Gor. 
 They generally expressed great dissatisfaction at not having yet 
 seen Napoleon. Count Balniaine in particular observed that 
 they (the commissioners) appeared to be objects of suspicion ; 
 that had he been aware of the manner in which they would have 
 been treated, he would not have come out. That the emperor 
 Alexander had great interest in preventing the escape of Napo- 
 leon, but that he wished him to be well treated, and with that 
 respect due to him ; for which reason he (Count Balmaine) had 
 only asked to see him as a private person, and not officially as 
 commissioner. That they should be objects of ridicule in Europe, 
 as soon as it was known they had been so many months in St. 
 Helena without ever once seeing the individual, to ascertain 
 whose presence was the sole object of their mission. That the 
 governor always replied to their questions that Bonaparte had 
 refused to receive any person whatsoever. The botanist held 
 language of a similar tendency, and remarked, that Longwood 
 was " fe dernier sejour du monde,^^* and in his opinion tb« worst 
 part of the island. 
 
 • " The worst abode in the world."
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 106 
 
 22nd. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me, and observed that the 
 commissioners seemed to have paid me much attention; that he 
 should think nothing of their speaking, as long as they had done 
 to me, to any other person, but that it had an appearance as if 
 they wished something to be conveyed to General Bonaparte, 
 and advised me to be very cautious in my conversation with 
 them. He also informed me that Count Bertrand had confirmed 
 to him every communication that I had made relative to the 
 change of name. 
 
 2Srd. — Napoleon indisposed : one of his cheeks considerably 
 tumefied. Recommended fomentation and steaming the part 
 aftected, which he put in practice. Recommended also ohe ex- 
 traction of a carious tooth, and renewed the advice I had given 
 on many previous occasions, particularly relative to exercise, as 
 soon as the reduction of the swelling permitted it; also a con- 
 tinuance of diet, chiefly vegetable, with fruits. 
 
 " There is either a furious wind," replied he, " with fog, which 
 gives me a swelled face when I go out, or when that is wanting, 
 there is a sun which scorches my brains (c' e un sole che mi bru- 
 cia il cervello) for want of shade. They continue me purposely 
 in the worst part of the island. When I was at the Briars, I 
 had at least the advantage of a shady walk and a mild climate ; 
 mais ici on arrivera au biit qu'' on se propose plus vite,''^ (I shall 
 sooner arrive at the end they propose), continued he. " Have 
 you seen lo sbirro Siciliano V I replied that Sir Hudson Lowe 
 had informed me that he had written to England an account of 
 his proposal to assume an incognito name. " Non dice altro che 
 buffie,''^ (he speaks nothing but lies), said Napoleon. "It is his 
 system. Lying," added he, " is not a national vice of the Eng- 
 lish, but this * * * * has all the vices of the little petty states 
 of Italy." 
 
 Desired me to endeavor to get him tm fauieuil de malade (an 
 easy chair), which I communicated to the governor, who returned 
 for answer that he would order one to be made, as no such arti- 
 cle was to be found upon the island. 
 
 26^A. — Napoleon out in the carriage for the first time for a 
 considerable period. Observed to me afterwards that he had
 
 106 A VOU'K FROM SI'. IIKLKNA. 
 
 followiil my prosoription. Ilis face rniu-li l)ottor. The dtnUa 
 sapieutia vf tlio ujii'ir jaw nv»t»' Idosi- and carious. Asked if 
 lluTO was jiiiy nows ? I rt>j>lii«l that wo wiTf in daily oxpecta- 
 lion vf hoaring the result of Lord Exniduth's expedition, and 
 asked his opinion relative to the prohahiiity of suceess. He 
 replied that he thought it would suceeed, espeeially if the fleet 
 look and destroyed as many of their vessels as they could, then 
 anchored opposite the town, and did not allow a single ship or 
 vessel, not even a fisliing-lioat, to enter or go out. "Continue 
 that for a short time," added he, " and the dey will sul)mit, or 
 else the canaille will revolt and murder him, and afterwards 
 agree to any terms you like. But no treaty will be kept by 
 \hem. It is a disgrace to the powers of Eurc^pe to allow so 
 many nests of robbers to exist. Even the Neapolitans could 
 put a stop to it, instead of allowing themselves to be robbed. 
 Tliey have upwards of fifty thousand seamen in the kingdom of 
 Naples and Sicily, and with their navy, they might easily pre- 
 vent a single Barbary ship from stirring out." I observed that 
 the Neapolitans were so great cowards at sea, that the Algerines 
 had the utmost contempt for them. "They are cowards by land 
 as well as by sea," replied the emperor, "but that might be 
 remedied by proper officers and discipline. At Amiens, I pro- 
 posed to your government to unite with me, either to entirely 
 destroy those nests of pirates, or at least to destroy their ships, 
 fortresses, and make them cultivate their country, and aliandon 
 piracy. But your ministers would not consent to it, owing to a 
 mean jealo\isy of the Americans, with whom the barbarians were 
 at war. I wanted to annihilate them, though it did not concern 
 ine much, as they generally respected my flag, and carried on a 
 large trade with Marseilles." I asked him if he thought it would 
 be advisable for Lord Exmouth to disembark his marines and 
 seamen, and attack the town of Algiers. " Oh que yio?j," (O no,) 
 replied he, "if he has l)Ut a small force, he will get half his men 
 killed by the caiiat/lie (mob) in the hr)uses and l>atleries; and it 
 is not worth sending a large one, unless you are determined to 
 destroy their power altogether." 
 
 After this, the conversation turned upon the national debt and
 
 1816— OCTOBER. l07 
 
 the great weight of taxes in England. Napoleon professed him- 
 self doubtful that the English could now continue to manufacture 
 goods so as to be able to sell them at the same price as those 
 made in France, in consequence of the actual necessaries of life 
 being so much dearer in England than in France. He professed 
 his disbelief that the nation could support the immen^e weight 
 of taxes, the dearness of provisions, and the extravagance of a 
 bad administration. "When I was in France,"' continued he, 
 "with four times the extent of territory, and four times the 
 population, I never could have raised one half of your taxes. 
 How the English popolazzo bear it, I cannot conceive. The 
 French would not have suffered one-fourth of them. Notwith- 
 standing your great successes," continued he, " which are indeed 
 almost incredible, and to which accident, and perhaps destiny, 
 have much contributed, I do not think that you are yet out of 
 the scrape : though you have the world at command, I do not 
 believe that you will ever be able to get over your debt. Your 
 great connmerce has kept you up ; but that will fail, when you 
 will no longer be able to undersell the manufacturers of other 
 nations, who are rapidly improving. A few years will tell if I 
 am right. The worst thing England has ever done," ccjntinued 
 he, " was that of endeavoring to make herself a great military 
 nation. In attempting that, England must always be the sla'^i 
 of Russia, Austria, or Prussia, or at least subserviei>t to somj 
 of them ; because you have not a population sufficiently m;- 
 merous to combat on the continent with France, or with any of 
 the powers I have named, and must consequently hire men from 
 some of them.; whereas, at sea, you are so superior ; your sailors 
 are so much better, that you can always command the others 
 with safety to yourselves and with little comparative expense 
 Your soldiers have not the requisite qualities for a military na 
 tion. They are not equal in address, activity, or intelligence to 
 the French. When they get from under the fear of the lash, 
 they obey nobody. In a retreat they cannot be managed ; and 
 if they meet with wine, they are so many devils, [(anti diavoli) 
 and adieu to subordination. I saw the retreat of Moore, and J 
 never witnessed anything like it. It was impossible to collect 3j
 
 108 A VOICE KKOM ST. HELENA, 
 
 to make them do anything. Noarlv all wi-ie drunk. Your uffi. 
 oei> depend uptm interest or money for promotion. Your soldiora 
 are brave, nobody ean deny it ; but it was bad policy to encou- 
 rage the military mania, instead of sticking to your marine, which 
 is the real force of your country, and one which, while you pre- 
 serve it, will always render you powerful. In order to have 
 good soldiers, a nation must always be at wary 
 
 " If you had lost the battle of Waterloo," continued he, " wha* 
 a state would England have been in ! The flower of your youth 
 would have been destroyed ; for not a man, not even Lord Wel- 
 lington, would have escaped." I observed here that Lord Wel- 
 lington had determined never to leave the field alive. Napoleon 
 replied, "he could not retreat. He would have been destroyed 
 with his army, if, instead of the Prussians, Grouchy had come 
 up." I asked him if he had not believed for some time that the 
 Prussians who had shown themselves, were a part of Grouchy's 
 corps. He replied, "certainly; and I can now scarcely compre- 
 hend why it was a Prussian division and not that of Grouchy." 
 I then took the liberty of asking whether, if neither Grouchy nor 
 the Prussians had arrived, it would not have been a drawn battle. 
 Napoleon answered, " the English army would have been de- 
 stroyed. They were defeated at midday. But accident, or more 
 likely destiny, decided that Lord Wellington should gain it. I 
 could sc rcely believe that he would have given me battle; be- 
 cause if he had retreated to Antwerp, as he ought to have done, 
 1 must have been overwhelmed by the armies of three or four 
 Hundred thousand men that were coming against me. By giving 
 me battle, there was a chance for me. It was the greatest folly 
 lO disunite the English and Prussian armies. They ought to 
 have been united ; and I cannot conceive the reason of theii 
 separation. It was folly in Wellington to give me battle in a 
 place, where, if defeated, all must have been lost, for he could 
 not retreat. There was a wood in his rear, and but one road to 
 gain it. He would have been destroyed. Moreover, he allowed 
 himself to be surprised by me. This was a great fault. He 
 ought to have been encamped from the beginning of June, as he 
 must have known that I intended to attack him. He might have
 
 1816— OCTOBER. 109 
 
 lost everything. But he has been fortunate: his destiny has 
 prevailed ; and everything he did will meet with applause. My 
 intentions were to attack and to destroy the English army. This 
 I knew would produce an immediate change of ministry. The 
 indignation against them for having caused the loss of forty 
 thousand of the flower of the English army, would have excited 
 such a popular commotion, that they would have been turned 
 out. The people would have said. What is it to us who is on the 
 throne of France, Louis or Napoleon ; are we to sacrifice ail our 
 blood in endeavors to place on the throne a detested family? 
 No, we have suffered enough. It is no affair of ours, — let them 
 settle it amongst themselves. They would have made peace. 
 The Saxons, Bavarians, Belgians, Wirtemburghers, would have 
 joined me. The coalition was nothing, without England. The 
 Russians would have made peace, and I should have been quietly 
 seated on the throne. Peace would have been permanent, as 
 what could France do after the treaty of Paris ? What was to 
 be feared from her V 
 
 " These," continued he, " were my reasons for attacking the 
 English. I had beaten the Prussians. Before twelve o'clock, I 
 had succeeded. Every thing was mine, I may say, but accident 
 and destiny decided it otherwise. The English fought most 
 bravely doubtless, nobody can deny it. But they must have 
 been destroyed." 
 
 " Pitt and his politics," continued he, " nearly ruined England 
 by keeping up a continual war with France." I remarked, that 
 it was asserted by many able politicians in England, that if we 
 had not carried on that war we should have been ruined, and 
 ultimately have become a province of France. " It is not true," 
 said Napoleon. " England being at war with France, gave the 
 latter a pretence and an opportunity of extending her conquests 
 to the length she did under me, until I became emperor of nearly 
 all the world, which could not have happened, if there had been 
 no war." The conversation then turned upon the occupation of 
 Malta. " Two days," said he, " before Lord Whitworth left 
 Paris, an offer was made to the minister and to others about mo 
 of thirty millions of francs, and to acknowledge me as king of
 
 110 A VOICK FI{()M ST HKI.KNA. 
 
 FruiK'o, prcvuK'il I woiiUl yivi" _\ on up Malta." — NnptiK'nii atldcil, 
 howi'ViT, tliat tho war wmiM liavf Inukcii out, had Malta Immii 
 out of thi> question. Soriu' coiivt'isalion tlifii took place rolativti 
 to English soainiMi. Najioleon ohserved that the English scaiuon 
 wtTf as iniu'h superior to the French, as the latter were to the 
 Spaniards. I ventured to say that I thought the French would 
 never make good seanien, on account of their volatility of temper 
 and impatience. TIjat especially they woidd never submit without 
 complaining, to hli>ckade ports for years together, sullering from 
 the combined effects of bad weather, and of privation of every kind, 
 as we had done at Toulon. " I do not agree with you there, Sigiior 
 dottore,''' (Doctor,) said he, "but I do not think that they will 
 ever make as good seamen as yours. The sea is yours — your 
 seamen are as much superior to ours as the Dutch were once to 
 yours. I think, however, that the Americans are better seamen 
 than yours, l)ecause they are less numerous." I observed, that 
 the Americans had a considerable number of English seamen in 
 their service, who passed for Americans, which was remarkable, 
 as independent of other circumstances, the American discipline 
 on board of men-of-war was much more severe than ours. And, 
 that if the Americans had a large navy, they would find it im- 
 possible to have so many able seamen in each ship as they had 
 at present. When I observed, that the American discipline was 
 more severe than ours, he smiled and said, " sarebhe difficile n 
 credere.'''' (1 can scarcely believe it.) 
 
 Five, P. M. — Napolen sent for me. Found him sitting in a 
 chair opposite to the fire. He had gone out to walk, and was 
 seized w ith rigors, headache, severe cough. Examined his tonsils, 
 which were swelled. Cheek inflamed. Had severest rigors while 
 I was present, "t/e tremble,^'' said he to Count T.,as Cases, who 
 was present, '■'• comme si feusse peury (1 tremble, as if 1 were 
 afraid.) Pulse much quickened. Recommended warm fomenta 
 tions to his cheek, a liniment to his throat, warm diluents, a gar- 
 garism, pediluvium, and total abstinence; all of which he ap- 
 proved of except the liniment. Tic asked a great many questions 
 about fever. 
 
 Saw hira again at nine in bed. lie had strictly complied with
 
 1816 — OCTOBER. 1 1 1 
 
 my directions ; I was desirous that he should take a diaphoretic, 
 but he preferred trusting to his warm diluents. He imputed his 
 complaint to the ventaccio* eternally blowing over the bleak and 
 exposed site of Longwood. " I ought," said he, " to be at the 
 Briars, or at the other side of the island, instead of being on this 
 horrid spot. While I was there last year at this season, I was 
 very well." He asked what I thought was the easiest mode of 
 dying, and observed that death by cold was the easiest of all 
 others, because " s^ muore dormiendo^''' (one dies sleeping.) 
 
 Sent a letter to Sir Hudson Lowe, acquainting him with Na- 
 poleon's illness. 
 
 21th. — A free perspiration took place in the night, and Na- 
 poleon was considerably better. Recommended a continuance 
 of the means he had adopted, and not to expose himself to the 
 wind. He made nearly the same observations relative to the 
 exposed and unhealthy situation of Longwood, as he had done 
 yesterday, adding, that it was so bleak a spot that scarcely any 
 vegetable would grow upon it. 
 
 Had some conversation with him relative to the Empress 
 Josephine, of whom he spoke in terms the most affectionate. 
 His first acquaintance with that amiable being commenced after 
 the disarming of the sections in Paris, subsequently to the 13th 
 of Vendemiaire, 1795. " A boy of twelve or thirteen years old 
 presented himself to me," continued he, " and entreated that his 
 father's sword, (who had been a general of the republic,) should 
 be returned. I was so touched by this affectionate request, that 
 i ordered it to be given to him. This boy was Eugene Beau- 
 fiarnois. On seeing the sword, he burst into tears. I felt so 
 much affected by his conduct, that I noticed and praised him 
 much. A few days afterwards, his mother came to return me a 
 visit of thanks. I was much struck with her appearance, and 
 still more with her esjyrif. This first impression was daily 
 strengthened, and marriage was not long in following." 
 
 Saw Sir Hudson Lowe. Informed him of Napoleon's state of 
 health, and that he had attributed his complaints to the violence 
 of the wind, and the bleak and exposed situation of Longwood; 
 
 * Vtntaccio is a provincial word, wliich inciins a nasty or acrid wiud.
 
 11*2 A VOICK FROM SI'. IlKLENA. 
 
 »1m» ihjit lu' liHii I'Xj'ii'ssi'il a liosiro to 1k' ii'inovftl t-illu'r to the 
 Briars, or to tlu* olhor side of tlie island. His excelK'Ucy re- 
 plied, "Tlu" fai't is, that Gonoral Hoiiaparto want.s to get Piaiita- 
 ti«>n IIoiiso; luit thf East India C'omjtany will not consent to 
 have so fine a plantation given to a set of Fn-nclinien, to destroy 
 the trees and rnin the gardens." 
 
 Etqht, P. M. — Napoleon not so well ; rii^ht jaw niiicli tinnefied, 
 with diflionlty of swallowing, cau.-;ed by the inllaniinalion of the 
 tonsils, «^o. He would not consent to use any thing except 
 diluents and fomentations; recommended a purgative to be taken 
 in the morning, and also some other active remedies, which he 
 declined doing, observing that he had never taken any medicine 
 since his childhood ; that he knew his own constitution, and was 
 convinced that even a very small dose would produce violent 
 effects ; that, moreover, perhaps its effects would be contrary to 
 the efforts of nature. That he would trust to diet, diluents, &c. 
 
 29M. — Napoleon rather better. Told him that if he were 
 attacked by any of the diseases of the climate, he would, in all 
 probability, be a dead man in a few days, as the means which he 
 was willing to put in execution, were totally inadequate to sub- 
 due a formidable complaint, though they might be sufficient to 
 relieve the trifling one under which he had labored. Notwith- 
 standing all the reasoning and the representations which I made 
 to him, he appeared to think that it was better to do nothing 
 than to take medicines, which he was of opinion were dangerous, 
 or at least doubtful, as they might disturb the operations of 
 nature. 
 
 'iOth. — Napoleon consented to make use of a gargle of infusion 
 of roses and sul{)huric acid. There were many vesicles on the 
 inside of his cheek and gums. He inveighed against the clima 
 barbara (the barbarous climate) of Longwood, and again men- 
 tioned the Briars.* 
 
 Infoimed Sir Hudson Lowe of the state of his hcaltii, and of 
 his des-re to be removed to the Briars. His excellency replied, 
 that if General Bonaparte wanted to make himself comfortable, 
 and to get reconciled to the island, he ought to draw for some of 
 
 * The Briars ib near two miles distant from the sea-shorr.
 
 181« — NOVEMBER, 113 
 
 those largo sums of money which he possessed, and lay it out in 
 purchasing a house and grounds. I said that Napoleon had told 
 me he did not know where his money was placed. Sir Hudson 
 replied, " I suppose he told you that, in order that you might 
 repeat it to me." 
 
 November \st. — Napoleon better. Some tumefaction of the 
 legs, and enlargement of the glands of the thigh. Recommended 
 him to take some sulphate of magnesia, or Glauber's salts. 
 Another portion of plate broken up, in order to be sent to town 
 for sale, 
 
 '2,nd. — Nearly the same. Recommended him, in the strongest 
 terms, to take exercise as soon as the state of his cheeks, and of 
 the weather, would admit of its being put in practice ; and gave 
 it as my firm and decided opinion, that unless he put this advice 
 in practice, he would be infallibly attacked by some very serious 
 complaint. 
 
 During the conversation, 1 took the liberty of asking the em- 
 peror his reasons for having encouraged the Jews so much. He 
 replied : " I wanted to make them leave off usury, and become 
 like other men. There were a great many Jews in the countries 
 I reigned over : by removing their disabilities, and by putting 
 them upon an equality with Catholics, Protestants, and others, I 
 hoped to make them become good citizens, and conduct them 
 selves like others of the community. I believe that I should 
 have succeeded in the end. My reasoning with them was, that 
 as their rabbins explained to them, that they ought not to practice 
 usury to their own tribes, but were allowed to do so with Chris- 
 tians and others, that, therefore, as I had restored them to all 
 their privileges, and made them equal to my other subjects, they 
 must consider me to be the head of their nation, like Solomon 
 or Herod, and my subjects as brethren of a tribe similar to theirs. 
 That, consequently, they were not permitted to practice usury 
 with me or them, but to treat us as if we were of the tribes of 
 Judah. That, having similar privileges to my other subjects, 
 they were, in like manner to pay taxes, and submit to the laws 
 of conscription and others. By this I gained many soldiers. 
 Besides, I should have drawn great wealth to ^Frauoe, as the
 
 IM A VOk'K KKt'M SI. IIKI-KNA. 
 
 .1«>\vs are v»>ry minuMotis, aiiil wcmiM lia\c ll-.iKcil id h loiinlrv 
 whtTf thov I'lijovrd siioli sii|)ii iitr privilcgivs. M^ut'over, I waiiU-d 
 lo •'staUlisli an iiiiiviT>al lilnrtv of ooiisi-ii'iicc. My s^stiiii was 
 to nave no |»rtHK>ininant ivligiou, but ti» allt»\v pi-rfoct liln-rty of 
 iHtnsoii'Hoo and t)f thunghl, to niaki' all nu-n equal, wliftluT Pio- 
 iostnnts, (^itholics, MalK>nM'laMs, Deists, or others; so llial thcii 
 'oligion shouKl have no influenee in getting them ern|i|oynients 
 under governinoiit. in I'aet, that it should neither lie the means 
 of serving, or of injuring them ; and that nu ohjeetion should he 
 made to a man's getting a situation on the score of religion, 
 provided he were lit for it in other respects. I made everything 
 independent of religion. All the trihunals were so. Marriages 
 were independent of the priests; even the burying grounds were 
 not left at their dis{)osai, as they could not refuse interment to 
 the body of any person, of whatsoever religion. My intenti(jn 
 was to render everything belonging to the state and the consti- 
 tution, purely civil and independent of any religion. I wished 
 to deprive the priests of all influence and power in civil allairs; 
 and to ol)lige them to confine themselves to their own spiritual 
 matters, and meddle with nothing else." I asked if uncles and 
 nieces had not a right to marry in France. He replied, "Yes; 
 but they must obtain a special permission." I asked if the per- 
 mission were to be granted by the pope. " By the pope?'' said 
 he. " No ;" catching me by the ear, and smiling, "I tell you 
 that neither the pope, nor any of the priests, had power to grant 
 anything. — By the sovereign." 
 
 I asked some questions relative to the free-masons, and his 
 opinions concerning them. " A set of imbeciles who meet, a 
 f'lire bonne chhre (to make good cheer), and perform some ridi- 
 culous fooleries. However," said he, " they do some good 
 actions. They assisted in the revolution, and latterly, lo dimin- 
 ish the power of the pope and the influence of the clergy, Wher. 
 the sentiments of a people are against the government, every 
 society has a tendency to do mischief to it." I then asked if the 
 free-masons on the continent had any connection with the illu 
 minati. He replied, " No ; that is a society altogether different, 
 and in Germany is of a very dangerous nature." I asked if he
 
 1816 — NOVEMBEK. 115 
 
 had not eiicuuragod the free-masons 1 He said, " Rather so, as 
 they fought agahist the pope." I then asked if he ever would 
 have permitted the re-establishiuent of the Jesuits in France ? 
 "Never," said he; ' it is the most dangerous of societies, and has 
 done more mischief than all the others. Their doctrine is, that 
 their general is the sovereign of sovereigns, and master of tlie 
 world ; that all orders from him, however contrary to the laws, 
 or however wicked, must be obeyed. Every act, however atro- 
 cious, committed by them pursuant to orders from their general 
 at Rome, becomes in their eyes meritorious. No, no, I would 
 never have allowed a society to exist in my dominions, under 
 the orders of a foreign general at Rome. In foct, I would not 
 allow any frati* There were enough of priests for those who 
 wanted them, without having monasteries filled with canaglie, who 
 did nothing but gormandize, pray, and commit crimes." I ob- 
 served, that it was to be feared the priests and the Jesuits would 
 soon have great influence in France. Napoleon replied, " very 
 likely. The Bourbons are fanatics, and would willingly bring 
 back both the Jesuits and the inquisition. In reigns before mine, 
 the Protestants were as badly treated as the Jews ; they could 
 not purchase land — I put them upon a level with the Catholics. 
 They will now be trampled upon by the Bourbons, to whom 
 they and everything else liberal will always be objects of sus- 
 picion. The Emperor' Alexander may allow them to enter his 
 empire, because it is his policy to draw into his barbarous country 
 men of information, whatsoever their sect may be, and m»re 
 over, they are not to be much feared in Russia, because the reli 
 gion is different." 
 
 The following is his description of Carnot. A man laborious 
 and sincere, but liable to the influence of intrigues, and easily 
 deceived. He had directed the operations of war, without hav 
 ing merited the eulogiums which were pronounced upon him. 
 as he had neither the experience, nor the habitude of war. Wh^sa 
 minister of war, he showed but little talent, and had many qu r 
 rels with the minister of finance and the treasury ; in all of whicc 
 he was wrong. He left the ministry, convinced that he couF 
 
 * Friars,
 
 Hi A VOICK FltOM ST. nKl.ENA. 
 
 not fulfil liis station for wiiut of nioiu'v. lie uflorwuids voted 
 Hijainst tlu- estfll>lisliiiu'nt of tho tMiipirr, Imt as his conduct was 
 alwavs upright, lie never jjave any uniliragc to the government 
 During the prosperity of the empire, he never asked for any- 
 thing ; but after the misfortunes of Russia, he demanded em- 
 ployment, and got the command of Antwerp, where he acquitted 
 himself very well. After Nap«)leon's return from Elba, ho was 
 minister of the interior; and the emperor had every reason to 
 be satisfied with his conduct. lie was faithful, a man of truth 
 and probity, and laborious in his exertions. After the abdica- 
 tion, he was named one of the })rovisional government, but he 
 was joue by the intriguers by whom he was surrounded. lie 
 had passed for an original amongst his companions when he was 
 young. He hated the nobles, and on that account had several 
 quarrels with Robespierre, who lately protected many of them. 
 lie was a member of the committee of public safety along with 
 Robespierre, Couthon, St. Just, and the other butchers, and was 
 the only one who was not denounced. He afterwards demanded 
 to be included in the denunciation, and to be tried for his con- 
 duct, as well as the others, which was refused ; but his having 
 made the demand to share the fate of the rest, gained him great 
 credit. 
 
 " Barras," he said, " was a violent man, and possessed of little 
 knowledge or resolution ; fickle, and far "from meriting the repu- 
 tation which he enjoyed, though from the violence of his manner 
 and loudness of tone in the beginning of his speeches, one would 
 have thought otherwise." 
 
 bth. — Sir Hudson Lowe at Longwood. Informed him that, 
 though Napoleon was much better, it was my opinion, that if he 
 persisted in the system of confining himself to his room, and in 
 not taking exercise, he would soon be attacked by some serious 
 complaint, and that in all probability his existence in St. Helena 
 would not be protracted for more than a year or two. Sir Hud- 
 son asked with some degree of asperity, " Why did he not take 
 exercise?" 1 briefly recapitulated to him some of his own 
 i2s',rictions; amongst others, that of placing sentinels at the 
 gates of the garden in which he had formerly walked at six
 
 1816— NOVEMBER. 117 
 
 o'clock in the afternoon, with orders to let nobody out; which 
 being the cool of the evening, was the most desirable time to 
 walk. Sir Hudson said they were not placed at six o'clock, but 
 only at sunset. I observed to his excellency that the sun set 
 immediately after six, and that in the tropics the twilight was of 
 very short duration. The governor then sent for Captain Pop- 
 pleton, and mads some inquiries concerning the posting of the 
 sentinels and their orders. Captain Poppleton informed him, 
 that the orders which were issued to the sentinels being verbal, 
 were continually liable to be misunderstood. After some con- 
 versation with Cap:ain P., Sir Hudson Lowe observed, he thought 
 it very extraordinary that General Bonaparte would not ride out 
 with a British officer. I remarked, that he would in all proba- 
 bility, if matters were well managed. For example, if when he 
 mounted his horse, an officer was sent after him at a short dis- 
 tance to watch his motions, I could answer to his excellency that 
 Napoleon, though he would well know what the officer's business 
 was, would never appear to be aware of it, and that he would be 
 just as secure as if an officer rode by his side. I went so far as 
 to say, that Napoleon had himself intimated to me that he would 
 not see any person following him, provided it were not officially 
 made known that he was a guard over him. Sir Hudson replied, 
 that he would consider of it, and desired me to write him a state- 
 ment of my opinion of the health of General Bonaparte ; cau- 
 tioning me, that in writing it, 1 must bear in mind that the life 
 of one man was not to be put in competition with the mischief 
 which he might cause, were he to get loose ; and that I must 
 recollect, that Genei'al Bonaparte had already been a curse to 
 the world, and had caused the loss of many thousands of lives. 
 That my situation was very peculiar, and one of great political 
 importance. 
 
 A quantity of plate which had been been broken up, taken to 
 town by Cipriani, and deposited with Balcombe, Cole and Co. 
 in the presence of Sir Thomas Reade, to whom the key of the 
 chest containing it was delivered. 
 
 7th. — Napoleon nmch better, and nearly free from complaint. 
 
 Sth. — Napoleon asked me many anatomical and physiological
 
 118 A VOICK FROM ST. HKLKNA. 
 
 questions, and observod, that In- had studiocl anatoniy liiiiiivll 
 for a few days, Imt Imd boon sickrncd Ity the sight of some 
 bi>dios that wore opened, and al)andoned an) further progress in 
 that seieiiee. After some deveh>pn»ent of his ideas toucning the 
 siiul, 1 made a few remarks upon the Poles who had served in 
 his army, who 1 observed were greatly attached to his person. 
 "Ah!" replied the emperor, "they uure much attached t(j me. 
 The present viceroy of Poland was with me in my campaigns in 
 Egypt. I made him a general. Most of my old Polish guard 
 are now employed through policy by Alexander. They are a 
 brave nation, and make good soldiers. In the cold, which pre- 
 vails in the northern countries, the Pole is better than the 
 Frenchman." 1 asked him, if in less rigorous climates the 
 Poles were as good soldiers as the French. " Oh, no, no. In 
 other places the Frenchman is much superior. Thecommandan 
 of Dantzic informed me, that during the severity of the wintei 
 when the thermometer sunk eighteen degrees, it was impossiblt 
 to make the French soldiers keep their posts as sentinels, while 
 the Poles suffered nothing. Poniatowsky," continued he, " was 
 a noble character, full of honor and bravery. It was my iuten 
 tion to have made him king of Poland, had I succeeded in 
 Russia." I asked to what he principally attributed his failure 
 of that expedition. "To the cold, the premature cold, and the 
 burning of Moscow," replied Napoleon. " I was a few days too 
 late — 1 had made a calculation of the weather for fifty years 
 before, and the extreme cold had never commenced until about 
 the 20th of December, twenty days later than it began this time. 
 While 1 was at Moscow, the cold was at three of the thermometer 
 and was such as the French could with pleasure bear ; but on 
 the march, the thermometer sunk eighteen degrees, and conse- 
 quently nearly all the horses perished. In one night 1 lost 
 thirty thousand. The artillery, of which 1 had five hundred 
 pieces, was in a great measure obliged to be abandoned ; neither 
 amrimniti<jn nor provisions could be carried. We could not 
 make a reconnaisaunce, or send out an advance of men on horse- 
 back to discover the way, through the want of horses. The sol- 
 diers lost their spirits, fell into confusion, and lost their senses.
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 119 
 
 The most trifling thing alarmed them. Four or five men were 
 sufficient to frighten a whole battalion. Instead of keeping 
 together, they wandered about in search of fire. Parties, when 
 sent out on duty in advance, abandoned their posts, and went tc 
 seek the means of warming themselves in the houses. They 
 separated in all directions, became helpless, and fell an easy 
 prey to the enemy. Others lay down, fell asleep, a little blood 
 came from their nostrils, and, sleeping, they died. In this 
 manner thousands perished. The Poles saved some of their 
 horses and artillery, but the French, and the soldiers of other 
 nations I had with me, were no longer the same men. In parti- 
 cular, the cavalry suffered. Out of forty thousand, I do not 
 think that three thousand were saved. Had it not been for that 
 fire at Moscow, I should have succeeded. I would have win- 
 tered there. There were in that city about forty thousand 
 citizens who were in a manner slaves. For you must know that 
 the Russian nobility keep their vassals in a sort of slavery. I 
 would have proclaimed liberty to all the slaves in Russia, and 
 abolished vassalage and nobility. This would have procured 
 me the union of an immense and a powerful party. I would 
 either have made a peace at Moscow, or else I would have 
 marched the next year to Petersburgh. Alexander was assured 
 of it, and sent his diamonds, valuables, and ships to England. 
 Had it not been for that fire, I should have succeeded in every 
 thing. I beat them two days before, in a great action at Moskwa ; 
 I attacked the Russian army of two hundred and fifty thousand 
 strong, entrenched up to their necks, with ninety thousand, and 
 totally defeated them. Seventy thousand Russians lay upon thr 
 field. They had the impudence to say that they had gained the 
 battle, though two days after I marched into Moscow. I was in 
 the midst of a fine city, provisioned for a year, for in Russia 
 they always lay in provisions for several months before the frost 
 sets in. Stores of all kinds were in plenty. The houses of the 
 inhabitants were well provided, and many had even left their 
 servants to attend upon us. In most of them there was a note 
 left by the proprietor, begging the French officers who took pos- 
 session to take care of their furniture and other things ; that they
 
 rJO A VOICK KKOM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 tiHil loft overy iirtirK' in'oossaiy for our wants, and ho|ir(i to '• 
 turn in a tow tlays, whon tlio ICnipoior Aloxar.dor had iicoom 
 niodatod inattors, at wliioli time ihoy woidd l>o lia|)|>y to seo us 
 M:uiy Indies roniainod hohind. Tlioy knew that I had lioen ii; 
 Horlin and Vionna with my arniios, and that no injury liad lie«'r 
 dono t(^ tho inhabitants; and inoroovor, thoy oxpoolod a speed \ 
 juaof. Wo were in hopes of enjoying ourselves in winter quar 
 tors, with every j)rospect of success in the spring. Two days 
 •iflcr our arrival, a fire was discovered, which at first was not 
 supposed to he alarming, l>ut to have been ciiuscd by the soldiers 
 kindling their fires too near the houses, which were chiefly of 
 wood. 1 was angry at this, and issued very strict orders on the 
 subject to the commandants of regiments and others. The next 
 day it had advanced, but still not so as to give serious alarm. 
 However, afraid that it might gain upon us, I went out on horse- 
 back, and gave every direction to extinguish it. The next morn- 
 ing a violent wind arose, and the fire spread with the greatest 
 rapidity. Some hundred miscreants, hired for that purpose, dis- 
 persed themselves in diflereiit parts of the town, and with matches 
 which they concealed under their cloaks, set fire to as many 
 houses to windward as they could, which was easily done in con- 
 sequence of the combustible materials of which they were built. 
 This, together with the violence of the wind, rendered every elfort 
 to extinguish the fire ineffectual. 1 myself narrowly escaped with 
 life. In order to show an example, I ventured into the midst of 
 the flames, and had my hair and eye-brows singed, and my 
 clothes burnt off my back ; but it was in vain, as they had de- 
 stroyed most of the pumps, of which there were above a thou- 
 sand ; out of all these, 1 believe that we could only find one that 
 was serviceable. Besides, the w^retches that had been hired by 
 Kostopchin, ran about in every quarter, disseminating fire with 
 their matches ; in which they were but too much assisted by the 
 wind. This terrible conflagration ruined every thing. I was 
 prepared for every thing but this. It was unforeseen, for who 
 would have thoii<:ht that a nation would have set its capital on 
 fire ? The inhaltitants themselves, however, did all they could 
 to extinguish it, and several of them perished in their endeavors.
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. l2l 
 
 They also brought before us numbers of the incendiaries with 
 their matches, as amidst such a popolazzo, (ci'owd,) we never 
 could have discovered them ourselves. I caused about two hun 
 dred of these wretches to be shot. Had it not been for this fatal 
 fire, I had every thing my army wanted ; excellent winter quar 
 ters ; stores of all kinds were in plenty ; and the next year would 
 have decided it. Alexander would have made peace, or I would 
 have been in Petersburgh." 
 
 I asked if he thought that he could entirely subdue Russia. 
 "No," replied Napoleon; "but I would have caused Russia to 
 make such a peace as suited the interests of France. I was five 
 days too late in quitting Moscow. Several of the generals," 
 continued he, "were burnt out of their beds. I myself remained 
 in the Kremlin * until surrounded with flames. The fire advanced, 
 seized the Chinese and India warehouses, and several stores of 
 oil and spirits, which burst forth in flames and overwhelmed 
 every thing. I then j-etired to a country house of the emperor 
 Alexander, distant about a league from Moscow, and you may 
 figure to yourself the intensity of the fire, when I tell you that 
 you could scarcely bear your hands upon the walls or the win- 
 dows, on the side next to Moscow, in consequence of their heated 
 state. It was the spectacle of a sea and billows of fire, a sky 
 and clouds of flame; mountains of red rolling flames, like im- 
 mense waves of the sea, alternately bursting forth and elevating 
 themselves to skies of fire, and then sinking into the ocean of 
 flame below. Oh, it was the most grand, the most sublime, and 
 the most terrific sight the world ever beheld ! ! Allfnis, Doc- 
 teur"j; (come, doctor.) 
 
 9th. — Had some conversation with the emperor concerning 
 religion. I observed, that in England there were different opi- 
 nions about his faith ; that some had latterly supposed him to be 
 
 * General Gourgaud informed me, that during the conflagration, great num- 
 <er8 of crows (which are in myriads at Moscow) perched in flocks upon the 
 k.)wers of tlie Kremlin, from wlience they frequently descended and hovered 
 itiund the French soldiers, flapjnng their wings and screaming, as if menacing 
 tfttm with the destruction that followed. He added, that the troops were dis- 
 pirited from this, which they conceived to be a bad omen. 
 
 t Tills was Napoleon's general expression when he wished me to retire. 
 
 (S
 
 122 A VOICK KHOM ST. MKLKNA. 
 
 a Kuinnn Cutholio. " A7;/>» /i*-,'' rrj>lifil lie. " Credn tutla <ju(l 
 ehe crede hi chirsa."' (1 Uolifvo all that the cIiuihIi In ruvcs ) "I 
 used," I'ontiiiuod lu*, "to make tlii' liisliop of Nantes dispiile \>ith 
 ihe Pope fretjueiitly in my presence, lie wanted to ie-estal)lish 
 the monks. My bishop used to tell him that the ciniMinr had 
 no olijeetion to persons being monks in their hearts, but tliat ho 
 objected to aUowing any society of them to exist pid)licly. The 
 Pope wanted me to confess, which I always evaded l)y saying, 
 'Holy father, {^saii to padre,) I am too much occupied at jiresent. 
 When I get older.' I took a pleasure in conversing with the 
 Pope, who was a good old man, vio testanh, (though obstinate.)" 
 
 "There are so many diflerent religions," continued he, " or 
 modifications of them, that it is difficult to know w hich to choose 
 if one religion had existed from the beginning of the world, 1 
 should think that to be the true one. As it is, I am of oj)iiiioii that 
 every person ought to conliime in the religion in which he was 
 brought up ; in that of his fathers. What are you V " A Pro- 
 testant," I replied. "Was your father so?" 1 said, "Yes." 
 "Then continue in that belief." 
 
 " In France," continued he, "1 received Catholics and Protes- 
 tants alike at my levee. I paid their ministers alike. I gave 
 the Protestants a fine church at Paris, which had fijrmerly belong 
 ed to the Jesuits. In order to prevent any religious quarrels in 
 places where there were both Catholic and Protestant churches, I 
 prohibited them from tolling the bells to summon the people to 
 worship in their respective churches, unless the ministers of the 
 one and the other made a specific request for permission to do 
 so, and stating that it was at the desire and request of the members 
 of each religion. Permission was then given for a year, and if 
 at the expiration of that year the demand was not renewed by 
 both parties again, it was not continued. By these means, I pre- 
 vented the squaljblcs which had previously existed, as the Catho- 
 lic priests found that they could not have their own bells tolled, 
 unless the Protestants had a similar privilege." 
 
 "There is a link between animals and the Deity. Man.'' 
 added he, "is merely a more perfect animal than the rest. lie 
 reasons better. But how do we know that animals have not a
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 12J^ 
 
 language of their own? My opinion is, that it is presumption 
 in us to say no, because we do not understand them. A horse 
 has memory, knowledge and love. He knows his master from 
 the servants, though the latter are more constantly with him. I 
 had a horse myself, who knew me from any other person, and 
 manifested by capering and proudly marching with his head 
 erect, when I was on his back, his knowledge that he bore a per- 
 son superior to the others by whom he was surrounded. Neither 
 would he allow any other person to mount him, except one 
 groom, who constantly took care of him, and when rode by him, 
 his motions were far different, and such as seemed to say that he 
 was conscious he bore an inferior. When I lost my way, I wa> 
 accustomed to throw the reins down his neck, and he always dis- 
 covered it in places where I, with all my observation and boasted 
 superior knowledge, could not. Who can deny the sagacity of 
 dogs 1 There is a link between all animals. Plants are so 
 many animals which eat and drink ; and there are gradations up 
 to man, who is only the most perfect of them all. The same 
 spirit animates them all in a greater or a lesser degree." 
 
 " That governor," added he, " has closed up the path which 
 led to the company's gardens, where I used to walk sometimes, 
 as it is the only spot sheltered from the vento agro, (liad wind,) 
 which T supposed he thought was to great an indulgence, ' Son 
 certo che ha qualche cattivo oggetto in vista, (I am certain that he 
 has some bad object in view). But I do not give myself any 
 uneasiness about it, as when a man's time has come, he must 
 go." I took the liberty of asking if he was a predestinarian. 
 ^^ Sicuro,''^ replied Napoleon, "as much so as the Turks are. I 
 have been always so. When destiny wills, it must be obeyed. 
 ( Quando lo vuole il desdno, hisogna ubhedirey^ 
 
 Asked him some questions about Blucher. " Blucher," said he, 
 "is a very brave soldier, un ban sabreur, (a good swordsman.) 
 He is like a bull who shuts his eyes, and, seeing no danger, 
 rushes on. He committed a thousand faults, and had it not been 
 for circumstances, I could repeatedly have made him and the 
 greatest part of his army prisoners. He is stubborn and inde- 
 fatigable, afraid of nothing, and very much attached to his coun-
 
 124 A \0\CK KUt>M ST. HKI-ENA, 
 
 try, liiit as a i;oinTiil, In- is \siilii>ul liilciil. I rfiollci-t, tliat whon 
 I WJU5 ill Pnissin, ho diiunl at my tabio afU'r ho had siirit'iiili-rtd, 
 .iiid ho was thou ooiisidorod to Ito an ordinary charaotor." 
 
 Spoakini; ahout tho English soldiors, lio observod, " tho English 
 si'ldior is Kravo, imliDdy nioro so, and tho ollicors gonoraily inon 
 of honor, liut I do not think thoni yot capabh' of oxt-oiiting grand 
 niaiKViivres. I think that it' I wort- at tin- head of ihcm, I cnulil 
 make tnoni do any thing, llowovt-r, I know ihcni ii()t onoiigh 
 yot to speak dooidodly. I had a oonvorsatiun with Bingham 
 about it ; and though he is of a dilloront ojiinion, I would alter 
 your system. Instead of the lash, I would lead them by the 
 stimulus of honor. I would instil a degree of emulation into 
 thuir minds. 1 would promote every deserving soldier, as I did 
 in France. After an action, I assembled the officers and soldiers, 
 and asked, who have acquitted themselves best; {Quels sont les 
 braves.^) and promoted such of them as were capable of reading 
 and writing. Those who were not, I ordered to study five hours 
 a day until they had learned a sufficiency, and then promoted 
 them. What might not be expected from the English army, if 
 every soldier hoped to bo made a general if he behaved well? 
 Bingham says, however, that the greatest part of your soldiers 
 are brutes, and must be driven by the stick. But surely," con- 
 tinued he, "the English soldiers must be possessed of sentiments 
 sufficient to put them at least upon a level with the soldiers of 
 otiier nations, where the degrading system of the lash is not 
 used. Whatever debases man cannot be serviceable. Bingham 
 oays, that none but the dregs of the canaille voluntarily enter as 
 soldiers. This disgraceful punishment is the cause of it. I 
 would remove it, and make even the situation of a private sol- 
 dier be considered as conferring honor upon the individual who 
 bore it. I would act as I did in France. I would encourage 
 young men of education, the sons of merchants, gentlemen and 
 others, to enter as private soldiers, and promote them according 
 to their merits. I would substitute confinement, bread and 
 water, the contempt of his comrades, le me/jris de ses camarades,) 
 and such other punishments, for the lash. Quaudo il soldato e 
 uvvilito e disonorato colle Jruslre, poco gli 'prciae la yloria o P otiore
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 125 
 
 della sua patria* What honor can a man possibly have who is 
 flogged before his comrades 1 He loses all feeling, and would 
 as soon fight against as for his country, if he were better paid by 
 the opposite party. When the Austrians had possession of Italj, 
 they in vain attempted to make soldiers of the Italians, They 
 either deserted as fast as they raised them, or else, when com- 
 pelled to advance against an enemy, they ran away on the first 
 fire. It was impossible to keep together a single regiment. 
 When I got Italy, and began to raise soldiers, the Austrians 
 laughed at me, and said that it was in vain, that they had been 
 trying for a long time, and that it was not in the nature of the 
 Italians to fight or to make good soldiers. Notwithstanding this, 
 I raised many thousands of Italians, who fought with a bravery 
 equal to the French, and did not desert me even in my adversity. 
 What was the cause 1 I abolished flogging and the stick, which 
 the Austrians had adopted. I promoted those amongst the sol- 
 diers who had talents, and made many of them generals. I sub- 
 stituted honor and emulation for terror and the lash." 
 
 I asked his opinion relative to the comparative merit of the 
 Russians, Prussians, and Germans. Napoleon replied, "Soldiers 
 change ; sometimes brave, sometimes laches, (cowardly). I have 
 seen the Russians at Eylau perform prodigies of valor : they were 
 so many heroes. At Moscow, entrenched up to their necks, they 
 allowed me to beat two hundred and fifty thousand men with 
 ninety thousand. At Jena, and at other battles in that campaign, 
 the Prussians fled like sheep; since that time, they have fought 
 bravely. My opinion is, that notv, the Prussian soldier is supe- 
 rior to the Austrian. The French cuirassiers were the best 
 cavalry in the world pour enforcer finfanterie, (to drive the 
 infantry). Individually, there is no horseman superior, or per- 
 haps equal, to the Mameluke ; but they cannot act in a body. 
 As partizans, the Cossacs excel, and the Poles as lancers." This 
 he said in reply to a question made by me of his opinion relative 
 to the cavalry. 
 
 I asked who he thought was the best general amongst the Aus- 
 
 • " When a soldier lias lieen debased and dishonored by stripes, he care» but 
 little for the glory or the honor of his country."
 
 12(^ A VOk'K KKOM ST. IlKl.KNA. 
 
 trians. " Prijioo Cliarh's," ho ivplii'd ; " tln)ii<jli la* has coiMiuitted 
 a thousand faults. As to Si-hwartzcnberg, ho i.s not fit to coni- 
 niand >ix thousand men.'' 
 
 NajioK'on tlu-n spoko aliuut the siege uf Toulon, and ulisorved, 
 that he had made General O'llara prisoner, " I ma}' say," said 
 he, *' with my own lumd. 1 had constructed a masked battery ul" 
 ^ight twenty-tbur pounders, and four mortars, in order to open 
 upon fort Malbosquet, (I think it was) which was in possession 
 of the English. It was finished in the evening, and it was my 
 intention to have opened upon them in the morning. While I 
 was giving directions at another part of the army, some of the 
 deputies from the convention came down. In those days they 
 sometimes took upon them to direct the operations of the armies, 
 and those imbeciles ordered the battery to commence, which was 
 obeyed. As soon as I saw this premature fire, I immediately 
 conceived that the English general would attack the battery and 
 most probably carry it, as matters had not been yet arranged to 
 support it. In fact O'llara, seeing that the fire from that battery 
 would dislodge his troops from Malbosquet, from which last I 
 would have taken the fort which commanded iho harbor, deter- 
 mined upon attacking it. Accordingly, early in the morning, he 
 put himself at the head of his troops, sallied out, and actually 
 carried the Viattery and the lines I had formed (Napoleon here 
 drew a plan upon a piece of paper of the situation of the bat- 
 teries) to the left, and those to the right were taken by the Nea- 
 politans. While he was busy in spiking the guns, I advanced 
 with three or four hundred grenadiers, unperceived, through a 
 'lot/au covered with olive-trees, which communicated with the 
 battery, and commenced a terrible fire upon his troops. The 
 English, astonished, at first supposed that the Neapolitans, who 
 had the lines on the right, had mistaken them for French, and 
 said, it is those canaglie of Neapolitans who are firing upon us 
 (for even at that time your troops despised the Neapolitans). 
 O'llara ran out of the battery and advanced towards us. In 
 advancing, he was wounded in the arm by the fire of a sergeant, 
 and I, who stood at the mouth of the horjau, seized him by the 
 coat, and threw him back amongst my own men, thinking that h«
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 127 
 
 W&3 a colonel, as he had two epaulettes on. While they were 
 taking him to the rear, he cried out that he was the commander- 
 in-chief of the English. He thought that they were going to 
 massacre him, as there existed a horrible order at that time from 
 the convention to give no quarter to the English. I ran up and 
 prevented the soldiers from ill-treating him. He spoke very bad 
 French ; and as I saw that he imagined they intended to butcher 
 him, I did everything in my power to console him, and gave 
 directions that his wound should be immediately dressed, and 
 every attention paid to him. He afterwards begged of me to 
 give him a statement of how he had been taken, in order that he 
 might show it to his government in his justification." 
 
 " Those blockheads of deputies," continued he, " wanted to 
 attack and storm the town first ; but I explained to them that it 
 was very strong, and that we should lose many men ; that the 
 best way would be to make ourselves masters of the forts which 
 commanded the harbor, and then the English would either be 
 taken or be obliged to burn the greatest part of the fleet and 
 escape. My advice was taken ; and the English, perceiving what 
 would be the result, set fire to the ships and abandoned the town. 
 If a libeccio* had come on, they would have been all taken. It 
 was Sydney Smith who set them on tire, and he would have 
 burnt them all, if the Spaniards had behaved well. It was the 
 finest feu d''artifice (fire-works) possible." 
 
 " Those Neapolitans," continued he, " are the most vile cana- 
 glie in the world. Murat ruined me by advancing against the 
 Austrians with them. When old Ferdinand heard of it, he 
 laughed, and said, in his jargon, that they would serve Murat as 
 they had done him before, when Championet dispersed a hundred 
 thousand of them like so many sheep, with ten thousand French 
 men. I had forbidden Murat to act ; as after I returned from 
 Elba, there was an understanding between the Emperor of Aus- 
 tria and me, that if I gave him up Italy, he would not join the coali- 
 tion against me. This I had promised, and would have fulfilled 
 it ; but that imbecile, in spite of the directions I had given him to 
 remain quiet, advanced with his rabble into Italy, where he wa« 
 
 * A south wiud.
 
 128 A VOICK HU»M ST. nELENA. 
 
 Mown jiwHV liki' :i piitr. Tin- lCin|>o(»()r of Austria seeing 'I's, 
 ooiioluiK'd diroi'lly that if was l>y my t>riii'rs, and that I drcoived 
 him; and, lioing coiiM-ious tliat hf had betrayi-d me himst'lf, ht 
 siippusi'd that I did not iiitoiid to kei'p faith with him, aru de- 
 ti'rmiiu'd t«» t'lidcavor to crush me witli all his forci's. Twice 
 Murat liotraycd and ruined mc. Before, when he foisunk me 
 joined the allies with sixty thousand men, and oliliged me tc 
 leave thirty thousand men in Italy, when 1 wanted them so 
 much elsewhere. At that time, his army was well c^flicered \>y 
 French. Had it not hcen for this rash step of Murat's the Rus- 
 sians would have retreated, as their intentions were not to have 
 advanced, if Austria did not join the coalition ; so that you would 
 have been left to yourselves, and have gladly made a peace." 
 
 He observed that he had always l)een willing to make a peace 
 with England. "Let your ministers say what they like," said 
 he, '' I was always ready to make a peace. At the time that Fox 
 died, there was every prospect of effecting one. If Lord Lau- 
 derdale had been sincere at first, it would also have been con- 
 cluded. Before the campaign in Prussia, I caused it to be signified 
 to him that he had better get his countrymen to make peace, as 
 1 would be master of Prussia in two months ; for this reason, 
 that although liussia and Prussia united might be able to oppose 
 me, yet that Prussia alone could not. That the Russians were 
 three months' march distant; and that as I had intelligence that 
 their plan of campaign was to defend Berlin, instead of retiring, 
 in order to obtain the support of the Russians, I would destroy 
 their army, and take Berlin before the Russians came up, who 
 alone I would easily defeat afterwards. I therefore advised him 
 to lake advantage of my oflfer of peace, before Prussia, who was 
 your Vjest friend on the continent, was destroyed. After this 
 communication, I believe that Lord Lauderdale was sincere, and 
 that he wrote to your ministers recommending peace : but they 
 would not agree to it, thinking that the king of Prussia was at 
 the h'-ad of a hundred thousand men ; that I might be defeated, 
 and fiat a defeat would be my ruin. This was possible. A 
 Dattle sometimes decides every thing; and sometimes the most 
 trifling thing decides the fate of a battle. The event, however,
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 129 
 
 proved that I was right, as after Jena, Prussia was mine. After 
 Tilsit and at Erfurth," continued he, " a letter containing pro- 
 posals of peace to England, and signed by the Emperor Alexander 
 and myself, was sent to your ministers, but they would not ac- 
 cept of them." 
 
 He spoke of Sir Sydney Smith. " Sydney Smith," said he, 
 " is a brave officer. He displayed considerable ability in the 
 treaty for the evacuation of Egypt by the French. He took 
 advantage of the discontent which he found to prevail amongst 
 the French troops, at being so long away from France, and other 
 circumstances. He also manifested great honor in sending im- 
 mediately to Kleber the refusal of Lord Keith to ratify the 
 treaty, which saved the French army ; as, if he had kept it a 
 secret for seven or eight days longer, Cairo would have been 
 given up to the Turks, and the French army necessarily obliged 
 to surrender to the English. He also showed great humanity 
 and honor in all his proceedings towards the French who fell into 
 his hands. He landed at Havre, for some sottise (folly) of a bet 
 that he had made to go to the theatre, according to some ; others 
 say, that it was for espionage; however that may be, he was 
 arrested and confined to the Temple as a spy ; and at one time it 
 was intended to try and execute him. Shortly after I returned 
 from Italy, he wrote to me from his prison, in order to intercede 
 for him ; but under the circumstances he was taken, I could do 
 nothing for him. He is active, intelligent, intriguing, and in- 
 defatigable ; but I believe that he is mezzo yazzo^'' (half a fool.) 
 
 I asked if Sir Sydney had not displayed great talent and bra- 
 very at Acre % Napoleon replied, " Yes ; the chief cause of the 
 failure there was, that he took all my battering train, which was 
 on board of several small vessels. Had it not been for that, I 
 would have taken Acre in spite of him. He behaved very 
 bravely, and was well seconded by Phillipeaux, a Frenchman of 
 talent, who had studied with me as an engineer. There was a 
 Major Douglass, also, who behaved very gallantly. The acqui- 
 sition of five or six hundred seamen as cannon iers, was a great 
 advantage to the Turks, whose spirits they revived, and whom 
 they showed how to defend the fortress. But he committed a 
 
 6*
 
 13C A VOK'K FKo.M S!. IIKLKNA, 
 
 great fault in making sortirs, which c'<ist the lives of two or tL ce 
 huiuirod hravo follows, without t')- possibility of success. For 
 it was inipossiblt' hi' o<»ulil sucrcoil ajiainst the miinher of the 
 French who were before Aire, i woulil lay a waj^er that he lust 
 half of his crew in them. He dispersetl proelamaliims ami)ii>rst 
 my troops, which certainly shook some of them, and 1 in conse- 
 i|uence published an order stating that he was jnad, and forbid- 
 dinjj all communication with him. Some days after he sent, by 
 means of a flag of truce, a lieutenant or a midshipman with a 
 ietter containing a challenge to me to meet him at some place 
 he pointed out. in order to fight a duel. I laughed at this, and 
 sent him back an intimation that when he brought Marlliorough 
 to fight with me, 1 would meet him. Notwithstanding this, I 
 like the character of the man." 
 
 In answer to a remark of mine, that the invasion of Spain had 
 been a measure very destructive to him, he replied, "If the gov- 
 ernment I established had remained, it would have been the best 
 thing that ever happened for Spain. I would have regenerated 
 the Spaniards ; I would have made them a great nation. Instead 
 of a feeble, imbecile, and superstitious race of Bourbons, I would 
 have given them a new dynasty, that would have no claim on 
 the nation, except by the good it would have rendered unto it. 
 For an hereditary race of asses, they would have had a monarch 
 with ability to revive the nation, sunk under the yoke of super- 
 stition and ignorance. Perhaps it is better for France that 1 did 
 not succeed, as Spain would have been a formidaVjle rival. I 
 would have destroyed superstition and priestcraft, and abolished 
 the inquisition and the monasteries of those lazy bestie de/rati 
 (beasts of Friars.) I would at least have rendered the priests 
 harndess. The guerillas, who fought so bravely against me, now 
 lament their success. When I was last in Paris, I had letters 
 from Mina, and many other leaders of the guerillas, craving 
 assistance to expel their Jriar from the throne. 
 
 Nafioleon afterwards made some observations relative to the 
 governor, whose suspicious and mysterious conduct he contrasted 
 with the open and undisguised manner in which Sir George Co»k 
 bum conducted himself "Though the admiral was severe and
 
 181S— NOVEMBER. 131 
 
 ro'jgb," said he, " yet he was incapable of a mean action. He had 
 no atrocities in contemplation, and therefore made no mystery 
 or seciccy of his conduct. Never have I suspected him of any 
 sinister design. Though I might not like him, yet I could not 
 despise him. I despise the other. As a jailer, the admiral was 
 kind and humane, and we ought to be grateful to him ; as our 
 host, we have reason to be dissatisfied, and to complain of him. 
 This jailer deprives life of every inducement to me. Were it 
 not that it would be an act of cowardice, and that it would please 
 your ministers, I would get rid of it. Tengo la vita j^er la gloria 
 (I live for glory.) There is more courage in supporting an exist- 
 ence like mine, than in abandoning it. This governor has a 
 double correspondence with your ministers, similar to that which 
 all your ambassadors maintain; one written so as to deceive the 
 world, should they ever be called upon to publish it ; and the 
 other, giving a true account, for themselves alone." I observed, 
 that I believed all ambassadors and other official persons in all 
 countries, wrote two accounts, one for the public, and the other 
 containing matters which it might not be right to divulge. 
 " True, signor medico^'''' replied Napoleon, taking me by the ear 
 in a good-humored manner, " but there is not so Machiavelian a 
 ministz'y in the world as your own. Cela tient a voire systeme. 
 (that holds in your system.) That, and the liberty of your press, 
 obliges your ministers to render some account to the nation, and 
 therefore they want to be able to deceive the public in many in- 
 stances ; but as it is also necessary for them to know the truth 
 themselves^ they have a double correspondence ; one official and 
 false, calculated to gull the nation, when published, or called for by 
 the parliament; the other, private and true, to be kept locked u]> 
 in their own bosoms, and not deposited in the archives. In this 
 way, they manage to make every thing appear as they wish to 
 John Bull. Now this system of falsehood is not necessary in a 
 country where there is no obligation to publish, or to render an 
 account ; as, if the sovereign does not like to make known any 
 transaction officially, he keeps it to himself, and gives no expla- 
 nation, therefore there is no need of causing varnished accounts 
 to be written, in order to deceive the people. For these reasons,
 
 182 A VitUK F1U>M SI IIKI.KNa 
 
 thero iiro inoir rrtlsirK'ntit)ns in vour oiricial (iinMimciits. fh.k . .n 
 those of any other nation." 
 
 10/A. -Wrote a statenn-nt to Sir Hudson Lowe, pmjioiling it 
 to be my opinion, that a further continuance of confinement and 
 want of exercise would he productive of some serious ccnnphiint 
 to Naj>olei>n, which in all prohahility would prove fatal to him, 
 
 I2th. — Conversed with Napoleon, who was in his hath, for a 
 considerable lime. On asking his opinion of Talleyrand, "Tal- 
 leyrand," said he " /t' ^j/hs vil dcs (iifiofeiirs, has Jlntteur. C est 
 itn honime corrotiipii, (one of the vilest of jobljers, a base flat- 
 terer, lie is a corrupt man,) who has betrayed all parties and 
 persons. Wary and circumspect; always a traitor, but always 
 in conspiracy with fortune. Talleyrand treats his enemies as if 
 they were one day to become his friends ; and his friends^ as if 
 they were to become his enemies. He is a man of talent, but 
 venal in every thing. Nothing could be done with him but by 
 means of bribery. The kings of Wirtemberg and Bavaria made 
 so many complaints of his rapacity and extortion, that I took his 
 portfeuille from him : moreover I found that he had divulged to 
 some intrigants, a most important secret which I had confided to 
 him alone. He hates the Bourbons in his heart. W^hen I re- 
 turned from Elba, Talleyrand wrote to me from Vienna, offering 
 his services, and to betray the Bourbons, provided I would par- 
 don and restore him to favor. He argued upon a part of my 
 proclamation, in which I said there were circumstances which it 
 was impossible to resist, which he quoted. But I considered that 
 there were a few I was obliged to except, and refused, as it would 
 have excited indignation if 1 had not punished somebody." 
 
 I asked if it were true that Talleyrand had advised him to de- 
 throne the King of Spain, and mentioned that the Duke of Ro- 
 vigo had told me that Talleyrand had said in his presence, 
 *' Your majesty will never be secure upon your throne, while a 
 Bourbon is seated upon one." He replied, "True, he advised 
 me to do every thing which would injure the Bourbons, whom he 
 detests." 
 
 Napoleon showed me the marks of two wounds ; one a very 
 deep cicatrice above the left knee, which he said he had received
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 1&3 
 
 in his first campaign of Italy, and was of so serious a nature, 
 that the surgeons were in doubt whether it might not be ulti- 
 mately necessary to amputate. He observed, that when he was 
 wounded, it was always kept a secret, in order not to discourage 
 the soldiers. The other was on the toe, and had been received at 
 Eckmuhl. "At the siege of Acre," continued he, "a shell 
 thrown by Sydney Smith, fell at my feet. Two soldiers who 
 were close by, seized, and closely embraced me, one in front and 
 the other on one side, and made a rampart of their bodies for 
 me, against the effect of the shell, which exploded, and over- 
 whelmed us with sand. — We sunk into the hole formed by its 
 DUrsting; one of them was wounded. I made them both officers. 
 One has since lost a leg at Moscow, and commanded at Vin- 
 cennes when I left Paris. When he was summoned by the 
 Russians, he replied, that as soon as they sent him back the leg 
 he had lost at Moscow, he would surrender the fortress. Many 
 times in my life," continued he, "have I been saved by soldiers 
 and officers throwing themselves before me when 1 was in the 
 most imminent danger. At Areola, when I was advancing. 
 Colonel Meuron, my aid-de-camp, threw himself before me, co- 
 vered me with his body, and received the wound which was des- 
 tined for me. He fell at my feet, and his blood spouted up in 
 my face. He gave his life to preserve mine. Never yet, I 
 believe, has there been such devotion shown by soldiers as mine 
 have manifested for me. In all my misfortunes, never has the 
 soldier, even when expiring, been wanting to me — never has 
 man been served more faithfully by his troops. With the last 
 drop of blood gushing out of their veins, they exclaimed, vlve 
 V Empereur P'' (God save the Emperor.) 
 
 I asked if he had gained the battle of Waterloo, whether he 
 would have agreed to the treaty of Paris. Napoleon replied, " I 
 would certainly have ratified it. I would not have made such a 
 peace myself Sooner than agree to much better terms, 1 abdi- 
 cated before ; but finding it already made, I would have kept it. 
 because France had need of repose." 
 
 \Zth. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent orders to Count Las Cases to 
 dismiss his present servant, and to replace him by a soldier,
 
 184 A V(»ICK FROM ST. IIKI.ENA. 
 
 whom ho si'iil for thai purjmst'. TIk- Count lojtlied, Mint Sir 
 Iludsun Lowo had tho powor t<> take away his servant, Imt thjil 
 ho oould not ooinpol him (Las Cases) to receive another. Tliat 
 it woiilil certainl} l»o an ineonvenience to lose his servant in the 
 present state of ill health of his son ; hut that if he were taken 
 away, he would nut aeoopt one of Sir Hudson Lowe's choosing. 
 • "ajHain Poppleton wrote to Sir Hudson Lowe, stating the Count's 
 disinelination ; and 1 informed him, that the man he had sent to 
 replace the Count's servant, had formerly lieen employed at 
 Longwood, arid turned away for drunkenness. Sir Hudson then 
 desired me to tell Poppleton that the former servant might re- 
 main until he could find one that would answer, adding, that he 
 would look out himself for a proper subject, which he also de- 
 sired me to tell the Count, Informed him that it was my 
 intention to call in Mr. Baxter, in order to have the l)enefit of 
 his advice in the case of young Las Cases, which presented some 
 alarming appearances. 
 
 Communicated to Count Las Cases the message I was charged 
 with by Sir Huds(tn Lowe. The Count replied, " If the governor 
 had told me that he did not wish my servant to remain with me, 
 or that he would be glad if I sent him away, and that he would 
 give me a fortnight to look for another, I would immediately 
 have dismissed him, and most probably have asked the governor 
 to send me another ; but acting in the manner he has done, with- 
 out saying a word to me, I will take no servant from his hands. 
 He treats me as a corporal would do. The admiral, even if dis- 
 pleased with me, never would have taken my servant away out 
 of revenge." 
 
 Dined at Plantation House, in company with the Marquis 
 Montchenu, who amu,sed the company with the importance which 
 he attached to grande nais!^ance^ (high birth,) relative to which he 
 recjunted some anecdotes. 
 
 16///. — The Adamant transport arrived from the Cape, bringing 
 news of the arrival of Sir George Cockburn in England, and that 
 he had had an audience with the Prince Regent on the 2nd of 
 August.
 
 1816— NOVEMBER. ISh 
 
 An inspector of police, named Rainsford, arrived from England 
 and the Cape. 
 
 11th. — The allowances for Longwood diminished by order of 
 Sir Hudson Lowe two pounds u( meat daily, in ccnsequence of 
 the departure of a servant, who had received but one pound. A 
 bottle of wine also struck off. 
 
 The carters who bring up the provisions, state that the fuiil 
 linen of Longwood is frequently inspected by Sir Thomas Reade 
 on its arrival in town. Countess Bertrand sent down in the 
 trunk containing her soiled linen, some novels which she had 
 borrowed from Miss Chesborough, before the arrival of Sir 
 Hudson Lowe on the island. They were placed on the top of 
 the linen, and the trunk was unlocked. Sir Thomas Reade said, 
 that it was a violation of the proclamation, and that Miss Ches- 
 borough should be turned off the island. He then examined the 
 countess's linen, upon which he made observations not consistent 
 with the delicacy or the respect due to the female sex. 
 
 Mentioned to the emperor that I had been informed he had 
 saved Marechal Duroc's life, when seized and condemned to 
 death as an emigrant, during his first campaigns in Italy; which 
 was asserted to have been the cause of the great attachment 
 subsequently displayed by Duroc to him until the hour of his 
 death. Napoleon looked surprised, and replied, " No such thing 
 — who told you that tale?" 1 said, that I had heard the Marquis 
 Montchenu repeat it at a public dinner. "There is not a word 
 of truth in it," replied Napoleon. " I took Duroc out of the 
 artillery train, when he was a boy, and protected him until his 
 death. But I suppose Montchenu said this, because Duroc was 
 of an old family, which, in that booby's eyes, is the only source 
 of merit. He despises every body who has not as many hundred 
 years of nobility to boast of as himself It was such as Mont- 
 chenu who were the chief cause of the revolution. Before it, 
 such a man as Bertrand, who is worth an army of Montchenus, 
 could not even be a sous-lieutenant, while vieiix enfants (old 
 children) like him would be generals. God help," continued he, 
 " the nation that is governed by such. In my time, most of the 
 generals, of whose deeds France is so proud, sprung from that
 
 186 A VOICK Kl{t>M ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 V(>rv oliiss of plolioiiins so iiiucli (lrs|iisiHl l)y liiiu. ll smjirisea 
 Mif." ntldod \h\ "th:it tlioy have jHTmiltod the Duchess of 
 Kfg^io to W j>retiiiert' ilatnc (fust ludy) to the Duchess of Herri, 
 as lier husliand was once a private soldier, and did not spring 
 from graude tmissaiice," (high liirth.) I asked his oj>inion of the 
 Duke of Iveggio. "A brave man," replied Napoleon, " it/it i. 
 />'tca testa, (but of little brains.) He has been influenced latterly 
 by his young wife, who is of an old family, whose vanity and 
 prejudices she inherits. However," ci>ntinued he, "he ofl'ered his 
 services after my return from Ellta, and took the oath <jf allegiance 
 to me." I asked him if he thought that he was sincere. " It 
 might have been so, signor medico. If I had succeeded, I dare 
 say he would have been." 
 
 Napoleon very busily employed in dictating his memoirs to 
 Counts Bertrand and Montholon. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe ol)jected to allowing the produce of the last 
 plate which had been disposed of, to be placed at the disposal of 
 the French, alleging that it was too large a sum, viz. 295/., and 
 demanded an explanation of the manner in which so large a sum 
 of money was to be disposed of It appeared upon examination, 
 that instead of having 295/. disposable, there would be in reality 
 only a few pounds, as 85/. was due to Marchand, 45/. to Cipriani, 
 16/. to Gentilini, for money advanced by them to purchase extra 
 articles of food, previous to the sale of the last plate ; also 70/. 
 to Mr. Balcombe's concern, 10/. to Le Page, and 20/. to Archam- 
 baud, for fowls, &c. 
 
 22nd. — Orders sent up by Sir Hudson Lowe for a fresh reduc- 
 tion in the allowance of meat and wine. 
 
 Saw Baron Sturmer in the town, with whom I had some con- 
 versation. He was very desirous to see Napoleon, and informed 
 me that Sir Hudson Lowe, in granting the commissioners per- 
 mission to enter as far as the inner gate of Longwood, had re 
 quired them to pledge their honor that they would not speak to 
 Napoleon, without having first obtained his permission. 
 
 23rc/. — Sir Pulteney Malcolm arrived from the Cape. Napo- 
 '.eoD very anxious to obtain some newspapers. Tried U) procure
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 187 
 
 some, but was informed that the governor had got all that were 
 to be had. 
 
 25th. — On my return from town to Longwood, met Sir Hud- 
 son Lowe, who was riding up and down the road. When I came 
 near to his excellency, he observed, with an air of triumph, 
 "You will meet your friend Las Cases in custody." A few 
 minutes afterwards, met the Count, under charge of the governor's 
 aid-de-camp, Prichard, on his way to Hut's Gate. It had been 
 effected in the following manner : About three o'clock, Sir Hud 
 son Lowe, accompanied by Sir Thomas Reade, Major Gorrequer, 
 and three dragoons, entered Longwood. Shortly afterwards. 
 Captain Blakeney and the minister of police followed them. Sir 
 Hudson and Major Gorrequer rode off a little to the left, while 
 the others proceeded to Captain Poppleton's i-oom, having first 
 ordered a corporal and party fiom the guard to follow them up 
 to the house. Sir Thomas ordered Captain Poppleton to send 
 for Count Las Cases, who was with Napoleon. After they had 
 waited a short time. Las Cases came out, and was arrested while 
 going into his room by Reade and the minister of police, who 
 took possession of his clothes and effects. His papers were 
 sealed up by his son, who afterwards proceeded to Hut's Gate 
 under custody, where he I'emained with his father in charge of 
 an officer of the 66th regiment, with orders not to be allowed to 
 see anybody, except the governor and his staff. It appeared that 
 the Count had given a letter, written upon silk, to Scott, his 
 servant, with which he was to proceed to England. Scott told 
 this to his father, who had him brought to a Mr. Barker, and 
 from thence to the governor, by whom he was committed to 
 prison, after undergoing an examination. 
 
 Saw Napoleon in the evening, who appeared to have been 
 wholly ignorant of Las Cases' intentions. " I am convinced," 
 said he, " however, that there is nothing of consequence in the 
 letter, as Las Cases is an honest man, and too much attached to 
 me to undertake anything of consequence without fiist having 
 acquainted me with his project. You may depend upon it that 
 it is some letter of complaints to Miledi about the conduct of 
 this governor, and the vexations which he inflicts upon us, or to
 
 198 A VOIi'K FHoM SI'. IIKLKNA. 
 
 his Icmkor, as lie has \\>\\i- ov live tliuusaiul iioiiiuls in some 
 bankiM-'s hands in London, which I was tn have hail (nr my news- 
 silios, aiul Ik> did not like his letter to go tluough the goveriior's 
 hands, as none of us will trust him. If Las Cases had made 
 his project known to nie, I would have sto[>i)ed him ; not that I 
 disapprove of his emleavoring to make our situation known, l/ut 
 I disaj>prove of the bungling manner in which he attempted it, 
 Kor a man of talent, like Las Cases, to make an amiiassador of 
 a slave, who could not read or write, to go upon a six inunths 
 embassy to England, where he nevir has l>ee:i, knows nobody, 
 Wid who, unless the governor was a scioccone, (a great fool) would 
 not be permilted to leave the island, is to me incomprehensible. 
 1 can only account for it by supposing, that the weight of aftlic- 
 tious which presses upon us, together with the melancholy situa- 
 tion of his son, condemned to die of an incurable malady, have 
 impaired his judgment. All this 1 wish to be known. I am 
 sorry for it, because people will accuse nie of having been jirivy 
 to the plan, and will have a pooi' opinion of my nnderstanding — 
 supposing me to have consented to so shallow a plot. I would 
 have reconimended him to have requested of some man of honor 
 to make our situation known in England, and to have taken a 
 letter to the Prince Regent ; first asking him to pledge his honor 
 to observe secrecy if he did not choose to perform it. If he be- 
 trayed us, so much the worse for himself. Las Cases has with 
 him my campaigns in Italy, and all the official correspondence 
 between the admiral, governor, and Longwood ; and I am told 
 that he has made a journal, containing an account of what passes 
 here, with many anecdotes of myself. I have desired Bertrand 
 to go to Plantation House and ask for them. It is the least 
 interesting part of my life, as it only relates the commencement 
 of it ; but 1 should not like this governor to have it." 
 
 "I am sure," continued he, "that there is nothing of conse- 
 quence in Las Cases' letter, or he would have made me ac- 
 quainted with it; though I dare say this * * * * will write a 
 hundred falsehoods to England about it. When in Paris, after 
 my return from Elba, I f(juiid in M. LJlacas' private papers, which 
 lie left bi-hind when he ran away from llic Tnilleries, a lettei
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 139 
 
 which had been written in Elba by one of ray sister Pauline's 
 chamber-maids, and appeared to have been composed in a mo- 
 ment of anger. Paulipe is very handsome and graceful. There 
 was a description of her habits, of her dress, her wardrobe, and 
 of every thing that she liked ; of how fond I was of contributing 
 to her happiness ; and that I had superintended the furnishing of 
 her bovdoir myself; what an extraordinary man I was; that one 
 night I had buint my finger dreadfully, and had merely poured 
 a bottle of ink over it without appearing to regard the pain, and 
 many little betises, true enough perhaps. This letter M. Blacas 
 had got interpolated with horrid stories ; in fact, insinuating thai 
 I slept with my sister; and in the margin, in the hand-writing of 
 the inteipolator, was written "to be printed.'''' 
 
 2Qth. — Napoleon in his bath. Asked if I had heard any thing 
 more respecting Las Cases ; professed his sorrow to lose him. 
 " Las Cases," said he, "is the only one of the French who can 
 speak English well, or explain It to my satisfaction. I cannot 
 now read an English newspaper. Madame Bertrand understands 
 English perfectly ; but you know one cannot trouble a lady. 
 Las Cases was necessary to me. Ask the admiral to interest 
 himself for that poor man, who, I am convinced, has not said as 
 much as there was in Montholon's letter. He will die under all 
 these afflictions, for he has no bodily strength, and his unfor- 
 tunate son will finish his existence a little sooner." 
 
 He asked if Madame Bertrand had not been unwell, and said 
 he believed she suspected that her mother was either dead or 
 most alarmingly ill. " Those Creoles," said he, " are veiy sus- 
 ceptible. Josephine was subject to nervous attacks when in 
 affliction. She was really an amiable woman — elegant, charm- 
 ing, and affable. Ura la dama la 'p'lii grazlosa di Francia, (the 
 most accomplished lady in France.) She was the goddess of the 
 toilet ; all the fashions originated with her ; every thing she put 
 on appeared elegant; and she was so kind, so humane — she was 
 the best woman in France." 
 
 He then spoke about the distress prevailing in Eiighuid, and 
 riaid, that it was caused by the abuses of the ministry. "You 
 have done wonders," said he ; " you liiive effected impossibilities,
 
 140 A VOICK FHOM ST. HKLKNA. 
 
 I may >aN ; \nil I tliiiik that Eiigluiui, I'licuiiiberi-ci w itii a naliuiiH! 
 debt, which will take forty years of peace and eoiuinerce to pay 
 ofl", may be compared to a man who has drunk large quantities 
 of brandy to give him courage and strength ; l)Ut afterwards, 
 weakiiud by the stimulus which had imparted energy liji :h«> 
 moment, he totters and fnially falls ; his powers entirely e.\ 
 hausted by the unnatural means used to excite them." 
 
 Some conversation then took place relative to the Itattle of 
 Austerlitz. Napoleon said, that prior to the battle, the king of 
 Prussia had sigjied the coalition against him. "Ilaugwitz," said 
 he, ''came to inform me of it, and advised me to think of peace. 
 I replied, ' The event of the battle which is approaching will de- 
 cide every thing. I think that I shall gain it, and if so, I will 
 dictate such a peace as answers my purposes. Now 1 w ill hear 
 nothing.' The event answered my expectation.: I gained a vic- 
 tory so decisive, as to enable me to dictate what terms I pleased." 
 1 asked him if Haugwitz had been gained by him? lie replied, 
 " No ; but he was of opinion that Prussia should never play the 
 first fiddle [(/iiiocare il prhno ruolo) in the affairs of the continent ; 
 that she was only a second rate power, and ought to act as such. 
 Even if 1 had lost the battle, I expected that Piussia would not 
 cordially join the allies, as it would naturally be her interest Ut 
 preserve an equilibrium in Europe, which would not result from 
 her joining those who, on my being defeated, would be much the 
 strongest. Besides, jealousies ar.d suspicions would arise, and 
 the allies would not have trusted to the king of Prussia, who had 
 betrayed them before. I gave Hanover to the Prussians," con- 
 tinued he, "on purpose to embroil them with you, produce j. 
 war, and shut you out from the continent. The king of Prussia 
 was blockhead enough to believe that he could keep Hanover 
 and still remain at peace with you. He made war upon me 
 afterwards like a madman, induced by the queen and Prince 
 Louis with some other young men, who persuaded him that 
 Prussia w as strong enough, even without Russia. A few weeks 
 convinced him of the contrary." I asked, if the king of Prussia 
 hMi joined the allies with his army previous to Aust'^iiitz, ^^iial
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 141 
 
 he would have done 1 " Ah, Mr. Doctor, that would have en- 
 tirely altered the face of things." 
 
 He eulogized the king of Saxony, who he said was a truly 
 good man ; the king of Bavaria, a plain good man ; the king of 
 Wirtemberg, a man of considerable talent, but unprincipled and 
 wicked. "Alexander and the latter," said he, "are the only 
 sovereigns in Europe possessed of talents. Lord * * * * un 
 viauvais si/jet, un ugioteur, (a bad subject, a mere jobber.) While 
 negotiating in Paris, he sent couriers away every day to London, 
 for the purposes of stock-jobbing, which was solely what he 
 interested himself about. Had there been an honest man, in- 
 stead of an intriguing stock-jobber, it is very likely the negotia- 
 tion would have succeeded. I was much grieved afterwards to 
 have had any affairs with such a contemptible character." This 
 was pronounced with an air of disdain. 
 
 27 /A. — Napoleon very much concerned about the treatment 
 which Las Cases suffered, and the detention of his own papers. 
 He observed, that if there had been any plot in Las Cases' letter, 
 the governor could have perceived it in ten minutes' perusal. 
 That in a few moments he could also see that the campaigns of 
 Italy, &c. contained nothing treasonable ; and that it was con- 
 trary 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 to effect my escape is 
 in agitation. What guarantee have I, that when I have nearly 
 finished my history, he will not come up and seize the whole of 
 if? It is true that I can keep my manuscripts in my own room, 
 and with a couple of brace of pistols I can dispatch 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 (Sicilian spy) there is no guarantee nor security. He 
 violates every law, and tramples under foot decency, politeness, 
 and the common forms of society. He came up with a savage 
 joy beaming from his eyes, because he had an opportiuiity of in- 
 tuiting and i.ornienting us. While surrounding the house with 
 his staff, he reminded me of the savages of the South Sea islands.
 
 tii A \mCK KKOM ST. HELEXA. 
 
 liuncinjj round the prisoiuTs \Nlnim tlu'v wimv gcing to devour. 
 Toll him." coiitimu'il lu-, " what 1 said aliout his cotiduit." For 
 fi'ur that I should for<H't, lu- repcati-d his t-xprcssioiis ahoiit the 
 sjiviuji's a second time, and made me say it after him. 
 
 Went to Hut's Gate to see Sir Hudson Lowe, who hat) sent a 
 ilragoon tor me. On my arrival, his exeellency told iiie, that the 
 lampaigns of Italy, and the oftieial documents, would lie siiit to 
 Longwood the following day, and desired me to tell (imeral 
 lioiiaparte that all his papers hail Keen kept saen d, and that all 
 his personal ones should lie returned. As to Las Cases' journal, 
 he said that he would have some conversation with Count Ber- 
 trand concerning it. 
 
 I informed his excellency that Xapolcfai had disclaimed all 
 knowledge of the jirtject which Count Las Cases had formed, 
 and added my own conviction, that until the moment that the 
 letters had l)ccn arrested, he wa.s wholly ignorant of his inten- 
 tions. Sir Hudson replied, that he acquitted him of any know- 
 ledge of the matter, which he desired me to tell him, and con- 
 gratulated himself much on his own discernment in the opinion 
 he had formed of Count Las Cases' servant. 
 
 Saw young Las Cases afterwards, who was very unwell. During 
 the time that I was examining him professionally, Sir Thomas 
 Reade remained in the room. On my going out, Sir Thomas 
 said, that " old Las Cases had been so impertinent to the gov- 
 ernor, that the latter had ordered that he should not be permitted 
 to see any person, unless in the presence of some of the governor's 
 staff." 
 
 Or. my return, explained to Napoleon the governor's message 
 •iiid informed him that 1 had seen part of his papers sealed up 
 When I said that the governor had acquitted him of any partici 
 pation in the business ; " if," said he, '• 1 had known of it. anfl 
 had not put a stop to it, I would have been worse than a ^^a^zc 
 da catena, (lunatic). I suppose that he thinks that there was 
 some plot for my escape. I can safely say that I left Elba with 
 eight hundred men, and arrived at Paris, through France, with 
 out any other plot than that of knowing the sentimenta of 'ne 
 French nation."
 
 1816 — NOVEMBER. 143 
 
 He then sent for St. Denis, who had copied Las Cases' journal, 
 And asked him the nature of it. St. Denis replied that it was a 
 cvirnal of everything remarkable that had taken place since the 
 embarkation on board of the Bellerophon ; and contained divers 
 anecdotes of different persons, of Sir George Cockburn," &o. 
 "How is he treated ?" says Napoleon, " Comme fa, Sire, (indil 
 ferently). Has he said that I called him a requi?i, (shark !") 
 '' Yes, Sire." " Sir George Bingham ?" " Very well spoken of, 
 also Colonel Wilks." " Is there anything to compromise any 
 person"?" (naming three or four.) "No, Sire." ''Anything 
 about Admiral Malcolm ?" "Yes, Sire." "Does it say that 1 
 observed. Behold the countenance of a real Englishman ?" " Yes, 
 Sire, he is very well treated." "Anything about the governor'?" 
 "A great deal. Sire," replied St. Denis, who could not help 
 smiling. " Does it say that 1 said, C^est un hotnme ignoble, (he 
 is a vile man,) and that his face was the most ignoble I had ever 
 seen ?" St. Denis replied in the affirmative, but added, that his 
 expressions were very frequently moderated. Napoleon asked if 
 the anecdote of the coffee-cup was in it : St. Denis replied, he 
 did not recollect it. " Does it say that I called him sbire Sicilien f 
 " Oui, Sire." (Yes, sir.) " Cest son nom,^'' (that is his name) 
 said the emperor. 
 
 Napoleon conversed about his brother Joseph, whom he de- 
 scribed as being a most excellent character. " His virtues and 
 talents are those of a private character ; and for such, nature 
 intended him : he is too good to be a great man. He has no 
 ambition. He is very like me in person, but handsomer. Hi' 
 is extremely well informed, but his learning is not that which i> 
 fitted for a kiing ; nor is he capable of commanding an army." 
 
 29/A. — Having been unwell for some days with a liver com- 
 plaint, a disease extremely prevalent, and frequently fatal in the 
 island ; and finding the symptoms considerably aggravated by 
 tne frequent journeys I was obliged to make to town and Plan- 
 tation House, I felt it necessary to apply to Dr. M'Lean of the 
 53d regiment to bleed me to a very large extent. Before the 
 ftbatraction of blood was well over, Sir Hudson Lowe came into 
 roy apartment. I informed him that Napoleon had said, "What
 
 lU A VOICK KHOM ST. UKLKNA. 
 
 cuaraiiti'f can I liavf that lie will iu»t coiin' up soino day, wh»n i 
 have nearly fniislu'd my history, and seize it under some pro- 
 text ?" whieh he had desireil might be communicated to him. 
 Sir Hudson replied, "The iruarantee of his jfood conduct!" 
 
 Shortly afterwards, I saw Naj)oleon in his dressing-room, lie 
 was much j>leased at having received the campaigns of Ital}, and 
 added that he would rochiim the other papers. " This governor," 
 said he, "if he had any delicacy, would not have contimied to 
 read a work in which his conduct was depictt-d in its true ligiit. 
 He must have been little satisfied with the comparisons made 
 between Cockburn and him, especially where it is mentioned 
 that 1 said the admiral was rough, but incapable of a mean ac- 
 tion ; but that his successor was capable of every thing that was 
 *** and ***. I am glad, however, that he has read it, because 
 he will see the real opinion that we have of him," While he 
 was speaking, my vision became indistinct, every thing appeared 
 to swim before my eyes, and I fell upon the floor in a fainting lit. 
 When I recovered my senses and opened my eyes, the first oitject 
 which presented itself to my view, I shall never forget : it was 
 the countenance of Napoleon, bending over my face, and regard- 
 ing me with an expression of great concern and anxiety. With 
 one hand he was opening my shirt collar, and with the other, 
 holding a bottle of vinaigre de quutre voleurs (double distilled 
 vinegar) to my nostrils. He had taken off my cravat, and dash- 
 ed the contents of a bottle of eau de Cologne (Cologne water) 
 over my face. " When I saw you fall," said he, " 1 at first 
 thought that your foot had slipped ; but seeing you remain with- 
 out motion, I apprehended that it was a fit of apoplexy ; observ- 
 ing, however, that your face was the color of death, your lips 
 white, and without motion, and no evident respiration or bloated 
 countenance, I concluded directly that it was a fit of syncope, or 
 that your soul had depar,;ed." Marchand now^ came into the 
 room, whom he ordered to give me some orange-flower water, 
 which was a favorite remedy of his. When he saw me fall, iu 
 his haste he broke the bell ribband. He told me that he had 
 lifted me up, placed me in a chair, t(jrn ofl" my eiavat. dashed 
 Home (au de Cologne and water over my face, &c., and asked if
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 145 
 
 he had done right. I informed him that he had done every thing 
 proper, and as a surgeon would have done under similar circum- 
 stances ; except that instead of allowing me to remain in a re- 
 cumbent posture, he had placed me in a chair. When I was 
 leaving the room, 1 heard him tell Marchand in an under-voice, 
 to follow me, for fear I should have another fit. 
 
 1st December. — Napoleon, after some inquiries touching my 
 health, and the effects of the mercury upon me, observed that he 
 wished Las Cases to go away, as three or four months stay in St. 
 Helena would be of little utility either to Las Cases or himself. 
 " The next," said he, " to be removed under some pretext, will 
 be Montholon, as they see that he is a most useful and consoling 
 friend to me, and that he always endeavors to anticipate my 
 wants. I am less unfortunate than them. I see nobody ; they 
 are subject to daily insults and vexations. They cannot speak, 
 they cannot write, they cannot stir out without submitting to 
 degrading restrictions. I am sorry that two months ago they did 
 not all go. I have sufficient force to resist alone against all this 
 tyranny. It is only prolonging their agony to keep them here a 
 few months longer. After they have been taken away, you will 
 be sent off, et alors le crime sera co7isomme^ (and then the crime 
 will be consummated.) They are subject to every caprice which 
 arbitrary power chooses to inflict, and are not protected by any 
 laws. He is at once geolier, governor, accuser, judge, and some- 
 times executioner ; for example, when he seized that East Indian 
 servant, who was recommended by that brave homyne, (brave 
 man,) Colonel Skelton, to General Montholon, as a good servant. 
 He came up here nnd seized the man with his own hands under 
 my windows. He did justice to himself certainly ; le metier (Vun 
 shire lui convieni beaucoup mieux que celui de representant d\ine 
 grande natioti. (The duty of a spy agrees much better with him 
 than that of representing a great nation.) A soldier is better 
 off than they are, as, if he is accused, he must be tried according 
 to known forms before he can be punished. In the worst dun- 
 geon in England, a prisoner is nof, denied printed papers and 
 books. Except obliging me to see him, he bad done ewary thing 
 to annoy me." 
 
 7
 
 146 A V«»:CK FKt»M SI. IIKLKNA. 
 
 "Instead of allowing us tn lie siiljfct [n ili(> caiiricf of nn in- 
 dividual," added he, " there ought to lie a couneil eotnposed of 
 the admiral, Sir George Hinghani, and two menihers of the 
 couiieil to deltate and doeide upon the measures necessary to be 
 adoptrd towards \is." 
 
 •"'■'/• — Naj>olet.n sent for me at one o'clock, P. M. Found 
 him in lied suflering from headache and general uneasiness, which 
 had Keen j^receded hy shiverings. Had a little fever during the 
 night. I recommended some remedies, and pointed out in strong 
 terms the necessity there was of his Collowing my advice, and 
 especially in taking exercise, and my iirm conviction, that in the 
 contrary case, he would soon be seized with an alarming fit of 
 illness. "■ Tandi vieglio,''^ replied Napoleon; "-piii presto si 
 piira.'' (So much the better, it will be the sooner finished.) 
 
 4th. — Wrote an account of the state of Napoleon's health, and 
 of the advice which I had given him, to Sir Hudson Lowe. 
 Napoleon somewhat better, — Observed that it was impossible 
 for him to follow the recommendation I had given, to take exer- 
 cise ; first, on account of the restrictions, and next, the furious 
 wind, or when that was calmed, the want of shade at Long wood 
 to protect him from the rays of the tropical sun. He gave his 
 opinions about Moreau and others. " Moreau," said he, " was 
 an excellent general of division, but not fit to command a large 
 army. With a hundred thousand men, Moreau would divide his 
 army in different positions, covering roads, and would not do 
 more than if he had only thirty thousand. He did not kiiow 
 hi>w to profit either by the number of his troops, or by their 
 positions. Very calm and cool in the field, he was more collected 
 and better able to command in the heat of an action than to 
 make dispositions prior to it. He was often seen smoking his 
 pipe in battle, Moreau was not naturally a man of a bad heart; 
 un bo/i vivaut, 7naiii il ii'avait pas beu^icovp de caractere. (One 
 who lived well, but had no character.) He was led away by 
 his wife and another intriguing Creole. His having joined 
 Pichegru and Georges in the conspiracy, and subscijucntly having 
 closed his life tightnig against his country, will ever disgrace his 
 memory. As a general, Moreau was infinitely inferior to Desaix,
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 147 
 
 or to Kleber, or even to Soult. Of all the generals 1 ever had 
 under me, Desaix and Kleber possessed the greatest talents; 
 especially Desaix, as Kleber only loved glory, inasmuch as it 
 v^'as the means of procuring him riches and pleasures, whereas 
 Desaix loved glory for itself and despised every thing else. 
 Desaix was wholly wrapped up in war and glory. To hiin 
 riches and pleasure were valueless, nor did he give them a m<.i 
 ment's thought. He was a little black-looking man, about an 
 inch shorter than I am, always badly dressed, sometimes even 
 ragged, and despising comfort or convenience. When in Egypt, 
 I made him a present of a complete field-equipage several times, 
 but he always lost it. Wrapped up in a cloak, Desaix threw 
 himself under a gun, and slept as contentedly as if he were in a 
 palace. For him, luxury had no charms. Upright and honest 
 in all his proceedings, he was called by the Arabs the just sultan. 
 He was intended by nature for a great general. Kleber and 
 Desaix were a loss irreparable to France. Had Kleber lived, 
 your army in Egypt would have perished. Had that imbecile 
 Menou attacked you on your landing with twenty thousand men, 
 as he might have done, instead of the division Lanusse, your 
 army would have been only a meal for them. Your army was 
 seventeen or eighteen thousand strong, without cavalry. 
 
 " Lasnes, when I first took him by the hand, Avas an ignoran- 
 iaccio, (ignoramus). His education had been much neglected. 
 However, he improved greatly ; and to judge from the astonish- 
 ing progress he made, he would have been a general of the first 
 class. He had great experience in war. He had been in fifty- 
 four pitched battles, and in three hundred combats of differeir 
 kinds. He was a man of uncommon bravery — cool in the midsl 
 of fire ; and possessed of a clear, penetrating eye, ready to take 
 advantage of any opportunity which might present itself. Vio- 
 lent and hasty in his expressions, sometimes even in my pre- 
 sence. He was ardently attached to me. In the midst of his 
 auger he would not suffer any person to join him in his remarks. 
 On that account, when he was in a choleric mood, it was danger- 
 ous to speak to him, as he used to come to me in his rage, and
 
 148 A VOKK KKOM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 sav tliat siuh and siioh porsoiis wfie not to lie trusted. As a 
 general, he wjis greatlv superior to Moreau, or to Soult." 
 
 " Masseiui," said ho, "was a man of superior talent. He 
 generally, however, made bad dispositions previous to a battle; 
 and it was not until the dead beiiaii to fall about him, that he 
 began to act with that judgment which he ought to have dis- 
 played before. In the midst of the dying and the dead, of balls 
 sweeping away those who eneircleil him, then Massena was hiui- 
 self — gave his orders, and made his dispositions with the greatest 
 sang fhiid and judgment. This is, la vera nobilta di sanyuc* It 
 was truly said of Massena, that he never began to act with judg- 
 ment until the battle was going against him. He was, however, 
 MM vo/eur, (a roblter). He went halves along with the contrac- 
 tors and commissaries of the army. I signified to him often, 
 that if he would discontinue his speculations, I would make him 
 a present of eight hundred thousand or a million of francs ; but 
 he had acquired such a habit, that he could not keep his hands 
 from money. On this account he was hated by the soldiers, who 
 mutinied against him three or four times. However, considering 
 the circumstances of the times, he was precious ; and had not 
 his bright parts been soiled with the vice of avarice, he would 
 have been a great man." 
 
 " Pichegru," continued Napoleon, " was repetitieur (private 
 teacher) at Brienne, and instructed me in mathematics, when I 
 was about ten years old. He possessed considerable knowledge 
 in that science. As a general, Pichegru was a man of no ordi- 
 nary talent, far superior to Moreau, although he had never done 
 anything extraordinarily great, as the success of the campaigns in 
 Holland was in a great measure owing to the battle of Fleurus. 
 Pichegru, after he had united himself to the Bourbons, sacrificed 
 the lives of upwards of twenty thousand of his soldiers, by 
 throwing them purposely into the enemy's hands, whom he had 
 informed beforehand of his intentions. He had a dispute once 
 with Kleber, at a time when, instead of marching his army upon 
 Mayence, as he ought to have done, he marched the greatest part 
 of them to another point, where Kleber observed that it would 
 
 * True nobleness of blood.
 
 1816 —DECEMBER. 149 
 
 <jnly be necessary to send the ambulances with a few men to 
 make a show. At that time, it was thought to be imbecility, 
 but afterwards it was discovered to be treachery. One of Piche- 
 gru's projects was for Louis to come and join the army under 
 his command, and to cause him&elf to be proclaimed king. In 
 order to ensure success, he signified to Louis that it was neces- 
 sary for him to bring a large sum of money ; as he said that 
 Vive le Hoi lay at the bottom of the goaier, and that it would 
 require a great quantity of wine to bring it (Jut of the mouth. 
 If Louis had come," continued he, " he would have been shot." 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe came up to Longwood, and observed to me, 
 that General Bonaparte had adopted a very bad mode of proce- 
 dure, by in a manner declaring war against him, (Sir Hudson,) 
 when he was the only person who had it in his power to render 
 him a service, or to make his situation comfortable. Count Las 
 Cases had, he said, much altered his opinion concerning him 
 since the intercourse they had had together, and no longer looked 
 upon him in the light of an arbitrary tyrant, who did every thing 
 to annoy them ; which change of opinion the Count had signified 
 to him ; and had confessed that they had represented every thing 
 to General Boraparte " jij«r wi voile de sa/;^,"* (through a bloody 
 veil.) That I had better try to remove any false impressions 
 under which General Bonaparte might labor. He then asked me 
 if I had ever signified to General Bonaparte, that the French who 
 were with him, only wanted to make an instrument of him to 
 aggrandize themselves, without caring by what means they 
 effected if? I replied, that certainly I never had signified any 
 thing of the kind to him ; but that I had always labored to unde- 
 ceive him, whenever I perceived that he was misinformed. Sir 
 Hudson Lowe said, that the ministers would hold me in some 
 degree accountable, that General Bonaparte was correctly informed 
 of every thing ; and that no false colorings, misrepresentations, 
 or malicious constructions were put upon what was done. His 
 excellency then made some remarks upon " General Bonaparte's 
 constantly confining himself to his room," and asked what I sup- 
 posed would induce him to go out? I replied an enlargement of 
 
 • Sir Hudson Lowe's own words.
 
 150 A VOICK FKOM .ST. IlKI-KNA. 
 
 his bouiitlarios, taking ofl'soim- of tlio roslrii'tioiis, and giving hin, 
 a house at tho othor side of iho island. That h»> had froqiiciilly 
 eoiiijdaini'd thai he lould not walk out at Loiigwood, without 
 getting a pain in his lioad from the sun, as there was no shade; 
 or if the rays of the sun were ohseured, his cheek got inflamed ; 
 or a aitarrh was produced by the sharp wind blowing over at 
 elevated spot without shelter. I observed, also, that the allow- 
 ance of provision was totally insufllcient, as the French laid out 
 seven or eight pounds a day, in articles which were indispensable; 
 which 1 enumerated. Sir Hudson Lowe answered, " th;it with 
 respect to this last, he had exceeded l)y one half what was 
 allowed by the ministers, who were ausweral)le to parliament 
 that the expenses of Longwuod did not exceed eight thousand 
 pounds per annum, and that perhaps he (Sir Hudson) might be 
 obliged hereafter to pay the surplus out of his own salary. That 
 his instructions were much more rigid than those of his prede- 
 cessor. But unfortunately General Bonaparte had thought that 
 he had come out furnished with instructions of a much more 
 lenient nature than those of the admiral ; when the fact was 
 directly the reverse. That all his actions had been misconstrued 
 and misrepresented, and malicious constructions put upon them. 
 That the British government did not wish to render General 
 Bonaparte's existence miserable, or to torture him. That it was 
 not so much himself (Bonaparte) they were afraid of; but that 
 turbulent and disaffected people in Europe would make use of 
 his name and influence, to excite rebellion and disturbances in 
 France, and elsewhere, in order to aggrandize themselves, and 
 otherwise answer their own purposes; also, that Las Cases was 
 very well treated, and wanted for nothing." This he desired I 
 would communicate to General Bonaparte. 
 
 I communicated some of those remarks of the governor's to 
 Napoleon, who replied, " I do not believe that he acts according 
 •^o his instructions; or if he does, he has disgraced himself l»y 
 accepting a dishonoralde employment. A government two thou- 
 sand leagues ofl', and ignorant of the localities of the island, can 
 never give orders in detail ; that they can only give general and 
 discretionary ones. They have only directed him to adopt e:-ery
 
 1816 —DECEMBER. 151 
 
 measure he thinks necessary to prevent my escape. Instead of 
 that, I am treated in a manner dishonorable to humanity. To 
 kill and bury a man is well understood ; but this slow torture, 
 this killing in detail, is much less humane than if they ordered 
 me to be shot at once. I have often heard," continued he, " of 
 the tyranny and oppression practiced in your colonies ; but ! 
 never thought that there could exist such violations of law and 
 of justice, as are practiced here. From what I have seen of you 
 English, I think there is not a nation on earth more enslaved ; 
 as I told Colonel Wilks, the former governor of this island." 
 
 Here I observed, that I begged of him not to form his opinion 
 of the English nation by a little colony, placed under peculiar 
 circumstances, and subject to military law ; that to judge cor- 
 rectly of England, one must be there^ and there he would see how 
 little a person with a brown, or a black coat, cared about the 
 ministers. " So said the old colonel," replied Napoleon ; " but I 
 only speak of you as I have seen you, and I find you to be the 
 greatest slaves upon earth : all trembling with fear at the sight 
 of that governor. There is Sir George Bingham, who is a well- 
 disposed man, yet he is so much afraid, that he will not come 
 and see me, through fear that he might give umbrage to the 
 governor : the rest of the officers run away at the sight of us." 
 I observed that it was not fear, but delicacy, which prevented Sir 
 George Bingham from coming, and that as to the other officers, 
 they must obey the orders which they had received. Napoleon 
 replied, " If they were French officers, they would not be afraid 
 of expressing their opinion as to the barbarity of the treatment, 
 pursued here ; and a French general, second in command, would, 
 if he saw his country dishonored in the manner yours is, write a 
 complaint of it himself to his government. As to myself," 
 continued he, " I would never make a complaint if I did not 
 know, that were an inquiry demanded by the nation, your minis- 
 ters would say, ' He has never complained, and therefore he is 
 conscious that he is well treated, and that thei-c are no grounds 
 for it.' Otherwise, I should conceive it degrading to me to utter 
 a word ; though I am so disgusted with the conduct of this sbirro, 
 (spy) that I should, with the greatest pleasure, receive the inti-
 
 162 A vmcE FivdM sr. iiklena. 
 
 mation thai orders IjjuI arrivi'd tu shoot mo, — I should t.v>teem it 
 a blessing." 
 
 I observed, that Sir Hudson liowe had professed himself very 
 desirous to aeeommodatc and arranj^e matters in an ainienble 
 nuuiner. Napoleon replied, " If he w ishes to accommodate mat 
 lers, let him juit things upon the same footing they were during 
 the time of Admiral Cockburn. Let no person be permitted to 
 enter here for the purpose of seeing me, without a letter from 
 Bertrand. If he does not like to give Bertrand liberty to pass 
 people in, let him make out a list himself of such persons in the 
 island as he will allow to visit me, and send it to Bertrand, and 
 let the latter have the power to grant them permission to enter, 
 and to write to them. When strangers arrive, in like manner 
 let him make out a list of such persons as he will permit to see 
 us, and during their stay, let them be allowed to visit with Ber- 
 trand's pass. Perhaps I would see very few of them, as it is 
 difficult to distinguish between those who come up to see me as 
 they would a wild boar, and others, who are actuated by motives 
 of respect, l)ut still, I should like to have the privilege. It is for 
 him to accommodate if he likes ; he has the power — I have none; 
 I am not governor; I have no places to give away. Let him 
 takeoff his prohibitions, that I shall not quit the high-road, or 
 speak to a lady if I meet one. In a few words, che si comporti 
 bene verso di me, (let him behave well to me). If he does not 
 choose to treat me like a man, che ha giuocato un ruolo net mondo 
 come quel che ho giuocato io, (if he does not choose to treat me 
 like a man who had played the part in life I have) let him not 
 treat me worse than a galley-slave or a condemned criminal, as 
 those are not prohibited to speak. Let him do this, and then I 
 will say that he acted at first inconsiderately, through fear of my 
 escaping, but that when he saw his error, he was not ashamed to 
 alter his treatment. Then I will say, that I formed a hasty opi- 
 nion of him ; that 1 have been mistaken. Ma siete un bambino, 
 doiiore, (you are a child, doctor) ; you have too good an opinion 
 of mankind. This man is not sincere. I believe the opinion I 
 first formed of him is correct, that he is a man whose natural 
 badness is increased by suspicion and diead of the responsibility
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 153 
 
 of the situation which he holds, Cest un homrne retors, abject et 
 tout a fait andessous de sou emploi, (he is an artful man, abject, 
 and entirely unworthy his employment). I would wager my 
 life," continued he, " that if I sent for Sir George Bingham, or 
 the admiral, to ride out with me, before I had gone out three 
 times with either the one or the other, this governor would make 
 some insinuations to them, which would render me liable to be 
 affronted by their refusing to accompany me any longer. He 
 says, that Las Cases is well treated, and wants for nothing ; be- 
 cause he does not starve him. Cest un honime vraiment ignoble^ 
 (he is indeed a base man). He degrades his own species ; he 
 pays no attention to the moral wants which distinguish the man 
 from the brute ; he only looks to the physical and grosser ones. 
 Just as if Las Cases were a horse, or an ass, and that a bundle 
 of hay was sufficient to entitle him to say he is happy ; because 
 his belly was full, therefore all his wants were satisfied." 
 
 bth. — Had a long conversation with the emperor in his bath. 
 Asked his opinion of the Emperor Alexander, " Cest un homme 
 extrememeiit faux ; un Grec du bas empire.'''' (He is an hypocritical 
 man ; a Greek of the lower empire,) replied Napoleon. " He is 
 the only one of the three,* who has any talent. He is plausible, 
 a great dissimulator, very ambitious, and a man who studies tc 
 make himself popular. It is his foible to believe himself skilled 
 in the art of war, and he likes nothing so well as to be compli- 
 mented upon it, though every thing that originated with himself 
 relative to military operations, was ill-judged and absurd. At 
 Tilsit, Alexander and the King of Prussia used frequently to oc- 
 cupy themselves in contriving dresses for dragoons ; debating upon 
 what button the crosses of the orders ought to be hung, and such 
 other fooleries. They fancied themselves on an equality with 
 the best generals in Europe, because they knew how many rows 
 of buttons there were upon a dragoon's jacket. I could scarcely 
 keep from laughing sometimes, when I heard them discussing 
 these coglioiierie (trifles) with as nmch gravity and earni'stness as 
 if they were planning an impending action between two hundred 
 thousand men. However, I encouraged them in their arguments, 
 
 * Alexander, Francis, and the King of Prussift. 
 
 7*
 
 154 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 as I saw it \\:is tluir woak point. Wo rudo out every day toge 
 llur. The king of Prussia was une bite, et nous a tellemeu, 
 tnnuyi, (an iiliot, and wearied us so,) that Alexander and myself 
 freijiientl} galloped away in order to get rid of him." 
 
 Napoleon afterwards rectmnted to nie some part of his early 
 life : said, that after having been at school at Brienne, he was 
 sent to Paris, at the age of fifteen or sixteen, "where at the 
 general e.xaminatlon," continued he, "being found to have given 
 the best answers in mathematics, I was appointed to the artil- 
 lery. After the revolution, about one-third of the artillery offi- 
 cers emigrated, and I became chef de bataUhn at the siege of 
 ''oulon ; having been proposed by the artillery officers them- 
 selves as the person who, amongst them, possessed the most 
 knowledge of the science. During the siege, 1 commanded the 
 artillery, directed the operations against the town, and took 
 U'llara prisoner, as I formerly told you. After the siege, I was 
 made commandant of the artillery of the army of Italy, and my 
 plans caused the capture of many considerable fortresses in 
 Switzerland and Italy. On my return to Paris, I was made 
 general, and the command of the army in La Vendee ofTered to 
 me, which I refused, and replied that such a command was only 
 fit for a general of gendarmerie. On the 13th of Vendemiaire, I 
 commanded the army of the convention in Paris against the 
 sections, whom I defeated after an action of a few minutes. 
 Subsequently, I got the command of the army of Italy, where I 
 established my reputation. Nothing," continued he, "has been 
 more simple than my elevation. It was not the result of intrigue 
 <jr crime. It was owing to the peculiar circumstances of the 
 limes, and because 1 fought successfully against the enemies of 
 my country. What is most extraordinary, and 1 believe un- 
 paralleled in history, is, that I rose from being a private person 
 to the astonishing height of power I possessed, without having 
 coranaitted a single crime to obtain it. If I were on my death- 
 bed, I could make the same declaration." 
 
 I asked if it were true that he was indebted to Barras for 
 employment at Toulon, and if he had ever offered his services to 
 the English. " Both are false," replied Napoleon. " 1 had no
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 156 
 
 connexion with Barras until after the affair of Toulon. It was to 
 Gasparin, deputy f(jr Oi-ange, and a man of talent, to whom I 
 was chiefly indebted for protection at Toulon, and support against 
 a set of ignorantacci sent down by the convention. I never in 
 my life offered my services to England, nor ever intended it. 
 Nor did I ever intend to go to Constantinople : all those accourt ^ 
 sont des romans, (are mere romances.) I passed a short tini.' 
 
 with Paoli in Corsica, in the year , who was very partial to 
 
 me, and to whom I was then much attached. Paoli espoused the 
 cause of the English faction, and I that of the French, and con- 
 sequently most of my family were driven away from Corsica 
 Paoli often patted me on the head, saying, ' you are one of 
 Plutarch's men.' He divined that I should be something extra- 
 ordinai'y." 
 
 He spoke about the expedition to Copenhagen. " That expe- 
 dition," said he, " showed great energy on the part of your mi- 
 nisters : but setting aside the violation of the laws of nations 
 which you committed, for in fact it was nothing but a robbery, I 
 think that it was injurious to your interests, as it made the brave 
 Danish nation irreconcilable enemies to you, and, in fact, shut 
 you out of the north for three years. When I heard of it, I said, 
 I am glad of it, as it will embroil England irrecoverably with the 
 northern powers. The Danes being able to join me with sixteen 
 sail of the line was of but little consequence. I had plenty of 
 ships, and only wanted seamen, whom you did not take, and 
 whom I obtained afterwards; while by the expedition, your mi- 
 nisters established their characters as faithless and as persons 
 with whom no engagements, no laws, were binding." 
 
 "During the war with you," said he, "all the intelligence 1 
 received from England came through the smugglers. They are 
 terrible people, and have courage and ability to do any thing for 
 money. They had at first a part of Dunkerque allotted to them, 
 to which they were restricted ; but as they latterly went out of 
 their limits, committed riots, and insulted every body ; I ordered 
 Gravelines to be prepared for their reception, where they had a 
 little camp for their accommodation, beyond which they wers 
 not permitted to gw. At one time, (here were upwards of fiv<.'
 
 lf»6 A VOICK FROM ST. HKI.ENA. 
 
 huiulrod III" tliiin ill I >iiiik(i(|iir. I li;iil cvi-iy information I 
 wsuiteti through tht'iii. They brought over newspapers and 
 dispatches from the spies that we liail in IjOIkIou. 'I'hi'y took 
 over spies from France, hmded and l<(iit tiicni in tlieir houses A>r 
 some days, then dispersed them over the country, and lirought 
 them Itaek when wanted. The j>oIi(e had in pay a number of 
 French emigrants, who gave constant inforniation of the actions 
 of the Vendean party, Georges, and otiiers, at the time they 
 were preparing to assassinate me. All their movements were 
 made known. Besides, the police had in pay many h]nglish 
 spies, some of high quality, amongst whom th re were many 
 ladies. There was one lady in particular of very high rr.nk who 
 furnished considerable information, and was sometimes paid so 
 high as three thousand pounds in one month. They came over," 
 continued he, '• in boats not broader than this l)ath. It was 
 really astonishing to see them passing your seventy-four gun 
 ships in defiance." I observed, that they wore doulde spies, and 
 that they brought intelligence from France to the British gov- 
 ernment. "That is very likely," replied Napoleon. "They 
 brought you newspapers; but I believe, that as spies, they did 
 not convey much intelligence to you. They are (/end terribili, 
 (terrible people.) and did great mischief to your government. 
 They took from France annually forty or fifty millions of silks 
 and brandy. They assisted the French prisoners to escape from 
 England. The relations of Frenchmen, prisoners in your con- 
 try, were accustomed to go to Dunkerque, and to make a bargain 
 with them to bring over a certain prisoner. All that they want- 
 ed was the name, age, and a private token, by means of which 
 the prisoner might rejiose confidence in them. Generally, in a 
 short time afterwards, they eficcted it; as, for men like them, 
 they had a great deal of honor in their dealings. They offered 
 several times to bring over Louis and the rest of the Bourbons 
 for a sum of money ; but they wanted to stipulate, that if they 
 met with any accident, or interruption to their design, they might 
 be allowed to massacre them. This I would not consent to. 
 Besides, I despised the Bourbons too much, and had no fear of 
 thei.1 : indeed, at that time, they were no more thought of in
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 167 
 
 France than the Stuarts were in England. They also offered to 
 bring over Dumourier, Sarrazin, and others, whom they thought 
 I hated, but I held them in too much contempt to take any 
 trouble about them." 
 
 This conversation was brought about by my telling him that 
 Lefebvre Desnouettes had arrived at New York, and was with 
 his brother Joseph ; when I asked if Lefebvre had not broken his 
 parole in England, Napoleon replied that he had, and then ol)- 
 served, " A great deal has been said about French officers having 
 been employed after having broken their parole in England. 
 Now the fact is, that the English themselves were the first to 
 break their parole at a time when twelve of them ran away. 1 
 proposed afterwards to your ministers, that both governments 
 should reciprocally send back every prisoner of whatsoever rank 
 he might be, who had broken his parole and escaped. This they 
 refused to do, and I became indifferent about it. I did not re- 
 ceive at court those who escaped ; or encourage them, nor dis- 
 courage them, after this refusal. Your ministers made a great 
 fuss [chiasso) about officers who broke their parole having been 
 employed in my armies, though they refused to agree to the only 
 measure which could put a stop to it, viz. that both sides should 
 send them back immediately ; and afterwards had the impudence 
 to attempt to throw all the odium upon me. But you English 
 can never do any wrong." 
 
 I asked if he thought that the expedition to Walcheren might, 
 if it had been well conducted, have taken Antwerp? Napoleon 
 replied, "I am of opinion, that if you had landed a few thousand 
 men at first at Williamstadt, and marched directly for Antwerp, 
 that be*";ween c(jnsternation, want of preparation, and the uncer- 
 tainty of the number of assailants, you might have taken it by a 
 Mup de main. But after the fleet had got up, it was impossible ; 
 as the crews of the ships, united to the national guard, workmen, 
 and others, amounted to upwards of fifteen thousand men. The 
 ships would have been sunk, or taken into the docks, and the 
 crews employed upon the batteries. Besides, Antwerp, though 
 old, is strongly fortified. It is true that Lord Chatham did ever)^ 
 thing possible to ensure the failure of the object of the expedition ,
 
 158 A VOk'K FUOM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 I'Ul artor tlu" iK'Iav of a f«'\v tla_\ s, it \soiilil liavf Ixm-ii impossiltle 
 for anv man to havo i-ni'i-tt'ti it. You had too many and too few 
 men ; too many for a coup de main, and too few for a regular 
 siege. The inhabitants were all against you ; as they saw 
 clearly that your oliject was to get possession of the town, t J 
 liurn and destroy every thing, and then go to your ships and get 
 away, it was a very liad expedition for you. Your ministers 
 were very badly informed about the country. You had after- 
 wards the httise to stay in that ])estilential place, until you lost 
 some thousands of men. C'etuit le comble de la betise et de 
 V'mhumamte* I was very glad of it, as I knew that disease 
 would carry you off by thousands, and oblige you to evacuate it, 
 without any exertion being made on my part. 1 sent none but 
 deserters and mauvais siijels to garrison it, and gave orders that 
 they should sleep in two frigates I had sent there for that pur- 
 pose. I also had water conveyed to them at a great expense, 
 but still it was most unhealthy. The general who commanded 
 Flushing," added he, "did not defend it as long as he ought to 
 have done. He had made a large fortune by the smugglers (as 
 there was another depot of them there) and had been guilty of 
 some mal-practices ; for which he was afraid of being brought to 
 a court-martial, and I believe was glad to get away." 
 
 I asked him if it were true that a Corsican, named Masseria, 
 had been sent with some proposals to him once by our govern- 
 ment? Napoleon replied, "Masseria? Yes, I recollect per- 
 tectly well that he was brought to me when I was first consul. 
 lie was introduced with great mystery and secrecy into my room, 
 when 1 was in a bath, as I am now. I think he began to speak 
 about some political matters, and to make some insinuations 
 al)Out peace, but I stopped him, as it had been published in the 
 English papers, that he was coming upon some mission to me^ 
 which I did not like. Besides, Masseria, though vn hravissimc 
 tiomo, (a very fine man,) was a great bavard, (talker.) 1 believe 
 that he was sent by king George himself. He was a republican, 
 and maintained that the death of Charles !. was just and nece:^ 
 wry." 
 
 * It was the height of idiotiHin ami of iiiliumanity.
 
 1816 — Beckmber. 169 
 
 Lady Lowe came up to Longwood, and for the first time paid 
 a visit to Countesses Bertrand and Montiiolon. 
 
 Gth. — Napoleon observed to me, that the visit of Lady Lowe 
 yesterday appeared to him to be an artifice of her husband, per 
 gettar la polvere negli occhi (to throw dust in the eyes ;) to make 
 people believe that notwithstanding the arrest of Las Cases, the 
 governor was very well at Longwood, and had only done his 
 duty ; and that there was no foundation for the reports which had 
 been spread of the ill treatment said to be inflicted upon the in- 
 habitants of Longwood. I informed him, that Lady Lowe had 
 been always desirous to call upon Countesses Bertrand and Mon- 
 tholon, and had embraced the first opportunity which presented 
 itself after her accouchement. Napoleon replied, " I am far 
 from thinking that she participates in the designs of her husband, 
 but she has badly chosen the time. At the moment when he 
 treats Las Cases so barbarously and illegally, he sends her up. 
 It is either an artifice of her husband's to blind the world ; or 
 else he mocks our misfortunes. Nothing is so insulting as to 
 add irony to injury." I observed, that more probably it was a 
 preliminary step of the governor's towards an accommodation. 
 " No," replied Napoleon, " that cannot be. If he really wished 
 to accommodate matters, the first step would be to take away 
 some of his useless and oppressive restrictions. Yesterday, after 
 his wife had been here, Madame Bertrand and family went out 
 to walk. On their return, they were stopped and seized by the 
 sentinels, who refused to let them in, because it was six o'clock. 
 Now, in the name of God, if he had a mind to accommodate, 
 would he continue to prevent us from taking a walk at the onlv 
 time of the day when, at this season, it is agreeable. Tell him,'' 
 continued Napoleon, "candidly, the observations I have made, 
 if he asks you what I thought of the visit." 
 
 7/A. — Wrote to Sir Hudson Lowe a statement of what Napo- 
 leon had informed me on the 4th inst. would be the best mode 
 of eflfecting an accommodation. 
 
 Had a long conversation with Napoleon upon the anatomy of 
 the human body. He desired to see some anatomical plates, 
 which I explained to him. He informed me that he had tried tc
 
 160 A VOICK FROM ST. IlKl.KNA. 
 
 sUiJv anatomy at ono tiiiu-, Imt thai lie had hoon disfj;ustt'd with 
 the sight and smell of tho siibjcels. 1 observed that phites only 
 served to remind a person of what he had already learmd from 
 actual dissection; for whieh last they could never be entirely 
 substituted. lu this Napoleon perfectly agreed with me, and 
 pave nie some account of the great encouragement which he had 
 given to the schools of anatomy and surgery ; and of the facili- 
 ties whieh he hail allonled to medical students to learn their pro- 
 fessions at a trilling expense. 
 
 Heard him e.\i>ress some sentiments afterwards relative to a 
 few of the characters who had figured in the revolution, "liobe- 
 spierre," said he, " though a blood-thirsty monster, was not so 
 bad as Collot d'Herbois, Billaud de Varennes, Hebert, Fouquier 
 Tinville, and many others. Latterly Robespierre wished to be 
 more moderate ; and actually, sometime before his death, said 
 that he was tired of executions, and suggested moderati(jn. VVheu 
 Hebert accused the queen de contrarier la nature, (contrary to 
 nature) Robespierre proposed that he should be denounced, as 
 naving made such an improbable accusation, purposely to excite 
 a sympathy amongst the people, in order that they might rise 
 and rescue her. From the beginning of the revolution, Louis 
 had constantly the life of Charles the First before his eyes. The 
 example of Charles, who had come to extremities with the par- 
 liament, and lost his head, prevented Louis on many occasions 
 from making the defence which he ought to have done against 
 the revolutionists. When brought to trial, he ought merely to 
 have said, that by the laws he could do no wiong, and that his 
 person was sacred. The queen ought to have done the same. It 
 would have had no effect in saving their lives, but they would 
 have died with more dignity. Robespierre was of opinion that 
 the king ought to have been dispatched privately. ' What is the 
 use,' said Robespierre, ' of this mockery of forms, when you go 
 to the trial prepared to condemn him to death, whether he de- 
 serves it or not?' The queen," added Napoleon, " went to the 
 scaffcjld with some sensations of joy ; and truly it must have 
 been a relief to her to depart from a life in which she was treated 
 with such execrable barbarity. Had I," continued he, " been
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 161 
 
 four or five years older, I have no doubt that I should have been 
 guillotined along with numbers of others." 
 
 8ih. — Napoleon in a bath. Conversed at length about the 
 situation of England, which he imputed entirely to the imbecility 
 of Lord Castlereagh. " If," said he, "your ministers had paid 
 attention to the interests of the country, instead of intriguing, 
 they would have rendered you the most happy, and the most 
 flourishing nation in the world. At the conclusion of the war, 
 they should have said to the Spanish and Portuguese govern- 
 ments, ' We have saved your country — we alone have supported 
 you, and prevented you from falling a prey to France. We have 
 made many campaigns, and shed our best blood in your cause. 
 We have expended many millions of money, and consequently 
 the country is overburdened with debt on yonr account, which 
 we must pay. You have the means of repaying us. Our situa- 
 tion requires that we should liquidate our debts. We demand, 
 therefore, that we shall be the only nation allowed to trade with 
 Soyth America for twenty years, and that our ships shall have 
 the same privilege as Spanish vessels. In this way we will reim- 
 Ijuvse ourselves, without distressing you.' Who," continued he, 
 '• could say 710 to this 1 France is now nothing. Besides, to 
 tell the truth, it would be only a just demand, and none of the 
 allied powers could deny your right to exact it ; for it was 
 through you alone, and the energy which you displayed, that 
 both Spain and Portugal did not fall. You might have asked, 
 ' Who saved Portugal 1 who alone assisted you with men and 
 money, besides having saved your existence as a nation V In 
 this way you would have had your manufacturers thriving ; your 
 sailors employed in your own ships instead of starving, or being 
 forced to seek a livelihood with foreign powers ; your canaille 
 would have been contented and happy, instead of being (jbliged 
 to have recourse to subscriptions to keep them from starvation 
 As it now is, France will soon have the trade of the Biazils ; as 
 you have in your own colonies more cotton and sugar than you 
 want, and consequently will not take the productions of the 
 Brazils in exchange for your merchandise. Now the French 
 will J as Martinique cannot supply a quantity sufficient for the
 
 11)2 A VOICK KKOM ST. HELENA. 
 
 consumption of Franco. Tlicv will exchange their inaniirjicturod 
 poods, silks, furniture, wines, v.Vc., ay;iiiist the colonial produce, 
 and soon have the whole trade of the lirazils. In like manner 
 thev will have the preference in trading with the Spanish colo- 
 nies ; partly on account of the religion, and also heeause the 
 Spaniards, like other nations, are jealous of a people all-powerful 
 at sea, and will constantly assist to lessen that power ; which is 
 most oflectually to be done by Ics-sening your commerce. Ano- 
 ther piece of folly in your ministers, was the allowing any natiou 
 but vtturselves to trade with India; particularly the Dutch, who 
 will be your greatest enemies ; and prol)ably before twenty years, 
 when France has recovered herself, you will see the Dutch unite 
 with her to humble you. If you had made those demands, they 
 must have been granted; and the powers of Europe would not 
 have been more jealous of you than they are now, ami always 
 will be, as long as you have absolute power over the seas, and 
 insist upon the right of search, and other articles of your mari- 
 time code. You would then have the means of keeping up your 
 maritime empire, which must decay if you have not more com- 
 merce than the rest of the world. But your ministers have had 
 false ideas of things. They imagined that they could inundate 
 the continent with your merchandise, and find a ready sale. No, 
 no : the world is now more illuminated.* Even the Russians 
 will say, ' Why should we enrich this nation, to enable her to 
 keep up a monopoly and tyranny of the seas, while our own 
 manufacturers are numerous and skilful V You wnll," continued 
 he, " find that in a few years very little English merchandise 
 will be sold on the continent.f I gave a new era to manufac- 
 tories. The French already excel yo\i in the manufacture of 
 cloths and many other articles. The Hollanders in cambric and 
 linen. I formed several thousand ; I established the ^co/e Po/y- 
 technique, from which hundreds of able chemists went to the dif- 
 ferent manufactories. In each of them, I caused a person well 
 
 • A peruRal of the tariff just promdgated by Eossia, will show how prophetic 
 this opinion was. 
 
 t The whole of this conversation was communicated by me to official penocj 
 ic London shortly after it had taken place.
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 168 
 
 skilled in chemistry to reside. In consequence, everything pro 
 ceeded upon certain and established principles ; and they had a 
 reason to give for every part of their operations, instead of the 
 old vague and uncertain mode. Times are changed," continued 
 Napoleon; "and you must no longer look to the continent for 
 the disposal of your manufactures. America, the Spanish and 
 Portuguese main, are the only vent for them. Recollect whni 
 I say to you. In a year or two your people will complain, and 
 say, ' We have gained everything, but we are starving : we are 
 worse than we were during the war.' Then, perhaps, your min- 
 isters will endeavor to effect what they ought to have done at 
 first. You are not able," continued he, "to face even Prussia in 
 the field, and your preponderance on the continent was entirely 
 owing to your naval sovereignty ; which, perhaps, you will lose 
 by this military disease of your ministers. England has played 
 for all or for nothing, {lia giuocato per tutto o per nienfe). She 
 has gained all, effected impossibilities, yet has nothing ; and her 
 people are starving, and worse than they were during the midst 
 of the war ; while France, who has lost everything, is doing well, 
 and the wants of her people are abundantly supplied. France 
 has got fat, notwithstanding the liberal bleedings which she has 
 had ; while England is like a man who has had a false momentary 
 strength given to him by intoxicating liquors, but who, after their 
 effect, sinks into a state of debility." 
 
 IO//1. — Water very scarce at Longwood. Sir Hudson Lowe 
 gave direction that the horses of the establishment should be 
 rode to water to Hut's Gate, instead of getting it from the tubs 
 that were placed for the use of Napoleon's household. The watci 
 in them is extremely muddy, green, and nauseous. In Dead 
 wood, it is more easy to get a bottle of wine than one of water. 
 Parties of the 53d are employed daily in rolling butts of water 
 to their camp. It reminded me of my former residence in 
 Egypt, where we were obliged to buy bad water, at an exorbitant 
 rate. 
 
 Charles, a mulatto servant, discharged from Longwood. Or- 
 ders given by Sir Hudson Lowe that he should be sent to his 
 bouse. Underwent a long interrogation from his excellency, as
 
 101 A VOICK KKOM ST. HKI.KNA. 
 
 to what 111- liail m-cm iiikI luani (lining the tiiiir hf liail l)ocii n\ 
 Li'iiywooil. Api'litulioii niaiiv to the fioveiiior l>y tlu' oidrrly 
 KtVictT to iiIK>\v a lart fur tho jxirposc of luinging watt-r to the 
 I'Stahlishnu'iit, that in thf tulis l)ein<j: so very scanty and liad. 
 
 Napoleon rather nielamlioly, and annoyed, that instead of tiie 
 whoh' tif the campaigns of Italy having ht>en retnrned by Sir 
 Hudson Lowe, only three or four chapters had been sent. Desir- 
 ed ine to tell Sir Hudson Lowe, that he supposed he was getting 
 them copied, and that acc(.)rding as they were finished, he would 
 send them back. 
 
 llt/t. — Went to riantation House, and ac(iuainted Sir Hudson 
 Lowe with the message I was charged to deliver him. His 
 excellency waxed very wroth, and said, that if General Bonajiarte 
 persisted in his belief tiiat the papers had been kept for the pur- 
 pose of copying, after the assurance to the contrary, which he 
 had yesterday had from young Las Cases ; he (Sir Hudson) con- 
 sidered him unworthy of be'mg treated like a man of honor, and 
 undeserving the consideration due from one gentleman to anolliery 
 This he not only repeated twice, but obliged me to insert it in 
 my pocket-book ; and desired me not on any account to omit 
 communicating those expressions to General Bonaparte. After 
 having cotded a little, however, his excellency rescinded his 
 directions, gave me some explanations which he desired me to 
 make known to Napoleon, and ordered me to rub out of my 
 pocket-book the obnoxious expressions. He then walked about 
 in the library with me, and said, "that in reference and reply to 
 what I had written to him, General Bonaparte could not be per- 
 mitted to run about the country. That if the intentions of 
 ministers were only to prevent his escape from the island, a 
 company's governor would have answered as well as any other 
 person ; but that there were other objects in view, and material 
 ones, which he had been sent out to fulfil. That there were sev- 
 eral strong reasons for not allowing him to communicate in the 
 island. That any man might secure his person by planting 
 seiirries about him, but that nmch more was to be done." When 
 I w&s about to leave the room, he called me back, and said, 
 " Tell General Bonaparte, that it is very fortunate for him that
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 166 
 
 he has so good a man for governor over him ; that others, with 
 the instructions I have, would have put him in chains for his 
 conduct." He concluded by desiring me to endeavor to get Sir 
 Thomas Strange introduced to Napoleon. 
 
 Cipriani in town purchasing provisions. 
 
 I2th. — Explained to Napoleon in the least offensive manner 1 
 could, the message I had been ordered by Sir Hudson Lowe to 
 deliver, with an assurance from the governor, that his papers had 
 been kept sacred ; which I observed had been confirmed by a 
 letter from Emanuel de Las Cases, which had accompanied those 
 that had been returned, testifying that the papers had been re- 
 spected. That Sir Hudson Lowe had told me that during the 
 examination of the papers, which took place always in presence 
 of Las Cases, whenever the latter had pointed out one as belong- 
 ing to him, (Napoleon,) it was immediately put aside, without 
 being looked at ; and that when the examination was finished, the 
 papers were sealed up with Las Cases' seal, and not opened 
 again, unless in his presence. That Sir Hudson had said, that so 
 far from being instigated by malice or revenge, he had written 
 to the ministry to ameliorate his condition, &c. Napoleon re- 
 plied, that he did not believe it; no government two thousand 
 leagues off could know the localities so well as to give minute 
 details, they could only give general orders ; that no asser- 
 tion from a man who had told so many falsehoods, could be 
 credited ; and that the letter from young Las Cases was not 
 satisfactory, as it merely contained an assurance from Sir Hudson 
 Lowe, that they would be respected.* " As to his instructions," 
 continued he, •' I have no doubt that if he has not received 
 written orders to * * *, he has verbal ones, (a voce.) When it 
 is intended to * * *, it is always commenced by cutting off all 
 communication between him and the world ; by enveloping him 
 with mystery and secrecy, in order that after having accustomed 
 the world to hear nothing about him, ******, "Tell him," 
 added he, "my sentiments on the subject." 
 
 I then spoke about Sir Thomas Strange, and inf(jrniod him, that 
 Sir Thomas Strange, who had been chief judge in the East Indies, 
 
 • tbi* reply, in /uU, wascotnniniiicated by iiic in writing to Sir Hudson Lowe.
 
 Irt6 A Vok'K KKOM ST IIKLKNA. 
 
 was desirous of {>;i_\ iiiy his ifspei-ts Id liiin, ami thai his ititcnded 
 visit did not iiriso fitnii luriosity ; hut was ii mark of tiiat alton 
 tion whiili rvery person ought to show towards so great a man, 
 and one who had filled so liigh a station in the world. Napo- 
 leon replievi, "' I will see no person who does not first go to Ber- 
 trand. Tersons sent direet hy the governor 1 will not see, as it 
 would have the appearance of oheying a command from him." 
 
 Count Bertrand now canie in, and mentioned that the governor 
 was at Longwood, and wanted to see me. Napoleon then said, 
 '• If he asks you any (piestions ai)out my thoughts, tell him that 
 I intend wiiting a protest to the Prince Regent against his bar- 
 barous conduct. That his keeping Las Cases in custody, when 
 there is nothing against him, is illegal. That he ought either to 
 be sent back here; or sent off the island; or tried. That if he 
 wishes to accommodate differences, as he informed you, let him 
 alter his conduct, and put matters upon the footing they were 
 
 during the time of Admiral Cockburn. As to the visit of the 
 
 ... 
 judge, whom he wishes me to see, tell him que les gens qui sont 
 
 dans un tombeau ne refoivent pas de visiles, (the inhabitants of 
 
 the tomb receive no visits,) as he has literally immured me in a 
 
 tomb. Besides, according to his restrictions, if the judge does not 
 
 speak French, I cannot employ one of my officers to interpret, as 
 
 he has jtrohiiiitid strangers who may visit me from speaking or 
 
 communicating with any person of my suite, and moreover, I 
 
 have lost Las Cases." 
 
 Count Bertrand desired me to say, that if he saw Sir Thomas 
 Strange, he should be ol)liged to show him those parts of the 
 governor's restrictions, signed by himself, in which he had prohi- 
 bited those who had a pass to see the emperor, from holding any 
 communication with others of his household, unless specially per- 
 mitted. 
 
 Informed Sir Hudson Lowe of what 1 had been desired, which 
 he said he would communicate to Lord Bathurst. He then ob- 
 served, "that Count Las Cases had not followed General Bona- 
 parte out of affection, but merely to have an opportunity of 
 obtaining materials from him to publish his life ; that General 
 Bonaparte did not know what Las Cases had written, or the
 
 1816 — DECEMBER, 16? 
 
 expressions which had dropped from him ; that he had alreadj 
 collected some very curious materials for his history ; that mi 
 nisters feared that some turbulent intriguing persons in France, 
 or on the continent, would indeavor to excite rebellion and new 
 wars in Europe, by making use of his (Napoleon's) name to in- 
 sure their purposes ; that General Bonaparte was very lucky in 
 having so good a man as himself to deal with," &c. 
 
 He added again, that he could not tell the nature of his orders ; 
 that he had an important object to fulfil, independent of the 
 detention of General Bonaparte ; and, after some more conver- 
 sation upon similar subjects, said, that he would give permission 
 to-morrow to Sir Thomas Strange and family to communicate 
 with Bertrand, or with any others of the suite. 
 
 Saw Sir Thomas Reade, to whom I mentioned Napoleon's 
 answer relative to the interview which the governor was desirous 
 to obtain for Sir Thomas Strange. Sir Thomas replied, " If I 
 
 were governor, I'll be d d if I would not make him feel that 
 
 he was a prisoner." I observed, " Why, you cannot do much 
 more to him than you have already done, unless you put him 
 in irons." " Oh," answered Reade, " if he did not comply with 
 
 what I wanted, I'll be d d if I wouldn't take his books 
 
 from him, which I'll advise the governor to do. He is a d d 
 
 outlaw and a jirisoner, and the governor has a right to treat him 
 with as much severity as he likes, and nobody has any business 
 to interfere with him in the execution of his duty." 
 
 Told Napoleon what his excellency had directed me to com- 
 municate. He observed, that the only way to prevent people 
 from making use of his name, in order to excite rebellion, was to 
 put him to death. "That," said he, "is the only effectual mode, 
 and the sooner the better. // rCy a que les morts qui ne reviennent 
 pas,'''' (the dead only return not.) 
 
 " All that he says," continued he, " is per gettar la polvere, (to 
 throw dust,) to deceive the judge, in order that he may say, 
 when he arrives in England, that it is my own fault if I do not 
 receive whoever I please. Un vomo cattivo che ha lutta la scal- 
 trezza Siciliana,^'' (a bad man who has all the villany of a Sicilian.) 
 
 \Zth, — A sealed letter from Napoleon to Las Cases, given by
 
 168 A VOICK FKOM ST. IIKI.KN'A. 
 
 Count HiMtraiiil to ('a|it;iiii l'(>|)j)|fttiii, for tlio piirptise of lu'iiig 
 forwardi'd thiou<jli tlu' ijovcriKir to the Count. At six, P. M., a 
 Jra<;oon liroiiijht two lotters from Sir Hudson Lcwc to Count 
 Hortrand. oiu* ntuining Napoloon's lottor to ('omit Las Cases, 
 because it was sealed, adding, that he would not forward any 
 sealed letter ; and that even if it were open, it would depend 
 upon the nature of the contents, whether it would he forwarded 
 or not ; as he (the governor) did not wish that any communica- 
 tion should take place lietween Longwood and Count Las Cases. 
 In the other, the governor intimated that proljal)ly he should not 
 lake any steps with respect to Las Cases, until he heard from the 
 British government. 
 
 Saw Napoleon, who observed, that he believed nothing good 
 could come from the governor, who was a man of bad lymph. 
 " He ought," continued he, " to have several large blisters' applied, 
 to draw away some of that bad lymph from him." 
 
 He conversed upon the probal>ility of a revolution in France. 
 " Ere twenty years have elapsed, when 1 am dead and buried," 
 said he, "you will witness another revolution in France. It is 
 impossible that twenty-nine millions of Frenchmen can live con- 
 tented, under the yoke of sovereigns imposed upon them by 
 foreigners, and against whom they have fought and bled for nearly 
 thirty years. Can you blame the French for not being willing 
 to submit to the yoke of such animaux as Monchenu ? You are 
 very fond in England of making a comparison between the res- 
 toration of Charles the Second and that of Louis, but there is 
 not the smallest similitude. Charles was recalled by the mass 
 .if the English nation to the throne which his successor after- 
 wards lost f<jr a 7/tass ; but as to the Bourbons, there is not a 
 village in France which has not lost thirty or forty of the flower 
 of its youth in endeavoring to prevent their return. The senti- 
 ments of the nation are, — ' Ce n'est pas nous qui avons rameiic 
 ces miserables ; non, ceux qui out ravage notre pays, qui onl brule 
 nos mnisons, qui ont viole nos femmea ei nos Jilles, leu ont mis sur 
 U trtnc par la forcey^* 
 
 * We have not brought buck those wretches; no, those who ravaged our 
 a^untry, burnt our houses, and violated our wives and our daughters, nave 
 placed them on the throne by force.
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 169 
 
 I asked him some questions about the share that Moreau had 
 in Georges' conspiracy. "Moreau," said he, "confessed to his 
 advocate that he had seen and conversed with Georges and Piche- 
 gru, and that on his trial he intended to avow it. His counsel, 
 however, dissuaded him from doing so ; and observed, that if he 
 confessed having seen Georges, nothing could save him from con- 
 demnation to death. Moreau, in an interview he had with the 
 other two conspirators, insisted that the first step to be taken 
 was to kill me ; that when I was disposed of, he should have 
 great power and influence with the army ; but that as long as I 
 lived, he could do nothing. When he was arrested, the paper of 
 accusation against him was given to him, in which his crime was 
 stated to be, the having conspired against the life of the first 
 consul and the security of the republic, in complicity with Piche- 
 gru and Georges. On reading the names of those two, he dropt 
 the paper and fainted." 
 
 " In the battle before Dresden," said Napoleon, " I ordered an 
 attack to be made upon the allies by both flanks of my army. 
 While the manoeuvres for this purpose were executing, the centre 
 remained motionless. At the distance of about from this to the 
 outer gate,* I observed a group of persons collected together on 
 horseback. Concluding that they were endeavoring to observe 
 my manoeuvres, I resolved to disturb them, and called to a cap- 
 tain of artillery, who commanded a field battery of eighteen or 
 twenty pieces : '■'• Jettez une doiizaine de boulets a la fois dans ce 
 f/roupe la 2^e)it-etre y a-t-il quelques petits generaiixy (Throw a 
 dozen of bullets at once into that group ; perhaps there are some 
 little generals in it.) It was done instantly. One of the balls 
 struck Moreau, carried off both his legs, and went through his 
 horse. Many more, I believe, who were near him, were killed 
 and wounded. A moment before Alexander had been speaking 
 to him. Moreau's legs were amputated not far from the spot. 
 One of his feet, with the boot upon it, which the surgeon had 
 thrown upon the ground, was brought by a peasant to the king 
 of Saxony, with information that some officer of great distincticn 
 
 * About five buiiclred yards. 
 8
 
 170 A VOU'K KHOM ST. liKI-KNA. 
 
 hiul luHMi struck 1>\ a i'anin)ii-slu)l. Tlie king, coiicoiviiiy ihaL Ui% 
 namo of the jn'i-suii miglit porhaps he discovored by the l)uot, 
 soiit it to mo. It was o.xainiiK'd at my lu-ad-cjiiarteis, l)ut ail 
 that could he ascertained was, that the boot was neither of Eng- 
 lish nor of French manufacture. The next day we were informed 
 that it was the log of Moreau. It is not a little extraordinary," 
 continued Napoleon, "that in an action a short time aflerwards, 
 I oniorod the same artillery oflicor, with the same guns, and under 
 nearly similar circumstances, to throw eighteen or twenty bullets 
 at once into a concourse of officers collected together, by which 
 General St. Priest, another Frenchinan, a traitor and a man of 
 talent, who had a command in the Russian army, was killed 
 along with many others. Nothing," continued the emperor, " is 
 more destructive than a discharge of a dozen or more guns at 
 once amongst a group of persons. From one or two they may 
 escape ; but from a number discharged at a time, it is almost 
 impossible. After Esling, when I had caused my army to go 
 over to the isle of Lobau, there was for some weeks, by common 
 md tacit consent on both sides between the soldiers, not by any 
 agreement between the generals, a cessation of firing, which in- 
 deed had produced no benefit, and only killed a few unfortunate 
 sentinels. I rode out every day in different directions. No per- 
 son was molested on either side. One day, however, riding along 
 rtith Oudinot, I stopped for a moment uprm the edge of the island, 
 which was about eighty toises distant from the opposite liank, 
 where the enemy was. They perceived us, and knowing me by 
 the little hat and gray coat, they pointed a three pounder at us. 
 The hall passed Ijotween Oudinot and me, and was very close to 
 both of us. We put spurs to our horses, and speedily got out 
 of sight. Under the actual circumstances, the attack was little 
 lietter than murder, but if they had fired a dozen guns at once, 
 they must have killed us." 
 
 Count Bertrand brought back Napoleon's letter to Cajitain 
 Poppleton, broke the seal before him, and desired that it might 
 be sent in that state to Sir Hudson Lowe. 
 
 Some oranges sent to Longwood by the admiral. 
 
 l4//(. — Napoleon very unwell. Had passed a very Ijad night.
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 171 
 
 Found him in bed at eleven, P. M. " Doctor," said he, " I had 
 a nervous attack last night, which kept me continually uneasy 
 and restless, with a severe headache, and involuntary agitations. 
 I was without sense for a few moments. I verily thought and 
 hoped, that a more violent attack would have taken place, which 
 would have carried me off before morning. I seemed as if a fil 
 of apoplexy was coming on. I felt a heaviness and giddiness ol 
 my head, (as if it were overloaded with blood) with a desire to 
 put myself in an upright posture. I felt a heat in my head, and 
 called to those about me to pour some cold water over it, which 
 they did not comprehend for some time. Afterwards, the water 
 felt hot, and I thought it smelt of sulphur, though in reality it 
 was cold." At this time he was in a free perspiration, which I 
 recommended him to encourage, and his headache was much 
 diminished. After I had recommended everything I thought 
 necessary or advisable, he replied, "si viveredhe troppo hmgo.''''* 
 He afterwards spoke about funeral rites, and added, that when 
 he died, he would wish that his body might be burned. " It is 
 the best mode," said he, " as then the corpse does not produce 
 any inconvenience ; and as to the resurrection, that must be ac- 
 complished by a miracle, and it is easy to the Being who has it 
 in his power to perform such a miracle as bringing the remains 
 of bodies together, also to form again the ashes of the dead." 
 
 \^th. — Had a long conversation with Sir Hudson Lowe, rela- 
 tive to the affairs of Longwood, and to Napoleon's health. His 
 excellency said, that he supposed it was Count Bertrand who had 
 informed Count Las Cases, that he (Sir Hudson) would send him 
 off the island, if he persisted in writing any more injurious re- 
 flections upon the manner that General Bonaparte was treated : 
 that he would hold him (Bertrand) answerable for the conse- 
 quences. He also observed, that as to the restrictions which had 
 been so much complained of, there was in reality but little differ- 
 ence ; that with respect to the prohibition to speak, which General 
 Bonaparte complained of, it was not an order to him not to speak, 
 hut merely a reqvest ! ! ! He also added, that Las Cases had 
 attempted to send a secret accusation against him, which was like 
 
 * One would live too long.
 
 172 A VOICE FliOM ST. HELENA. 
 
 stabbing a iimii in the bacl<, an<l liial tlioy innst bo conscious they 
 were tolling lies, or thoy woiiM not bo afraid to send tlieni to 
 England throngh him, as ho had dflored to forward thorn. In his 
 conversation with Bortiand, ho merely had observed, that accord- 
 ing tt> his instructions, he ouffht to have sent Las Cases ofl' the 
 island, in consequence of the letters he had written. His instruc- 
 tions, he said, were of such a nature, that it was impossible to 
 draw a line between some which directed that General Bonajiarte 
 should be treated with great indulgence; and others, prescribing 
 regulations and restrictions impossible to be reconciled with the 
 first. 
 
 That he had in consequence written for further explanations, 
 and had recommended the lessening of the existing restrictions. 
 
 10///. — Saw Napoleon, to whom I repeated what the governor 
 had desired. Napoleon replied, " he sent back, and refused to 
 forward a letter of complaints, sent to him by Montholon ; he 
 told Bertrand, that he would receive no letters in which I was 
 not styled as his government wished ; and he sent up by his 
 chefd' itat major, a paper, menacing with transportation from the 
 island all those who should make reflections upon him or his go- 
 vernment; independent of his having given Bertrand clearly to 
 understand, that if Las Cases continued his complaints, he would 
 send him from St. Helena. In orders like his, there must be 
 always some apparent contradiction, and great discretionary 
 powers ; but he interprets every thing badly, and where there is 
 a possibility of putting a bad construction upon any part, which 
 would as well admit of a favorable one, he is sure to choose the 
 former. Un uomo che ha la malizla, ma non Vanima, (a man 
 who has malice but no genius.) Perhaps he sees that he has 
 gone too far, and now wants to saddle the odium of his proceed- 
 ings upon his government." 
 
 18^A. — Went along with Mr. Baxter to visit Count Las Cases 
 and son. The Count informed me, that the governor had given 
 him permission to return to Longwood, under certain conditions, 
 but that he had not entirely decided what he would do. Young 
 Las Cases said, that his father feared he should be looked upon 
 in a slighting manner at Longwood, if he returned, in consequeuov
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 178 
 
 of the disgraceful manner in which he had been arrested and 
 dragged away by the governor's police. 
 
 Informed Napoleon on my return that the governor had offered 
 to allow Las Cases to return to Longwood. After some discus- 
 sion on the subject, he observed, that he would give no advice to 
 Las Cases about it. If he came back, he would receive him with 
 pleasure: if he went away, he would hear of it with pleasure; 
 but that in the latter case, he should wish to see him once more 
 before he left the island. He added, that since the arrest of Las 
 Cases, he had ordered all his generals to go away ; that he should 
 be more independent without them, as then he should not labor 
 under the fear of their suffering ill-treatment by the governor, in 
 order thereby to revenge himself upon him. " I," continued he, 
 " am not afraid that they will send me off the island." 
 
 Saw Sir Hudson Lowe, who said, that with the exception of 
 certain necessary restrictions, he had orders from government to 
 treat General Bonaparte with all possible indulgence, which he 
 thought he had done. That if some restrictions had been im- 
 posed, it was his own fault, and that of Las Cases. That he had 
 been very mild ! ! This he desired me to communicate. Shortly 
 afterwards, he said, that if Count Bertrand had shown his (Sir 
 Hudson's) restrictions to Sir Thomas Strange, he, the governor, 
 would have been authorized to send him off the island. Nearly 
 in the same breath, he asked if I thought that the interference of 
 Sir George Bingham, as an intermediator, would be of any ser- 
 vice ? I replied, that probably it might, but as Sir George Bing- 
 ham did not speak Fi'ench with sufficient fluency to enter into 
 long discussions or reasonings, 1 was of opinion that admiral Sir 
 Pulteney Malcolm would be a much better intermediator. 
 
 Told Napoleon what Sir Hudson Lowe had directed. " Doc- 
 tor," replied he, " when this man has the audacity to tell you, 
 who know everything that has been done, that he treats me with 
 indulgence, 1 need not suggest to you what he writes to his 
 government." 
 
 Informed me, that last night he had suffered another attack, 
 simikr to that of the 13th, but more violent. " Ali,"* said he, 
 
 * St. Denis was commonly called Ali.
 
 174 A VOICK FROM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 " frightonod, (hnw soim- oaii dc (^iIoi;iic in iii}- face, mistaking it 
 for water. This <;etting into my eyes, gave me Intolerable pain, 
 and certainly hronght me to myself." 
 
 Ttild him what Sir ITndson Lowe had said, relative to the in- 
 termediation of Sir George Bingliam. lie replied, " perhaps it 
 •night he of some service j Imt all he has to do is, cite esca del 
 «»/<> riiolo di aircericre e die si inetta nel ruolodi gidantuoitio* If 
 >iny person were to nndertake the ofHee of intermediator, the 
 most fit would lie the admiral, both because he is independent of 
 Sir Hudson Lowe, and because he is a man with whom I can 
 reason and argue. But," continued he, '■'■ questo governatore e un 
 itomo senza fede, (this governor is a man without faith). When 
 your ministry is insincere, wants to shuffle, or has nothing good 
 to e.xecute, a polissori, (blackguard) like Drake, or Hudson Lowe, 
 is sent out as ambassador, or governor ; when it is the contrary, 
 and it wishes to conciliate or treat, such a man as Lord Corn- 
 wallis is employed. A Cornwallis here, would be of more avail 
 than all the restrictions that could be imagined." He then ob- 
 served, that he thought it would be better for Las Cases to return 
 back to Longwood, than either to remain in the island separated 
 from them, or sent to the Cape, and that I might report that I 
 had heard him say so. 
 
 21s/. — A letter received from Major Gorrequer, stating that 
 the governor would permit Archambaud to see his brother on the 
 following day, who, with Santini and Rousseau, had arrived in 
 the Orontes frigate from the Cape.f 
 
 '22nd. — Archambaud allowed to see his brother in the presence 
 •.f one of the governor's agents, but not permitted either to see 
 or converse with any of the others. 
 
 2Srd. — Sir Hudson Lowe at Longwood ; informed him what 
 Napoleon had said about Las Cases. He told me that Las Cases 
 wanted to make terms, previous to returning to Longwood, and 
 desired me to "go to Hut's Gate, and tell him what General 
 Bonaparte had said ; but not to hold any other communication 
 
 • This means, " let him conduct himself no longer as a gaoler, but behav* 
 like a gentleman." 
 t ThJB requerit iiad been at first reAised by Sir UndBon Lowe.
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. \7t 
 
 with him." T mentioned to his excellency the fit of syncope 
 with which Napoleon had been attacked : " It would Le lucky," 
 replied Sir Hudson Lowe, "if he went off some of those nights 
 in a fit of the kind." I observed that I thouo;ht it very probable 
 that he would be attacked with a fit of apoplexy, which would 
 finish him, and that, continuing to lead his present mode of life, 
 it was impossible he could remain in health. Sir Hudson asked 
 what could induce him to take exercise. 1 replied, to moderate 
 the restrictions, and to remove some of which he complained of 
 as such. Sir Hudson Lowe made some observations about the 
 danger of allowing a man to get loose who had done so much 
 
 o o o 
 
 mischief already, and desired me to write him a statement of 
 the health of young Las Cases. I replied that I was going to see 
 him, in company with Mr. Baxter. His excellency observed that 
 he would go and have some conversation with Count Bertrand on 
 the subjects complained of. 
 
 On my return, met Sir Hudson Lowe, who appeared in a very 
 bad humor, and said, that Count Bertrand had for a short time 
 spoken very reasonably, but that afterwards he had broken out 
 foolishly about noire sihiadon, (our situation) just as if it were 
 of any consequence to England, or to Europe, what became of 
 Count Bertrand ; or as if it were not Bonaparte alone who was 
 looked after — that he did not know what business he had to 
 couple his situation with Bonaparte's. 
 
 Mrs. Balcombe and eldest daughter came to see Countess 
 Bertrand. They were desirous of paying a visit to Napoleon, 
 and to Countess Montholon, but as their pass specified Count 
 Bertrand's house, and did not mention either of the others, it 
 was not permitted by the orderly officer. 
 
 Saw Napoleon afterwards. "This governor," said he, " has 
 been with Bertrand, making some proposals, but in such a dark 
 and mysterious manner, that one cannot understand what object 
 he has in view. Every thing he says is destitute of clearness; 
 and when he reluctantly gives the truth, it is enveloped in quib- 
 bles and evasions. He had a hmg pour2)arler (conference) about 
 Las Cases, which he concluded by asserting, that Las Cases was 
 not in prison, and never had been so! — E un uoino composto dHm-
 
 176 A VOICK KKDM ST. IIKI,EN"A. 
 
 ^cilita, di hii>/le, et trim pocn <//' sat/tn::zti, (lie is a man composed 
 of iiulicoility, nt" li»'s, and a littlo villaiiv.) ('an has ( "asos jro 
 out? Can ho seo any pt-rson, eitlicr Frt-mli, or English, liosidcs 
 his gaoli-rs? (for sooing a surgeon is nothing.) Can he senJ or 
 receive a letter tliat does nut pass open throu^li their hands ? I 
 know not really," eontinued he, " what this man culls being in 
 prison." 
 
 " What a fool 1 was to give myself up to you," continued he; 
 "1 had a mistaken notion of your national character; I had 
 formed a romantic idea of the English. There entered into it 
 also a portion of pride. 1 disdained to give myself up to any of 
 those sovereigns whose countries I had conquered, and whose 
 capitals 1 had entered in triumph; and I determined to ct)nfide in 
 you, whom I had never vanquished. Doctor, I am well punished 
 for the good opinion I had of you, and for the confidence which I 
 reposed in you, instead of giving myself up to my father-in-law, 
 or to the Emperor Alexander, either of whom would have treated 
 me with the greatest respect." I observed, that it was po.ssible 
 that Alexander might have sent him to Siberia; " Not at all," 
 replied Napoleon ; " setting aside other motives, Alexander 
 would, through policy, and from the desire which he has to make 
 himself popular, have treated me like a king, and I should have 
 had palaces at command. Besides, Alexander is a generous 
 man, and would have taken a pleasure in treating me well ; and 
 my father-in-law, though he is an imbecile, is still a religious 
 man, and incapable of committing crimes, or such acts of cruelty 
 as are practiced here." 
 
 Saw Las Cases and son along with Mr. Baxter. Wrote a 
 letter afterwards to Sir Hudson Lowe, respecting the state of 
 health of young Las Cases, and concluded Ity recommending him 
 to be removed to Euroj)e for tlie recovery of his health. Mr. 
 Baxter also wrote one of a similar tendency, and one aljout 
 the Count himself, in which he said, that in consequence of his 
 being afflicted with dyspepsia, it was probable that a change to a 
 colder climate would be beneficial, and that that of Europe 
 would be preferable. 
 
 25/A. — Napoleon in very good spirits. Asked many questions
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 177 
 
 in English, which, although he pronounced it as he would have 
 done French, yet the words were correct, and applied to their 
 proper meaning. 
 
 2Qih. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me. Found him in town. 
 He observed that I had put too much political feeling into my 
 letter respecting young Las Cases : that my opinion must have 
 related to what would have happened, had he remained at Lono-. 
 wood ; and that it appeared to enter too much into the feelings 
 of those people. I replied, that 1 could not separate my opinion 
 from the cause of his complaints; and that he himself had said, if 
 the state of his son's health absolutely required his removal to 
 Europe, he would not oppose it. Sir Hudson answered, that he 
 had certainly said, that if it absolutely required such a measure, 
 he would not oppose it ; but that I had entered into a discussion 
 not called for in the letter. 
 
 He then spoke about the restrictions, and showed me a letter 
 which he said he intended to send to Bertrand, and upon which 
 he desired to know my opinion. After reading it, I observed to 
 his excellency that I thought it calculated to produce some severe 
 remarks from Napoleon ; as in fact it left matters in nearly the 
 same state as they had been before, after having nominally re- 
 moved some of the restrictions. On a little reflection, his ex- 
 cellency appeared to be of the same opinion, and said that he 
 would reconsider the matter. In the mean time, he authorized 
 me to tell General Bonaparte, that several of the restrictions 
 should be removed, especially those relative to speaking ; that 
 •he limits should be enlarged, and that liberty should be granted 
 o people to visit him, nearly as in former times under the 
 idmiral. 
 
 Informed Napoleon of this, who replied, that he desired no 
 Tfiore than to have niatters put as nearly as possible as they were 
 under the admiral. That he thought it right and just if the go- 
 vernor suspected either an inhabitant of the island, or a passenger, 
 or any of them, that he should not allow them to enter Longwood, 
 but that what he (Napoleon) meant was, that the nuijority of 
 respectable passengers or inhabitants should be allowed to visit 
 hiiii, and nut one or two who had been picked out and seut up to 
 
 8*
 
 178 A VOICK FROM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 Longw»)od 1)V tin; govtMimr, or l)y liis staO', a>< a l\(('|n.'r nf g.'illoy 
 slaves would soiul a curious travclor to his galleys to sc-c some 
 oxtisiord'Hury crimiual. if/' continued ho, " I met a man whoso 
 C(>nvcrsation pleased me (like the admiral, for example) I should 
 wish to see him again, and perhaps ask him to dinner or break 
 fast, as was done before this governor's arrival ; therefore I wish 
 iliat a list should be sent in the first place by the governor to 
 Hertrand, containing the names of the ]>ersons that he will allow 
 to visit us; and that afterwards, Bertrand shall have the j>rivi- 
 lege of asking any person again whose name is upon that list. 
 I will never see any one coming up with a pass in which the day 
 is fixed, which is a way of saying, come out this day and exhibit 
 yourself. I want also that our situation may be clearly defined, 
 so that my household shall not be liable to the insults which they 
 have all suflfered, and ctmtinue to suflx-r, either from being kept 
 in the dark respecting the restrictions which he imposes, or from 
 misconception of sentinels, or the orders given being of a discre- 
 tional nature, which may put a sentinel upon his responsibility, 
 and will constitute him an arbitrary judge. The trifling vexa- 
 tions and humiliations which he makes us undergo, are worse to 
 us than the greater. J am willing," continued he, " to listen to 
 accommodation, and not to insist upon too much. But, he has 
 no heart or feeling. lie thinks that a man is like a horse; give 
 him a bundle of hay and a roof to cover him, and nothing further 
 is necessary to make him happy. His policy is that of the petty 
 states of Italy ; to write and promise fairly, apparently give 
 liberty, but afterwards by insinuations change every thing. His 
 is the policy of insinuations." 
 
 I then asked, if the governor consented, and the admiral were 
 satisfied, would he hold a conference with that officer as an inter- 
 mediator, in order to bring about an arrangement? Napoleon 
 replied, "Willingly. With the greatest pleasure I would treat 
 personally with the admiral, and I think that we could settle it in 
 half an hour. I have so much confidence in him, that if the Eng- 
 lish government would allow it, and the admiral would pledge 
 his word of honor, that no one but himself should know the con 
 tonts, (unless there was some plot or inti-'gue against his goveri
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 179 
 
 ment,) I would write a letter, putting him in possession of every 
 thing I know relative to my property, in order that I might be 
 able to make use of it. To-morrow," continued he, "'I shall let 
 you know whether I am of the like opinion relative to the inter- 
 mediation. If 1 continue the same, you shall go to the governor 
 and propose it to him." 
 
 A htter sent by Count Bertrand to Sir Hudson Lowe, request 
 ing that Count Las Cases might be permitted to visit Longwood 
 previous to his departure, in order to take leave of the Emperor. 
 
 ^Ith. — Gave Napoleon some newspapers. On looking over 
 them, he observed an article about Pozzo di Borgo, " Pozzo di 
 Borgo," said he, " was deputy to the legislative body during the 
 revolution. He is a man of talent, an intriguer, and knows 
 France well. As long as he remains there as ambassador, you 
 may be sure that Alexander does not consider Louis to be firmly 
 seated upon the throne. When you see a Russian nominated as 
 ambassador, you may then conclude that Alexander thinks the 
 Bourbons likely to continue in France." 
 
 He then desired me to go to the governor and tell him, " that 
 if he were willing to come to an amicable arrangement, he (Na- 
 poleon) thought the best means of effecting it would be to autho- 
 rize the admiral to act as an intermediator. That if such were 
 done, he had little doubt but matters might be adjusted. That 
 he wished it himself, as he did not like to complain. All he 
 wanted was to live, or in other words, that the restrictions should 
 not be of such a nature as to induce a person to wish for death. 
 That in consequence of what I had said to him, he had ordered 
 Bertrand to discontinue writing a complaint, which he had in- 
 tended to have sent to Lord Castlereagh for the Prince Regent ; 
 and in fact, that he was desirous an accommodation should take 
 place." 
 
 Went to town to deliver the above message. Found that the 
 governor had left it before my arrival. Communicated the object 
 of my mission to Sir Thomas Reade, who replied, that he knew 
 the governor would never consent to allow the admiral to act as 
 an intermediator, — There was no use in proposing it. I replied,
 
 ISO A VOICE FKOM ST. HELENA. 
 
 th;»l as I h.iH bfoii iliari^cd witli tlu- tnessage, 1 must deliver it, M 
 porliaps it might K-ad tn good oll'octs. 
 
 Wont to Plantation llouso, and coniiuunicated my message to 
 Sir Hudson I^owe. He said, " that he would accept of the pro- 
 posal, but that he had previously to decide upon a very delicate 
 point, whirh might break off any proposed arrangement. That 
 (leneral IJonaparte had asked to see Count Las Cases licfbre his 
 departure, which would do away the great object he had had in 
 view for a month back, vi/. that of cutting off all communication 
 between Longwood and Las Cases. That General Bonaparte 
 might make important and dangerous communications to Las 
 Cases ; in order to obviate which, he would propose that a staff- 
 officer should be present at the demanded interview, which it was 
 likely might anger General Bonaparte." 
 
 He then wrote the following words on a piece of paper, which 
 he desired me to copy, and to show the copy: — "The governor 
 is not conscious of ever having wilfully given to General Bona- 
 parte any just cause of offence or disagreement. He has seen 
 with pain misunderstandings arise on points where his duty 
 would not allow him to pursue any other course, and which 
 might have been frequently removed by a single word of ex- 
 planation. 
 
 "Any channel by which he may think such misunderstandings 
 may be removed, the governor is perfectly ready and willing to 
 avail himself of." 
 
 Sir Hudson then gave me a large packet for Count Bertrand, 
 containing his answer to the application to see Las Cases, and 
 some explanations relative to the restrictions, some of which he 
 said he was willing should be altered ; and that the 5th paragraph 
 of the restrictions delivered in October was merely meant as a 
 civil request to General Bonaparte, not to subject himself to the 
 interference of an officer, by entering into long conversations with 
 persons not authorized by the governor to communicate with 
 him. He added, that he would have some conversation with the 
 admiral, previous to the latter's going to see Napoleon, for the 
 purpose of entering upon the intermediation. 
 
 28/A. — Napoleon indisposed. Had passed a very uneasy night
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 181 
 
 and had suffered considerably from headache. Saw him at three, 
 P. M., when he was still in bed, and afflicted with sevt-re head- 
 ache. He had not seen any one. Informed him what Sir Hud- 
 son Lowe said respecting the proposed intermediation. I did not 
 like to communicate what his excellency had said about the in 
 terview which he had desired to have with Las Cases, as I thought 
 it "vonld both aggravate his illness and tend to impede the desir 
 ed accommodation. While I was in his bed-room, Marchand 
 came in, and informed him, that the bath which he had ordered 
 could not be got ready, on account of the total want of water at 
 Longwood. However, he appeared well satisfied, and expressed 
 his fear, that if Sir Pulteney came up this day, his indisposition 
 might prevent his seeing and conversing with him. He desired 
 me, therefore, to tell Count Bertrand, in case the admiral came, 
 to take him to his house, show him the necessary papers, and 
 talk the matter over ; adding, that if he found himself well 
 enough, he would send for him, but if not, that he w^ould appoint 
 a future day. 
 
 Saw Count Bertrand afterwards, who asked me to explain the 
 meaning of the passage in his excellency's letter in which he 
 attempted to make it appear that the prohibition to Napoleon to 
 speak was a piece of civility. Not having been educated for a 
 special pleader, I felt myself at a loss to afford any explanation 
 sufficient to establish the truth of the governor's doctrine. 
 
 Sir Pulteney and Lady Malcolm came to Longwood, and paid 
 a visit to Count and Countesses Bertrand and Montholon. No 
 communication had been yet made by the governor to Sir Pulte- 
 ney, who, when informed of the proposal, expressed his ardent 
 wish that something might be done to put things upon a better 
 footing between Napoleon and the governor ; adding that he 
 thought that if the matter were left to him, he could arrange it 
 satisfact'M"i]y in a very little time. He observed, however, that 
 until the governor authorized him, he would have no conversation 
 on the subject either with Napoleon or with any of his suite. 
 
 Saw Napoleon in the evening in his bed-room along with 
 Marshal Bertrand. The parcel of letters which I had brought 
 from the governor was before him. He had just been informed
 
 182 A VOICE F1U)M ST. HELENA. 
 
 .'f his reply to the apj>licatioii that Count Las Cases might be 
 allowed to visit Longwood before his departure. He observed, 
 that "eriininals condemned to death, and on the point of being 
 led out to execution, were allowed to bid adieu to their friends, 
 without it being reipiired that a third person slioidd 1)6 present." 
 He was very much disjtloased. and expressed in strong terms hi^ 
 indignation at such Imrbarous conduct. He then asked me fur 
 the governor's reply to the proposal I had made, which 1 gave 
 him in French and English, having made a translation of it into 
 the former, and also repeated to him what the governor had ex- 
 pressed to me relative to Las Cases. When he came to the 
 words, " when his duty would not allow him," " misunderstand- 
 ing," &c. " Tracasserie" (a trick,) said he, "this is the language 
 he has always held. It is an insult to the human understanding. 
 His intentions could not be mistaken. They were to heap all 
 sorts of useless vexations upon me. I cannot," continued he, 
 '•think that he will allow the admiral to act as intermediator. 
 Depend upon it, it is some shuffling trick of his, and that he will 
 never allow it to come to a conclusion." Il3 then /Jlctated a few 
 lines to Count Bertrand, containing a protest against the gov- 
 ernor's conduct, which he desired him to write out fair in the 
 next room. He desired me to communicate to the governor the 
 remarks which he had made upon his conduct, and observed, 
 that he hoped the admiral would not commence any proceedings 
 without having first made himself perfectly master of the sub- 
 ject, in order not to allow himself to hejotie by the governor; 
 who would probably fill him with those falsehoods which he 
 always had at command. " 1 should be sorry that the admiral," 
 continued he, " should undertake any thing likely to prove abor- 
 tive, as I have an esteem for him." 
 
 Sir Thomas Reade all day in consultation at Plantation House. 
 
 20ik. — A letter from Sir Hudson Lowe for Count Bertrand, 
 arrived at eight o'clock in the morning. Saw Napoleon at two, 
 P. M. Informed me, that as the governor had fourteen or fifteen 
 days ago expressed a wish to know what the French complained 
 of, he had directed Bertrand to send him a copy of his restric- 
 tions, with some observations thereupon, in order that he might
 
 1816 — DECEMBER. 1.8S 
 
 think and reflect upon them. Also that he had caused the fol 
 lowing remarks to be written upon the back of tlie memorandum 
 containing the governor's sentiments, which I had delivered to 
 him yesterday, and which he directed me to forward to Sir Ilud- 
 Bon Lowe : — 
 
 "1. On ne peut justifier la conduite qu'on tient depuis six 
 mois par quelques phrases de la correspondance du ministre. 
 line longue et volumineuse correspondance ministerielle est un 
 arsenal oil W y a, des armes a, tout tranchant. 
 
 " 2. Les derniers reglemens seraient consideres a Botany Bay 
 comme injurieux et oppressifs ; ils doivent etre, quoique Ton en 
 dise, contraires a la volonte du gouvernement Anglais, qui a ap 
 prouve les reglemens qui ont ete en vigueur jusqu'au mois d'AouL 
 dernier. 
 
 " 3. Toutes les observations que le Comte Bertrand et le Comte 
 de Montholon ont faites ont ete inutiles. Une libre discussion leur 
 a ete interdite par des menaces."* 
 
 " This governor," said he, " is a man totally unfit to fill the 
 situation he holds. He has a good deal of cunning, but no 
 talent or steadiness. Ceso un homme soupfonneux,asiucieux, men- 
 teur, double, et plein (T insinuations, (he is a suspicious and artful 
 man. A liar, deceitful, and full of insinuations,) like the Italians 
 of two or three centuries ago. Cest ^m excellent familier de V in- 
 quisition. II mettrait de Vastuce a dire le bon jour. Je crois qu^il 
 en met a manger son dejeuner, (he would be an excellent familiar 
 of the inquisition. He would use dissimulation even in saying 
 good morning. I believe that he uses it in eating his breakfast). 
 He ought to be sent to Goa. Bertrand wrote that he hoped hi 
 would not refuse his consent to a matter of so little consequence 
 as that of permitting Las Cases to come up here. If he refuses 
 Bertrand will go down to see him along with an officer, which 1 
 could not consent to do." 
 
 " What can he be afraid of?" continued he, "that I would tell 
 him to write to my wife ? Ho will do that without my direction. 
 That I would tell him my sentiments and intentions ? He knows 
 
 *The translation will be found in the Appendix, No. VJil.
 
 184 A VinCE FROM 8T. HKLKNA. 
 
 lliom ttlroftdv. Does ho think that Europe is a mine of gun- 
 powder, and Las Cases the spark to blow it up?" 
 
 A letter, suliscribed '' in haste," from Sir Hudson, was given 
 to Captain Poppletun, containing one for Count Bertrand, signi- 
 fying that, '' in consequence of the inanncr in which Count Las 
 Cases had been removed from Longwood, the governor could net 
 piMinit him to take leave of General Bonaparte," &cc. Shortly 
 afterwards. Count Bertrand and Baron Gourgaud went to town, 
 accompanied by Captain Poppleton, to see and take leave of 
 Count Las Cases. It is difficult to reconcile the conduct pursued 
 towards them there, with the other measures practiced by Sir 
 Hudson Lowe, and with the importance which he professed to 
 attach to ^^ cutting o^' aW communication with Longwood." At 
 breakfast they were left to themselves, with the exception of 
 Captain Poppleton, who understands French with difficulty, and 
 not at all when spoken in the quick manner in which Frenchmen 
 usually converse with each other. For some hours ihey remained 
 together in the large room of the castle, which is about fifty feet 
 by twenty, walking up one side, while Colonel Wynyard and 
 Major Gorrequer, who were to watch them, remained on the op- 
 posite side of the room ; so that, in fact, Las Cases might just 
 as well have been permitted to come to Longwood, and thereby 
 a refusal, which was considered as an insult, would have been 
 spared to Napoleon. 
 
 Abciut three, P. M., Las Cases and his son embarked on b >ard 
 of the Griffi^n, sloop of war, Captain Wright, for the Cape of Gc« d 
 Hope. He was accompanied to the sea-side by Sir Hudson 
 Lowe, Sir Thomas Reade, &c. His journal and papers, except a 
 few of no consequence, were detained by the governor. Previous 
 to his departure, he made over 4,000^. (which he had in a banker's 
 hands in London,) for Napoleon's use. 
 
 I saw Sir Hudson Lowe on horseback in the street, who called 
 out t.: me when passing, "your negotiation has failed." 
 
 About five hundred pounds' worth of plate brought down by 
 Cipriani in the morning to be sold. When Sir Hudson Lowe 
 saw it, he sent for Cipriani, of whom he demanded, in what 
 manner they could spend so much money ? Cipriani, (an arch,
 
 18.6 — DECEMBER. l86 
 
 intelligent Corsican) replied, "To buy food." His excellency 
 affected surprised, and said, "What, have you not enough?" 
 " We have purchased," said Cipriani, " so many fowls, so much 
 butter, bread, meat, and divers other articles of food daily for 
 some months, and I have to thank your chef cfetat major, Colonel 
 Reade, for his goodness in not only procuring me many things 
 that I wanted, but for his Icindness in seeing that the people did 
 not impose upon me when I was paying for them." Sir Hudson 
 was a little disconcerted at this reply at first ; but afterwards 
 resuming an appearance of astonishment, asked, " Why do you 
 buy so much butter, or so many fowls?" " Because," replied 
 Cipriani, " the allowance granted by vostra excellenza (your excel- 
 lency) does not give us enough to eat. You have taken oif 
 nearly half of what the admiral allowed us." Cipriani then 
 gave him an account in detail of their wants; explained the dif- 
 ference between the French and English mode of living, and ac- 
 counted satisfactorily for every thing. Sir Hudson said, that the 
 scheme of allowances had been hastily made out ; that he would 
 look into it, and endeavor to increase the quantity of those ar- 
 ticles of piovisions of which they stood most in need ; and that 
 on the next arrival from England, he expected a change for the 
 better. 
 
 31s7. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me at six in the morning. 
 Soon after my arrival, he called me into a private room, and in 
 a very solemn manner said, that he had sent for me aljout a very- 
 extraordinary circumstance; that last evening the Baron Sturmer 
 had written a note to Major Gorrequer, stating that General Bo- 
 naparte had had a fainting fit, accompaiiied by fever ! some time 
 back, and detailing the fact of the eau de Cologne having been 
 thrown in his face, and some other circumstances, and begging to 
 know if it were true, as such stories were good to send to his 
 court. His excellency said, that he was very much surprised 
 how Baron Sturmer could know that General Bonaparte had ex- 
 perienced a fit, or any of the circumstances attending it; and 
 asked me to whom 1 had told it. I leplied, " 1 mentioned it to 
 none but yourself, your staflf, possibly the admiral, and Baxter, 
 ?7lcm I consulted professionally upon the matter; that moreover
 
 ISrt A VOICE FKCM ST HELENA. 
 
 iiKiii) of till' «.'iri'iiinst;iiHHs (.Ktaili'il in llie Maiun's It'ter vrera 
 falsehoods; also tliat evi-i) body at Loiigwood knew that Tla- 
 poloon had had a faiiitiuy fit on the iii<:;ht he had meiitioiied, as 
 well as the eireiiiustanees whieh aeeuinpanied it." His excelleticy 
 then gave me some adviee about the necessity of secrecy, and 
 desired me to write him a statement of the business, in order 
 that, as it had unfortunately gut abroad, he might be aljle to 
 contradict any incorrect account of it ; thai he supposed the ad 
 miral had repeated it to Moiitchciiu or Stunner. 
 
 Saw the admiral in town, who told me that I had not men- 
 tioned the circumstance to him, nor had he dune so either to 
 Montehenu or Sturmer ; but that half the tuw n knew it, which I 
 was soon convinced of by the number of questions put to me by 
 divers persons before leaving it. 
 
 Saw Napoleon on my return. " Vera7}ie)ite" said he, laughing, 
 '• vosiro governatore e vtia bestia die non ha se^iso connnnne 
 (Really, your guvernor is an idiot, and without common sense). 
 His conduct within a few days has proved his incapacity more 
 than ever. He comes up here with an army of staff, just as if 
 he were going to take a town by assault, seizes Las Cases, drags 
 him away, keeps him au secret for some weeks ; he then offers to 
 allow him to return back. Las Cases is determined to go away. 
 This governor, in a most brutal manner, refuses to allow him to 
 take leave of me, although at the same time he offers to allow 
 him to return to Long wood until he hears from England ; and, 
 to crown the business, he permits Bertrand and Gourgaud to go 
 down and converse with him fur huurs. Bertrand tells me, that 
 they had every opportunity for communication that they could 
 desire, and every facility of informing him of my wishes, and of 
 giving him letters. Ah," continued he, " if all in England were 
 like him, I should not be here now. Cest un homme borne^ (he 
 is a contracted man) a poor subject. He has a little cunning, 
 and that is all, without any firmness or consistency. He spoke 
 to Cipriani yesterday, to whom he pretended that he did not 
 know we had not enough of provisions, (although his privy coun- 
 sellor Reade has assisted Cipriani to buy l)read and salt for us 
 for seme months) and professed his sorrow that the plate had
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 187 
 
 oeeu broken up. Verameiite fa pieia (it is a pity) to see a 
 great nation represented by such a man." 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1817. — Saw Napoleon in the drawing-room. Wished 
 him a happy new year. He said he hoped that the succeeding 
 one would find him better situated ; and added, laughing, "per- 
 haps I shall be dead, which will be much better. Worse than 
 this cannot be." He was in very good spirits — spoke about 
 hunting the stag and the wild boar. Showed me the scar of a 
 wound in the inside of the ring-finger, which he told me he had 
 received from a wild boar while hunting, accompanied by the 
 Duke of Dalmatia. Count Montholon came in, to whom Napo- 
 leon whispered something ; after which he went out, and returned 
 with a snuft-box, which he gave to the emperor, who presented it 
 to me with his own hands, saying, " Here, doctor, is a present I 
 make to you for the attention which you manifested towards me 
 during my illness." It is needless to say that a gift from the 
 hands (jf such a man was received with sensations of pride, and 
 that I endeavored to express the sentiments which occupied my 
 mind. 
 
 Napoleon also made some elegant presents to Countesses Ber- 
 trand and Montholon, consisting of some of the beautiful porce- 
 lain, unique in che world, presented to him by the city of Paris, 
 with some handsome crapes ; to Count Bertrand, a fine set of 
 chess-men ; to Count Montholon, a handsome ornament, dzc. All 
 the children also were gratified with some elegant gift from him. 
 The weather was so bad and so foggy, that the signet] from Dead- 
 woud could not be discerned. 
 
 2nd. — Cipriani in town, buying provisions. 
 
 3rrf. — Napoleon had been ill during the night, but felt better. 
 In pretty good spirits. After some conversation, I asked his 
 opinion about Georges. " Georges," said he, " was una bestia 
 ii/norante, (an ignorant blockhead). He had courage, and that 
 was all. After the peace with the Chouans, I endeavored to gain 
 him over, as then he would have been useful to me, and 1 was 
 anxious to calm all parties. I sent for and spoke to him for a 
 long time. His father was a miller, and he was an ignorant fel- 
 low himself I asked him, ' why do you want to restore those
 
 188 A VOICK KIU)M ST. HKLENA. 
 
 Bon rl ions ? If i-m-m \ ou wcw to siKH't'c(l in placing thfin upon 
 the thri>iu', voii would still be only a miller's sun in their eyes. 
 They would hold you in contempt, because you are not of nol)!e 
 birth.' But I ft>und that he had ni« heart ; in fact, thai he was 
 not a Frenclimau. A few days after, he went over to London." 
 
 4//f. — The JSpey man-ot'-war arrived, and brought the news of 
 the destruction of the Algeriiie ships, and the treaty which they 
 had been obliged to make. 
 
 bth. — Sir Hudson Lowe at Longwood. Had a long conversa- 
 tion with him concerning the restrictions. His excellency said, 
 that he had no objection to allow General Bonaparte to ride to 
 the left of Hut's Gate, in the direction of Miss Mason's; but 
 that he did nut like to grant the same permission to his attend- 
 ants. I observed, that it would be difficult to draw such a line 
 of distinction, as Napoleon never rode out without being accom- 
 panied by two or three of them. Sir Hudson Lowe replied, that 
 he had no objection to their being permitted to ride in that direc- 
 tion when in company with General Bonaparte; but without 
 him, he would not grant it. He then desired me to tell General 
 Bonaparte, that he might ride in that direction, whenever he 
 pleased, that there would be no impediment to his going. I ob- 
 served that he had better make Count Bertrand acc[uainted with 
 it: and also that some notice ought to l)e given to the sentinel 
 at Hut's Gate, otherwise he would stop him, if he attempted to 
 avail himself of the permission. Sir Hudson Lowe rej^licd, that 
 the sentinel had no orders to stop him. I said that General 
 Montholun and Gourgaud had been stopped several times when 
 going to the alarm-house, though within the limits. The gover- 
 nor replied, that this must be a mistake, as the sentinels had no 
 orders to stop them. 1 observed, that 1 had been twice stopped 
 myself by the sentinels in that spot. " How can that be," said 
 Sir Hudson, "as the sentinels have orders only to stop French 
 people?'''' I answered, that the sentinel had said, that he had 
 orders to stop all sus2)icioHi> peojjle ; and that conceiving uie to 
 be one, he had stopped me, for which 1 could not blame him. 
 His excellency laughed at this, then observed that he would not 
 enlarge the limits, that they were fixed ; but that he would give
 
 1817 — JANtJARY. 189 
 
 General Bonaparte leave to extend his rides in, different directions^ 
 and ordered me to tell him, " that he might ride within the old 
 limits unaccompanied, that no impediment would be opposed." 
 
 Saw Napoleon shortly after, to whom I conveyed his excel- 
 • ency's message. He asked me if the picquets had been placed 
 upon the hills as foi'merly, when he used to ride in that direction. 
 [ replied, that I had not observed them. He took out his glass 
 and looked towards the spot for a moment. 
 
 Informed Napoleon of the Algerine affiiir, and gave him a 
 paper which contained the official detail. After reading it, he 
 professed great pleasure that those barbarians had been chastised, 
 but observed that the victory we had gained did not alter his 
 opinion as to the best mode of acting with them. "You might," 
 •^aid he, "have settled it equally well by a blockade. It no 
 doubt reflects great credit upon the English sailors for their 
 bravery and skill ; yet still 1 think that it was hazarding too 
 much. To be sure, you effected a great deal, and got away, 
 because your seamen are so good ; but that is an additional rea- 
 son why you should not run the risk of sacrificing them against 
 such canaille. There are no other seamen, (except the Ameri- 
 cans,) who would have done what yours have effected, or per- 
 haps have attempted it. Notwithstanding this, and that you have 
 succeeded, it was madness and an abuse of the navy, to attack 
 batteries elevated above your ships, which you could not injure ; 
 to engage red hot balls and shells, and run the hiizard of losing 
 a fleet, and so many brave seamen against such canaille ; inde- 
 pendent of the disgrace which it would have been to England to 
 be beaten by the barbarians, which ought to have been the case. 
 If the Algerines had fired upon you in coming down, instead of, 
 like imljeciles, allowing you to take up your position quietly, 
 and anchor, as if you were going to a review, you would not have 
 succeeded. Suppose the Dey of Algiers had refused to agree to 
 Lord Exinouth's terms the next day, what could he have done? 
 Nothing. Depend upon it, he never would have gone in to 
 attack them a second time with disabled ships, and powder defi- 
 cient. He would have been obliged to withdraw his fleet, and it 
 w lild have Ijcen a slap in the face for England. Moreover, you
 
 lOO A VOICK KKOM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 Iiavi- taught tliost- wri'tcln's what ihvy waiitt'il f)r tlic defence of 
 tlio place. " 
 
 '' If you have stnick tenx)i- into them, ami that the terms you 
 have made," continued he, "he strictly adheri'd t«i for the future, 
 ycu have done a great benefit to humanity, as well as having 
 shown much maritime skill and bravery ; Imt I do not believe 
 that the Algerines will adhere to the stipulation that prisoners 
 are not to be made slaves. I fear that they will be worse treat- 
 ed than they were before, in consequence of those barbarians not 
 having any hope of ransom ; which was the only reason they 
 spared the lives of their captives. But now, having lost the 
 hope of making money by them, they will massacre and throw 
 them overboard, or else mutilate them horribly ; for you know 
 that they conceive it to be a meritorious action to destroy 
 heretics," 
 
 He spoke in very high terms of Lord Nelson, and indeed 
 attempted to palliate that only stigma to his memory, the execu- 
 tion of Caraccioli ; which he attributed entirely to his having 
 been deceived by that wicked woman, Queen Caroline, through 
 Lady Hamilton, and to the influence which the latter had over 
 him. 
 
 While conversing with Napoleon, General Gourgaud sent in 
 his name and entered. He communicated some information ra- 
 ther in discordance with the message which the governor had 
 directed me to deliver. It appeared, that while taking a ride 
 within the limits, he was stopped about five o'clock, P. M., by 
 the sentinel at Hut's Gate, and detained, until released by the 
 sergeant commanding the guard. He added, that almost every 
 time he went out, the same thing occurred, the sentinels wishing 
 to screen themselves from any responsibility. 
 
 6^//. — Communicated this to Sir Hudson Lowe, and brought 
 him a letter from Captain Poppleton on the subject. His excel- 
 lency denied that the sentinels had ever received any new orders; 
 and that it was the fault of the sentinel. 
 
 Cipriani informed me that Pozzo di Borgo was the son of a 
 shepherd in Corsica, who used to bring eggs, milk, and butter, to 
 the Bonaparte family. Being a smart boy, he was noticed by
 
 1817— JANUARY. 1 91 
 
 Madame Mere, who paid for his schooling. Afterwards, through 
 the interest of the family, he was chosen deputy to the legislative 
 body, as their sons were too young to be elected. He returned 
 to Corsica as procuratore generate^ where he united himself with 
 Peraldi, an implacable enemy of the Bonapartes, and consequent 
 ly became one himself. 
 
 By the same authority, I was informed that Masseria, on his 
 arrival at Paris, in order to obtain an interview with Napoleon, 
 had applied to him, (Cipriani,) for advice how to accomplish this 
 object, stating that he intended to apply to the Arch Chancellor. 
 Cipriani advised him by no means to do so, as possibly he might 
 be arrested and tried, (being an emigrant,) in which case he must 
 be condemned to death ; but to apply to Madame Mere, to whom 
 he was known. Masseria followed his advice, and succeeded in 
 obtaining an interview, although he failed in the attempt to open 
 a negotiation. In a subsequent endeavor to obtain another, he 
 received a hint to quit France. 
 
 On making inquiry at Hut's Gate, the sergeant commanding 
 the guard showed a scrap of paper containing the orders to the 
 sentinels, which were, "that none of the French, not even Bona- 
 parte himself, were to be permitted to pass that post, unless ac- 
 companied by a British officer." The sergeant also said, what 
 indeed was notorious, that Sir Hudson Lowe frequently gave 
 verbal orders himself, not only to the non-commissioned officers 
 of the guard, but sometimes to the sentinels themselves. Thai 
 those orders might be written down afterwards, or they might 
 not. 
 
 Dined with Sir Pulteney Malcolm in town. 
 
 Ith. — Napoleon did not retire to rest until three in the morn 
 ing, having been employed dictating and writing until that hour 
 He got up again at five, and went into a warm bath. Eal 
 nothing until seven in the evening, and went to l)ed before eight. 
 
 Sth. — Had some more conversation concerning the Algerine 
 business. Asked him if it were ti'ue that Desaix had, a little 
 before his death, sent a message of the following purport to him, 
 "Tell the First Consul, that I regret dying before I have done 
 sufficient to make my name known to postci'ity." Napoleon re-
 
 I?2 A VOICE KKoM ST. IIKLEXA. 
 
 plied, "It was true," ami aiH-oinjianii'il il with soim' warm eula 
 giuins on l)t'>aix. Ho Itii-akfasti'd this nn)riiiiig in the English 
 niaiiiKT, upon a liltlo toast and tea. Weather so loguy lliiiL sig- 
 nals could not he [•a^>ed. 
 
 10//'. — Sir Piilteiiey Malcoliu, accompanied hy Caplaui? 
 Meynel and Wanchope, R. N., came to Longwood, and had ii. 
 interview with Napoleon. lie recounted to the adinirai a sketch 
 of his life. 
 
 Went to town, and apjilied to Sir Thomas Reade that permis- 
 sloii might be granted to the French to purchase two cows, that 
 a little good milk might be provided for the establishment. 
 
 The fog so thick, and the weather so bud, that the signal of 
 «//"a' ivill could not be seen. Orderlies sent to acquaint the go- 
 vernor and admiral. 
 
 Wf/i. — Weather still very bad. 
 
 l'2ih. — Saw Napoleon in his dressing-room. Gave him a 
 newspaper of the 3rd of October, ISIO. Had some conversation 
 with him relative to Chateaubriand, Sir Robert Wilson, &c. I 
 observed, that some pjersons wtire surprised that he had never 
 written, or caused to be written, an answer to Sir Robert Wil- 
 son's work, and to others containing similar assertions. He re- 
 plied, that it was unnecessary ; that they would fall to the 
 ground of themselves; that Sir Robert had already contradicted 
 it, by the answer which he had given in his interrogation, when 
 Iried in Paris for having assisted Lavalette in his escape; and 
 that he was convinced W^ilson was now sorry for having pub- 
 lished what he then had been led to believe was true. That 
 moreover the English, who returned from their travels in France, 
 would return undeceived as to his character, and would unde- 
 ceive their c<juntrymen. 
 
 I asked if he had not been very thin when he was in Egypt 
 lie answered, that he was at that time extremely thin, although 
 possessed of a strong and robust constitution. That he had sup- 
 ported what would have killed most other men. After his 
 thirty-sixth year he began to grow fat. 
 
 He told me that he had frecjucntly labored in state affairs for 
 Sileen bjurs, without a moment's cessation, or even having taken
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 193 
 
 any nourishment. On one occasion, he had continued at his 
 labors for three days and nights, without laying down to sleep. 
 
 When Napoleon was rising up from table this day, and in the 
 act of taking his hat off the side-board, a large rat sprang out of 
 it. and ran between his legs, to the surprise of those presiait. 
 
 13//i. — Made inquiries from the purveyor, if credit were given 
 to the establishment on any articles allowed them by govern- 
 ment during the week, which had not been consumed, and 
 whether they might be permitted to appropriate the value of 
 such articles as had not been used, to increase the allowance of 
 others, of which they had not a sufficient quantity ; or whether 
 the savings so made, were to be credited to government? The 
 reply was, "any saving made by the establishment upon the 
 English confectionary allowed to them, may be carried to in- 
 crease the quantity of vegetables allowed ; but all and every 
 other saving is to be credited to government, and not to the 
 French." That some weeks back, no saving of any description 
 was permitted to be appropriated to increase the allowances in 
 which there might be a deficiency ; but after several representa- 
 tions had been made by me during Napoleon's illness, of the de- 
 ficiency of vegetables. Sir Hudson Lowe had directed, that the 
 value of the confectionary not used by them,* might be carried 
 over to increase the allowance of provisions ; that a very severe 
 reprimand had been given to the purveyors, in a letter from 
 Major Gorrequer, for having credited the value of the fruit 
 allowed, (when none was to be procured on the island,) to in- 
 crease the quantity of vegetables, accompanied by a strict order 
 never to repeat it. 
 
 \Ath. — Made inquiries from Brigade Major Harrison, who was 
 stationed at Hut's Gate, if any alteration had been made in th€ 
 orders, so as to allow Napoleon to pass the picquet at that gate, 
 and to go round by Miss Mason's and Woody Range, nvKccom- 
 panied by a British officer 1 Major Harrison replied, that no 
 change of orders to that effect had been given, and that if he 
 attempted to pass, he would be stopped by the sentinels. He 
 
 * The French raroly used any of the confectionary sent from Engluncl, «» th« 
 ehe/d'officef was very superior in his office. 
 
 9
 
 194 A VDICK I'KoM sr. HELENA. 
 
 addod, that Giiioral (loiirgaiul had asked him the same qutstion 
 yesterday-, to whom he had returned a similar answer. Cipriani 
 in town, purchasing sheep. 
 
 15///. — Saw Napoleon in his hath. He was rather low-spirited 
 and thoughtful. Made some observations about the governor's 
 not having kept his word, relative to the proptjscd intermediation 
 through the medium of the admiral. 
 
 \l(h. — Madame Bertrand delivered of a fine boy, at half-past 
 four o'cl«)ek. Her accouehcment was followed by some danger- 
 ous symptoms. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe came up toX,ongwood, and asked me "If I 
 had had any conversation with Napoleon touching the admiral 
 since he had seen me ?" I replied, that he " appeared much sur- 
 prised, that he (the governor) had not acted upon the proposed 
 intermediation by means of the admiral." Sir Hudson Lowe 
 observed, " that he had considered the negotiation to be broken 
 off, by General Bonaparte's having sent to him a number of 
 strictures upon the restrictions of October last, written in a 
 violent manner, and containing falsehoods ; and by the tenor of 
 the remarks written upon the back of the answer delivered b} 
 him to the original proposition. That he was ignorant whether 
 they intended those remarks for his perusal, or to be sent *.o 
 England. That the frequent use of the word ' einperor,^ in th*^ 
 strictures written by Count Bertrand, was sufficient for him to 
 break off the affair." I replied that the strictures had mersly 
 been sent by Napoleon for his own consideration. His excel- 
 lency then began to inveigh against Count Las Cases, w^hom he 
 accused of "having been the cause of much mischief between 
 Bonaparte and himself; said he had asserted in his journal that 
 Bonaparte had declared, that he al)horred the sight of the British 
 uniform, or of a British officer; that he held both in abomination; 
 and that I had better take an opportunity to tell him this, and 
 add, that I had heard him (the governor) say, that he did not 
 believe that he had ever said so." 
 
 Sir Hudson then asked me if " I had informed General Bona^ 
 parte that he was at liberty to ride round by Miss Mason's and 
 Woody Range unaccompanied 1" 1 replied that I had, but that
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 195 
 
 Major Harrison had asserted the contrary to General Gourgaiid 
 and myself. His excellency said, that since that time, permis- 
 sion had been granted, of which he desii'ed me to inform General 
 Bonaparte, as well as of his reasons for not having gone on any 
 further with the proposed intermediation. Also, "that he daily 
 expected good news from England for the French, and hoped he 
 should be permitted by the English government to render their 
 situation more comfortable." 
 
 In the evening, however, his excellency changed his mind, and 
 ordered me " i\ot to communicate anything to General Bonaparte 
 on the subject of the ride to the left of Hut's Gate, but to men- 
 tion everything else he had directed me." 
 
 18th. — Napoleon sent for me. Complained of severe head- 
 ache, and made many inquiries concerning Madame Bertrand, 
 about whose state of health he appeared very anxious. I in- 
 formed him of the real cause of the unpleasant symptoms which 
 had appeared. 
 
 Acquainted him with the causes which the governor had as- 
 signed yesterday, as his reasons for not having proceeded farther 
 in the proposed intermediation, and the other matters that I was 
 directed to tell him. Napoleon replied, " I never intended to 
 break off the negotiation. The observations were sent to him, 
 because he asked for them himself, and desired to know what we 
 complained of It was never intended as a refusal, nor to Vie 
 sent to England, as it was only a copy of what I once intended 
 to send. I wished," continued he, " to have had the admiral pre- 
 sent at any agreement which might be made, in order to be able 
 to call upon him hereafter, as a man of honor and an English- 
 man, to bear witness to whatever was agreed upon, that thr 
 governor might not be able to change the orders and directions, 
 subsequently deny what had been settled, and then say that ho 
 had changed nothing. But this governor never intended to call 
 in the admiral. It was all a trick. SJ un uomo senza. /ec/e," (a 
 faithless man). I said that the governor had informed me that 
 he had written to England, and daily expected orders to amelio- 
 rate his condition. "He has never written for any such thing," 
 replied Napoleon : " he sees that he has gone too far, and now be
 
 196 A VOICE I'KOM ST. Ill): LENA. 
 
 awaits the arrival of sonu" ship f\\>\\\ England, in (irciir that he 
 nmy throw thi' weight and odium of thoso restrictions upon the 
 ministers, and say that he has written and got thcni taken ofl'. 
 The ministers have merely given him orders to take every pre- 
 caution to prevent me from escaping ; all the rest is discretional. 
 He treats us as if we were so many peasants, or poor simple 
 creatures, who could be duped by his shallow artifices." 
 
 The Adamant arrived from the Cape. A present of some 
 fruit sent by Lady Malcolm to Napoleon. Went to town, and 
 [•roeured some newspapers, which I gave to Napoleon on my re- 
 turn. Assisted in explaining some of the passages to him. Re- 
 peated an anecdote which I had heard about his son, at which he 
 laughed much, appeared entertained, and brightened up. Made 
 me repeat it again ; asked about Marie Louise, and desired me 
 to endeavor to see all the newspapers that arrived, in order, that 
 if I could not procure the loan of them, I should be able to in- 
 form him of anything they might contain, relative to his wife 
 and child. " For," added he, " one reason that this governor 
 does not send up a regular series of papers, is to prevent me 
 from seeing any article which he thinks would give me pleasure, 
 especially such as contain some little information about my son 
 or my wife." 
 
 19tk. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me. Proceeded to Planta- 
 tion House. Communicated to him Napoleon's reply to the 
 message he had charged me to deliver on the 17th, concealing 
 any offensive epithets, and otherwise moderating the manner. 
 Sir Hudson said, " that he had never asked for the observations 
 on the restrictions : that he believed he had asked what they 
 complained of, and that he was glad to know they had not in- 
 tended to break off the accommodation by sending them." 
 
 A little afterwards, however, his excellency began to wax 
 •varm, and said, "That the person who had ordered observations 
 to be written, couched in such language, and containing lies, 
 could not be actuated by any conciliatory views, and he should 
 take no positive steps in the matter. That he conceived a per- 
 son's proposing another for a mediator could have no other ob- 
 ject in view than to ?nake some concession or apology ; if such
 
 1&17 — JANUARY. 197 
 
 were General Bonaparte's views, he (Sir Hudson) should think it 
 advisable to employ one, and not otherwise." He then asked 
 me, " if such were General Bonaparte's intentions ?" I told his 
 excellency that I could assure him Napoleon had no such inten- 
 tion, nor ever had. Sir Hudson, after some hazardous assertions 
 relative to Napoleon's motives, got up, walked into another room, 
 from whence he returned with a volume of the Quarterly Re- 
 view, containing a review of Miot's work upon Egypt, which he 
 put into my hands, and, with a triumphant laugh, pointed out 
 the following passage, which he desired me to read aloud : 
 
 " He (Bonaparte) understands enough of mankind to dazzle the 
 weak, to dupe the vain, to overawe the timid, and to make the 
 wicked his instruments. But of all beyond this, Bonaparte is 
 grossly and brutally ignorant. Of the strength of patriotism, 
 the enthusiasm of virtue, the fortitude of duty, he knows nothing, 
 and can comprehend nothing." During the time I was reading 
 this, his excellency indulged in bursts of laughter. He after- 
 wards made me observe a definition of the word caractere in a 
 posthumous work of Voltaire's, (I think,) of which he said Ge- 
 neral Bonaparte must have been ignorant, or he would not be so 
 fond of using the woi'd. 
 
 Subsequently, Sir Hudson Lowe said, that, " General Bona- 
 parte ought to send the admiral to him." I observed that Sir 
 Pulteney Malcolm would not undertake any thing of the kind 
 unless first spoken to, and authorized by him (Sir Hudson) to 
 undertake it. That as he had now the complaints of the French 
 in his possession, he might let the admiral know how far he 
 would agree to their demands; and, by making that officer 
 acquainted with his intentions, the latter would know how to act 
 aud what answer to make. Sir Hudson recurred again to the 
 language in which the observations on his restrictions were couch- 
 ed, and after a discussion which continued for some time, gave 
 me a message, similar to that which he had done on the 17th, 
 with the addition, " that at the time he had foreseen that the re- 
 quest to see Las Cases, which he could not grant, would probably 
 break off the proposed accommodation." He then told me that 
 I might borrow any books I liked in his library, excepting such
 
 lyti A VOICK FKOM «T. UKLKNA- 
 
 8s fljillcii'J Buiiiijiarto too iiiuili. Shortly afu-r, he gave me 
 Fillet's liliel upon England, Miut's expedition to Egypt, "^Imourj 
 secretes (/«* J'k^apiileoii" ^:e. 1 asked him if I might lend Pillet to 
 Napolet)!!. lie said, " Yes ; and tell him that Pillet knows just 
 as inueh about Englaiid as Las Cases." His excellency ihen 
 look from a shelf a book called "Zes Iinposteurs in^ignes^ ou 
 Jlistoire de plusieurs Hommes de neunt dc toutes Nations, qui ont 
 usurpc la Qnulitc d^JiJmpereur, de Roi, el de Priiice,^^* put it into 
 my hand, and with a peculiar grin, said, "you had better take 
 General Bonaparte this also. Perhaps he may find some char- 
 acters in it resembling himself" 
 
 20th. — Cipriani in town, purchasing meat, butter, and other 
 necessaries. Sir Thomas Reade very active in assisting him to 
 procure them. 
 
 21st. — Saw Napoleon in the evening. Gave him Pillet's libel, 
 mentioning at the same time some of the falsehoods contained in 
 it; amongst others, the incestuous practices which the wretch 
 who wrote it asserted to be prevalent in England. He appeared 
 surprised and shocked at this, and observed that malice frequent- 
 ly defeated itself When I mentioned that Pillet had asserted 
 that the French naval officers were more skilful and manceuvered 
 better than the English, he smiled contemptuously, and observed, 
 '• Truly, they have proved it by the result of their actions." 
 
 I then told him that I had got a book entitled '■'■Amours secretes 
 de Napoleon Bonapjarte,^' but Lhat it was a foolish work. He 
 laughed, and desired me to bring it to him. " It will at least 
 make me laugh," said he. I accordingly brought it. He ob- 
 served a print in the book which represented him plunging a 
 sword into a balloon, because the manager of it would not let him 
 ascend and remarked, " It is believed by some that 1 did what is 
 represented here, and I have heard that it was asserted by persons 
 who knew me well, but it is not true. The circumstance re- 
 presented really occurred, but the actor was one of the comite, 
 a young man of great bravery, of a singular appearance and 
 
 ♦ Famoub ImpoHtorti, or Histories of many pitiful VV retches of low birth of aU 
 NatioDS, who have usurped the office of Emperor, King, or Priuoe.
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 199 
 
 peculiar manner, always elevated upon his tiptoes, and loving to 
 walk near the brink of precipices." 
 
 Some one came into the room now, to whom he cried " eh 
 bien, voila mes amours secretes,''' (here are my private amours.) 
 He then ran through the book, read out some parts, laughing 
 very heartily, but observed that it was monstrous silly ; that 
 they had not even described him to be a wicked man. After 
 having perused a portion of it which I had not read, he shut the 
 book, and returned it, observing that there was not a single 
 word of truth in the anecdotes ; that even the names of the greatest 
 number of the females mentioned were unknown to him. 
 
 Napoleon sat up until late at night reading Pillet, and I was 
 informed he was heard repeatedly to burst into loud fits of 
 laughter. 
 
 22»tZ.— Napoleon employed a considerable portion of the day 
 in dictating his memoirs to Counts Bertrand and Montholon in 
 the billiard-room, which he has converted into a cabinet de travail, 
 (a working room.) Occasionally he amuses himself with col- 
 lecting the balls together and endeavoring to roll them all into 
 the opposite corner pocket. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe sent me up some coffee for Napoleon's own 
 use, which he said was of very good quality, and which he 
 strongly recommended. 
 
 23r(/. — Napoleon in good spirits. Spoke about Fillet's book. 
 Observed that he had no recollection whatever of such a name. 
 " Probably," said he, " Pillet is some person who has been 
 harshly treated by you in the prison-ships [^j)ontons) and has 
 written in a bad humor and full of malice against the English, 
 which is evidently displayed in his work. There is," continued 
 he, " only one statement in the book which I believe to be cor- 
 rect, viz. that relative to the treatment of the prisoners in the 
 'pontons. It was barbarous on the part of your government to 
 immure a number of poor wretches of soldiers, who had not been 
 accustomed to the sea, on board of ships so many hours every 
 night, without fresh air. There was something horrid," conti- 
 nued he "in the treatment of the prisoners in England. The 
 very idea of being put on board of a ship, and kept there for
 
 200 A. VOICE FROM ST. IIEI.ENA. 
 
 .H>veral years, has soiiu-tliiiig diiaiiriil in it. Even your seamen 
 hate the idea of' Iteiii}^ always on board of ships, and run to seek 
 the ilelights ot' the sliore whenever they can. There was nothing 
 which so much irritated the nations of the continent against yoa. 
 For your ministers not only heaped Frenchmen in them, but 
 also prisoners of all other nations at war with you. I received 
 so many complaints about the barbarous treatment to which 
 thev were subjected in the poit(u)i.s, a treatment so contrary to 
 that practiced in France towards the English, that at last I gave 
 orders that all the English prisoners should be put on board of 
 pontons, which were to be prepared for that purpose, and to be 
 treated precisely as you treated mine in England. Had I re- 
 mained in France, it would have been carried into execution, and 
 would have had a good efiect, for I would have given every 
 liberty and facility to the English so confined to vent their com- 
 plaints, and your ministry would, in spite of themselves, have 
 been obliged to remove the French from the pontons, in order 
 that a similar measure might be adopted towards the English in 
 France." 
 
 1 observed that the treatment of the French prisoners in Eng- 
 land had not been near so bad as was stated by many, especially 
 by Pillet. Napoleon replied, " I have no doubt that the statement 
 is exaggerated ; but still they were treated in a most barbarous 
 and oppressive manner. The mere putting of soldiers on board 
 of ships is of itself cruel. Now, in France all the English were 
 treated well : at least my intentions towards them were good. 
 Some abuses existed doubtless, as there always will under similar 
 eii-cumstances ; but that was not my fault. Whenever they 
 came to my knowledge, I always punished the guilty. There 
 was Virion ; as soon as I found out his robberies, I gave orders 
 to have him tried, and I would have had him hanged, if, dreading 
 the result, he had not ^hot himself. Others did the same, it is 
 impossible that any government could have given more lenient 
 directions for the treatment of prisoners of war than those w hich 
 were issued by me ; but I could not help some abuses being prac- 
 ticed. 1 always punished the authors of them when they came 
 to aay knowledge. Let the thousands of English prisoners who
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 201 
 
 were in France be asked to state candidly the manner in which 
 they were treated. There are some of them now in this island. 
 When they attempted to escape and were taken, then indeed 
 they were closely confined; but never were treated in such a 
 barbarous manner as you treated mine in your ponfons. Youi 
 ministers made a great noise about my having employed French 
 prisoners who had broken their parole and escaped. But the 
 prisoners of your nation were the first to set the example to 
 escape, and your ministers employed them afterwards. In re- 
 taliation, I of course did the same. I published the names of 
 several Englishmen who broke their parole previous to the 
 French having done so, and who were afterwards employed by 
 you ; nay, 1 did more, I made an offer to your ministers to send 
 back all the French prisoners who had violated their parole from 
 the beginning of the war, provided they would in like manner 
 send back all the English who had done the like. They how- 
 ever refused to consent to this. What more could I do 1 Your 
 ministers made a great outcry about the English travelers that 
 I detained in France ; although they themselves had set the ex- 
 ample, by seizing upon all the French vessels and persons on 
 board of them, upon whom they could lay their hands, either in 
 their harbors, or at sea, before the declaration of war, and before 
 I had detained the English in France. I said then, if you detain 
 my travelers at sea, where you can do what you like, I will de- 
 tain yours at land where I am equally powerful. But after this 
 I offered to release all the English I had seized in France before 
 the declaration of war, provided you would in like manner re- 
 lease the French and their property which you had seized on 
 board of the ships. Your ministers refused. 
 
 " Your ministers," continued he, " never publish all the truth, 
 unless when they cannot avoid it; or when they know that it 
 will come to the knowledge of the public through other channels ; 
 in other cases, they turn, disguise, or suppress every thing, as 
 best answers their views." 
 
 I made some observations relative to the calumnious assertions 
 of Pillet, of the general depravity alleged by him to exist among 
 the English ladies, and the horrible assertions he had put forth} 
 
 9*
 
 202 A VOICK FKOM ST. IIKLKN i. 
 
 :uul iimiiitaiiutl that in no cuuiitn was tlu-ro Itss loason for sup 
 p«.»snig lliat an inipropor connexion existed ln-twoen near rcUv- 
 lions; nor in any connlrv were there to lie fouml females more 
 delieate, or more irreproaehaMe in their mode of life ; jiointing 
 out to the Eniperor tliat it was evident Pillet had kept very low 
 company, by his assertions alumi sicecthearis, which 1 exphiined 
 was a word in haKitual nse only amongst chamltermaids, low- 
 shopkeepers' daughters, and others of a similar rank, although 
 Pillet had the impudence to assert that such a term was in fami- 
 liar use with young ladies of the first respectability. "True," 
 said Napoleon, " I fancy that he never saw any English women 
 on board of his ship, except puttane of the lowest chiss. He 
 had," continued he, "a fine opportunity truly of learning the 
 manners and customs of the English, confined as he was on 
 board of a pontou for seven or eight years. lie defeated his own 
 intention ; for in some parts he has written so many lies and 
 horrors of the English, that the truth which he has stated in 
 another part will not be credited. His book is like those which 
 have described me as a monster delighting in l)ioodshed, in 
 crimes and atrocities; that merely to gratify a sanguinary dis- 
 position I drove my carriage over the bodies of the killed and 
 wounded in battle. His book is just as true, and in like manner 
 defeats the intentions of the publisher. I was indeed pleased to 
 see those violent works, as 1 knew that no person of sense or 
 reason, would believe them. Those written with an appearance 
 of moderation and impartiality were the only ones I had to fear." 
 I asked the emperor then if he had ever read Miot's history of 
 the expedition to Egypt. " What, the commissary ?" replied he. 
 "I believe Las Cases gave me a copy ; moreover it was pul)lished 
 in my time." He then desired me to bring the one which I had, 
 in order that he might compare them. He observed, " Miot was 
 & polisson (blackguard) whom, together with his brother, I raised 
 from the dirt. He says that I threatened him for writing the 
 book ; which is a falsehood. 1 said to his brother once that he 
 might as well not have published untruths. He was a man who 
 had always fear before his eyes. What does he say al)Out the 
 poisoning affair and the shooting at Jaffa 1" 1 replied, that as to
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 203 
 
 the poisoning, Miot declared, he could say no more than that 
 Buch had been the current report ; but that he positively asst-rted 
 that he (Napoleon) had caused between three and four thousand 
 Turks to be shot, some days after the capture of Jaffii. Napo- 
 leon answ ered, " It is not true that there were so many. I or- 
 dered about a thousand or twelve hundred to be shot, which was 
 done. The reason was, that amongst the garrison of Jaffa, a 
 number of Turkish troops were discovered, whom I had taken, a 
 short time before, at El-Arish, and sent to Bagdad upon their 
 parole not to serve again, or to be found in arms against me for 
 a year. I had caused them to be escorted twelve leagues on their 
 way to Bagdad, by a division of my army. But those Turks, 
 instead of proceeding to Bagdad, threw themselves into Jaffa, de- 
 fended it to the last, and cost me a number of brave men to take 
 it, whose lives would have been spared, if the others had not 
 reinforced the garrison of Jaffa. Moreover, before I attacked the 
 town, I sent them a flag of truce. Immediately afterwards we 
 saw the head of the bearer elevated on a pole over the wall. 
 Now if I had spared them again, and sent them away upon their 
 parole, they would directly have gone to St. Jean d'Acre, where 
 they would have played over again the same scene that they had 
 done at Jafla. In justice to the lives of my soldiers, as every 
 general ought to consider himself as their father, and them as his 
 children, I could not allow this. To leave as a guard a portion 
 of my army, already small and reduced in number, in conse- 
 quence of the breach of faith of those wretches, was impossible. 
 Indeed, to have acted otherwise than as I did, would probably 
 have caused the destruction of my whole army. I therefore, 
 availing myself of the rights of war, which authorize the putting 
 to death prisoners taken under such circumstances, independent 
 of the right given to me by having taken the city by assault, and 
 that of retaliation on the Turks, ordered that the prisoners taken 
 at El-Arish, who, in defiance of their capitulation, had been found 
 bearing arms against me, should be selected out and shot. The 
 rest, amounting to a considerable number, were spared. I would," 
 continued he, "do the same thing again to-morrow, and so would
 
 204 A VOICK FROM ST. IIKI.ENA. 
 
 Wi-llingtoii, or uiiv gi-iioiiil tM>iiiiiiaii<liiig an ariiiv iiiulcr siinilai 
 circ'inistanoes." 
 
 "Previous to leaving Jaffa," continued Napoleon, " and ufter 
 the yreattst nunilier of the sick and wounded had been einltarked 
 it was reported to me that there were some men in the hospital 
 so dangerously ill, as not to be able to be moved. I ordered 
 immediately the ehiefs t)f the medical staff to consult together 
 iipi>n what was best to be done, and to give nie their opinion on 
 the subject. Accordingly, they met, and found that there were 
 seven or eight men so dangerously ill, that they conceived it im- 
 possible for them to recover ; and also that they could not exist 
 twenty-four or thirty -six hours longer; that, moreover, being 
 afflicted with the plague, they would spread that complaint 
 amongst all those who approached them. Some of them, who 
 were sensible, perceiving that they were about to be abandoned, 
 demanded with earnest entreaties to be put to death. Larrey 
 •was of opinion that recovery w^as impossible, and that those 
 poor fellows could not exist many hours; but as they inight live 
 long enough to be alive when the Turks entered, and experience 
 the dreadfid torments which they were accustomed to inflict upon 
 their prisoners, he thought it would be an act of charity to comply 
 with their desires, and accelerate their end V)y a few hours. Des- 
 genettes did not approve of this, and replied, that his profession 
 was to cure the sick, and not to dispatch them. Larrey came to 
 me immediately afterwards, informed me of the circumstances^ 
 ai>d of what Desgenettes had said ; adding, that perhaps Des- 
 genettes was right. 'But,' continued Larrey, 'those men cannot 
 live for more than a few hours, twenty-four or thirty-six at most; 
 and if you will leave a rear-guard of cavalry, to stay and prc)tect 
 them from advanced parties, it will be sufficient.' Accordingly, 
 I ordered four or five hundred cavalry to remain behind, and not 
 to quit the place until all were dead. They did remain, and in- 
 formed me that all had expired before they had left the town ; 
 but 1 have heard since, that Sydney Smith found one or two alive, 
 when he entered it. This is the truth of the business. Wilson 
 himself, I dare say, knfiws now that he was mistaken. Sydney 
 Smith never asserted it. 1 have no doulit that this stoiy of the
 
 1 81 1 — JANUARY. 205 
 
 poisoning originated in something said by Desgenettes, who was 
 a bavard, (babbler,) which was afterwards misconceived or in- 
 correctly repeated, Desgenettes," continued he, " was a good 
 man, and notwithstanding that he had given rise to this story, I 
 was not offended, and had him near my person in different cam- 
 paigns afterwards. Not that I think it would have been a crime, 
 had opium been given to them ; on the contrary, I think it would 
 have been a virtue. To leave a few miserahles, (wretches,) who 
 could not recover, in order that they might be massacred by the 
 Turks with the most dreadful tortures, as was their custom, 
 would, I think, have been cruelty. A general ought to act with 
 his soldiers, as he would wish should be done to himself. Now, 
 would not any man, under similar circumstances, who had his 
 senses, have preferred dying easily a few hours sooner, rather 
 than expire under the tortures of those barbarians ? You have 
 been amongst the Turks, and know what they are; I ask you 
 now to place yourself in the situation of one of those sick men, 
 and that you were asked which you would prefer, to be left to 
 suffer the tortures of those miscreants, or to have opium adminis- 
 tered to you V I replied, " most undoubtedly I would prefer the 
 latter." " Certainly, so would any man," answered Napoleon : 
 " if my own son, (and I believe I love my son as well as any fa- 
 ther does his child,) were in a similar situation with those men, I 
 would advise it to be done; and if so situated myself, I would 
 insist upon it, if I had sense enough, and strength enough to de- 
 mand it. But, however, affairs were not so pressing as to prevent 
 me from leaving a party to take care of them, which was done. 
 If I had thought such a measure as that of giving opium neces- 
 sary, I would have called a council of war, have stated the neces- 
 sity of it, and have published it in the order of the day. It 
 should have been no secret. Do you think that if I had been 
 capable of secretly poisoning my soldiers, (as doing a necessary 
 action secretly would give it the appearance of a crime,) or of 
 such barbarities as driving my carriage over the dead, and the 
 still bleeding bodies of the wounded, that my troops would have 
 fought for me with an enthusiasm and affection without a parallel 1 
 No, no, I never should have done so a second time. Some would
 
 206 A VOU'K FROM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 have shot mo in passiiii^. I^vi-ii soiiu' of the WDiiiulid, who had 
 ButVicifiit strfii;:th Ift't to pull a tiiyger, woukl luivc tlisjialrhod iiu'." 
 
 " 1 never," continued Napoleon, " coinniilted a iiinif in all my 
 p«.>litienl career. At my last hour 1 can assert that. Had I done 
 so, ] should not have Iteen here now. 1 should have Jispatched 
 the Bourlions. it only rested witli me to give my consent, juid 
 they would have ceased to live," 
 
 " I have been accused in like manin-r,'' continued the empeioi, 
 "of having committed such unnecessary crimes as causing Piche- 
 gru, Wright, and others, to be assassinated. Instead of desiring 
 the death of Wright, I was anxious to bring to light, by his testi- 
 nionv, that Pitt had caused assassins to be landed in France, 
 purposely and knowingly to murder me. Wright killed himself, 
 probably in order not to compromise his government. What 
 motive could I have in assassinating Pichegru ? A man who 
 was evidently guilty : against whom every proof was ready. 
 No evidence was wanting against him. His condemnation was 
 certain. Perhaps I should have pardoned him. If indeed Mo- 
 reau had been put to death, then people might have said that I 
 had caused his assassination, and with great apparent justice, for 
 he was the only man I had much reason to fear ; and until then, 
 he was judged innocent. He was ' i/we,' like me; Pichegru was 
 'Wn'/e,' known to be in the pay of England, and his death cer- 
 tain." Here Napoleon described the way in which he had been 
 found, and observed, that the very uncommon mode of his death 
 was a proof that he had not been murdered. "There never has 
 been," continued he, " a man who has arrived at the pitch of 
 power to which I have done, without having been sullied li) 
 crimes, except myself. An English lord, a relation of the Duke 
 of Bedford, who dined with me at Elba, told me that it was 
 o-enerally believed in England that the Duke d'Enghein had not 
 been tried, Vjut assassinated in prison in the night ; and was sur- 
 prised when I told him that he had a regular trial, and that the 
 sentence had been jiublished before execution." 
 
 I now asked if it were true that Talleyrand had retained a 
 letter written by the Due d'Enghien to him until two days after 
 the duke's execution ? Napoleon's reply was, " It is true : the
 
 1817 — JAN-FARf. 207 
 
 ^uke had written a letter, offering his services, and asking a com- 
 mand in the army from me, which that scelerato* Talleyrand, did 
 not make known until two days after his execution." I observed 
 that Talleyrand, by his culpable concealment of the letter, was 
 virtually guilty of the death of the duke. " Talleyrand," replied 
 Napoleon, "is a briccone, (villain) capable of any crime. I," 
 continued he, "caused the Due d'Enghien to be arrested in con- 
 sequence of the Bourbons having landed assassins in France to 
 murder me, I was resolved to let them see that .the blood of 
 one of their princes should pay for their attempts, and he was 
 accordingly tried for having borne arms against the republic, 
 found guilty and shot, according to the existing laws against such 
 a crime." 
 
 " You will never," added Napoleon, " see the truth represented 
 by your ministers, where France is concerned. Your great Lord 
 Chatham said, speaking of your nation, ' If we deal fairly or 
 justly with France, England will not exist for four-and-twenty 
 years.' " 
 
 After this, I informed the emperor of the message which Sir 
 Hudson Lowe had directed me to deliver. He replied, "I cer- 
 tainly was very much vexed at the refusal to allow Las Cases to 
 come up, as it was an unnecessary cruelty, a vexatious foolery, 
 particularly when he allowed the French generals to go down 
 and converse with him as long as they liked ; and I may say 
 without a witness having been present ; but I never intended to 
 decline the accommodation ; on the contrary. As to the obser- 
 vations upon his restrictions, in the last letter he wrote to Ber- 
 trand, he mentioned that he should wish to learn any observations 
 we might have to offer on the subject of the restrictions ; and, in 
 consequence, those remarks were sent to let him know what we 
 thought of his conduct, he having pretended that nothing had 
 been changed. But he never intended to avail himself of the 
 intermediation of the admiral. What can be expected from a 
 man who gives false orders? A man who tells you that he has 
 giviMi directions to sentinels and guards which they deny ever 
 having received ; who says that we have liberty to pass in certain 
 
 * Miscreant.
 
 208 A VOICK FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 direotioiis ; and iit the saiiu- lime orJers (lie sfiiliiicls to stop all 
 suspicious persons. Now, in thf name of Gnd, v\ lio ean he more 
 suspieious to nil English sentinel than a Fienehman, and above all^ 
 iityselj? To guard whom is his only business here; and if he 
 does his duty, he will assuredly stop every Frenchman he sees." 
 I could not help laughing heartily at the emperor's manner, in 
 which he joim-d himself, and repeated, " Un uomo iiuapace che 
 tion ha /u'.vsi/»a /('(/('," (a man without capacity and witlmut faith). 
 After which, he desired me to endeavor to procure him a cata- 
 logue of the books that were in the pulilic library of James 
 Town, and to get him as many accounts relative to Egypt and 
 the expeditions there, as I could procure. 
 
 Saw Sir Hudson Lowe in town, to whom I repeated Napo- 
 leon's reply. When I came to that part of it, which urged, that 
 in his last letter to Bertrand, he had stated, that he would be 
 glad to learn any observations, he interrupted me with "Ay, that 
 1 would be glad to enter into any further explanation. Yes, I 
 recollect that," but he did not seem to like to dwell on the sub- 
 ject, and observed that it appeared General Bonaparte's answer 
 was the same as before ; and desired me to be sure to tell him 
 that Las Cases knew just as much of England as Pillet. 
 
 24th. — Cipriani in town, employed as usual, endeavoring to 
 procure some good articles of viands. 
 
 26/^. — Napoleon went out of the house, being the first time 
 since the 20th of November last, to pay a visit to Countess Ber- 
 trand, whom he complimented much upon her beautiful child. 
 " Sire," said the Countess, " I have the honor to present to your 
 majesty le premier Franpais (the first Frenchman) who, since your 
 arrival, has entered Longwood without Lord Bathurst's per- 
 mission." 
 
 21th. — Napoleon in his bath. Complained of headache and 
 want of sleep, which I imputed to his want of exercise ; and 
 concluded by strongly recommending him to practice it. He 
 acknowledged the justice of my advice, but did not seem to think 
 that he could folb^w it. 
 
 Informed him that I had got a book containing an account of a 
 society named " Philadeljihi," which had been formed against
 
 1816 —JAN U ARY. 209 
 
 him, and expressed my surprise that he had never fallen by the 
 hands of some conspirators. He replied : "No person knew five 
 minutes before I put it into execution, that I intended to go oul^ 
 or where I should go. For this reason the conspirators were 
 baffled, as they did not know where to lay the scene of their 
 enterprise. Shortly after I was made consul, there was a con 
 spiracy formed against me by about fifty persons, the greatest 
 number of whom had once been very much attached to me, and 
 consisted of officers of the army, men of science, painters, and 
 sculptors. They were all stern republicans — their minds were 
 heated ; each fancied himself a Brutus, and me a tyrant and 
 another Caesar. Amongst them was Arena, a countryman of 
 mine, a republican, and a man who had been much attached to 
 me before ; but thinking me a tyrant, he determined to get rid 
 of me, imagining that by doing so he should render a service to 
 France. There was also one Ceracchi, another Corsican, and a 
 famous sculptor, who, when I was at Milan, had made a statue 
 of me. He too had been greatly attached to me, but being a 
 fanatical republican, determined to kill me, for which purpose 
 he came to Paris, and begged to have the honor of making 
 another statue for me, alleging, that the first was not sufficiently 
 well executed for so great a man. Though 1 then knew nothing 
 of the conspiracy which had been formed, I refused to give my 
 consent, as I did not like the trouble of sitting for tvvo or thi'ee 
 hours in the same posture for some days, especially as I had sat 
 before to him. This saved my life — his intention being to po- 
 niard me whilst I was sitting. In the meantime, they had 
 arranged their plans. Amongst them there was a captain, who 
 had been a great admirer of me. This man agreed with the rest, 
 that it was necessary to overturn the tyrant, but he would not 
 consent that I should be killed, though he strenuously joined in 
 everything else. All the others, however, differed with him in 
 opinion, and insisted that it was absolutely necessary to dispatch 
 me, as the only means of preventing France from being enslaved. 
 That while 1 lived, there would be no chance of freedom. This 
 captain, finding that they were determined to shed my blood, 
 notwithstanding all his arguments and entreaties, gave inforOBft-
 
 210 A VOICK Fi:oM ST. JIELENA. 
 
 tiou s.>f thi'ir luiiiu's and j)lans. They were to assassinate mo on 
 the first night tlial I wont to the theatre, in the passage as I was 
 returning. Everything was arranged with the police : I wont the 
 same evening to the tluatro, and actually passed through the 
 conspirators; some of whom 1 know l»y person, and who were 
 armed witli poniards under their cloaks, in order to dispatch me 
 when 1 was going out. Shortly after my arrival, the police 
 seized them all. They were searched, and the poniards found 
 upon them. In France a person cannot be found guilty of a con- 
 spiracy to murder, unless the instruments of death are found upon 
 him. They were afterwards tried, and some executed." 
 
 1 asked some questions about the infernal-machine transaction. 
 Napoleon replied in the following manner. " It was about 
 Christmas time, and great festivities were going on, I was much 
 pressed to go the opera, I had been greatly occupied with busi- 
 ness all the day, and in the evening found myself sleepy and 
 tired. 1 threw myself on a sofa in my wife's saloon, and fell 
 asleep. Josephine came down some time after, awoke me, and 
 insisted that I should go to the theatre. She was an excellent 
 woman, and wished me to do every thing to ingratiate myself 
 with the people. You know that when women take a thing into 
 their heads, they will go through with it, and you must gratify 
 them. Well, I got up, much against my inclination, and went 
 in my carriage, accompanied by Lasnes and Bessieres. I was so 
 drowsy that I fell asleep in the coach. I was asleep when the 
 explosion took place, and I recollect, when I awoke, experiencing 
 a sensation as if the vehicle had been raised up, and was passing 
 through a great body of water. The contrivers of this, were a 
 man named St. Regent, Imolan, a religious man, who has since 
 gone to America and turned priest, and some others. They got 
 a cart and barrel resembling that with which water is supplied 
 through the streets of Paris, with this exception, that the barrel 
 was put crcjssways. This he had filled with gunpowder, and 
 placed it and himself nearly in the turning of the htroet through 
 which I was to pass. What saved me was, that my wife's car- 
 riage was the same in appearance as mine, and there was a guard 
 of iifteen men t> each. Imolan did not know which 1 was in, auO
 
 isn — JANUARY. 211 
 
 indeed was not certain, that I should be in either of thcuj. In 
 order to ascertain this, he stepped forward to look into the car- 
 riage, and assure himself of my presence. One of my guards, a 
 great tall strong fellow, impatient and angry at seeing a man 
 stopping up the way, and staring into the carriage, rode up, and 
 gave him a kick, with his great boot, crying, ' get out of the way, 
 pekin,'' which knocked him down. Before he could get up, the 
 carriage had passed a little on, Imolan being confused 1 sup- 
 pose by his fall, and by his intentions, not perceiving that the 
 carriage had passed, ran to the cart and exploded his machine 
 between the two carriages. It killed the horse of one of my 
 guards and wounded the rider, knocked down several houses, and 
 killed and wounded about forty or fifty badauds, (idle gazers,) 
 who were gazing to see me pass. The police collected together 
 all the renniants of the cart and the machine, and invited all th-e 
 workmen in Paris to come and look at them. The pieces were 
 recognized by several. One said, I made this, another that, and 
 all agreed that they had sold them to two men, who by their 
 accent were Bas Bretons; but nothing more could be ascer- 
 tained ! Shortly after, the hackney coachmen and others of that 
 description gave a great dinner in the Champs Elysees to Cesar, 
 my coachman, thinking that he had saved my life by his skill 
 and activity at the moment of the explosion, which was not the 
 case, for he was drunk at the time. It was the guardsman who 
 saved it by knocking the fellow down. Possibly, my coachman 
 may have assisted by driving furiously round the corner, as he 
 was drunk and not afraid of any thing. lie was so far gone, that 
 he thought the report of the explosion was that of a salute fired 
 in honor of my visit to the theatre. At this dinner, they all 
 took their bottle freely, and drank to Cesar's health. One of 
 them, when he was drunk, said, 'Cesar, 1 know the men who 
 tried to blow the First Consul up the other day. In such a street 
 and such a house, (naming them,) 1 saw on that day a cart like a 
 water-cart coming out of a passage, which attracted my attention, 
 as 1 never had seen one there before. 1 observed the men and 
 the horse, and should know them again.' The minister of the 
 police was sent for, he was interrogated, and brought them to the
 
 212 A VOICE Fia»M SI. IIKLKNA. 
 
 hoiiM' whit-li lir had iiioiititHKd, where ihey found llie measure 
 with which the eoiisjtiraluis liad put the powder into the barrel, 
 with stiiiie of the powder still adhering to it. A little alst» was 
 found scattered about. The master of the house, on being ques- 
 tioned, said that there lunl been jieople there for some time, 
 whom he took ti> be smugglers ; that on the day in question 
 they had gone out with the eart, which he supposed to contain a 
 btading of smuggled goods, lie added, that they were Bas Bre- 
 tons, and that one of them had the appearance of being master 
 over the other two. Having now a description of their persons> 
 every search was made for them, and St. Regent and Carbon 
 were taken, tried, and executed. It was a singular circumstance 
 that an inspector of police had noticed the cart standing at the 
 corner of the street for a long time, and had ordered the person 
 who was with it to drive it away ; but he made some excuse, and 
 said that there was plenty of room, and the other seeing what 
 he thought to be a water-cart, with a miserable horse, not worth 
 twenty francs, did not suspect any mischief" 
 
 " At Schoenbrunn," continued the emperor, " I had a narrow 
 escape. Shortly after the capture of Vienna, I reviewed my 
 troops at Schoenbrunn. A young man, about eighteen years of 
 age presented himself to me. He came so close at one time as 
 to touch me, and said that he wanted to speak to me. Berthier, 
 who did not like to see me disturbed then, pushed him to one 
 side, saying, 'If you want to say any thing to the emperor, you 
 cannot do it now.' He then called Rapp, who was a German, 
 and said, ' Here is a young man who wishes to speak to the 
 emperor ; see what he wants, and do not let him annoy the em- 
 peror;' after which he called the young man, and told him that 
 Rapp spoke German, and would answer him, Rapp went up to 
 him, and asked him what he wanted 1 He replied, that he had a 
 memorial to give to the emperor. Rapp told him that 1 was 
 busy and that he could not speak to me then. He had his hand 
 in his breast all this time, as if he had some paper in it to give 
 to me. Finding that notwithstanding his refusal, he insisted 
 upon seeing me, and was pushing t>n, Rapp, who is a violent 
 man, gave him a blow of his fist, and knocked him down, or
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 213 
 
 shoved him away to some distance. He came again afterwards, 
 when the troops were passing. Rapp, who watched him, ordered 
 some of the guards to seize and keep him in custody until after 
 the review, and then bring him to his quarters, in order that he 
 might learn what he complained of. The guards observing that 
 he always kept his right hand in his breast, made him draw ii 
 out, and examined him. Under his coat, they found a knife as 
 long as my arm. When asked what he intended to do with it, 
 he replied instantly ' To kill the emperor.' Some short time 
 afterwards, he was brought before me. I asked him what he 
 wanted. He replied, ' To kill you.' I asked him what I had 
 done to him to make him desire to take away my life. He an- 
 swered, that I had done a great deal of mischief to his country ; 
 that I had desolated and ruined it by the war which I had waged 
 against it. I asked him why he did not kill the emperor of 
 Austria instead of me, as he was the cause of the war and not I? 
 He replied, ' Oh, he is a blockhead, and if he were killed, another 
 like him would be put upon the throne; but if you were dead, it 
 would not be easy to find such another.' He said that he had 
 been called upon by God to kill me, and quoted Judith and 
 Holofernes. Spoke much about religion, and fancied that he 
 was another Judith and I Holofernes. He cited several parts of 
 .he Testament, which he thought appropriate to his projects. He 
 A'as the son of a Protestant clergyman at Erfurth. He had not 
 nade his father privy to his design, and he had left his houKC 
 without money. I believe that he had sold his watch in order to 
 purchase the knife with which he intended to kill me. He said 
 that he trusted in God to find him the means to effect it. I calbd 
 Corvisart, ordered him to feel his pulse, and see if he were mad, 
 He did so, and every thing was calm. I desired him to be taken 
 away and locked up in a room with a gendarme^ to have no sort 
 of food for twenty-four hours, but as much cold water as he 
 Uked. I wished to give him time to cool and reflect, and then to 
 examine him when his stomach was empty, and at a time when 
 rie might not be .supposed to be under the influence of any thing 
 that would heat or exalt his imagination. After the twenty-four 
 hours were exp'red, I sent for hiu), and asked, ' If 1 were to par
 
 214 A VOICE FKOM ST. HKLKNA. 
 
 don you, wouKi voii luakf anutlicr atloiiipt ujmii my lift!?' lie 
 lu'sitati'd for a loiiy time, and at last, but with great diflieulty, 
 said that ho would not. as then it would not appear to he the 
 intention of God that he should kill me, otherwise he would have 
 allowed him to have done it at first. I ordered liim to be taken 
 away. It was my intention at first to have pardoned him; but it 
 was represented to me, that his hesitation after twenty-four hours 
 fasting, was a certain sign that his intentions were bad, and that 
 he still intended to assassinate. That he was an enthusiast, a 
 fanatic, and that it would set a very bad e.xaniple. Nothing," 
 continued he, " is more dangerous than one of those religious 
 enthusiasts. They always aim either at God or the king. He 
 was left to his fate." 
 
 "Another time," proceeded the emperor, "a letter was sent to 
 me by the King of Sa.vony, containing intbrmation that a certain 
 person was to leave Stutgard on a particular day for Paris, where 
 he would probably arrive on a day that was pointed out. That 
 his intentions were to murder me. A minute description of his 
 person was also given. The police took its measures ; and on 
 the day pointed out he arrived. They had him watched. He 
 was seen to enter my chapel, to which I had gone on the celebra- 
 tion of some festival. He was arrested and examined. He 
 confessed his intentions, and said, that when the people knelt 
 down, on the elevation of the host, he saw me gazing at the fine 
 women ; at first he intended to advance and fire at me ; (in fact 
 he had advanced near to me at the moment;) but upon a little 
 reflection, thought that v/ould not be sure enough, and he de- 
 termined to stab me with a knife which he had brought for that 
 purpose. I did not like to have him executed, and ordered that 
 he should be kept in prison. When I was no longer at the head 
 of afliairs, this man, who had been detained in prison for seven 
 months after I left Paris, and ill-treated, I believe, got his liberty. 
 Soon after, he said that his designs were no longer to kill me; 
 but that he would murder the King of Prussia, for having ill- 
 treated the Saxons and Saxony. On my return from Elba, I 
 was to be present at the opening of the legislative body, which 
 was to be done with great state and ceremony. When I went tv
 
 1817— JANUARY. 215 
 
 open the chamber, this same man, who had got in, fell down by 
 some accident, and a parcel containing some chemical preparation, 
 exploded in his pocket, and wounded him severely. It never has 
 been clearly ascertained what his intentions were at this time. 
 Tt caused great alarm amongst the legislative body, and he was 
 arrested. I have since heard that he threw himself into the 
 Seine." 
 
 I then asked Napoleon if he had really intended to invade 
 England, and if so, what were his plans'? He replied, "I would 
 have headed it myself I had given orders for two fleets to pro- 
 ceed to the West Indies. Instead of remaining there, they were 
 merely to show themselves amongst the islands, and return 
 directly to Europe, raise the blockade of Ferrol, take the ships 
 out, proceed to Brest, where there were about forty sail of the 
 line, unite and sail to the Channel, where they would not have 
 met with any thing strong enough to engage them, and clear it 
 of all English men-of-war By false intelligence, adroitly man- 
 aged, I calculated that you would have sent squadrons to the 
 East and West Indies and Mediterranean in search of my fleets. 
 Before they could return, I would have had the command of the 
 Channel for two months, as I should have had about seventy sail 
 of the line, besides frigates. I would have hastened over my 
 flotilla with two hundred thousand men, landed as near Chatham 
 as possible, and proceeded direct to London, where I calculated 
 to arrive in four days from the time of my landing. I would 
 have proclaimed a republic, (I was First Consul then,) the aboli- 
 tion of the nobility and house of peers, the distribution of the 
 property of such of the latter as opposed me amongst my par- 
 tizans, liberty, equality, and the sovereignty of the people. I 
 would have allowed the House of Commons to remain; but 
 would have introduced a great reform. I would have published 
 a proclamation, declaring that we came as friends to the English, 
 and to free the nati(jn from a corrupt and flagitious aristocracy, 
 and restore a popular form of government, a democracy, which 
 would have been confirmed by the conduct of my army, as I 
 would not have allowed the slightest outrage to be committed by 
 my troops. Marauding, or ill-treating the inhabitants, or the
 
 216 A VOlfK MvOM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 most triflinj; infriiigi'iiioiit of my ordois, I would liavo (niiiishcd 
 with instant donth. I think," eoiitiiiuod he, "that witli my 
 promises, to<,'otlK'r with what I wouki actually have cHocted, I 
 should have had the support of a great many. In a large city 
 like London, where there are so many cunafllv, (of the lower 
 class.) and so many disatlected, I should have been joined hy a 
 formidable body. I would at the same time have excited an in- 
 surrection in Ireland." I observed that his army would have 
 been destroyed piece-meal, that he would have had a million of 
 men in arms against him in a short time; and moreover, that 
 the English would have burnt Li)ndon, rather than have suffered 
 it to fall into his hands. " No, no," said Napoleon, " 1 do not 
 believe it. You are too rich and too fond of money. A nation 
 will not so readily burn its capital. How often have the Pari- 
 sians sworn to bury themselves under the ruins of their capital, 
 rather than suffer it to fall into the hands of the enemies of 
 France, and yet twice it has been taken. There is no knowing 
 what would have happened, Mr. Doctor. Neither Pitt, nor you, 
 nor 1, could have foretold what w'ould have been the result. The 
 hope of a change for the better, and of a division of property, 
 would have operated wonderfully amongst the canaille, especially 
 that of London. The canaille of all rich nations are nearly alike. 
 I would have made such promises as would have had a great 
 effect. What resistance could an undisciplined army make 
 against mine in a country like England, abounding in plains? I 
 considered all you have said, but I calculated on the effect that 
 would be produced by the possession of a great and rich capital, 
 the bank, and all your riches, the ships in the river, and at 
 Chatham. I expected that I should have had the command of the 
 Channel for two months, by which 1 should have had supplies of 
 troops; and when your fleet came back, they would have found 
 their capital in the hands of an enemy, and their country over- 
 whelmed by my armies. I would have abolished flogging, and 
 promised your seamen every thing; which would have made a 
 great impression upon their minds. The proclamations stating 
 that we came only as friends, to relieve the English from an 
 :)bnoxious and despotic aristocracy, whose object was to keep the
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 217 
 
 nation eternally at wur, in order to enrich themselves and their 
 families with the blood of the people, together with the pro- 
 claiming a republic, the abolition of the monarchical government, 
 and the nobility ; the declaration of the forfeiture of the property 
 of the latter, and its division amongst the partizans of the revo 
 lution, with a general equalization of property, would have 
 gained me the support of the canaille and of all the idle, the pro- 
 fligate, and the disaffected in the kingdom." 
 
 I took the liberty of stating, that on account of France having 
 been lately revolutionized, there was a great division of opinion 
 amongst the French, and consequently not so strong a national 
 spirit as was to be found amongst the English. That from the 
 late frequent vicissitudes in France, the people contemplated a 
 change of government with less concern than the English would 
 do; that if the English were not to burn their capital, as the 
 Russians had done, in all probability they would have defended 
 it street by street, and his army would have met the fate that 
 ours had experienced at Rosetta and Buenos Ayres. " I believe," 
 replied the emperor, "that there is more national spirit in Eng- 
 land than in France ; but still, I do not think that you would 
 have burned the capital. If, indeed, you had had some weeks' 
 notice given to you, in order to remove your riches, then it is 
 possible that it might have been effected ; but you must consider 
 that you would not have had time sufficient to organize a plan ; 
 besides, Moscow was built of wood, and it was not the inhabitants 
 who set it on fire. They had also time to take their measures. 
 As to defending the town, in the first place, I would not have 
 been bete (foolish) enough to have acted as you did at Rosetta ; 
 for, before you would have had time to arrange your defence, I 
 should have been at your doors, and the terror of such an army 
 would have paralyzed your exertions. I tell you, fiignor dodore,'" 
 (Mr. Doctor,) continued the emperor, "that much can be said on 
 both sides. Having the capital, the capital," repeated he, "in 
 my hands, would have produced a wonderful effect." 
 
 "After the treaty of Amiens," said Napoleon, "I would also 
 have made a good peace with England. Whatever your ministers 
 Bnay say, I was always ready to conclude a peace upon terms 
 
 10
 
 218 A VOICK FROM ST HKLKNA. 
 
 equally jidvantayeous to both. I proposed to form a commercial 
 treaty, by which, for a niillion of English mumifactiired or colonial 
 produce taken by France, England should take the value of a 
 luillion of French goods in return. This was thought a heinous 
 crime by your ministers, who reprobated in the most violent 
 manner my presumption in having made such a proposal. 1 
 would both have made and have kept a fair peace; but your 
 ministers always refused to make one on equal terms, and then 
 wished to persuade the world that 1 was the violator of the treaty 
 of Amiens." 
 
 I asked who were the persons that had employed the contrivers 
 of the infernal machine. ''It is certain," replied Napoleon, " that 
 they were employed by the Count d'****, and sent over by Pitt 
 in English ships, and furnished with English money. Though 
 your *** did not actually suborn them, they knew what they 
 were going to execute, and furnished them with the means. 1 
 do not believe," continued he, " that Louis was privy to it." 
 
 I ventured to ask if he had aimed at universal dominion. 
 " No," replied Napoleon ; " my intention was to make France 
 greater than any other nation ; but universal dominion I did not 
 aim at. For example, it was not my intention to have passed 
 the Alps. I purposed, when I had a second son, which I had 
 reason to hope for, to have made him king of Italy, with Rome 
 for his capital, uniting all Italy, Naples, and Sicily, into one 
 kingdom, and putting Murat out of Naples." I asked if he 
 would have given another kingdom to Murat. " Oh," replied he, 
 " that would have been easily settled." 
 
 " If," said he, " I were at the head of affairs in England, I 
 would devise some means of paying off the national debt. 1 
 would appropriate to that purpose the whole of the church livings, 
 except a tenth, (always excepting those whose incomes were 
 moderate,) in a manner that the salary of the highest amongst 
 the clergy should not exceed eight hundred or a thousand a year. 
 What business have those priests with such enormous incomes] 
 They shr uld follow the directions of Jesus Christ, who ordered 
 that, as pastors to the people, they should set an example of mo- 
 deration, humanity, virtue, and poverty, instead of wallowing in
 
 1817 — JANtTART. 2 If* 
 
 ftches, luxury, and sloth. In Cambray, before the revolution, 
 two-thirds of all lands belonged to the church, and a fourth in 
 most other provinces of France. I would approjjriate to a simi- 
 lar purpose all sinecures, except those enjoyed by men who had 
 rendered most eminent services to the state ; and. indeed, even 
 those might be rewarded by giving them some office, in which 
 they would be obliged to do something. If you emancipated the 
 Catholics, they would readily pay an immense sum towards 
 liquidating the nation's debt. 1 cannot conceive," continued he, 
 " why your ministers have not emancipated them. At the time 
 that all nations are emerging from illiberality and intolerance, 
 you retain your disgraceful laws, which are only worthy of two 
 or three centuries back. When the Catholic question was first 
 seriously agitated, I would have given fifty millions to be assured 
 that it would not be granted ; for it would have entirely ruined 
 my projects upon Ireland; as the Catholics, if you emancipated 
 them, would become as loyal subjects as the Protestants. I 
 would," continued he, " impose a tax of fifty per cent upon 
 absentees, and perhaps diminish the interest upon the debt." 
 
 I made some observations upon the intolerance which had 
 been manifested on some occasions by the Catholics. 
 
 " The inability to rise above a certain rank, and to be members 
 of parliament, and other persecutions once removed from your 
 Catholic biethren," replied he, " you will find that they will be 
 no longer intolerant or fanatical. Fanaticism is always the child 
 of persecution. That intolerance which you complain of, is also 
 the result of your oppressive laws. Remove them once, and 
 put them on a similar footing with the Protestants, and in a few 
 years you will find the spirit of intolerance disappear. Do as J 
 did in France with the Protestants." 
 
 "I observed," continued the emperor, "a circumstance in a 
 paper two or three days ago, which I cannot believe, viz. that 
 there was a project in France to make a contract with some 
 English company to furnish iron pipes to supply Paris with 
 water, which had met with the approbation of the French gov- 
 ernment. Tliis, imbeciles as I know the Bourbons to be, appears 
 to me not to be credible, as there are so many thousand manufac
 
 220 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 tutors ii. Fraiu-o who fould rxocule it I'qiuilly wt'll, A project 
 so unpopular, and of so destructive a tendency to tlieniselves, 
 could bo entertained by none but insane persons. Why, it 
 would excite the rage and hatred of the nation against the Bc)ur- 
 bons n)ore than any plan their greatest enemies could suggest, 
 to cause their own ruin, and their expulsion a third time from 
 France. If it takes place and be not followed 'by some terrible 
 consequences {a them," said Napoleon with energy,"! am a 
 blockhead, and will say that I have always been one. Fifty 
 years ago, it would have produced terrible commotion in France." 
 
 28///. — Cipriani in town, purchasing necessaries. 
 
 30//^ — Saw Napoleon in the billiard-room. After some ex 
 pressions of his sentiments upon the hypocrisy of the governor, 
 he directed me to bear the following message to him : "Tell him 
 that, in consequence of his conduct in having accei)ted the pro- 
 posed intermediation of the admiral, declaring that he would 
 charge the admiral with it, and afterwards doing nothing, I con- 
 ceive him to be a man senza parola e senza fede* That he has 
 broken his word with me — broken a compact which is held sacred 
 by robbers and Bedouin Arabs — but not by the agents of the 
 British ministers. Tell him that when a man has lost his word, 
 he has lost everything which distinguishes the man from the 
 brute. Tell him that he has forfeited that distinction, and that I 
 hold him to be inferior to the robber of the desert. Independ- 
 ent," continued he, " of his conduct, with respect to the admiral, 
 he has broken his word about the limits. He charged you to 
 inform me that we were permitted to ride anywhere through the 
 old bounds, and specially named the path by Miss Mason's. 
 Now Gourgaud went a few days ago and asked the question from 
 the major at Hut's Gate, who told him that he could not pass, 
 and that no change had been made in the orders by the governor." 
 
 I now informed the emperor, "that since the time he alluded 
 to, Sir Hudson Lowe had given directions to allow him (Napo- 
 leon) and any of his suite, to pass by the road leading to Mis? 
 Mason's, but that they could not pass unless accompanied by 
 him." Napoleon replied, "Then it is an unjust order, and bfr 
 
 * Without word and without faith.
 
 1817 — JANUARY, 221 
 
 yond his power to give. For, hy the paper which those generals 
 have signed, by order of his government, they bind themselves 
 to undergo such restrictions as it may be thought necessary to 
 impose upon me, and not any more. Now this is a restriction 
 not imposed upon me, and consequently cannot be inflicted upon 
 them, and is illegal." 
 
 Napoleon directed me to say in addition. That he had foreseen 
 all along that the governor's having accepted of the offer fur an 
 intermediation by means of the admiral, was a mere trick to gain 
 time, and to prevent a complaint from being sent home by the 
 Orontes frigate. That, in consequence of the offer having been 
 accepted by Sir Hudson Lowe, Count Bertrand had discontinued 
 writing a complaint, intended to have been submitted to the 
 Prince Regent and the government. That, although it might 
 have failed in producing any redress, still it would be satisfactory 
 to know that the present ill-treatment suffered by him, was the 
 act and order of the government, and not that of an inferior 
 officer. 
 
 Went to town to deliver this message. On my arrival, found 
 that Sir Hudson Lowe had left it. Conceiving that Napoleon 
 might alter his mind, and finding that the Julia had arrived, 
 bringing news from England, I did not proceed to Plantation 
 House. Got some newspapers and returned to Longwood. 
 Found Napoleon in a warm bath. His legs were swelled. On 
 my recommending exercise, he said that he had some idea of 
 asking the admiral to ride out with him, but was afraid that it 
 might get him into a scrape with the governor. 
 
 In one of the papers, there was a report that the sovereignty 
 of Spanish South America had been offered to his brother Joseph. 
 " Joseph," said he, " though he has beauconp de laleni, et d'esprit, 
 (much talent and genius) is too good a man, and too fond of 
 amusement and literature, to be a king. However, it would be 
 of great advantage to England, as you would have all the com- 
 merce of Spanish Anierieu. Joseph would not, and indeed could 
 not, trade with either France or Spain, for evident reasons ; and 
 South America cannot do without importing immense quantities 
 of European goods. By having me in your hands, you could
 
 '222 A \i)H'K FKOM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 always makf advaiitayi'i'iis u-rms willi Jusi'|>li, who loves me 
 siiiooroly, and wuukl do any thing for nie." 
 
 31*/. — Went to Plantation House, and made known to Sir 
 Hudson Lowe the message I was charged with, in as moderate 
 language as circumstances would admit. His i-xeellency replied 
 that he did n(tt care what complaints General Bonaparte sent to 
 England, and that he had already forwarded his observations 
 upon the restrictions. That he had no (»l)jection to receive the 
 admiial u[>on the business, but he expected that he should come 
 to him first and break the matter. 1 remarked that Sir Pulteney 
 Malcolm would certainly not undertake the business, unless first 
 spoken to and authorized by him, (Sir Hudson) and reminded 
 him, that in the first proposition which had been made for the 
 Intervention of the admiral, it was expressly mentioned that the 
 latter should be authorized by the governor to undertake it. Sir 
 Hudson Lowe denied this. 1 demanded that a reference should 
 be made to my letter on the subject. On its being produced, 
 Sir Hudson Lowe acknowledged, with some expression of discon- 
 tent, that I was right. 1 then reminded him that he had also 
 said, on the proposition's having been made to him, that he would 
 speak to the admiral himself about it, previous to his attempting 
 to undertake it. The governor at first denied this, and, after a 
 long discussion, determined upon giving the following reply : 
 " The governor is employed in writing an answer to the obser- 
 vations of Count Bertrand, and to the paper containing the re- 
 marks on his answer to the proposition for the intervention of 
 the admiral, and also in arranging how far his instructions will 
 permit him to accede to General Bonaparte's wishes. When 
 these are finished, he will send them to Count Bertrand ; and 
 then, if any other arrangement is deemed necessary, the governor 
 will have no objections to authorize the admiral, or any other 
 person General Bonaparte may think proper, to act as an inter- 
 mediator, though the intermediation of any person will have no 
 influence whatsoever in inducing the governor to grant more or 
 less than he would do of his own free will and judgment. This, 
 with the alterations already made in the restrictions, and the 
 general tenor of the observations and remarks received from
 
 1817 — JANUARY. 22S 
 
 Longwood, since the govei'iior expressed his readiness to employ 
 an intermediator, and the expectation of an arrival from Eng 
 land, has been the cause of the delay in authorizing the admiral 
 to undertake the office." 
 
 Sir Hudson desired me to show this to Napoleon, and at the 
 same time gave me a copy of his own answer to the original 
 proposition, and one of the remarks that had been made upon it 
 by Napoleon, which, together with the tenor of the observations, 
 he desired me to explain, " were of a nature to induce a belief 
 that a refusal had been intended by General Bonaparte." 
 
 I then repeated to Sir Hudson Lowe the observations made by 
 Napoleon, on the illegality of his attempting to subject the per- 
 sons of his suite to more restrictions than what were imposed 
 upon himself; as well as what he had said about General Gour- 
 gaud. Sir Hudson replied, " That as governor, he had power to 
 grant a favor, and take it away when he pleased : that if he con- 
 ceded one to General Bonaparte, it did not follow that he was 
 obliged to grant the same to the rest ; that they had liberty to 
 go away whenever they pleased, if they did not like their treat- 
 ment," &c. He also desired me to repeat, that the prohibition 
 to speak was an act of civility, or a friendly sort of warning. I 
 remarked that I did not think Napoleon would avail himself of 
 the indulgence, unless the same were granted to all. His excel- 
 lency replied, " That he could not think of allowing General 
 Bonaparte's officers to run al)Out the country, telling lies of him 
 (Sir Hudson) as Las Cases and Montholon had done, by having 
 shown letters to divers persons. That General Bonaparte would 
 be much better, if he had not such liars as Montholon, and such 
 a blubbering, whining son of a b — h as Bertrand, about him." 
 
 1 said, that Napoleon had also remarked, that it was impossi- 
 ble that all the restrictions could iiave been imposed in oljcdience 
 to specific instructions from the ministers, as he had of his own 
 power taken some of them (jflf, which, had they been ordered by 
 ministers, he could not have done without having first obtained 
 their sanction, for which there had n(jt been yet sufficient time. 
 His excellency appeared to be taken unawares, as he imme- 
 diately replied, " They were not ordered by ministers j there
 
 224 A VOICE FROM ST. IlKLENA. 
 
 well' no ininuto dofails u;iven, oithor to me, or to Sir George 
 Cockliurn. In fact, it is left entirely to my juJjfment, and I may 
 take what measures 1 think proper, and, indeed, do as I like. I 
 have been ordered to take particular care that he does not escapet 
 a!)d to prevent correspondence of any kind with him, except 
 through me. The rest is left to myself' 
 
 Admiral and Lady Malcolm, with Captain Maynel, had an 
 interview at Longwood. 
 
 Fibruanj \st. — Informed Napoleon of what I had been di- 
 rected by Sir Hudson Lowe. Showed him his excellency's 
 answer to the proposition for intermediation, with his remarks 
 opposite to it. " I maintained, and will maintain," replied the 
 emperor, " that his last restrictions are worse than any in force 
 at Botany Bay, because even there, it is not attempted to prohi- 
 bit people from speaking. It is useless for him to endeavor to 
 persuade us, that we have not been ill-treated by him. We are 
 not simpletons, or ordinary people. There is not a free-born 
 man, whose hair would not stand on end with horror, on reading 
 such an atrocious proceeding, as that prohibition against speaking. 
 His assertion, that it was intended as civility, is a mockery, and 
 adds irony and insult to injury. I know well, that if he really 
 intended to grant any thing, it is in his power to do so without a 
 mediator. It was a mark of imbecility in him to have accepted 
 the proposition, but having once accepted it, he ought not to have 
 broken his word. Qualche volta lo credo un boja ch^e venuto per 
 assassinarmi^ ma e piiilosto vn vomo incapace, e senza cuore, che 
 non capisee il suo impier/o,"* 
 
 A few days ago, Count Bertrand sent a sealed letter to Cap- 
 tain Poppleton, directed to Sir Thomas Reade. As Captain 
 Poppletoii had orders to forward all sealed letters to the gover 
 nor, he sent it to Plantation House, where it was opened by Sir 
 Hudson Lowe, and found to contain an open letter addressed to 
 Bertrand's father, announcing the accouchement of Countess Ber- 
 trand, and a note to Sir Thomas, requesting that it might be for- 
 
 * Sometimes I believe tliat he is an executioner, who has come to assassiuata 
 me ; but be is rather a man of incapacity and without heart, who does not com- 
 prehend Ills office.
 
 1817 — FEBRUARY. 225 
 
 warded tc Europe through the usual channels. In the letter 
 were the words, nous ecrivons a M. de la Touche, d-c, (we write 
 to M. de la Touche,) to give further information, &c. Sir Hud- 
 son Lowe conceived that this meant that they had written^ and 
 immediately wrote a letter of reprimand to Count Bertrand. 
 which was dispatched in haste by an orderly dragoon." 
 
 Saw Sir Hudson Lowe on the hill above Hut's Gate, to whom 
 I communicated Napoleon's reply. His excellency repeated, 
 that the prohibition to speak, which had been so much com- 
 plaii.ed of, was not an order, but rather a request, and an in- 
 stance of civility on his (Sir Hudson's) part in order to prevent 
 the necessity which would otherwise exist, of the interference of 
 a British officer. " Did you tell him that ?" said Sir Hudson 
 Lowe. I answered that I had. "Well, what reply did he 
 make?" I gave his reply, which did not appear to please the 
 governor. I subsequently acquainted him that water was so 
 scarce at Longwood, as to make it sometimes impossible to pro- 
 cure a sufficiency for a bath for Napoleon's use, and that it was 
 generally a matter of great difficulty to obtain the necessary 
 quantity. Sir Hudson Lowe replied, " that he did not know 
 what business General Bonaparte had to stew himself in hot water 
 for so many hours, and so often, at a time when the 53d regi- 
 ment could scarcely procure enough of water to cook their 
 victuals." 
 
 Napoleon went down to pay a visit to Count and Countess 
 Bertrand, where he remained nearly two hours. 
 
 2/u/. — Napoleon in a balh. " This govcDior,'' said he, "sent a 
 letter two or three days since to Bertrand, which convinces me 
 that he is composed of imbecility, incapacity, and a little cun- 
 ning, but that incapacity prevails. He wrote to Bertrand as one 
 would write to a child of eight or ten years of age, demanding, 
 that if he had sent letters to Europe through any other channel 
 than his, he should let him know hy whcmi ? He does not un- 
 derstand Erench. It is a delicacy of the French language, that 
 when you write in the present tense, /e'cr/i', (I write) for example, 
 it means that it is your positive intention to write, but that you 
 have not yet done it. It is a delicate mode of expression to use 
 
 10*
 
 *JL*ti A VOICK FROM ST. IIKI.KNA. 
 
 till- prosont tonso, iiistoad nf tlio fiituio. If Borliain] had written, 
 /'// ecrit, {I have wrilti-ii) tlu'ii, iiidei'd, it would iiu-aii tliat he 
 had po>itivt'Iy written ; but the other denotes a firm intention 
 and determination of doing what has not yet been cxeeuted. lie 
 might be exeused for not liaving known the delieaeies of a hm 
 guage not his own, if lie did not pretend to otl'er reniarUs upon 
 them. In his situation, he ought to be like a confessor, forget 
 the eoiitents of letters, aftir having perused them. 
 
 ''\N'liat else but A/ n/yc (llu- ili'li) to writ*' and to tind fault, 
 eould have produced such an epistle to Hertrand 1* I am told, 
 that there is a cook here who had formerly served him, who 
 relates, that he was in the habit of going iuto the kitchen of 
 Plantation House, and telling the cook, 'You shall cut off so 
 much of this meat and stew it — so much more and roast it ;' and 
 in a similar manner with every other dish — and that he was quite 
 at home when he got into the kitchen. Montholon tells me, that 
 a short time ago, when debating about the expenses of the house, 
 he observed, that we soiled too many shirts, and that we must 
 not in future shift ourselves so often." 
 
 3rrf. — Had some conversation with Napoleon relative to the 
 governor's attempt to explain away the prohibition to speak. "1 
 would," said he, "give two millions that those restrictions were 
 signed by the English ministry, in order to show to Europe what 
 base, tyrannical, and dishonorable acts they were capable of, and 
 the manner in which they had fulfilled the promises they had 
 made of treating me well. According to law, this governor has 
 no right to impose any restrictions upon me. The bill, illegal 
 and iniquitous as it is, says that I shall be subject to such restric- 
 tions as the ministers think fit and necessary, but it does not say 
 that they shall have the power to delegate that authority to any 
 other person, Therefi)re, every restriction laid upon me, ougnt 
 not only to be signed by a minister, but, properly speaking, by 
 all the ministers assenibled." 
 
 * Count iiud Countess Bertrand informed me afterwards, that Sir Thomaa 
 Keade had offered liis services to the Countess for the purpose of forwarding 
 Iheii letters to their friends in Europe tlirough the clianne! of Lord Bathjrut. 
 and had assured them that sending tliein to him was precisely the Baino &s vf 
 they were transmitted direct to the governor.
 
 1817 — FEBRUARY. 227 
 
 "It is possible," continued Napoleon, "that part of his bad 
 treatment arises from his imbecility and his fear, for he is a man 
 wlio has no no morale. Uii poco di scaltrezza e molto imbecillta* 
 It is an injury to his nation, and an indignity and insult to the 
 Emperor of Austria, to the Emperor of Russia, and to all those 
 sovereigns whom I have conquered and treated with. 
 
 " I told Mihdi^'' continued the Emperor, "that I had paid 
 your nation a great compliment, and showed what a high sense I 
 entertained of the English honor, by giving myself up to them, 
 after so many years war, in preference to my father-in-law, or to 
 my old friend. I told her also that the English would have been 
 ray greatest friends, had 1 remained in France. United, we 
 could have conquered the world. The confidence which I placed 
 in the English shows what an opinion I entertained of them, and 
 what steps I would have taken to have rendered such a nation 
 my friends: and I should have succeeded. There is nothing that 
 I would not have sacrificed to have been in friendship with them. 
 They were the only nation I esteemed. As to the Russians, 
 Austrians, and others," said he, with an expression of contempt, 
 " I had no esteem for them. Now I am sorry to see that 1 erred 
 in opinion. For had I given myself up to the Emperor of Aus- 
 tria, he, however he might difter with me in politics, and think 
 it necessary to dethrone me, would have embraced me closely as 
 a friend, and have treated me with every kindness. So also 
 would my old friend, the Emperor of Russia. This I told 
 Miledi ; also that the treatment of the Calabrese to Murat was 
 humanity compared to it, as the Calabrese soon finished Murat's 
 misery, but here. Us vie tuent a coup d'epinffles, (they kill me l)y 
 inches.) I think that your own nation will feel very little 
 obliged to this governor for having conferred upon it a dishonor, 
 which will be recorded in history. For you are proud ; and 
 have the honor of your nation more at heart than even your 
 money. Witness the thousands that your Milords throw away 
 annually in France and in other parts of the continent, ti) raise 
 and exalt the English name. Many of your nol)ility and others 
 
 • A little cuuuing and mucli imbecility. \
 
 228 A VOICE FKOM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 would voluntarily have subscribed tln)US!inds, to have prevente<! 
 the stigma which this imbecile has brought upon your nation," 
 
 4th. — The scarcity of water at L(»ngwuod has daily increased, 
 and the greatest part of what has l)een brt)ught up, sour, turbid, 
 and uf a very disagreeable taste, in consequence of having been 
 ciMiveyed in old wine and rum casks, which necessarily com- 
 municate a sv)ur and unpleasant taste to the water. 
 
 5th. — A complaint made officially by Captain Poppleton tc 
 Colonel Wynyard of the state of the water. Cipriani in town 
 employed as usual. 
 
 6th. — Lady Lowe paid a visit to Countess Bertrand. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe had a long conversation with me relative to 
 Napoleon ; the purport of which was, that if he put the limits on 
 their old footing, Napoleon should not make a practice of visit- 
 ing the houses that were situated in them, and at the same time 
 that he (Napoleon) should not know that any restriction existed 
 to prevent him. Informed him of some of the sentiments which 
 had been expressed yesterday by Napoleon. His excellency 
 said, that there was a great difference between limits for exercise 
 and limits for correspondence and communication ; that if he 
 gave larger limits, they must be subject to the restriction of not 
 entering a house, unless accompanied by a British officer. I ob- 
 served that there were only four houses within the limits of 
 Woody Range. Sir Hudson said, that perhaps it might be 
 settled by his giving General Bonaparte a list of such houses as 
 he would permit him to enter. I informed him that Napoleon 
 had said that if he had a mind to intrigue with the commissioners, 
 or with others, he might easily do so by instructing them to 
 meet him within the limits of the alarm house, which was always 
 in his power to effect; but that he (Napoleon) would never do 
 any thing which had the appearance of an intrigue. Sir Hudson 
 replied, that "General Bonaparte had never been without intri- 
 guing, and never would."' lie then desired me to say, that he 
 daily expected a ship with fresh orders and permissii)n to grant 
 an extension of limits. That he should have no objection to 
 allow General Bonaparte to enter into certain houses which he
 
 1817 — FEBRUARY. 229 
 
 (Sir H.) would point out, nor indeed to send a list of them to 
 Count Bertrand. 
 
 Ith. — Communicated Sir Hudson Lowe's ideas to Napoleon. 
 "If he were to give me the whole of the island, on condition that 
 1 would pledge my word not to attempt an escape," replied h^ 
 "1 would not accept of it, because it would be equivalent to thfe 
 acknowledging myself a prisoner, although at the same time, I 
 would not make the attempt. I am here by force, and not by 
 right. If I had been taken at Waterloo, perhaps I might have 
 had no hesitation in accepting it, though even in that case, it 
 would be contrary to the law of nations, as now there is no war. 
 If they were to offer me permission to reside in England on 
 similar conditions, I would refuse it. I do not understand what 
 he means by correspondence. What is he afraid of? Perhaps 
 the commissioners. The admiral was never afraid of his conduct 
 being published. I hope," continued Napoleon, " that you told 
 him I said that he had not the right to impose any restrictions, 
 unless they were signed by the ministers." I replied, that I had, 
 and that the governor had said that he had it in his power to 
 impose whatever restrictions he thought necessary. " By the 
 bill," replied Napoleon, " he has not the right. By the law of 
 force he can do what he likes, in the same manner as the English 
 parliament have passed a bill to legalize illegality, and to au- 
 thorize a proscription contrary to the laws of nations, to good 
 faith, and to their own honor. But even in that, it is not allowed- 
 to delegate the authority." 
 
 After some more observations. Napoleon desired me to com 
 municate to the governor, " that, if he sent a list to Count Ber- 
 trand, or told him that within the limits there were two or more 
 houses which he either suspected or was unwilling that I should 
 visit, I shall not enter either them, or those of the commissioners. 
 If he arranges it in this manner, it will be understood, but if he 
 sent a list of all the houses in the island except one, and specified 
 that I might enter all but that one, I would not accept of it. 
 Whereas, on the contrary, if he made another list of every 
 house in the island except one, and said that he did not wish me 
 to go into any of those mentioned in that list, and made no
 
 280 A VOICE FltOM ST. HELENA. 
 
 observation ;il>oiit the reimiiiiiiig one, I would sooner accept of it 
 than of the first, though I could only go into one house, whereas 
 l>y the other, I could enter all t>n the island excepting one. By 
 availing niysilf of the first, it would appear like visiting by his 
 perniissinii, whereas the other would seem to be voluntary, as in 
 consequence of nothing having been mentioned, it would be left 
 at my option to go in or not. It would be like a free will. Tell 
 him this," continued he; 'though I am sure that it is merely 
 some shuffling trick on his part, and will come to nothing." 
 
 "I think," added Napoleon, "that it is owing to some small 
 remains of the influence of my star, that the English have treated 
 me so ill ; at least, that this man whom they have sent out as 
 governor, has conducted himself in such an *** manner. At 
 least, posterity will revenge me." 
 
 The meat has been of so bad a quality for some days, that the 
 orderly officer has thought it incumbent upon him to return it, 
 accompanied with official complaints. 
 
 8/A. — Went to Plantation House, and comnmnicated to Sir 
 Hudson Lowe the purport of the above mentioned conversation. 
 His excellency replied. That by the proposed arrangement, the 
 principal difficulties were removed, and that he would speak to 
 Count Bertrand about it. Cipriani in town, endeavoring to pro 
 cure some good meat. 
 
 Qth. — Scott, the servant, to whom Count Las Cases had given 
 the letter, released from prison under the following conditions, 
 viz. : his father to go security for him, and to forfeit 100/. if his 
 son ever went out beyond the inclosure of the father's little 
 property. 
 
 \(ith. — Acquainted Napoleon that I had communicated his de- 
 sires to Sir Hudson Lowe, who had promised to talk the matter 
 over with Count Bertrand. Napoleon replied, " You may depend 
 upon it that it will end in nothing. It is merely to deceive you. 
 He will act as he has done in that affair with the admiral." 
 
 " Gourgaud," added Napoleon, "is stopped at Hut's Gate 
 every day. The sentinel cries 'AaZ/;' then the sergeant cornea 
 out, and, after a sort of consultation together, says '■pass.'' " 
 
 Had some conversation about Alexandria. " Your ministers, "
 
 1817— FEBRUARY. 231 
 
 said he, "acted most unwisely in nut having retained pussessiou 
 of Alexandria ; for, if you had kept it then, it would now be ao 
 old robbery like Malta, and would have remained with you 
 quietly. Five thousand men would be sufficient to garrison it, 
 and it would pay itself by the great trade you would have in 
 Egypt You could prohibit the introduction of all manuiactures 
 except English, and consequently you would have all the com- 
 merce of Egypt, as there is no other seaport town in the country. 
 In my opinion, it would be to you an acquisition far preferable 
 to Gibraltar, or Malta. Egypt, once in possession of the French, 
 farewell India to the English. This was one of the grand pro- 
 jects I aimed at. I know not why you set so great a value upon 
 Gibraltar, as it is a bad harbor, and costs an enormous sum of 
 money. From it you cannot prevent a fleet from passing into 
 the Mediterranean. When I was sovereign of France, I would 
 much rather have seen Gibraltar in your hands than in those of 
 the Spaniards ; because your having possession of it, always fed 
 the hatred of the Spaniards against you." I observed that it had 
 been reported he had intended to besiege it, and for that purpose 
 had marched a great army into Spain ; although others said that 
 his object was merely to get his troops a footing in that country. 
 He laughed, and said, " Cest vrai, (it is true). Turkey," added 
 he, " must soon fall, and it will be impossible to divide it with- 
 out allotting some portion to France, which will be Egypt. But, 
 if you had kept Alexandria, you would have prevented the 
 French from obtaining it, and of ultimately gaining possession 
 of India, which will certainly follow their possession of Egypt." 
 
 12th. — Found Sir Hudson Lowe at Plantation House, closeted 
 with Sir Thomas Reade. Had a conversation with him after- 
 wards in the library, relative to the proposition which had been 
 made to him on the 8th. His excellency, however, would not 
 understand that the visiting of only such houses into which en- 
 trance had not been prohibited by him, and abstaining from 
 entering all which were marked as objectionable in a list made 
 by himself, was in the end precisely the same as the mode which 
 he had suggested of only visiting certain houses that were spe- 
 cifically named in a list. He said, with considerable ill-humor,
 
 232 A VOICE KUDM ST. HELENA, 
 
 that Goiioral IViiiajiaitf liad some (/<>///» in it, and lliut he 'W( uld 
 not grant liis (.'unsi-ni. 1 obsorvod that it was nitljor nnfortnnalc 
 that hv had desiivd ine to make miy proposition on thi' sulijoct 
 as it might aH'ord a fuundation for atiother charge of shutlling. 
 His oxcelloncy replied by desiring me to tell General Bonaparte 
 as he had done on former occasions, that he might consider hinc 
 >elf very fortunate in having so good a man to deal with, &c. 
 
 Mrs. and Misses Balcoiube arrived at Long\vt)od. I dined 
 with Napoleon in company with them. He was extremely 
 lively and chatty, and displayed a fund oi' causcrie (conversation) 
 rarely to be met with. He instructed Miss Eliza how to play 
 at billiards. 
 
 In the evening. Napoleon directed me for the future not to 
 bring him any more communications or propositions from Sir 
 Hudson Lowe, without having first asked the latter, what the 
 result would be, provided he (Napoleon) agreed to them, 
 " Cent un mc/i/ewr," said he, " uii homme d'' insinuations comme 
 les petits ty raits cVIiulie, qui n''a rien d^ Anglais, et qui a la rage 
 de tourmenier et de tracusser les gens, (he is a liar; a man of in- 
 trigue like the little tyrants of Italy ; he has English in him ; he 
 has a rage for tormenting and perplexing others.) 
 
 Application made on the 10th to Sir Hudson Lowe to allow 
 Cipriani to go down into the valley, (guarded by a soldier,) in 
 order to purchase sheep and vegetables from the farmers, as the 
 meat sent by the government was not eatable. Refused by Sir 
 Hudson Lowe. The daily allowance of meat, vegetables, wines, 
 &c. being carted up in the sun to Longw^ood, many of the articles 
 are rendered unfit for use on the road. 
 
 \4.th. — Breakfasted with Napoleon, with whom 1 had a conver- 
 sation about Russia. "If Paul had lived," said he, " there would 
 have been a peace with England in a short time, as you would 
 n' V have been long able to contend with the united northern 
 powers. 1 wrote to Paul to continue building ships, and to 
 endeavor to unite the north against you ; not to hazard any 
 battles, as the English would gain them, but allow you to ex- 
 haust yourselves, and by all means to get a large fleet intc tke 
 Mediterranean."
 
 1817— FEBRUARY. 283 
 
 Some conversation then took place relative to the manner in 
 which the British ministers had treated him, which he asserted to 
 be much worse than that which had been practiced towards 
 Queen Mary. 
 
 " Mary," said he, " was better treated. She was permitted 
 to write to whom she pleased, and she was confined in England, 
 which of itself was every thing ; it appears that she was perse- 
 cuted more on account of her religion by the Puritans, than from 
 any other cause." I observed that Mary was accused of having 
 been an accomplice in the murder of her husband. He replied, 
 " Of that there is not the smallest doubt. She even married his 
 murderer afterwards. * * * * employs the murderers of his 
 father. One of them, O * * * is now his aid-de-camp. I must, 
 however, do him the justice to say, that at T * * * he observed 
 to me that I paid a great deal of attention to B * * *, and 
 begged to know my reasons for it ? I answered, Because he is 
 your general, ' Cependant,^ said * * *^ ' c'est un vilain coquin. 
 Cest lui qui a assassine mon pere, (nevertheless he is a vile 
 scoundrel ; it was he who assassinated my father,) and policy 
 alone has obliged, and obliges me to employ him, although I 
 wish him dead, and in a short time will send him about his busi- 
 ness.' Alexander and the King of Prussia," continued he, " dined 
 with me every day, and in order to pay a compliment to * * *, 
 I had intended, on the day that this conversation took place, to 
 have asked B * * * * to dinner, as being the commander-in- 
 chief of his army. This displeased * * *^ who, though he asked 
 B * * * * to his own table, did not wish me to do so, because 
 't would have raised him so high in the eyes of the Russians. 
 Paul," continued he, " was murdered by B * * * *, O * * *, 
 P * * *, and others. There was a Cossac, in whom Paul had 
 confidence, stationed at his door. The conspirators came up, 
 and demanded entrance, p * * * told him who he was, and 
 that he wanted to see the Emperor upon immediate business. 
 The faithful Cossac refused. The conspirators fell upon him, 
 and after a desperate resistance, overpowered and cut him to 
 pieces. Paul, who was in bed, hearing the noise, got out and 
 endeavored to escape to the empress's apartments. Unluckily
 
 234 A voiCK num st. iiklkna. 
 
 for himself, hf, in his suspicions, a day or two before, had 
 ordered the door of eommunicution to be closed up. He ' len 
 went and concealed himself in a press. Meanwiiile the conspi- 
 rators broke open tlie door, and running to the bed, perceived 
 that there was nobody in it ' We are lost,' they cried, 'he haN 
 escaped.' j^ * * *^ who had more presence of mind tnan tho 
 rest, went to the bed, and putting his hands under the ned- 
 clothes said, ' The nest is warm, the bird cannot be far off.' 
 They then began to search, and finally dragged Paul out of his 
 hiding-place. They presented him a paper containing his abdica- 
 tion, which they wanted him to sign. He refused at first, but 
 said that he would abdicate, if they would release him. They 
 then seized and knocked him down, and tried to suffocate him. 
 Paul made a desperate resistance, and, fearful that assistance 
 might arrive, B * * * * dispatched him by stamping his heel 
 into his eyes, and thus beating his brains out, while the others 
 held him down. Paul, in his struggles for life, once got B * * * * 's 
 heel into his mouth, and bit a piece out of the skin of it." 
 
 I asked him if he thought that Paul had been mad 1 " Latterly," 
 said Napoleon. "I believe that he was. At first, he was strongly 
 prejudiced against the revolution, and every person concerned in 
 it ; but afterwards I had rendered him reasonable, and had 
 changed his opinions altogether. If Paul had lived, you would 
 have lost India before now. An agreement was made between 
 Paul and myself to invade it. I furnished the plan. I was to 
 have sent thirty thousand good troops. He was to send a similar 
 fumber of the best Russian soldiers, and forty thousand Cossacs. 
 I was to subscribe ten millions, in order to purchase camels and 
 the other requisites to cross the desert. The King of Prussia 
 was to have been applied to by both of us to grant a passage for 
 my troops through his dominions, which would have been im- 
 mediately granted. I had at the same time made a demand to 
 the King of Persia for a passage through his country, which also 
 would have been granted, though the negotiations were not 
 entirely concluded, but would have succeeded, as the Persians 
 were desirous of profiting by it themselves. My troops were to 
 have gone to Warsaw, to be joined by the Russians and Cossacs,
 
 1817— FEBRUARY. 236 
 
 and to have marched from thence to the Caspian Sea, where they 
 would have either embarl^ed, or have proceeded by land, accord- 
 ing to circumstances. I was beforehand with you, in sending an 
 ambassador on to Persia to make interest there. Since that 
 time, your ministers have been imbeciles enough to allow the 
 Russians to get four provinces, which increase their territories 
 beyond the mountains. The first year of war that you will havt 
 with the Russians, they will take India from you." 
 
 I asked, then, if it were true that Alexander had intended to 
 have seized upon Turkey ? Napoleon answered, "All his thoughts 
 are directed to the conquest of Turkey. We have had many 
 discussions together about it; at first, I was pleased with his 
 proposals, because I thought it would enlighten the world to 
 drive those brutes, the Turks, out of Europe. But when I re- 
 flected upon the consequences, and saw what a tremendous weight 
 of power it would give to Russia, in consequence of the numbers 
 of Greeks in the Turkish dominions, who would naturally join 
 the Russians, I refused to consent to it, especially as Alexander 
 wanted to get Constantinople, which I would not allow, as it 
 would have destroyed the equilibrium of power in Europe. I 
 reflected that France would gain Egypt, Syria, and the islands, 
 which would have been nothing in comparison with what Russia 
 would have obtained. I considered that the barbarians of the 
 north were already too powerful, and probably in the course of 
 time would overwhelm all Europe, as I now think they will. 
 Austria already trembles, Russia and Prussia united, Austria 
 falls, and England cannot prevent it. France under the present 
 family is nothing, and the Austrians are so laches^ (weak,) that 
 they will be easily overpowered. Una nazione a colpo di haslone* 
 They will offer little resistance to the Russians, who are brave 
 and patient. Russia is the more formidable, because she can 
 never disarm. In Russia, once a soldier, always a soldier. Bar- 
 barians, who, one may say, have no country, and to whom every 
 country is better than the one which gave them l)irth. When 
 the Cossacs entered France, it was indiirorent to them what 
 women they violated, old or young were alike to them, as any 
 
 * Means n nation tlwt may ho ruled by blows.
 
 286 A VOICE FROM ST. HKLKNA. 
 
 wore proffrablo to tlioso they had left l)thiiul. Moreover, the 
 Russians are poor, and it is necessary fur them to ccjnquer. 
 When I am dead and gone, my memory will be esteemed, and I 
 shall be revered in euiisequencc of having foreseen, and endeavor- 
 ed to ptit a stop tt), that which will yet take place. It will be 
 revered when the barbarians of the north will possess Europt 
 which would not have happened, had it not l)een for you, signort 
 Jtifflesi" (English gentlemen.) 
 
 Napoleon expressed great anxiety relative to Count Mon 
 tholon, as the governor had made some insinuations that hij 
 removal was in contemplation. " I should feel," continued he, 
 " the loss of Montholon most sensibly ; as, independent of his 
 attachment to me, he is most useful, and endeavors to anticipate 
 all my wants. I know that it would grieve him much to leave 
 me, though in truth it would render him a great service if he 
 were removed from this desolate place and restored to the bosom 
 of his friends, as he is not proscribed, and has nothing to fear in 
 France. ^Moreover, being of a noble family, he might readily 
 find favor with the Bourbons if he chose." 
 
 Accompanied Countess Montholon to Plantation House, to pay 
 a visit to Lady Lowe. Saw Sir Hudson, who said that " he would 
 not place any confidence in the assurances of General Bonaparte, 
 and was determined that he should not enter any house unac- 
 companied by a British officer." Some discussion then took 
 place, relative to the passes which his excellency had formerly 
 given to persons who were desirous to visit Longwood. Sir 
 Hudson Lowe wished to persuade me that he had never given a 
 pass for one day only,* and that Major Gorrequer could testify 
 to the truth of that. I remarked that several persons to whom 
 he had granted passes, had shown them to Count Bertrand at 
 Hut's Gate, and pointed out to him, that on the pass itself the 
 day had been specified, and on that account they had begged of 
 Bertrand to exert himself, in order to induce Napoleon to see 
 them, as their passes were null after that day. Sir Hudson 
 angrily replied that " they were liars." 
 
 * This was a matter of public notoriety, both at St. Helena and amongst th» 
 passengers to and from England.
 
 isi*? — February. 237 
 
 Before my departure, Sir Hudson Lowe told me thai I might 
 take some of the numbers of the Ambigu to Longwood, and 
 show them to General Bonaparte. 
 
 On my return, informed Napoleon that I had received some 
 numbers of a periodical work called V Ambigu, which, I added, 
 were extremely abusive of him. He laughed, and said, " Chil- 
 dren only care for abuse ;" and then desired me to bring them to 
 him. When he saw them, he said, " Ah ! Peltier : he has been 
 libeling me these twenty years. But I am very glad to get 
 them." 
 
 Countess Montholon, Mrs. and Miss Balcombes, passed an 
 hour in conversation with Napoleon after dinner yesterday. 
 
 Cipriani in town, employed as customary. 
 
 Xlth. — Napoleon observed that he found Peltier's Ambigu 
 very interesting, though it contained many falsehoods and betises, 
 (impertinences). " I have been reading," continued he, " the 
 account of the battle of Waterloo contained in it, which is nearly 
 correct. I have been considering who could have been the author. 
 It must have been some person about me. Had it not been for 
 the imbecility of Grouchy," added he, " I should have gained 
 that day." 
 
 I asked him if he thought that Grouchy had betrayed him 
 intentionally. " No, no," replied Napoleon, " but there was a 
 want of energy on his part. There was also treason amongst 
 the staff. I believe that some of the staff officers whom I had 
 sent to Grouchy betrayed me, and went over to the enemy. Of 
 this, however, I am not certain, as I have never seen Grouchy 
 since." 
 
 I asked if he had thought Marshal Soult to have been in his 
 interest. Napoleon answered, " Certainly, I considered so. But 
 Soult did not betray Louis, as has been supposed, nor was he 
 privy to my return and landing in France. For some days 
 Soult thought that I was mad, and that 1 must certainly be lost. 
 Notwithstanding this, appearances were so much against Soult, 
 and, without intending it, his acts turned out to be so favorable, 
 to my projects, that, were I on his jury, and ignorant of what I 
 know, I should condemn him for having betrayed Louis. But
 
 288 A VOICK KHOM ST. HKI-ENA. 
 
 ho ii-ally was not privy to it, tln»>iuli Nr} , in his dofi'iice, stated 
 tluit 1 told him so. As to the pruclamatioii wliirh Ney said that 
 I had sent to him, it is not true. I sent him nothing but orders. 
 I would have stojiped the proelaination, had it ])een in my jh wer, 
 as it was unworthy of me, Ney was deficient in education, or 
 he would not have published it, or indeed have acted as he did. 
 For when he promised the king to bring me back in an iron cage, 
 he was sincere, and really meant what he said, and continued so 
 until two days before he actually joined me. lie ought to have 
 acted like Oudinot, who asked his troops if they might be 
 depended upon, to which they unanimously replied, 'We will 
 not fight against the emperor, nor for the Bourbons,' He could 
 not prevent the troops from joining me, nor indeed the peasants, 
 but he went too far." 
 
 " Mouton Duvernet," said he, " suffered unjustly, at least con. 
 sidering all circumstances, he did not deserve it more than 
 another. He hung upon the flanks of my little army for two 
 days, and his intentions were for the king. But every one joined 
 me. The enthusiasm was astonishing. I might have entered 
 Paris with four hundred thousand men, if 1 had liked. What is 
 still more surprising, and I believe unparalleled in history, is, 
 that it was eflfected without any conspiracy. There was no 
 plot, no understanding with any of the generals in France. 
 Not one of them knew my intentions. In my proclamation 
 consisted the whole of my conspiracy. With them I effected 
 every thing. With them I led the nation. Not even Mas- 
 sena knew of my intention. When he was informed of my 
 laving landed with a few hundred men, he disbelieved it, and 
 pronounced it impossible, thinking that if I had entertained such 
 a project I should have made him acquainted with it. The 
 Bourbons want to make it appear that a conspiracy existed in 
 the army, which is the reason they have shot Mouton Duvernet, 
 Ney and others, because my having effected what I did, not by 
 the aid of a conspiracy, or by force, as not a musket was fired, 
 but by the general wish of the nation, reflects such disgrace upon 
 them." 
 
 "There never was yet," continued Napoleon, '-a king wlic
 
 1817 — FEBRUARY. 23J) 
 
 Uras more the sovereign of the people than I was. If I were not 
 possessed of the smallest talent, I could reign easier in Franco 
 than Louis and the Bourbons, endowed with the greatest abilities. 
 The mass of the French nation hate the old nobles and the 
 priests. I have not sprung from the ancienne noblesse (ancient 
 nobility), nor have I ever too much encouraged the priests. 
 The French nation have predominant in them, la vanita^ la legje- 
 rezza, Vindependenza, ed il capriccio* with an unconquerable 
 passion for glory. They will as soon do without bread as with- 
 out glory ; and a proclamation will lead them {les entrainer), 
 Unlike England, where the inhabitants of a whole country may 
 be inflamed by, and will follow the opinion of two or three noble 
 families, they must be themselves courted." 
 
 " Some young and ignorant peasants," continued Napoleon, 
 •' who were born since the revolution, were conversing with some 
 older and better informed men about the Bourbons, ' Who are 
 those Bourbons?' said one. 'What are they like?' 'Why,' 
 replied one of the older men, ' they are like that old ruined cha- 
 teau, which you see near our village ; like it, their time is past 
 and gone, they are no longer of the age.' " 
 
 " The Bourbons will find," added he, " that their caressing the 
 marshals and generals will not answer. They must caress the 
 people. To the7n they must address themselves. Unless they 
 adopt some measures to render themselves popular, you will see 
 a terrible explosion burst forth in France. The nation will 
 never bear to live debased and humiliated as it is at present. 
 When I hear of a nation living without bread, then I will believe 
 that the French will exist without glory." 
 
 "At Waterloo not a single soldier betrayed me. Whatever 
 treason there was, existed among the generals, and not among 
 the soldiers or the regimental officers ; these hist were acquainted 
 with each other's sentiments, and purged themselves by turning 
 out such as they suspected." 
 
 "Your nation," continued Napoleon, "is chiefly guided by 
 interest in all its actions. I have found since I have fallen into 
 your hands, that you have no more liberty than other countriea, 
 
 * Vuiiity, levity, iiidepeiuloiicc ami caprico.
 
 240 A Voice fhom sr. helkna. 
 
 I luivi- paid doarly for the ronmiilif luul tliivalrous opinion which 
 1 had tortnod of you." 
 
 Heri> I ropeatcd nearly what I had said upon former occasions. 
 Napoleon shook his head, and replied, " 1 recollect that Paoli. 
 who was a great friend to your nation, in fact who was almost 
 an Englishman, said, on hearing the English extolled as the most 
 generous, the most liberal, and the most unprejudiced nation on 
 earth, 'Suftly, you go too far; they are not so generous nor so 
 unprejudiced as you imagine; they are very self-interested; they 
 are a nation of merchants, and generally have gain in view. 
 Whenever they do anything, they always calculate what profit 
 they shall derive from it. They are the most calculating people 
 in existence.' This Paoli said, not without at the same time 
 having given you credit for the good national qualities which 
 you really possess. Now I believe that Paoli was right." 
 
 Napoleon then made some remarks upon Longwood, expressed 
 his surprise that some person had not made a contract to bring a 
 supply of water to it and to the camp ; stipulating that he should 
 be permitted to establish a garden in the valley, by means of 
 which a sufficiency of vegetables might be produced at a cheap 
 rate, not only for Longwood and the camp, but also for the ships. 
 " Here," continued he, " if water were brought by a conduit, 
 Novarre, with the help of two or three Chinese, would produce a 
 sufficiency of the vegetables which we so much w'ant. How 
 preferable would it be to dispose of the public money in conduct- 
 ing water to those poor soldiers in camp, than in digging of 
 ditches and throwing up fortifications round this house, just as if 
 an arrny were coming to attack it. A man who has no regard 
 for his soldiers ought never to have a command. The greatest 
 necessity of the soldier is water." 
 
 Sir Thomas Reade made a long harangue this djiy, upon the 
 " impropriety of allowing Bonaparte any newspapers, unless 
 such as had been previously inspected by the governor." 
 
 \bth. — Saw Sir Hudson Lowe at Plantation House. Found 
 him busied in examining some newspapers for Longwood, several 
 of which he put aside, as not being, in his opinion, proper to be 
 sent to Napoleon, observing to me, at the same time, "that
 
 1817 — FEBRUARY. 241 
 
 however strange it might appear, General Bonaparte ought to be 
 obliged to him for not sending him newspapers indiscriminately, 
 as the perusal of articles written in his own favor might excite 
 hopes which, when not ultimately realized, could not fail to 
 afflict him ; that moreover, the British government thought it 
 improper to let him know everything that appeared in the news- 
 papers. 
 
 19th. — Sir Thomas Reade very busy in circulating reports in 
 the town that " General Bonaparte was sulky, and would see 
 nobody : that the governor was too good, and that the villain 
 ought to be put in chains." 
 
 21st. — The David transport brought the news of the arrival of 
 the Adolphus at the Cape, laden chiefly with iron rails, to sur- 
 round Napoleon's house, for which the governor had sent to 
 England. 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe came up to Longwood and inspected the 
 works throwing up about the stables, and the sentinels that he 
 had placed. Held a long conversation with me afterwards about 
 the restrictions and limits, without coming to any determination. 
 
 After having observed that I was responsible in some degree 
 to ministers for any unfavorable impressions which might exist 
 upon Napoleon's mind, his excellency proceeded to catechise me 
 relative to my conversations with him. I hinted to him the pe- 
 culiar delicacy of my situation, and the impropriety and indeed 
 impossibility that existed of my making the disclosures which he 
 required. Sir Hudson said, "That he admitted the jjeculiar deli- 
 cacy of my situation, but at the same time that I ought to make 
 a full and ample disclosure to him, and to him only, of the lan- 
 guage made use of by General Bonaparte, especially of any 
 abusive epithets. That it was necessary for him to know every- 
 thing that passed. That for a man, who had so much intercourse 
 with General Bona[iarte, he thought I was less influenced by him 
 than ninety-nine out of a hundred would have been. That my 
 situation was of great importance, and one in which I could len- 
 der great services. That absolute silence as to what was going 
 on, except to him, was imperatively necessary, and indeed the 
 chief requisite." 
 
 a
 
 242 A VOICE FKOM ST. IIKLENA. 
 
 His e.xoolk'iK'y then told me, in order, as he said, to show the 
 g.K>d opinion that he entertained of me, that "he had no senijile 
 in iiiA>rming me, that tiie commissioners were to be looked upon 
 with great suspicion; that they were in fact spies upon every- 
 body and ujton everything, and only wanted to ])ick something 
 out of me in order to send it to their courts; that I had better 
 be Very cautious, as in all prol)al)ility they would report to their 
 employers everything that I had said, as they had already done 
 to him ; in proof of which he repeated to me the tenor of the 
 conversation which I had held with Baron Sturmcr at Plantation 
 House on the 21st of October, 181G, adding his satisfaction of 
 having found that 1 had been cautious in my reniarks. He also 
 said that he had written to Lord Bathurst in very favorable terms 
 about me, and had recommended that my salary should be aug- 
 mented to 500/. per annum." 
 
 After this his excellency acquainted me that he had received a 
 'etter from young Las Cases for me, which he would send. 
 
 In the evening, I received the above mentioned letter, under an 
 inclosure, containing one to General Gourgaud from his mother, 
 as Sir Hudson described it in his note, which I was directed to 
 deliver to him. 
 
 24:th. — Mr. Vernon came up to Longwood to ondoyer (baptize) 
 Count Bertrand's child. Napoleon played at billiards in the 
 evening. 
 
 25f^. — Cipriani in town, purchasing provisions. 
 
 28<A. — Napoleon had very little rest during the night. Got 
 jp at five o'clock, and walked about in the billiard-room for some 
 time. Found him lying on his sofa. Looked low, and out of 
 spirits. Saluted me with a faint voice. Gave him a Portsmouth 
 paper of the 18th of November last. On reading some rf marks 
 made about the injury that was likely to accrue to the French 
 interest by the marriage of the Emperor of Austria and the Prin- 
 cess of Bavaria, together with an observation that he. Napoleon, 
 had prevented it even when in the plentitude of his power ; Na- 
 poleon said, " C^est vrai, I was appjehensive of the consequences 
 of the alliance between the two houses. But what signifies it 
 DOW? Under the Bourbons, France will never be a first-rate
 
 1811 — FEBRUARY. 243 
 
 power. There is no occasion to be afraid of her, as she wil] 
 always be an inferior power under that house of blockheads." 
 
 Adverting to the commercial distress of England, he observed 
 that Lord Castlereagh deserved the reprobation of the English 
 nation for the little care which he had taken of their interests at 
 the time of the general peace. " The misfortunes which befel 
 me," said he, " gave such an ascendancy to England, that almost 
 any demand made by her would have been granted; independent 
 of the right which she had to claim a recompense for the vast ex- 
 pense which she had been at. An opportunity offered itself, 
 w^hich probably will never occur again, fur England to recover 
 and extricate herself from all her difficulties in a few years, and 
 to relieve her from the immense load of debt which weighs her 
 down. Had Castlereagh been really attentive to the interests 
 of his own country, he would have embraced at an early period 
 the only opportunity that had been presented to him to secure 
 such commercial advantages to England as would have relieved 
 her from her embarrassments. But, instead of this, he only 
 attended to paying his court to kings and emperors, who flattered 
 his vanity by taking notice of him ; well knowing that in doing 
 so, they gained the great point of making him neglect his coun- 
 try's interests, and consequently benefited their own. He was 
 completely duped, and will yet be cursed by your nation." 
 
 " I see no other way now," continued he, " to extricate you 
 from your difiiculties, than by reducing the interest of the 
 national debt, confiscating the greatest part of the revenues of 
 the clergy, all the sinecures, diminishing considerably the army, 
 and establishing a system of reduction altogether. Let those 
 who want priests, pay them. Your sinking fund is a humbug. 
 Impose a heavy tax upon absentees. It is too late now for you 
 to make commercial treaties. What would (/wn have been con- 
 sidered as only just and reasonable would now be thought far 
 different. The opportunity is gone, and the nation is indebted 
 to your imbeciles of ministers for all the calamities which will 
 befall it, and which are solely to be attributed to their crimina] 
 neglect,"
 
 244 A VOICE FROM ST. HKI.ENA. 
 
 " I undorstanil," said lie, " tlmt the botanist* is on the eve of 
 departure, without having seen nie. In the most barbarous 
 countries, it would not be prohibited even to a prisoner, under 
 sentenee of death, to have the consolation of conversing with a 
 person who had lately seen his wife and child. Even in that 
 worst of courts, the revolutionary tribunal of France, s\iili an in 
 stance of barbarity and of callousness to all feeling was never 
 known ; and your nation, which is so much cried up for liberality, 
 permits such treatment. I am informed that this botanist has 
 made application to see me, which was refused ; and in my letter 
 to Las Cases, which was read by the governor, 1 complained of 
 it as a hardship, and thereby made application to see him. if 1 
 had asked it in any other manner, 1 should have exposed myself 
 to the insult of a refusal from this bourreau, (hangman.) C^esl 
 le comble de la crumite.\ lie must indeed be a barbarian who 
 would deny to a husband and a father the consolation of dis- 
 coursing with a person who had lately seen, spoken to, and 
 touched his wife, his child," (here Napoleon's voice faltered ;) 
 " from whose embraces he is for ever separated by the cruel 
 policy of a few. The Anthropophagi of the South Seas would not 
 practice it. Previous to devouring their victims, they would 
 allow them the consolation of seeing and conversing with each 
 other. The cruelties which are practiced here would be dis- 
 avowed by cannibals." 
 
 Napoleon now walked up and down for some time, much 
 agitated. Afterwards he proceeded, " You see the manner in 
 which he endeavors to impose upon the passengers going to Eng- 
 land, in order to make them believe that he is all goodness to 
 me, and that it is all my own fault if 1 do not receive strangers. 
 That he interests himself so far as even to send up his own aid 
 de-camp to effect it, though he well knows this last circumstance 
 would of itself be sufficient to prevent my receiving the person 
 whom he accompanied. His object now is to impress upon the 
 
 * Napoleon had been informed, and I believe with truth, that this gentleman 
 had seen and conversed with the em[)res8 and her eon a short time before h« 
 had left Germany for St. Helena. 
 
 t It is the heigh*, of cruelty.
 
 1817 — FEBRUARY. 246 
 
 minds of tne public that I hate the sight of an Englishman. That 
 is the reason he desired you to tell me that Las Cases had made 
 me say that I abhorred the sight of the English uniform." 
 
 I observed that Sir Hudson Lowe had also told me that he 
 conceived it to be an invention of Las Cases. " It is an invention 
 of his own," replied the emperor, "in order to impose upon you. 
 If I had hated the English, should I have given myself up to 
 them, instead of going to the emperor of Russia, or of Austria? 
 Is it possible that I could have given a greater proof of esteem 
 for a nation, than that which I have done for the English, un- 
 fortunately for myself?" 
 
 Napoleon now opened the door, called St. Denis, and in my 
 presence asked him if in Las Cases' journal, it was asserted that 
 he (Napoleon) had ever said that he hated the sight of the 
 English uniform, or the English, or words of a similar tendency 
 and meaning 1 St. Denis replied, that nothing of the kind was 
 contained in the journal. " There," said Napoleon, " if Las 
 Cases had said so, it would have been in his journal. He must 
 be wicked who would torment me under the circumstances in 
 which I am placed. He has got nothing here," continued Na- 
 poleon, placing his hand over his heart, "and when there is 
 nothing here, the head must be bad : he is a man unfit to com- 
 mand, or to act for himself. Nature in forming some men, in- 
 tended that they should always remain in a subaltern situation. 
 Such was Berthier. There was not in the world so good a chef 
 (Telat major ; but change his occupation, he was not fit to com- 
 mand five hundred men. A good scribbler, like this man, an 
 excellent cornmis. You may see how unfit for command he is, 
 when he allows himself to be led by the nose by such a 2ontemp- 
 tible imbecile as that Colonel Keade. Have you ever read Gil 
 Blasf I replied that I had. "That elernal smile on Reade's 
 lips," rt^oined Napoleon, "is not natui'al, and reminds me of 
 Ambrose de Lamela. Like Lamela's going to church while he 
 was plotting to rob his master, it masks his real intentions. I 
 have been informed," continued he, " that the Balcombes were 
 interrogated and cross-examined both by the governor and by his 
 privy counsellor, Reade, touching what they had heard and seen
 
 246 A VC»K'K FKOM M. IIKLKNA. 
 
 at LoiigAood, ami that tin.' fatlRT rij>liiil, tliat liis daughtors had 
 come hero to have thi' honor of visiting us, ami nol as sj)ic!s." 
 
 March \st. — Napolooii ctnivoiM'd with iiu' tor soiiu' time re- 
 lative to the iron railing said to have been brought out in the 
 Adi'lphus. 1 told him that it was customary in Eiiglan<i to put 
 rails round the country houses of gentlemen, at v\ hieh he jcjoked 
 rather incredulous. 
 
 2/j(/. — Saw Napoleon in his dressing-room, lying on his stjfa. 
 lie was rather low spirited, looked pale, and complained of 
 diarrhceji. Of the remedies which 1 advised, he would only 
 consent to take freely of weak ehieken-broth, or barley-water. 
 
 During the course of conversation, he oijserved that he saw a 
 ehange in the system of the Bourbons favorable to them, as, 
 instead of employing the ultra faction, and other violent charac- 
 ters, they had appointed men who had been formerly employed 
 by him, and who had the confidence of the nation. Amongst 
 others, he mentioned Mole. 
 
 Asked Napoleon whether the statement contained in the Ob- 
 server relative to Clarke's conduct towards Carnot, in having 
 withheld his pension, and the manner in which he himself was 
 reported to have acted, were true. Napoleon replied, " It is per- 
 fectly true. But I was surprised to see the papers occupied so 
 much about Clarke, who is not of sufficient importance for people 
 to trouble themselves about him." I asked his opinion of 
 Clarke. He replied, " He is not a man of talent, but he is labo- 
 rious and useful in the bureau, (office.) He is, moreover, incor- 
 ruptible, and saving of the public money, which he never has 
 appropriated to his own use. He is an excellent redacieur, (com- 
 piler.) He is not a soldier, however, nor do I believe that he 
 ever saw a shot fired in his life. He is infatuated with his 
 nobility. He pretends that he is descended from the ancient 
 kings of Scotland, or Ireland, and constantly vaunts of his noble 
 descent. A good clerk. I sent him to Florence as ambassador, 
 where he employed himself in nothing but turning over the old 
 musty records of the place, in search of proofs of the nobility of 
 my family, for you must know that they came from Florence. 
 He plagued me with letters upon this subject, which caused me
 
 1811 — MARCH. 247 
 
 to write to him to attend to the business for which he had been 
 sent to Florence, and not to trouble his head or mine with hia 
 nonsense about nobility ; that I was the Jirsi of my family. 
 Notwithstanding this, he still continued his inquiries. When I 
 returned from Elba, he offered his services to me, but I sent him 
 word that I would not employ any traitors, and ordered him to 
 his estates." I asked if he thought that Clarke would havt. 
 served him faithfully. "Yes," replied the emperor, "as long as 
 I was the strongest, like a great many others." I inquired if it 
 were true that he had written the letter which had been attri- 
 buted to him, announcing to Clarke the death of his nephew 1 
 He replied, that he had, and that his name was Ellit)t. 
 
 I observed that his ancestors were noble. He replied, they 
 were senators of Florence. 
 
 Napoleon then observed, " In the papers, they make me serve 
 for all purposes, and say whatever suits their views. Lord 
 Castlereagh, on his return to Ireland, publicly asserted a false- 
 hood relative to what had been my intentions upon England, and 
 put expressions into my mouth since my arrival here, which I 
 never made use of" I observed, that in all probability Lord 
 Castlereagh had been informed that he had said so. He replied, 
 " It may be, but your ministers have little scruple in having re- 
 course to falsehood when they think it will forward any object 
 they have in view. It is," continued he, "always dishonorable 
 and base to belie the unfortunate, and doubly so when in your 
 power, and when you hold a padlock upon the mouth to prevent 
 a reply." 
 
 Srd. — Saw Napoleon dressing. Free from any complaint. 
 In very high spirits. Laughed and quizzed me about some 
 young ladies, and asked me to give all the little news of the 
 town. Appeared to be in better spirits than he had been for a 
 long time. 
 
 Had some further conversation relative to the governor's de- 
 claration that Count Las Cases had, in li.s journal, made Napo- 
 leon say, that he al^horred the sight of the Biilish uniform, and 
 his excellency's assertion, that Las Cases had endeavored to 
 make him hate the English. "1 cannot conceive," said Niip«>
 
 248 A VciCK KliOM .ST. JIKI.KNA. 
 
 leon, " what olijict L;is Cases cuiilJ liavc in view by joing su t 
 What c'ciiKI Ik- gain b} it? On the contrary, Las Cases always 
 spoke well of the English, saiil that he had been ten years 
 amongst them, and had l)een always well treated. It is an inven- 
 tion of this man's, whose whole superstructure is built upon 
 lies. I said, certainly, that I did not like to see officers in uni- 
 form, closely attending or watching me, because the uniform re- 
 minded me that I was considered as a prisoner, and gave rise to 
 unpleasant reflections. If even you were to come into my apart- 
 ment every day in your uniform, it would give me the idea of 
 your being a gendarme. But this man has no morale. The ad- 
 miral had, and immediately understood the delicacy of it, when 
 it was mentioned to him." 
 
 He then asked some medical questions, went into the billiard- 
 room, ordered some bottled porter, took a glass of it, saying, in 
 English, Your health, and made me take another. Asked many 
 questions about porter, and was much surprised at the low price 
 it bore in England. While walking about the room, " What 
 sort of a man did you take me to be, before you became my 
 surgeon V said he. " What did you think of my character, and 
 what 1 was capable of? Give me your real opinion frankly." I 
 replied: "I thought you to be a man, whose stupendous talents 
 were only to be equalled by your measureless ambition ; and 
 although I did not give credit to one-tenih part of the libels which 
 I had read against you, still I believed that you would not hesi- 
 tate to commit a crime when you found it to be necessary, or 
 thought it might be useful to you." " This is just the answer 
 that I expected," replied Napoleon, "and is perhaps the opinion 
 of Lord Holland, and even of numbers of the French. I have 
 risen to too great a pitch of human glory and elevation, not to 
 have excited the envy and jealousy of mankind. They will say, 
 ' It is true that he has raised himself to the highest pinnacle of 
 glory, mais pour y arriver, il commit beaucoup de crimes, (but to 
 attain it, he has committed many crimes.') Now, the fact is, 
 that 1 not only never committed any crimes, but I never even 
 thought of doing so. J''ai tonjours marche avec ^opinion dea 
 grandei masses et lea evenemens, (1 have always gone with the
 
 mi — MARCH. ^4S 
 
 opinion of great masses, and with events). I have always made 
 peu de c«s, (light of) the opinion of individuals, of that of the 
 public a great deal ; of what use, then, would crime have been to 
 me ? I am too much a fatalist, and have always despised man- 
 kind too much, to have had recourse to crime to frustrate thei 
 attempts. J^ai marche totijours avec Vopinion de cinq ou six mil 
 lions d''hommes^ (I have always marched with the opinion of five 
 or six millions of men ;) of what use, then, would crime have 
 been to me V 
 
 " In spite of all the libels," continued he. " I have no fear 
 whatever about my fame. Posterity will do me justice. The 
 truth Mill be known; and the good which I have done, with the 
 faults which I have committed, will be compared. I am not 
 uneasy for the result. Had I succeeded, I should have died with 
 the reputation of the greatest man that ever existed. As it is, 
 although I have failed, I shall be considered as an extraordinary 
 man : my elevation was unparalleled, because unaccompanied by 
 crime. I have fought fifty pitched battles, almost all of which 
 I have gained. I have framed and carried into effect a code of 
 laws, that will bear my name to the most distant posterity. 
 From nothing I raised myself to be the most powerful monarch 
 in the world. Europe was at my feet. My ambition was great, 
 I admit, but it was of a cold nature, {d^une nature froide,) and 
 caused par les evenemens, (by events) and the opinion of great 
 bodies. I have always been of opinion, that the sovereignty lay 
 in the people. In fact, the imperial government was a kind of 
 republic. Called to the head of it by the voice of the nation, 
 my maxim was, la. carriere est ouverte aux talens, (the careei' is 
 open to talents) without distinction of birth or fortine, and this 
 system of equality is the reason that your oligarchy hate me so 
 much." 
 
 " If ever policy," continued he, "authorized a man to commit 
 a crime and murder others, it authorized me to put to death Fer- 
 dinand, and the other Bourbons of his family when in France. 
 Were I a man accustomed to commit crimes, would I not have 
 effected one which it would have been so beneficial to me to put 
 in execution ? Ferdinand and his family once out of the way,
 
 260 A VOICE FROM ST. HET.ENA. 
 
 the Spaniards woiiUl havi- hail nothing to fight for, and would 
 have suhniittod. No ; had I been inclined to commit crimes, I 
 should not he here. Would a French Bourbon be in existence 
 now, had 1 consented to their murder? Not only did I refuse to 
 ronsent, but I positively prohibited that any attempt t)f the k'nd 
 should be made." 
 
 " It is not," added Napoleon, " by what the Quarterly Review, 
 )r Pichon says, or by what I could write myself, that posterity 
 will judge of me ; it is by the voice of so many millions of inhab- 
 itants who have been under my government." 
 
 "Those," continued he, " who consented to the union of Poland 
 with Russia, will be the execration of posterity, while my name 
 will be pronounced with respect when the fine southern countries 
 of Europe are a prey to the barbarians of the north. Perhaps 
 my greatest fault was not having deprived the King of Prussia 
 of his throne, which I might easily have done. After Friedland, 
 I ought to have taken Silesia and * * * from Prussia, and given 
 them to Saxony, as the king and the Prussians were too much 
 humiliated not to revenge themselves the first opportunity. Had 
 I done this, given them a free constitution, and delivered the 
 peasants from feudal slavery, they would have been content." 
 
 Napoleon afterwards walked down to Count Bertrand's. For 
 two or three days he has taken much more exercise than for- 
 merly. 
 
 Ath. — Saw Napoleon in the billiard-room. He was in extreme 
 good spirits. Returned me the Ambigu for 1816, and desired 
 me to endeavor to obtain the numbers for 1815. 
 
 In answer to a question of mine about p * * *, he said, 
 up*** jg jj polisson (blackguard), who would write for any 
 body that would pay him. He made offers to me to change his 
 style, and write for me in such a manner that the British govern- 
 ment would not be aware that he was employed by me. One 
 time in particular, he sent to the police a MS. copy of a book 
 written against me: with an offer that it should not be printed 
 provided he were paid a ceitain sum of money. This was made 
 known to me. T ordered the police to answer, that if he paid 
 the expenses of printing, the work should be published in Paris
 
 \811 — MARCH. 261 
 
 for him. He was not the only one who made offers of the kind 
 to me when I was in power. Some of the editors of the English 
 newspapers made similar advances, and declared that they could 
 render me most essential services, but I then did not attach 
 sufficient importance to it, and refused them. Not so the Bour- 
 bons. In 1814, the editor of The ***** newspaper was paid 
 about three thousand pounds of your money, besides having a 
 great number of copies taken. I told you before that I found his 
 receipt amongst Blacas' papers on my return from Elba. I do 
 not know if he is in their pay now. In that year also a great 
 number of pamphlets were printed in London against the Bour- 
 bons, and copies of each sent over to them, with a threat of pub 
 lication if they were not paid. The Buurbons were greatly 
 frightened, and greedily bought them up. There was one pam- 
 phlet in particular, a terrible libel against the late queen of 
 France, which it cost them a large sum of money to suppress. 
 
 " When I was on the throne," continued he, " there were thirty 
 clerks employed in translating the English newspapers, and in 
 making extracts from English works of merit. Matters which 
 appeared of importance were extracted from the newspapers, and 
 daily submitted to me. But I never had it done in my presence, 
 or endeavored to accompany the translator in his progress, as 
 has been asserted. I did not even know the English article ^the' 
 at that time. Indeed, to me it was not of sufficient importance 
 to learn the language purposely to read the papers, especially as 
 I had letters and intelligence constantly from the spies in Eng- 
 land. The papers, however, served to corroborate their informa 
 tion relative to the movements of troops, assembling and sailing 
 of men of war, and other measures of government." 
 
 The governor at Longwood. Explained his intentions of put- 
 ting the iron railing round the house, the doors of which he said 
 he should cause to be locked at seven or eight o'clock at night, 
 and the keys sent to Plantation House, where they should remain 
 until day-lireak the next morning. 
 
 5^/t.— The Tortoise store ship, Captain Cook, arrived directly 
 from England, which she had left on the 18th of De((Miil)c"r, 1810. 
 Went to town, and learned that Warden had pubiislKd a Ixjok
 
 2r>2 A VOICK FKOM ST. MKLKXA. 
 
 ftliDut Nnjioli'on, uliicli liad iMilfd roiisidt'r;il)lo iiitcrcsf, and 
 was supposed to liavc produced a i'avoial)Ie iiiiprossioii tdwaids 
 him. neooivod some newspapers containing extracts from the 
 work. 
 
 On my retnrn to T^ongwood, I found Napoleon in ipiiu; dif 
 fereiit spirits from yisterday. He was reclining on his sofa, in a 
 vt-ry pensive attitude, iiis head resting upon one of his hantls, and 
 ajiparently mehmcholy. His morning gown was on, a Madras 
 round his head, and his beard unshaved. In rather a desponding 
 manner, he asked me, " Wliat news?" and if the ship had arrived 
 from Enghmd. I replied that she had arrived direct from that 
 country. After having related some of what I had heard and 
 conceived to be most interesting, I mentioned that a book had 
 been published respecting him by Warden, which had excited 
 great interest. At the name of Warden, he raised his head and 
 said, " What, W^arden of the Northumberland ?" I replied in the 
 affirmative. " What is the nature of the work 1 Is it for or 
 against me? Is it well written? What is the subject?" I 
 replied that it was a description of what had passed on hoard of 
 the Northumberland and here; that it was in his favor, and 
 contained many curious statements, and also refutations of some 
 accusations that had been made against him, an explanation about 
 the affair of the Due d'Enghien, and that it was well written, &;c. 
 " Have you seen it?" I replied, " No." " Then how do you know 
 that it is in my favor, or that it is well written?" 1 replied that 
 I had seen sonie extracts from it in the newspapers, which I gave 
 U) him. He sat down to read the papers, asked the explanation 
 of a few passages, said they were true ; inquired what Warden 
 had said of the Due d'Enghien. I replied that he asserted that 
 Talleyrand had detained a letter from the Duke for a considerable 
 time after his execution, and that he had attributed his death to 
 Talleyrand. "i?i questo non c' e duhhio^'' (of this there is no 
 doubt,) replied Napoleon. 
 
 Nap(<le<jn then asked how the work had been received in Eng- 
 land. I replied, "I had heard that it had succeeded very well." 
 He asked whether the ministers were pleased with it. I an- 
 iwered, " that they had not as yet shown any displeasure, aa
 
 1817 — MARCH. 253 
 
 Warden had been recently appointed to a ship." " I sjppose," 
 said Napoleon, " that he has arranged it so as to please the min- 
 isters ?" I replied that from what I had been able to learn, he 
 had endeavored to state the truth. 
 
 I then assisted him in reading over some extracts which wore 
 ill the Observer, the correctness of which he admitted. He 
 perused very attentively and made me explain to niin three 
 times an article which stated that the Empress Marie Louise had 
 fallen from her horse into the Po, and with difficulty had been 
 saved from a watery grave. He appeared considei-ably aflected 
 by the perusal. 
 
 Subsequently he conversed about the tumults in England, and 
 the distress of the poorer classes. " Your ministers," said he, 
 " are answerable for all the misery and the distress of England, 
 by their having neglected to take advantage of favorable cir- 
 cumstances to secure to the country great commercial advantages. 
 In consequence of my misfortunes in Russia, successes unparal- 
 leled in the history of tlie world attended her, and by the force 
 of circumstances, an opportunity was afforded her of rendering 
 herself the most flourishing and powerful nation in the world. 1 
 have always considered England to be in a dangerous state, in an 
 unnatural state of over-exertion, and that if some unforeseen cir- 
 cumstance did not arise to succor her, she must sink under the 
 pressure of the exertions she has made, and the load of taxation. 
 Such an oppoitunity has occurred, but your ministers, like block- 
 heads, have not taken advantage of it, but preferred paying tlieir 
 court to those kings to consulting the interests of their country. 
 Every sovereign or minister ought to hold the interests and 
 welfare of his own country paramount to all other considerations, 
 and ought never to fail to take advantage of existing circum- 
 stances to benefit it, particularly when it can be done by means 
 of a treaty. Those who neglect it, are traitors to their country. 
 You have already the hatred of all natitxis, in consequence of 
 your maritime laws, and your preti;nsions to be mistress of the 
 seas, which you say belongs to you by right. Then why not 
 take advantage of if? You have made a most unprofitable bar- 
 gainj you have the hatred of all oUier nations, on account of
 
 254 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 your nmiitiiiu' pretensions, without (-'iijoyiny any benefit from 
 ihi'tn. Your ministers do not know the situation of their own 
 country." 
 
 " It appoars to nie," continued he, " to be clearly the intention 
 of your ministers to subject England to a military yoke, to put 
 down by degrees the liberty which prevails there, and to render 
 their own power unlimited. All those honors conferred upon 
 the military, and the tenor of several other stops lately adopted, 
 are only so many preliminaries towards it. I can discern their 
 object. Assistance, if necessary, will probably be rendered by 
 the other sovereigns of Europe, who are jealous, and cannot bear 
 the idea that England should be the only free nation in Europe. 
 They will all assist in putting you down." I observed that the 
 English would never submit to be made a nation of slaves. He 
 replied, "There is every appearance that the attempt will be 
 made." 
 
 Some broken numbers of the Times, and a few letters sent up 
 by the governor. General Gourgaud received a letter from his 
 sister, which informed him that Sir George Cockburn had called 
 twice to see his mother in Paris. This mark of attention on the 
 part of the admiral quite enchanted General Gourgaud. Count 
 and Countess Bertrand were in raptures, as the same letter stated 
 that Madame Dillon, the Countess's mother, was doing well. 
 Though for many years a wanderer, I never observed so forcibly 
 before the satisfaction and consolation afforded by a letter from 
 distant relations or friends, to those who are separated from their 
 home. By the joy in the countenances of some at Longwood, it 
 was easy to distinguish those who had received intelligence, as the 
 melancholy and dissatisfoction portrayed in the others denoted 
 the contrary. There was no necessity for asking any questions. 
 A. line of writing from Europe is, at Longwood, a treasure above 
 ill price. 
 
 (jth. — Some French newspapers sent up to Napoleon by the 
 •.dmiral, through the governor. Napoleon very anxious to hear 
 iome more intelligence of Marie Louise. The circumstance he 
 observed yesterday appeared to have excited some apprehensiona 
 for her safety in his mind, which was not much relieved when he
 
 181*7 — MARCB. 266 
 
 perceived that only broken numbers of the newspapers hac been 
 sent up by the governor. On coming afterwards to an article in 
 the French papers, which stated that the project of causing Paris 
 to be supplied by an English water-company had been aban- 
 doned, he called out to me, " Have I not told you so, and that the 
 people would not suffer it V Informed him that the governor 
 had sent up Mr. Warden's book to me, with instructions to 
 deliver it to him. He looked at the foe-simile of his own hand- 
 writing, and laughed heartily. 
 
 At night Napoleon sent for me. Said that he was convinced 
 the governor had kept back some letters and newspapers. That 
 he had no doubt that Sir Hudson Lowe had himself received a 
 complete series of papers, but that he had kept back some accord- 
 ing to his usual brutal custom, because there might have been 
 an article which would prove agreeable to him. " At first," said 
 he, " I thought that there might have been some bad news of ray 
 wife, but a moment's reflection taught me, that if so, this man 
 would not have failed to send it directly, in order to afflict me. 
 Perhaps there may be some news of my son ; when you go to 
 town to-morrow, endeavor to see a complete series of papers, 
 and look attentively at them. You can find out ten articles in 
 your papers while I am searching for one. Try and get some 
 more of the Portsmouth papers, as the news is more condensed 
 in them, and I do not lose myself as in looking over a number of 
 the Times." 
 
 7th. — Cipriani in town making purchases of provisions. 
 
 8ih. — Mrs. and Miss Balcombe at Longwood. Napoleon sent 
 for and conversed with them for a few minutes. Sir Hudson 
 Lowe, when informed of this, said, " that they had no business to 
 have spoken to General Bonaparte, as their pass had only speci- 
 fied Count Bertrand's family." 
 
 10^/i. — Napoleon in good spirits. Had some conversation 
 relative to Warden's book. I asked him about that part which 
 treats of the governor's physiognomy ; and Warden's reply that 
 he liked Lady Lowe's better. He laughed, and replied, "As well as 
 [ recollect, it is true. But I said mucii worse than what Warden
 
 25rt A VOICK KKdM SI'. HELKNA. 
 
 hjis statoil tlioro, wliii-li I lu-lli'vi' is to In- toiiinl lu fijis! Cases' 
 journal, wluMo tlie govoiiinr must have scon my ri'marks." 
 
 1 tlK-n asko(1 liis opinion of Warden's l)ooi<. He replied, 
 "The foundation of it is true, but. he has badly understood what 
 was said to him ; as in tlie work there are many mistakes, which 
 must have arisen from bad explanation ; Warden does not under- 
 stand Flench. He has acted wrong in making me speak in the 
 manner he has done. For, instead of having stated that it had 
 been conveyed through an interpreter, he puts down almost 
 everything as if I had been speaking to him all the time, and as 
 if he could have understood me ; consequently he has put into 
 my mouth expressions unworthy of me, and not in my style. 
 Any person who knows me, will readily see that it is not in my 
 style. In fact, most of what he has received through interpreta- 
 tion, and that composes a large portion of the work, is more or 
 less incorrect. He has said, that Massena had stormed the vil- 
 lage of Esling thirteen times, which, if the work is translated 
 into French, will make every French officer acquainted with the 
 battle laugh, as Massena was not at that particular spot during 
 the whole of the action. What he says about the prisoners that 
 had been made at Jaffa is also incorrect, as they were marched 
 on twelve leagues in the direction of Bagdad, and not to Naza- 
 reth. They were Maugrabins from near Algiers, and not natives 
 of the country that he mentions ; he is incorrect in stating that I 
 had proposed to give the sick opium : I did not p^'opose it. It 
 was first made by one of the medical officers. He is wrong in the 
 explanation which he has given of the reason why I wished 
 Wright to live. My principal reason was, to be able to prove, 
 as I told you before, by Wright's evidence, that * * * had cause<' 
 assassins, hired by the Count d'* * * * to be landed in France, 
 in order to murder me. This I thought I should have effected 
 by Wright's own evidence at a trial in presence of the ambassa- 
 dors of the powers in friendship with me. Now there was some- 
 •iiing glorious in Wright's death. He preferred taking away his 
 :>wn life to compromising his government. 
 
 "The Due d'Enghien was to have come to Paris to assist the 
 issassins. The Due de Berri also was to have landed at a cor-
 
 1817 — MARCH. 257 
 
 tain place in Picard^, to have excited insurrection and assassina- 
 tion. I got information of this, and Savary was dispatched to 
 the spot to arrest him. If he had been taken, he would have 
 been instantly shot. He was on board of an English vessel 
 which came in close to the coast, but a certain signal which had 
 been previously agreed upon, not having been made from Be- 
 ville, he became afraid, and stood off. The place where they 
 were to have landed was called the falaise de Bevi/le, near Dieppe, 
 at the foot of a steep precipice, up which people are obliged to 
 climb by the help of ropes. It was chosen by them on this 
 account, as they were not likely to be interrupted by the custom- 
 house officers. The Count d' * * *, and the Due de B * * were 
 always endeavoring to procure my assassination. Louis, I 
 believe, was not privy to it. They thought, I suppose, that they 
 were at liberty to make as many attempts to assassinate me as 
 they chose, with impunity. As head of the French government, 
 by the laws of politics, and by the laws of nature, I should have 
 been justified in causing assassination in return ; which it would 
 have been most easy for me to have effected." 
 
 " Shortly after Marengo," continued Napoleon, " Louis wrote 
 a letter to me, which was delivered by the Abbe Montesquieu, 
 in which he said that I delayed for a long time to restore him to 
 his throne ; that the happiness of France could never be com- 
 plete without him ; neither could the glory of the country be 
 complete without me ; that one was as necessary to it as the 
 other ; and concluded by desiring me to choose whatever I thought 
 proper, which would be granted under him, provided that I re- 
 stored him to his throne. I sent him back a very handsome 
 answer, in which I stated that 1 was extremely sorry for the mis- 
 fortunes of himself and his family ; that I was ready to do every- 
 thing in my power to relieve them, and would interes^t myself 
 about providing a suitable income for them, but that he might 
 abandon the thought of ever returning to France as a sovereign, 
 as that could not be effected without his having passed over the 
 bodies of five hundred thousand Frenchmen." 
 
 "Warden has been incorrectly informed that Maret was privy 
 Vo my return to France. He knew nothing about it, and such a
 
 268 A v<>r;k fko.m si. iiki.kna. 
 
 5tati iiiiiit may iiijuri- liis iclatiDiis in France. II*- has acted also 
 ungiiardfdlv in a-ssiTling niatteis upon the authority of C^ount 
 and Countess Bertrand, as it may cause thoni many enemies. 
 He ought to have said, ' I have been told at Longwood.' As to 
 his s.\viug tiiat the information cjimc from me, I care not as I 
 fear nobody ; but he ouglit tt) have i)eeM cautious about the 
 v>thers.'' 
 
 '' Warilen," added he, " is a man of good intoiitioiis, and the 
 foundation of his work is true; but many of the circumstances 
 are incorrectly stated, in consequence of misconception and bad 
 interpretation, Gourgaud was very angry yesterday about what 
 was said of him. I told him that he ought to take example hy 
 me, and observe with what patience 1 bore the lil)cls on me, with 
 which the press was overwhelmed ; that they had made me a 
 poisoner, an assassin, a violator, — a monster, who was guilty of 
 hiisest, and of every horrid crime, &c. That he ought to reflect 
 upon this and be silent." 
 
 " I see," continued he, "by some answer in the Times, that the 
 Morning Chronicle appears to defend me. What harm could it 
 possibly be to let me see that paper? — to let me read something 
 favorable of myself? It is very seldom that I now see anything 
 of the kind, but it is a cruelty to withhold so seldom a conso- 
 lation." 
 
 "You recollect 1 told you that the English w(juld change their 
 opinion of me, and that, from the great intercourse they had with 
 France and Italy, they would soon discover that 1 was not the 
 horrid character they had believed me to be ; and also that the 
 English travelers, in returning from the countries which had been 
 under my dominion, would bring back with them sentiments 
 quite different from those with which they had set out. This is 
 now beginning to take place, and will increase every day. Those 
 people will say, ' We have been deceived. On the continent we 
 have heard none of those horrid stories. On the contrary ; 
 wherever there was a fine road, or a noble bridge, and we asked, 
 Who made this ? the answer has been, Napoleon, or Bonaparte.' 
 They will naturally say. At least this man encouraged the arts
 
 1817 — MAECH. 259 
 
 and the sciences during his leign, and endeavored to facilitate 
 aud to increase the commerce of the countries under him." 
 
 "Lord Castlereagh," continued he, "has been guilty of a base 
 libel by having declared that I had said since I came here, that 
 ' in peace, or in war, I aimed at the destruction of England.' It 
 is wholly false, and I shall make it a subject of complaint to his 
 master, the Prince Regent, and expose to him the unworthy con- 
 duct of his minister; conduct degrading to the character of a 
 man. It is always dishonorable and base to publicly insult and 
 belie the unfortunate ; especially when in your power, and at 
 such a distance as to preclude the possibility of a reply." 
 
 He then made some observations respecting Talleyrand. " As 
 to Talleyrand," said he, " O'est un coquin, uii homme corrompu, 
 mais homme d^esprit, (he is a villain, a corrupt man, but a man 
 of genius.) A man who seeks every opportunity to betray. 
 After the marriage of Prince Eugene, I was obliged to turn him 
 out of office, on account of complaints made against him by the 
 kings of Bavaria and Wirtemberg. Nothing was to be got, no 
 treaty to be made, or arrangement for commerce, without first 
 having bribed him. There was some comcnercial treaties on 
 foot at the time, to conclude which, he demanded enormous sums. 
 The Bourbons have done right to get rid of him, as he would 
 have betrayed them the first opportunity, if he saw that there 
 was any probability of success, as he had offered to do after my 
 return from Elba. 
 
 " Your ministers," said he, " reason thus for sending me to St. 
 Helena: This Bonaparte is a man of talent, and has always 
 been an enemy to England. The Bourbons are a set of imbeciles, 
 and it is better for the English to have imbeciles on the throne of 
 France, than persons of talent. For the former will not have 
 the ability, though they may have the inclination to do as much 
 mischief to England as the latter. We must do every thing we 
 can to keep down the French, who are our natural enemies ; and 
 the best mode of effi^cting it, is to place a set of fools upon the 
 throne, who will occupy themselves in restoring the old supersti- 
 tion, ignorance, and prejudices of the nation, and consequently 
 weaken, instead of strengthening it. They would have done
 
 2rt(.) A VOU'K FKt»M SI'. IlKLKNA. 
 
 ln'ttiM," rciiitiiukil ho, "'J'u have lift iiu- U|k)Ii tlic throne. 1 
 would liavt' yiveii I ho English grout cotiinionial ailvautagos, which 
 the liourluius dure not oiler. Besides, it wmild have kojtt up the 
 importance of the English on the continent. For the other 
 powers being afraid of me, would have made sacrifices to keep 
 t>n good terms with them, in order to have them on their side, 
 well knowing that without their aid, they could do nothing against 
 me; whereas now, as they are not afraid of the Bourbons, they 
 will sol but little value upon the friendship of a })ower that they 
 are jealous of, and want to humble. Moreover, your ministers 
 could always have held me up in terroioa to the people of Eng- 
 land, whenever they wanted to command the exertions of the 
 nation." 
 
 " I see," added Napoleon, " no feasible measure to remedy 
 the distress of your manufacturers, except endeavoring by all 
 means in your power, to promote the separation of the Spanish 
 S'-uth American colonies from the mother-country. By means 
 of this, you would have an opportunity of opening a most exten- 
 sive and lucrative commerce with the South Americans, which 
 would be productive of great advantages to you. If you do not 
 adopt some steps of the kind, the Americans will be beforehand 
 with you. If you act as I have said, they could trade with no 
 other nation than you. Both Spain and France must be shut to 
 them." 
 
 "If the war with England had lasted two or three years 
 longer," added he, " France would not have had any further 
 occasion for colonies. In consequence of the great encoiirage- 
 iiiCDt I gave, and the premiums I paid to those who devotea 
 I heir chemical labors to the making of sugar, especially from the 
 beet-root, it was sold so low as fifteen sous a pound, and when 
 the process should have been a little more matured, sugar would 
 have been made in France, as cheap as it could have been im- 
 ported from the West Indies." 
 
 I remarked, that the French could with difficulty have done 
 without coffee. " They could very well have contented them- 
 selves with several kinds of hcrl)S, as tea," replied the emperor 
 " Moreover, it would have been possible to have grown coffee in
 
 1817— MARCH. 261 
 
 some of the southern parts of France, and an inferior kind of 
 coffee of grain might have been substituted." 
 
 A few moments afterwards, Napoleon observed, that it was 
 true, as had been stated in the papers, that the Belgians were 
 sorry that the English had gained the battle of Waterloo. 
 " They considered themselves as Frenchmen," said he, " And in 
 truth they were such. The greatest part of the nation loved me, 
 and wished that I might succeed. The stories that your minis- 
 ters have taken such pains to circulate, respecting the nations 
 that 1 had united to France having hated me and detested my 
 tyranny, are all falsehoods. The Italians, Piedmontese, Belgians, 
 and others, are an example of what I say. You will receive 
 hereafter the opinions of those English who have visited the con- 
 tinent. You will find that what I tell you is coi'rect, and that 
 millions in Europe now ioeep for me. The Piedmontese pre- 
 ferred being as a province of France, to being an independent 
 kingdom under the King of Sardinia." 
 
 Count Bertrand's cook went to camp and got so drunk as to 
 be totally incapable of cooking the dinner for the family. Napo- 
 leon, when informed of this at dinner, sent some dishes off the 
 table down to Countess Bertrand, with his compliments. 
 
 Wth. — The Griffon sloop of war arrived from the Cape with a 
 mail, in which were some letters for the French. Count Ber- 
 trand received the pleasing intelligence that his brother was no 
 longer an exile, but had been permitted to return to his home, 
 and to remain there under surveillance, (being watched.) 
 
 Informed by one of the partners, that last week an official 
 letter had been sent to the house of Balcombe and Co., to de- 
 mand an explanation why /o?<r/feeyi shillings more than the sum 
 that had been allowed by government, had been expended for 
 fish for the establishment of Longwood, in the preceding fortnight. 
 Also, a demand to know why two shillings and sixpence more 
 than the allowance, had been expended for wine. Moreover, 
 that forty pounds of barley had been sent up to Longwood by 
 order of the surgeon, for the use of Countess Bertrand, a repeii 
 tion of which in future was prohibited, unless the order was first 
 approved of at Plantation House.
 
 262 A VOICK FKOM ST. HELENA. 
 
 Last Siinday, Mr. Bulcoinlio iind myself hud a coiiversaUon 
 with Sir Hudson Lowe, in the Library at Phmtation House, rel- 
 ative to the alVairs of Loii{^wood. Mr. Balconibe presented two 
 sets of bills drawn by Cuinit IJertrand for his approval. His ex- 
 cellency professed himself tn be greatly surprised at the large 
 sums of money laid out by the French, and said that twelve 
 thousand a year ought to cover all expenses. He was informed 
 l>y Mr. Balcombe and myself, that it was chiefly expended in 
 the purchase of provisions and other necessaries of life, as the 
 allowance granted by government was not sufficient. Amongst 
 many other articles, 1 mentioned that only seventy-two pounds 
 of beef was allowed. Sir Hudson said, that he would increase 
 the quantity to one hundred, and would confer with Count Ber- 
 trand on the subject. He was apparently in a very bad humor, 
 and railed at what he termed the imjnidence of Las Cases, on 
 having presumed to send from the Cape to Longwood, some 
 wine, Florence oil, and other articles of a similar nature, for the 
 use of the French, which he said was an insult to the British 
 government, and concluded by refusing to approve of more than 
 ine set of bills.* 
 
 12/A. — Saw the emperor at eleven, A. M., in a very good 
 humor. He made some remarks again about the disturbances in 
 England. Observed, that he thought the Prince Regent must 
 adopt some measures in order to pacify the people, such as re- 
 ducing the taxes. " It is impossible," said he, " that a nation in 
 cold blood will consent to pay in time of peace, taxes nearly 
 equal to the amount of those paid by them in war, when there is 
 no longer that stimulus, that irritation of mind which made them 
 consider such drainings of their purses absolutely necessary to 
 prevent their country from being devoured by a foreign nation. 
 '• England," contmued he, "is in an unnatural state, and some 
 change must take place." 
 
 T said, that though great distress existed in England, the dis 
 turbances were confined to the lower classes, and that it would 
 
 • 8ir Hudiwn Lowe would not allow any bill of exchange drawn by any 
 of the Inbabitante of Longwood to be cashed, unless it had been previously a^ 
 prov«d of, and indorsed by himself.
 
 1817 — MARCH. 263 
 
 end by a few of them being hanged. Napoleon replied, "It may 
 be so, Mr. Doctor, but you must consider that the canaille, as 
 you call them, are the bulk of the people. They, and not the 
 nobles, form the nation. When the canaille gains the day, it 
 ceases to be any longer canaille. It is then called the nation. 
 If it does not, why then some are executed, and they are called 
 canaille, rebels, robbers, &c. Thus goes the world." 
 
 I then asked Napoleon if it were true that he had once been in 
 danger of being taken by the Cossacs, as had been stated ? " At 
 the battle of Brienne," replied he, " I recollect, that about twenty 
 or twenty -five Uhlans, not Cossacs, got round one of the wings 
 of my army, and endeavored to fall upon a part of the artillery. 
 It was at the close of the day, and just commencing to be dark. 
 They stumbled somehow or another upon me, and my etat-major. 
 When they saw us, they were quite lost, and did not know how 
 to act. They did not know, however, who I was, neither was I 
 myself for some time aware of what they were. I thought they 
 were some of my own troops. Caulaincourt, however, perceived 
 who they were, and called out to me, that we were amongst 
 enemies. Just at this moment, those Uhlans being frightened, 
 and not knowing what to do, began to fly, and tried to escape in 
 all directions. My staff began to fire upon them. One of them 
 galloped up so close to me (without knowing me) as to touch my 
 knee violently with his hand. He had a spear in his hand at the 
 charge, but it was with the opposite hand that he touched me. 
 At first, I thought it was one of my own staff who was riding 
 roughly by me, but looking round, I perceived that he was an 
 enemy. I put my hand down to draw out one of my pistols to 
 fire at him, but he was gone. Whether he was killed or escaped 
 I know not. That day, I drew my sword, which was a circum- 
 stance that rarely had occurred, as I gained battles with my eye 
 and not with my arms. Those Uhlans weic afterwards, I believe, 
 cut to pieces." I asked if he had considered himself to have 
 been in any great peril on that day 1 " No," said he, " it was 
 an accident. My cavalry was in another part of the field at the 
 time. It was possible, certainly, that I might have been killed
 
 264 A VOICE IKOM ST. 11K1,ENA. 
 
 I>ut thoy were more intent upon running nway llieinselves, than 
 upon killing any of us,"* 
 
 1 asiiod, if during the retreat from Moscow, lie hud over been 
 in danger of being taken by the Cossacs. " Never," replied 
 Napoleon, "I had always with me a guard suffieient to repel any 
 iltaek, and not even to admit of any apprehension as to the 
 result in CAse one were made." 
 
 \otfi. — Napoleon in his bath. In very good spirits. After 
 some conversation on the subject of what had been lately publish- 
 ed respecting him, " I suppose," said he, " that when you go to 
 England, you will publish your book. You certainly have a 
 better right to publish about me than Warden, and you can say, 
 that you have heard me say many things, and have had long con- 
 versations with me. You would gain a great deal of money, and 
 every body would believe you. Truly, no French physician has 
 ever been so much about me as you have been. I saw them only 
 for a few minutes. The world is anxious to know every little 
 circumstance of a man that has happened to make any figure in 
 it, such as all the little trifles about how he eats, drinks, sleeps, 
 his general habits, and manners. People are more anxious to 
 learn those sottises than to know what good or bad qualities he 
 may possess. Pour moi, il suffit de dire la verite" (for me, it 
 suffices to tell the truth.) 
 
 * It has been said, that on the same night when the French had in their turn 
 Btonned the village of Brieniie, Bliic-her and his statf fell in with a party of 
 their cavalry, and were prevented from having been taken by two Cossacs who 
 bad seen them, and who stopped Blueher at the foot of a flight of stairs, when 
 >n the point of going out, who otherwise would have been killed or made pri- 
 soner. That they had drawn their swords, and were prepared to fall upon the 
 French, but after having made a reconnaissance, they were found to be so uu 
 merous, us not to admit of a probability of success. This, if true, forms 
 Mngolar coincidence with what I have related above ; but as I had it from Sir 
 Hudson Lowe, I cannot, of course, be responsible for the correctness of the 
 statement. Sir Hudson Lowe also informed me of wliat, according to his idc:i», 
 was a praise-worthy specimen of the utter contempt in wliicli Blueher held the 
 French nation, in the following terms: " At the time when Blueher made his 
 first hoiUile entrance into France, the mayor of the town he occupied waited 
 apon him to offer his services to procure whatever he might want, as is cus- 
 tomary under similar circumstances. When the Prussian general had heard hin 
 boainess, his reply was, " Bring me a wench !"
 
 1817 — MARCH. 265 
 
 Walked out about five, and paid a visit to Countess Montholon. 
 Napoleon remained a few minutes looking at Captain Poppleton, 
 who was busily employed in digging some potatoes out of a little 
 garden that we had endeavored to cultivate in front of the house. 
 
 I4(h. — Napoleon in very good humor. Told hi?Ti that a letter 
 had appeared in the French papers, which was attributed to Mar- 
 quis Montchenu, stating that upon his arrival, he (Napoleon) had 
 given him an invitation to dine, to which he had replied, that he 
 had been sent to St. Helena to guard, and not to dine with him. 
 " Ces messieurs sont toiijonrs les memes^'' (these gentlemen are 
 always the same,) replied the emperor, "it is very likely that he 
 has been hUe enough to write it. Those old French noblesse are 
 capable of any betise, (folly.) He is worthy of being one of the 
 f/rande naissance* (high born) of France, 
 
 Mentioned to him that in one of the papers it had been stated, 
 that Sir George Cockburn had gone to Paris, impressed with a 
 poor opinion of his (Napoleon's) abilities, and had said that on 
 the score of talent, he was an ordinary character, and by no 
 means to be feared. Napoleon replied, " Probably and with 
 reason he does not suppose me to be a God, or to be endowed 
 with supernatural talents; but I will venture to say that he gives 
 me credit for possessing some. If he has really expressed the 
 opinion attributed to him, it pays a poor compliment to the dis- 
 cernment of the greatest part of the world." 
 
 He then desired me to get him the paper which contained the 
 report of Sir George Cockburn's opinion, adding that he was now 
 so much accustomed to read libels, that he cared but little what 
 was said, or what calumnies were published about him. 
 
 "The people of England with difficulty will believe," added 
 he, " that I not only read those libels without anger, but even 
 laugh at them. From the violence of temper which has been 
 attributed to me, T suppose they think I must be worked up by 
 rage to fits madness. They are mistaken ; they only excite my 
 laughter. La verite sevle blesse,'^ (truth alone wounds.) 
 
 * The contemptuous manner in which tlio marquis orencrally uxprcssed him- 
 eelf of any person who was not able to count some hundred years of nobihty m 
 his fiimitv, was notorious in St. Helena. 
 
 12
 
 26rt A VOU'K V\iO\\ ST HKl-KNA. 
 
 I a^ki'ii liiin alxnit tlu' atl'aii ut' ralin, ami said, 1 had been 
 infoitnod that ho had givoii ii satisfactory expluiiatioii of every 
 sanguinary act that he had been accused of having cmiuiiitteil, 
 except that. Napoleon replied, "I never have been askt'd aii\ 
 explanation about it. All that I recollect is, that Palm was 
 arrested by order of Davoust, I believe, tried, condemned, and 
 shot, for having, \vhi!(> the country was in possession of the 
 French, and under military occupation, not only excitt'd rebellion 
 amongst the inhabitants and urged tliem to rise and massacre the 
 soldiers, but also attempted to instigate the soldiers themselves 
 to refuse o))edience to their orders, and to mutiny against their 
 generals. I believe that he met with a fair trial. " I should 
 like," continued he, "to read the principal libels which have been 
 published against me in England, if I could get them in French. 
 There is Peltier," added he, laughing, " who proves that 1 was 
 mi/se!f the contriver of the infernal machine." 
 
 Major ITodson paid a visit to Countess Bertrand. Informed 
 her that both himself and his wife would be most happy to call 
 frequently upon her; but that insinuations had been made to him 
 that it would not be liked at Plantation House. 
 
 15/^. — Sir Hudson Lowe gave directions to Captain Poppletor. 
 that General Bonaparte, or any of his suite might go unaccompa- 
 nied along the road to Woody Range, and to Miss Mason's; but 
 that they were not permitted to quit the path, and that they 
 niight re-enter Longwood at the bottom of the wood. That the 
 two sentinels at the end of the wood were still to remain. He 
 then asked what were the orders of those sentinels 1 Captain 
 Poppleton replied, "To let no person in or out of Longwood." 
 Sir Hudson desired that those orders should siiU be continued in 
 force, adding, that he did not think that the path by which the 
 French were to be permitted to enter was near enough to the 
 sentinels, to allow them to interfere with them. He desired also 
 that the sentinels should be posted a little before sunset. 
 
 Cipriani in town, making the usual purchases of provisions. 
 
 16//i. — Saw the emperor in the drawing-room. He was in 
 extremely good spirits, laughed repeatedly, joked with me on a 
 'upposed attachment to a fair dams?l, and endeavored to speak
 
 1817 — MARCH. 267 
 
 some English. Said that he had seen Lady Bingham the day 
 before, but that she could not speak French ; that she " looked 
 good tempered." 
 
 " Bertrand," said Napoleon, " has told me that the governor 
 has at last sent up his answers. They are full of imbecility. 1 
 have not read them myself, but from what Bertrand tells me, 
 they are a very poor production, and would make one pity the 
 writer, who covers over so many pages without arriving at any 
 conclusion. He asserts that he never has signed a pass for one 
 day only, when the fact is, that numbers of persons have shown 
 the passes signed by him to Bertrand, and pointed out to him 
 that the day was specifically marked, and consequently begged 
 of him to interest himself to induce me to see them on that 
 day, as they could not enter Longwood upon any other. Si fa 
 pieta di lui."* 
 
 Napoleon then spoke at length about Talleyrand. "The tri- 
 umph of Talleyrand," said he, "is the triumph of immorality. 
 A priest united to another man's wife, and who has paid her hus- 
 band a large sum of money to leave her with him. A man who 
 has sold every thing, betrayed every body, and every side. 1 
 forbade Madame Talleyrand the court, first, because she was a 
 disreputable character, and because I found out that some Genoese 
 merchants had paid her four hundred thousand francs, in order to 
 gain some commercial favors by means of her husband. She 
 was a very fine woman, English or East Indian, but sotie (foolish) 
 and grossly ignorant. I sometimes asked Denon, whose works 
 I suppose you have read, to breakfast with me, as I tonk a plea- 
 sure in his conversation, and conversed very freely with him. 
 Now all the intriguers and speculators paid their court to Denon, 
 with a view of inducing him to mention their projects or them- 
 selves in the course of his conversations with me, thinking that 
 even being mentioned by such a man as Denon, for whom I had 
 a great esteem, might materially serve them. Talley ; ;iiid, who 
 was a great speculator, invited Denon to dinner. When he went 
 home to his wife, he said, 'My dear, I have invited Denon to 
 dine. He is a great traveller, and you must say something 
 * Meaning;, tluit it innUfts ^nc pity him.
 
 268 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 haiidsoino to him ;>lt(>iit his travels, as he may l)e usi'fiil to ub 
 with thi> rmporor.' His wife being extremely ignorant, and 
 |>n>littl)Iy never having read any other book of travels than that 
 (•f Kobinson Crusoe, coneluded that Denon could be nobody else 
 than Kobinson. Wishing t<i be very civil to him, she, l)efore a 
 large company, asked him divers questions jil)Out his man Friday ! 
 Denon, astonished, did not know what to think at first, but at 
 ength discovered by her questions that she really imagined him 
 to be Robinson Crusoe. His astonishment and that of the com- 
 pany cannot be described, nor the peals of laughter which it 
 excited in Paris, as the story flew like wildfire through the city, 
 and even Talleyrand himself was ashamed of it. 
 
 "The doctor has said," continued he, "that I turned Mahome- 
 tan in Egypt. Now it is not the case. I never followed any of 
 the tenets of that religion. I never prayed in the mosques. 1 
 never abstained from wine, or was circumcised ; neither did I 
 ever profess it. I said merely that we were the friends of the 
 Mussulmcn, and that I respected Mahomet their prophet, which 
 was true : I respect him now. I wanted to make the Imans cause 
 prayers to be ofTered up in the mosques for me, in order to make 
 the people respect me still more than they actually did, and ol)ey 
 me more readily. The Imans replied that there was a great ob- 
 stacle, because their prophet in the Koran had inculcated to them 
 that they were not to obey, respect, or hold faith with infidels, 
 and that I came under that denomination. 1 then desired them 
 to hold a consultation, and see what was necessary to be done in 
 order to become a Mussulman, as some of their tenets could not 
 be practiced by us. That as to circumcision, God had made us 
 unfit for that. That with respect to drinking wine, we were pour 
 cold people, inhabitants of the north, who could not exist with 
 out it. Therefore that we could neither circumcise nor abstain 
 from wine. They consulted together accordingly, and in about 
 three weeks issued a Fetham, declaring that circumcision might 
 be omitted, because it was merely a profession ; that as to drink- 
 ing wine, it might be drunk by Mussulmen, but that those who 
 drank it would not go to paradise, but to hell. I replied that 
 this would not do; that wr had no occasion to make ourselve^i
 
 1817 — MARCH. 269 
 
 Mussulmen, in order to go to hell, that there were many ways of 
 getting thei-e without coming to Egypt, and desired them to hold 
 another consultation. Well, after deliberating and battling to- 
 gether for I believe three months, they finally decided that a man 
 might become a Mussulman, and neither circumcise, nor abstain 
 from wine ; but that in proportion to the wine drunk, some good 
 works must be done, I then told them that we were all Mussul- 
 men and friends of the prophet, which they readily believed, as 
 the French soldiers never went to church, and had no priest with 
 them. For you must know that during the revolution, there was 
 no religion whatever in the French army. Menou," continued 
 Napoleon, " really turned Mahometan, which was the reason that 
 I left him behind." 
 
 He then spoke about some of the plans that he had had in con- 
 templation for making canals of communication in Egypt. " I 
 intended," said he, " to have made two, one from the Eed Sea 
 to the Nile at Cairo, and the other to the Mediterranean. 1 had 
 the Red Sea surveyed, and found that the waters of it were 
 thirty feet higher than the Mediterranean when the waters were 
 highest, but only twenty-four at the lowest. My plan was to 
 have prevented any water from flowing into the canal unless at 
 low water, and this in the course of a distance of thirty leagues 
 in its passage to the Mediterranean would have been of little 
 consequence. Besides, I would have had some sluices made. 
 The Nile was seven feet lower than the Red Sea, when at its 
 lowest, but fourteen feet higher (I think he said) during the in- 
 undation. The expense was calculated at eighteen millions of 
 francs, and two years labor. It is only," continued he, " the 
 ignorance and barbarity of the Turks which prevents your India 
 trade from being ruined. If any European nation had possession 
 of Egypt, it would speedily be effected, and one day or another 
 Egypt will destroy the East India Company. If K]el)er had 
 lived you would never have conquered it. He would have had 
 the army down from Cairo in nine days, and would have over- 
 whelmed you. If I had been there myself, I would have brought 
 tihe troops down in seven days, and have been on the coast before
 
 270 A VOTCK KHOM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 you had disoinl>:irked. I liad done su ln-foii', wlu-n the TuikR 
 landed witli Sydiioy Smith." 
 
 I asked it' lir had not saved Menou's life, after the IJJth of 
 Vondeniiaire? He replied, " I certainly was the means of saving 
 his life. The Convention ordered him to be tried, and he would 
 have been guillotined; I was then commander-in-ehief of Paris. 
 Thinking it very unjust that Menoii only should suil'er, while 
 three continisnairis of the Convention, under whose orders he 
 acted, were left untried and iiii|>uiiished ; hut not venturing to 
 say ojteidy that he ought to l)e acquitted, (for," continued he, 
 '•in those terrible times, a man who told the truth, lost his head,) 
 1 had recourse to a stratagem. I invited the members, who were 
 trying him, to breakfast, and turned the conversation upon 
 Menou. I said, that he had acted very wrong, and deserved to 
 be condemned to death ; but that first, the commissioners of the 
 Convention must be tried and condemned, as he had acted by 
 their orders, and all must suffer. This had the desired effect. 
 The members of the court said, * We will not allow those civi- 
 lians to bathe themselves in our blood, while they allow their 
 own commissioners, who are more culpable, to escape with im- 
 punity.' Menou was immediately declared innocent." I then 
 asked how many men he supposed had lost their lives in the 
 business of the 13th Vendemiare ? He replied, " Very few, con- 
 sidering the circumstances. Of the people, there were about 
 seventy or eighty killed, and between three and four hundred 
 wounded ; of the conventionalists, about thirty killed, and two 
 hundred and fifty wounded. The reason there was so few killed, 
 was, that after the first two discharges, I made the troops load 
 nith powder only, which had the eflect of frightening the Pari- 
 sians, and answered as well as killing them would have done. 
 T made the troops, at first, fire ball, because to a rabble, who ara 
 ignorant of the effect of fire-arms, it is the worst possible policy 
 to fire powder only in the beginning. For the populace after the 
 first discharge, hearing a great noise, are a little frightened, but 
 looking around them, and seeing nobody killed or wounded, 
 pluck up their spirits, begin immediately to despise you, become 
 doubly outrageous, and rush on without fear, and it is necessary
 
 18T7— MARCH. ^71 
 
 to kill ten times the number that would have been done, had 
 ball been used at first. For, with a rabble, every thing depends 
 upon the first impressions made upon them. If they receive a 
 discharge of fire-arms, and perceive the killed and wounded 
 falling amongst them, a panic seizes them, they take to their 
 heels instantly, and vanish in a moment. Therefore, when it is 
 necessary to fire at all, it ought to be done with ball first. It is 
 a mistaken piece of humanity, to use powder only at that moment, 
 and instead of saving the lives of men, ultimately causes an un- 
 recessary waste of human blood." 
 
 \lth. — Napoleon walked round the house for a short time. 
 
 A letter written by Captain Poppleton to Sir Hudson Lowe, 
 informing his excellency that the horses of the establishment had 
 been three days without receiving any hay, and that fur a length 
 of time they had had no litter. Also, that the stuff sent as hay, 
 was grass recently cut, with occasionally a large portion of cow- 
 grass* mixed with it. That upon allowing fifty pound of the 
 said mis-called hay to dry for two days, it only weighed, with the 
 rope which bound it, twenty pounds, according to a very accurate 
 trial made by himself That, in consequence, he had directed 
 the grooms to go and cut some grass if they could find any, as 
 the horses were starving. 
 
 \Qth. — Napoleon in very good humor. Joked with me for 
 some time about St. Patrick, and endeavored to speak some 
 English, in which he succeeded better than I have ever observed 
 before. I said, that I had remarked in some of the French 
 bulletins, divers of his expressions. That from having had the 
 honor of being accustomed to speak to him, I had recognized 
 some of them, and took the liberty of asking him if he had not 
 occasionally written them? He replied, "Where have you seen 
 them f I answered, at the governor's, and that I had particu- 
 larly remarked his forcible expressions in the bulletin, announc- 
 ing the burning of Moscow. He laughed, gave me a gentle pull 
 by the ear, and said, " You are right. Some of them are mine." 
 
 Napoleon then observed, "Your ministers will not be able to 
 impose always upon the nation. Because they are afraid of me, 
 * A specien of inferior coarse gnuis, wliieli liorHCs will not eat.
 
 272 A VOICE FROM ST. HKl.ENA. 
 
 and think thut I luivi" somo talent, uiid because I have been 
 always at war with them, ami that I have made France <;ieater 
 than ever she was \>efore, they thinit that I might do si» again, 
 and as any thing for the advantage of France would be disad- 
 vantageous to them, they endeavor by all means to prevent it, 
 l)y putting a set of imhiciles on the throne, undir whom France 
 must nt>cessarily decay. In order to find an excuse for sending 
 me here, and to give a color to their proceedings, they seek all 
 means of blackening my character. Mark me, the English them- 
 selves will be the first to justify me, and to vindicate my char- 
 acter from the calumnies which their ministers have thrown upon 
 it. Posterity will revenge me. Recollect my words, and recol- 
 lect that this is not the first time that I have told you so." 
 
 " I am told," added he, " that there is twenty thousand pounds 
 worth of iron railing sent out. It is money thrown into the sea. 
 Before this railing can be fixed up here, I shall be under ground, 
 for I am sure that I shall not hold out more than two years under 
 the treatment which I experience." 
 
 " If," continued Napoleon, " my greatest enemies knew the way 
 in which I am treated, they would compassionate me. Millions 
 in Europe will weep for my lot when it is known, and known it 
 will be, in spite of the endeavors of this governor to envelop 
 every thing in secrecy and mystery. He shows how little he 
 knows of England by thinking to effect this. A man who has 
 always been accustomed to be amongst a set of low vagabond 
 deserters and brigands, where his word was a law. On a band 
 of poor ignorant wretches like those, who trembled at the sight 
 of him, and whom he could threaten to send back to their own 
 country to be shot, he might impose secrecy. Like a man put- 
 ting his hat over a candle, he could then conceal the light, but 
 now his endeavors resemble those of one who would attempt to 
 obscure and hide the light of the sun hy holding his hat before it. 
 lie has nothing English about him, either within or without. He 
 badly serves his government, who are desirous that as little as 
 possible should he. said about me, but he takes the most certain 
 method of effecting the contrary.'' 
 
 Sir Hudson Lowe vov\ busy inspecting the ditches and othei
 
 1817 — MARCH. 273 
 
 works he had ordered to be thrown up about Longwood House 
 and the stables. 
 
 19^/i. — Saw Napoleon in his bath. He was reading a little 
 book, which I perceived to be a French New Testament. 1 could 
 not help observing to him, that many people would not believe 
 that he would read such a book, as it had been asserted and 
 credited by some that he was an unbeliever. Napoleon laughed, 
 and replied, '"'■ Cependant ce n''est pas vrai. Je suis loin iVetre 
 Athee. — (Nevertheless, it is not true. I am f;ir from being an 
 Atheist.) In spite of all the iniquities and frauds of the teachers 
 of religion, who are eternally preaching up that their kingdom is 
 not of this world, and yet seize every thing which they can lay 
 their hands upon, from the time that I arrived at the head of the 
 government, I did everything in my power to re-establish reli- 
 gion. But I wished to render it the foundation and prop of mo- 
 rality and good principles, and not a prendre Vessor (to soar 
 above) the human laws. Man has need of something wonderful. 
 It is better for him to seek it in religion than in Mile, le Nor- 
 mand.* Moreover, religion is a great consolation and resource 
 to those who possess it, and no man can pronounce what he will 
 do in his last moments." 
 
 Napoleon then made some remarks upon the conduct of the 
 governor, whom he declared to be a man totally unfit for his 
 situation. " If he were," said he, " he might make it pleasant 
 and interesting. He might spend much of his time with me, and 
 get great information with respect to past occurrences, with 
 which no other person could be so well acquainted, or so satis- 
 factorily account for. You see what I am, dottore (doctor). 
 Even unknown to myself, he would imperceptibly have opportu- 
 nities of getting information from me, which would be very de- 
 sirable to your ministers, and which I am certain they have 
 ordered him to obtain, and that he burns to know. If I had 
 really any intention of effecting my escape from this place, instead 
 of disagreeing with him, I would caress and flatter him, endeavor 
 to be on the best terms, go to Plantation House, call on his wife, 
 and try to make him believe that I was contented, and thereby 
 
 * A celebrated fortune-teller at Paris, consulted by emperors and kiu^^ 
 12*
 
 274 A VOICK KUOM ST. llEIiENA. 
 
 lull his suspicions asleep. In fact, tliis governor, e tin imhecili 
 the ta scriverc (he is an imbecile who knt)ws how to write). 
 Every por.^on, however imbecile, has some kind of talent: one 
 for music, another for drawing, another for some mechanical art, 
 and this imliccile ft)rwriting [per lu acriverc.'^) 
 
 I saitl, tliat 1 could not deny that Sir Hudson Lowe was hasty, 
 and allowed the fear of his (Napoleon's) making his escape to 
 get the better of his understanding, but that he was not devoid 
 of talent. That he had said, his situation was one of great deli- 
 cacy, his responsibility great, and his orders rigid. That he had 
 desired me to say, that Las Cases had confessed that the French 
 about his person had made him see every thing par uii voile de 
 sang* (in a hideous light). "Zes betes ineme oat leiir talents'''' 
 (even the beasts have their talents), replied the emperor. " As 
 to his saying that I was made to see every thing a travers (Tun 
 voile de sang, ma foi, partout ok Von voit le bourreau, on voit le 
 sarig (through a veil of blood ; surely wherever we see an execu- 
 tioner we see blood). Las Cases certainly was greatly irritated 
 against him, and contributed materially towards forming the 
 impression existing upon my mind, because Las Cases is a man 
 of a feeling mind, and extremely sensible to the ill treatmenL 
 which has been put in practice towards me and himself. But 1 
 had no occasion for the assistance of Las Cases towards giving 
 me that opinion, as the treatment I experienced was fully suffi- 
 cient in itself to create it, and Montholon has merely written 
 according to my orders." 
 
 20//'. — Saw Napoleon in his bed-room in his morning-gown, 
 lie spoke at length about some statements in Warden's book. 
 •' At one time I had appointed Talleyrand," said he, " to proceed 
 on a mission to Warsaw, in order to arrange and organize the 
 best method of accomplishing the separation of Poland from 
 Russia. He had several conferences with me respecting this 
 mission, which was a great surprise to the ministers, as Talley- 
 rand had no official character at the time. Having married one 
 of his relations to the Duchess of Courland, Talleyrand was very 
 anxious to receive the appointment, in order to revive the claims 
 
 * Literally, throujrh a veil of blood.
 
 1S\1 — MARCH. 276 
 
 of the Duchess' family. However, some money transactions of 
 his were discovered at Vienna, which convinced me that he was 
 carrying on his old game of corruption, and determined me not 
 to employ him on the intended mission, I had designed at one 
 lime to have made him a cardinal, with which he refused to com- 
 ply. Madame Grant threw herself twice upon her knees before 
 me, in order to obtain permission to marry him, which I refused ; 
 but through the entreaties of Josephine, she succeeded on the 
 second application. 1 afterwards forbade her the court when 1 
 discovered the Genoa affiiir, of which I told you before. Lat- 
 terly," continued he, "Tallepand sunk into contempt." 
 
 " Ney," said he "never made use of haughty language at Fon- 
 tainbleau in my presence ; on the contrary, he was always sub- 
 missive before me, though in my absence he sometimes broke out 
 into violence, as he was a man without education. If he had 
 made use of unbecoming language towards me at Fontaiubleau, 
 the troops would have torn him to pieces." 
 
 " Lavalette," added Napoleon, " knew nothing of my intended 
 return from Elba, or of what was hatching there. Madame La- 
 valette was of the family of Beauharnais. She was a very fine 
 woman. Louis, my brother, fell in love with and wanted to have 
 her ; to prevent which I caused her to espouse Lavalette, to whom 
 she was attached." 
 
 " When Lavalette was director of posts," continued Napoleon, 
 " 1 was desirous to be made acquainted with the sentiments of 
 the nation relative to my administration. 1 appointed twelve 
 persons, all of different ways of thinking, some jacobins, others 
 royalists, some republicans, imperialists, &;c., with a salary of a 
 thousand francs a month, whose business it was to make monthly 
 reports to Lavalette of the opinions which they had heard ex- 
 pressed, and their own, relative to the public acts. These reports 
 were brought to me unopened by Lavalette. After reading, and 
 making extracts when necessary, I burned them. This was con- 
 ducted so secretly, that even the ministers did not know of it." 
 
 Napoleon added that he had never told Ney that he had en- 
 tered France with the privity and support of England ; that on 
 the contrary he had always disclaimed and reprobated the idea
 
 276 A VOICE Ki:OM st. hei.kni. 
 
 of returning by tho aid of fori'lgii bayonets, and had come pur- 
 posely to overturn a dynast} upheld by them. That all he looked 
 for was the support of the French nation, to which all his pro- 
 clamations wmild bear witness. lie afterwards delivered the 
 following history of Pichegru's conspiracy : 
 
 " The doctor has given a very imperfect account of the part 
 taken l-y Captain Wright in the conspiracy against me. hi dif 
 ferent nights of August, September, and December, 1803, and 
 January, 1804, Wright landed Georges, Pichegru, Riviere, Coster, 
 St. Victor, La Ilaye, St. Ililaire, and others, at Beville. The 
 four last named had been accomplices in the former attempt to 
 assassinate me by means of the infernal machine, and most of 
 the rest were well known to be chiefs of the Chouans. They re 
 mained during the day in a little farm-house near to where they 
 had landed, the proprietor of which had been bribed to assist 
 them. They traveled only by night, pretending to be smugglers, 
 concealing themselves in the day time in lodgings which had 
 been previously procured for them. They had plenty of money, 
 and remained at Paris for some time without being discovered, 
 although the police had some intimation that a plot was going 
 on, through Mehee de la Touche, who, though paid as a spy by 
 your ministers,* disclosed everything to the French police. He 
 had several conferences with Drake, your charge d'affaires at 
 Munich, from whom he received large sums of money. Some 
 of the brigands who had been landed, were arrested and interro- 
 gated. By their answers, it appeared that a man named Mussey, 
 who lived at Offembourg, along with the Due d'Enghien, was 
 very active in corresponding with and sending money to those 
 who had been secretly landed on the coast ; and most of whom 
 could give no good reason why they had ventured to return to 
 Paris at the imminent hazard of their lives, as they had not been 
 included in the amnesty. The list of the prisoners and their 
 answers on examination were submitted to me. I was very 
 anxious ; and, on looking over it one night, I remarked that one 
 of the number, named Querel, was stated to be a surgeon. It 
 
 * Napoleon informed me that Mehee had received from Mr. Drake and otb«t 
 official persons nearly 200,000 francp.
 
 1817 — MARCH. 277 
 
 immediately struck me, This man is not actuated by enthusiasm, 
 or by a spirit of party, but by the hope of gain. He will there- 
 fore be more likely to confess than any of the others ; and the 
 fear of death will probably induce him to betray his accomplices. 
 I ordered him to be tried as a Chouan ; and, according to the 
 laws, he was condemned to death. It was not a mock trial, n- 
 Warden thought: on the contrary, while leading "^o execution, 
 he demanded to be heard, and promised to make important dis- 
 closures. Information of this was brought to me by Lauriston, 
 and Querel was conducted back to prison, where he was interro- 
 gated by the grand j'adge Real. He confessed that he had come 
 from England, and had been landed in August, 1803, from 
 Wright's ship, along with Georges and several others. That 
 Georges was then in Paris, planning the assassination of the 
 first consul. He also pointed out the houses where the other 
 conspirators and himself had stopped on their way to Paris. 
 Police officers were immediately sent to the place he had desig- 
 nated ; and from the result of their inquiries, it appeared that he 
 had told the truth, and that since the time he had described, two 
 other landings of similar gentry had been effected by Wright, 
 with the last of whom there had been some person of conse- 
 quence whose name they could not discover, and that they soon 
 expected another cargo. The Duke of Rovigo, as I told you 
 once before, was immediately sent to Beville with a party of the 
 police, in the hope of being able to seize them. An emigrant, 
 named Bouvet de Lozier, who has since been employed at the 
 Isle of France, was also arrested. After he had been confined 
 for some weeks he became desperate and hung himself in tlu' 
 prison one morning. The gaoler, who heard an uncommon noise 
 in his room, went in and cut him down before life had departed. 
 While he was recovering his senses, he burst out into incoherent 
 exclamations, that Moreau had brought Pichegru from London. 
 That he was a traitor, and had persuaded them that all the 
 army were for him, and that he would prove the cause of their 
 destruction. Those expressions excited an alarm. The police 
 knew that a brother of Pichegru's, who had once been a monk, 
 lived in Paris. He was arrested and examined. He avowed
 
 278 A VOICE FKOM ST. 11 ELENA. 
 
 that he had seen his brother a day or two before, and asked if it 
 were a crime. Moreau was immediately arrested, and large 
 rewards were ofTered by the police for the apprehension of 
 Georges and Piehcgru. Pichegru was betrayed by one of his 
 i>ld friends, who eamc to the polico and offered to deliver him 
 into their hands for a hnndred thousand francs paid m the spot. 
 Georges still continued to elude the vigilance of the police. I 
 proclaimed the city of Paris to be in a state of siege, and no 
 person was allowed to quit it unless by day, and through certain 
 barriers, where were stationed people to whom the j)ersons of 
 the conspirators were familiar. About three weeks afterwards, 
 Georges was betrayed and taken, after having shot one of the 
 men who tried to arrest him. All his accomplices were subse- 
 quently taken. Pichegru did not deny having been employed 
 by the Bourbons, and behaved with great audacity. Afterwards, 
 finding his case desperate, he strangled himself in the prison. 
 The rest of the conspirators were publicly tried in the month of 
 May before the tribunal of the department of the Seine, and in 
 the presence of all the foreign ambassadors in Paris. Georges, 
 Polignac, Riviere, Coster, and sixteen or seventeen others, were 
 found guilty of having conspired against the life of the chief ma- 
 gistrate of the French nation, and condemned to death. Georges, 
 Coster, and seven or eight more, were executed. Riviere was 
 pardoned, partly by the prayers of Murat. I pardoned some 
 of the others also. Moreau was condemned to two years im- 
 prisonment, which was commuted into banishment to America. 
 Jules de Polignac, confidant of the Count d'Artois, and many 
 others, were also condemned to imprisonment. 
 
 " It was found out," continued Napoleon, " by the confession 
 of some of the conspirators, that the Due d'Enghien was an ac- 
 complice, and that he was only waiting on the frontiers of 
 France for the news of my assassination, upon receiving which 
 he was to have entered France as the king's lieutenant. Was I 
 to suffer that the Count d'Artois should send a parcel of mis- 
 creants to murder me, and that a prince of his house should hover 
 on the borders of the country I governed in order to profit by 
 my assassination^ According to the laws of nature, I was
 
 1811 — MARCH. 279 
 
 •uthorized to cause him to be assassinated in retaliation for the 
 numerous attempts of the kind that he had before caused to be 
 made against me. I gave orders to have him seized. He was 
 tried and condemned by a law made long before I had any 
 power in France. He was tried by a military commission 
 formed of all the colonels of the regiments then in garrison at 
 Paris. He was accused of having borne arms against the re- 
 public, which he did not deny. When before the tribunal, he 
 behaved with great bravery. When he arrived at Strasburg, he 
 wrote a letter to me, in which he offered to discover every thing 
 if pardon were granted to him, said that his family had lost their 
 claims for a long time, and concluded by offering his services to 
 me. This letter was delivered to Talleyrand, who concealed it 
 until after his execution. Had the Count d'Artois been in his 
 place, he would have suffered the same fate ; and were I now 
 placed under similar circumstances, I would act in a similar 
 manner. As the police," added Napoleon, " did not like to 
 trust to the evidence of Mehee de la Touche alone, they sent 
 Captain Rosey, a man in whose integrity they had every confi- 
 dence, to Drake at Munich, with a letter from Mehee, which pro- 
 cured him an interview, the result of which confirmed Mehee's 
 statement, that he was concerned in a plot to terraser le premier 
 consul, (overthrow the First Consul,) no matter by what means."* 
 
 23rrf. — Napoleon dressed and in the billiard-room. In very 
 good humor. Gave him some libels upon himself. They were 
 all in French, and amongst others was " Memoires secrets,^* 
 " £onaparte 2)cin( ^;o/- iui-meme,''^ (Secret Memoirs — Bonapaite 
 drawn by himself,) which excited his laughter. 
 
 Napolen then asked several questions about the governor. 1 
 said that Sir Hudson had desired me to say, a few days ago, that 
 he had every wish to accommodate, and that he thought that 
 
 * While the Due d'Eiif^liien was on his trial, Maduiiic la Marcschal Bessifire 
 said to Colonel Ordcncr, who had arrested liini, " Are there no possible means 
 to save that malheureux ? Has his guilt been established beyond a doubt?" 
 " Madame," rejilicd Ordcner, " 1 found in his house sacks of jinper sufiiciunt to 
 compromise the lialf of France." The duke was executed in the iJioruiri((, and 
 not by torch-light, as has been represented.
 
 280 A VUlCK FKtiM SI'. JIKLKNA. 
 
 Las Cjisos, Warden, and Mrs. Skilton,* and some otnors, h«d 
 boiMi tho nu>ans of producing nuich ill-blood, and a great deal of 
 misundorstaiuling. Napoleon replied, " S^iuf/antia, (he is de- 
 eoived.) in the first place, it was the badness of his physiogno- 
 nie ; {era sua caitiva facia ;) next, his wanting to force mc to 
 receive the visit of au ollicer twice in the twenty-four hours; 
 then the letter to Bertrand ; his wishing that 1 should send you 
 away, and to give me a surgeon of his own choice; the manner 
 in which he spoke to me aliout the wooden house; his letters 
 full of softness, accompanying the train of vexations which follov- 
 ed ; and his always leaving something doubtful w-hich he could 
 afterwards interpret as best suited his views. In fact, he wanted, 
 by showing that he could render things disagreeable, to compel 
 us to bend, and submissively demand pardon of him, go to Plan- 
 tation House, and be his very humble servants." 
 
 "It appears that Warden has been informed," added Napoleon, 
 "that I applied some lines of Shakspeare to Madame Montholon. 
 You well know that 1 could not then, nor can 1 now, quote Eng- 
 lish verse, nor have I ever intended to convey a reflection on 
 Madame Montholon. On the contrary, I think that she possesses 
 more firmness and caractere (decision) than most of her sex." 
 
 24ih. — Napoleon complained of swellings in his legs, for which 
 I recommended some simple remedies, which he put in practice. 
 
 He afterwards observed that he had been reading all yesterday, 
 the Secret Memoirs of himself, Pichon's work, &c. "These 
 libels," said he, " have done me more good than harm in France, 
 because they irritated the nation both against the writers, and the 
 Bourbons, who paid them, by representing me as a monster, and 
 by the improbable and scandalous falsehoods they contained 
 against me, and the government under me, which were degrading 
 
 * Mrs. Skelton was accused by the jrovernor of having told Napolc<?n one day 
 at dinner, that from exjierience she knew he would not always find Longwood 
 pleasant. Tiiat, at certain times of the year, it was a damp, disagreeable, bleak 
 and unhe;iltliy residence : as a proof of which, she mentioned that she never 
 could succeed in rearinpr poultry there ; while down in the company's frarden, 
 Bitnated in a sheltered valley, about four hundred yards distant, she had no 
 difficulty in bringing them up. Mrs. Skelton and family had resided at Long- 
 ffood a few months in each year for four or five years b«fore Napoleon wrivod
 
 1S17 — MARCH. 2^1 
 
 10 them as a nation. Even Chateaubriand has done me good bj 
 his work. Pichon. the author of the State of France under Bo- 
 laparte, had been consul in America, and was disgraced by me 
 "br having embezzled three millions, part of which he was obliged 
 CO refund, as I was very particular with consuls, and other agents 
 ;.nd always examined their accounts myself. This Pichon, aftei- 
 he had published his libel, was sent by me to London as a spy, 
 after my return from Elba ; at least, he was so far sent by me, 
 that I suffered it, because, though he was ^m coguin, (a villain,) 
 he had some eqjrit, (genius,) and on account of the nature of his 
 writings, would not be suspected. You see what dependence is 
 to be placed upon writers of libels. This man, who in 1814, had 
 written such a libel against me, went in 1815, as a spy for the 
 police of the very person whom he had so grossly libeled." 
 
 25th. — Napoleon in his bath. His legs much better. In xery 
 good spirits. "It appears, Mr. Doctor," said he, "from the 
 books you lent me, that at a very early age I poisoned a girl, 
 that I poisoned others for the mere pleasure of poisoning ; that 1 
 assassinated Desaix, Kleber, the Due of Abrantes, and I know 
 not how many others : that I went to the army of Italy, consist- 
 ing of some thousand galley slaves, who' were extremely happy 
 to see me, as being one of their fraternity. It is surprising what 
 things are believed on both sides, in consequence of not having 
 had communication with each other. In France, if a house was 
 burnt down, the vulgar attributed it to the English. Pitt, Pitt, was 
 the cry directly. Nothing could persuade the French canaille 
 that the conflagration at Lyons had not been effected by the 
 Englis,h. In like manner, you English believed every thing bad 
 of me, which belief was always encouraged by your ministers. 
 Your * * * * also, with the exception of Fox, who was sincerce 
 in his desire for peace, encouraged * * * against me." Here I 
 made some observations in disbelief of the assertion, to which 
 Napoleon replied, " When they furnished ships to land, and mo- 
 ney to support men, whose professed object was to assassinate me, 
 was not that being privy to it?" I said that they had furnished 
 shi[)s and money to assist in accomplishing a revolution, but 
 without having known that assassination formed part of theii
 
 282 A VOICK FlUiM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 plans. "Doctor," replied Napoleon, " you are a child. They 
 knew it well. Fifty or si.xty brigands, the most of them notorious 
 for assassination, could have no other mode of eflecling a revolu- 
 ti(»n. Thev had repnlilished in London, at the same time, a book 
 called " Killing no Murder,^'' which had been originally printed 
 in Cromwell's time; for the purpose of inculcating a belief that, 
 assassinating me was not only not a crime, but that it would be 
 a praiseworthy and meritorious action. Fox indeed was of u 
 contrary opinion. That great man wrote to Talleyrand, and in- 
 formed him that a coquln had come that morning to him with a 
 proposal to assassinate me." 
 
 ""Wiien 1 was at Elba," added Napoleon, "I was visited by ai 
 English nobleman, a Catholic, about thirty years old, and from 
 Northumberland, I believe. He had dined a few weeks before 
 with the Duke de Fleury, with whom he had a conversation rela- 
 tive to the sum of money to be allowed me annually by France, 
 according to the agreement that had been signed by the ministers 
 of the allied powers. The duke laughed at him for supposing 
 for a moment that it would be complied with, and said that they 
 were not such fools. This was one of the reasons which induced 
 me to quit Elba. 1 do not believe that Castlereagh thought 1 
 would have ventured to leave it, as otherwise some frigates would 
 have been stationed about the island. If they had kept a frigate 
 in the harbor, and another outside, it would have been Impossible 
 for me to have gone to France, except alone, which I never would 
 have attempted. If even the king of France had ordered a frigate 
 with a picked crew to cruise off the island, it would have pre- 
 vented me." I asked if he thought that it had been the intention 
 of the allies to have sent him to St. Helena? "Why," replied 
 the emperor, "it was much spoken of. However, Colonel 
 Campljell denied it. They must have sent an army to take me; 
 I could have held out for some months. But there were many 
 violations of the treaty of Fontainbleau by the allies, which 
 authorized and obliged me to take the step I did. Independent 
 of what I have told you, it was stipulated and agreed to, that all 
 the members of my family should be allowed to follow me tc 
 Elba ; but in violation of that, my wife and child were seized,
 
 1817 — MARCH. 28S 
 
 and detained, and never permitted to join a husband and a father. 
 They were also to have had the duchies of Parma, Placentia, and 
 Guastalla, which they were deprived of. By the treaty, Prince 
 Eugene was to have had a principality in Italy, which was never 
 given. My mother and brother were to have received pensions, 
 which were also refused to them. My own private property, and 
 the savings which I had made on the civil list, were to have been 
 preserved for me. Instead of that, they were seized in the hands 
 of Labouillerie the treasurer, contrary to the treaty, and all 
 claims made by me rejected. The private property of my family 
 was to be held sacred ; it was confiscated. The donations 
 assigned to the army on the Mont Napoleon were to be pre- 
 served ; they were suppressed ; nor were the hundi-ed thousand 
 francs, which were to be given as pensions to persons pointed out 
 by me, ever paid. Moreover, assassins were sent to Elba to 
 murder me. Never," continued Napoleon, "have the terms of £ 
 treaty been more evidently violated, and, indeed, openly scoffed 
 at, than those were by the allies, and yet your ministers have the 
 impudence to tell the nation that I was the first violator of the 
 treaty of Fountainbleau." 
 
 I observed that the allies had given as a reason for their con- 
 duct towards him, that he had aimed at universal dominion. 
 " No," replied the emperor, " I certainly wished to render France 
 the most powerful nation in the world, but no further. I did 
 not aim at universal dominion. It was my intention to have 
 made Italy an independent kingdom. There are natural bounds 
 for France, which I did not intend to pass. It was my object to 
 prevent England from being able to go to war with France, 
 without assistance from some of the great continental powers, 
 without which, indeed, she ought never to venture." 
 
 Had some conversation about Ferdinand of Spain. " When 
 Ferdinand was at Valen§ay," said Napoleon, "he always ex- 
 pressed great hatred of the English, and declared, that the first 
 thing he would do, on his return to Spain, would be to re-establish 
 the Inquisition. You English will find one day, that by restor- 
 ing him, you have done yourselves a great national injury. 
 While at ValenQay, he said, that he would prefer remaining ir.
 
 284 A VOICK FROM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 Frwu'c, to ri'tuniiiii; tt> Spain, aiiil wintc several tiiiKv .u me 
 Itegging of 1110 to adopt and give him a Ficiich woman ir. mar 
 riago." 
 
 " 1 olisorvo now," added ho, " that as your ministers and the 
 Bourbonists cniuiot any longer deny that 1 have done some good 
 •o France, they endeavor to turn it, by saying, that wliatevor 
 good I eflected, was done through the persuasions of Josephine. 
 For example, they say that it was Josephine who induced me to 
 recall the emigrants. Now the fact is, that Josephine was the 
 most amiable and the best of women, but she never interfered 
 with puliiics. Their object is to persuade the world that 1 am 
 incapable of a good action. But your English travelers will pro- 
 duce a great change in the opinion of their nation." 
 
 Sir Pulteney and Lady Malcolm, Captains Stanfell and Fest- 
 ing, of the Navy, came up and had an interview with Napoleon. 
 When they came out, Captain * * expressed his astonishment at 
 finding Napoleon so different a person to what he was reported. 
 " Instead of being a rough, impatient, and imperious character," 
 said he, " I found him to be mild, gentle in his manner, and one 
 of the pleasantest men I ever saw. I shall never forget him, nor 
 how different he is from the idea I had been led to form of him." 
 
 Sir Pulteney Malcolm expressed his ardent wish to me, that 
 matters might be accommodated between Napoleon and the 
 governor, adding, that two opportunities of effecting it, would 
 soon present themselves, viz. the arrival of Lord Amherst, and 
 of admiral Plampin ; that he much wished i\\Q.t both should be 
 introduced by Sir Hudson Lowe, and, indeed, thought that Lord 
 Amherst could not be introduced by any other person. 
 
 Najxileon, accompanied by Countesses Bertrand and Mon- 
 tholoii and their husbands, walked down into the wood. On 
 their return, chairs were brought out and placed in front of the 
 billiard-room, where they remained for some time after sun-set. 
 
 20//<. — Napoleon conversed a good deal about the battle of 
 Waterloo. " The plan of the battle," said he, " will not in the 
 eyes of the historian reflect any credit on Lord Wellington as a 
 general. In the first place, he ought not to have given battle with 
 the armies divided. They oii;_'lit to have been united and encamped
 
 1817— MARCH. 28£ 
 
 Oefbre the 15th. In the next, the choice of ground was bad ; 
 because if he had been beaten he could not have retreated, as 
 there was only one road leading to the forest in his rear. He 
 also committed a fault which might have proved the destruction 
 of all his army, without its ever having commenced the cam- 
 paign, or being drawn out in battle ; he allowed himself to be 
 surprised. On the 15th I was at Charleroi, and had beaten the 
 Prussians without his knowing any thing about it. I had gained 
 forty-eight hours of manoeuvres upon him, which was a great 
 object; and if some of my generals had shown that vigor and 
 genius which they had displayed in other times, I should have 
 taken his army in cantonments without ever fighting a battle. 
 But they were discouraged, and fancied that they saw an army 
 of a hundred thousand men every where opposed to them. I had 
 not time enough myself, to attend to the minutice of the army. 
 I reckoned upon surprising and cutting them up in detail. I 
 knew of Bulow's arrival at eleven o'clock ; but I did not regard 
 it. I had still eighty chances out of a hundred in my favor. 
 Notwithstanding the great superiority of force against me, I was 
 convinced that I should obtain the victory. I had about seventy 
 thousand men, of whom fifteen thousand were cavalry. I had 
 also two hundred and fifty pieces of cannon ; but my troops were 
 so good, that I esteemed them sufficient to beat a hundred and 
 twenty thousand. Now Lord Wellington had under his com- 
 mand about ninety thousand, and two hundred and fifty pieces 
 of cannon ; and Bulow had thirty thousand, making a hundred 
 and twenty thousand. Of all those troops, however, I only 
 reckoned the English as being able to cope with my own. Tlu^ 
 others I thought little of I believe that of English there were 
 from thirty-five to forty thousand. These I esteemed to be as 
 brave and as good as my own troops ; the English army was 
 well known latterly on the continent ; and besides, your nation 
 possesses courage and energy. As to the Prussians, Belgians, 
 and others, half the number of my troops were sufficient to beat 
 them. 1 only left thirty-four thousand men to take care of the 
 Prussians. The chief causes of the loss of that battle were, first 
 of all, Grouchy's great tardiness, and neglect in executing hi?
 
 28fi A XOICK FROM ST. IIKI EKA. 
 
 orders, next, tho premnliers a cheval (imimUMl gremidiora) and 
 tlu» cavalry, untU>r (ifiieral Guyot, which I hud in reserve, and 
 whici) were never to leave nie, engaged without orders, and 
 withont my knowledge, so that after the last charge, when the 
 trot>ps were beaten, and the English cavalry advanced, 1 had not 
 a single corps of cavalry in reserve to resist them ; instead of 
 one which I esteemed to be equal to double their own number. 
 In consequence of this, the English attack succeeded, and all was 
 lost. There was no means of rallying. The youngest general 
 would not have committed the fault of leaving an army entirely 
 without reserve, which however occurred here, whether in conse- 
 quence of treason, or not, I cannot say. These were the two 
 principal causes of the loss of the battle of Waterloo." 
 
 "If Lord Wellington had entrenched himself," continued he, 
 "I would not have attacked him. As a general, his plan did not 
 show talent. He certainly displayed great courage and obstina- 
 cy ; but a little must be taken away even from that, when you 
 consider that he had no means of retreat, and that, had he made 
 the attempt, not a man of his army would have escaped. First, 
 to the firmness and bravery of his troops, for the English fought 
 with the greatest obstinacy and courage, he is principally indebt- 
 ed for the victory, and not to his own conduct as a general ; and 
 next, to the arrival of Blucher, to whom the victory is more to 
 be attributed than to Wellington, and more credit due as a gene- 
 ral ; because he, though beaten the day before, assembled his 
 troops, and brought them into action in the evening. I believe, 
 however," continued Napoleon, " that Wellington is a man of 
 great firmness. The glory of such a victory is a great thing; 
 but in the eye of the historian, his military reputation will gain 
 nothing by it." 
 
 Napoleon then spoke about the libels upon himself which I had 
 collected for him, "As yet," said he, "you have n(^t procured 
 me one that is worthy of an answer. Would you have me sit 
 down and reply to Goldsmith, Pichon, or the Quarterly Review ? 
 They are so contemptible and so absurdly false, that they do not 
 merit any other notice than to write /aw-r, faux^ (false, false), ia 
 every page. The only truth I have seen in them is, that one
 
 1817 — MARCa. i87 
 
 day I met an officer, Rapp, I believe, in the field of bati.e, with 
 his face covered with blood, and that I cried, Oh, comme il est 
 beau! (oh, how beautiful he is!) This is true enough; and ot it 
 they have made a crime. My admiration of the gallantry of a 
 brave soldier is construed into a crime, and a proof of my 
 delighting in blood. But posterity will do me that justice which 
 is denied to me now. If I were that tyrant, that monster, would 
 the people and the army have flown to join me with the enthusi- 
 asm they showed when I landed from Elba with a handful of 
 men ? Could I have marched to Paris, and have seated myself 
 upon the throne without a musket having been fired "- Ask the 
 French nation. Ask the Italian. 
 
 "I have," continued he, "been twice married. Political mo- 
 tives induced me to divorce my first wife, whom I tenderly loved. 
 She, poor woman, fortunately for herself, died in time to prevent 
 her witnessing the last of my misfortunes. Let Marie Louise be 
 asked with what tenderness and affection I always treated her. 
 After her forcible separation from me, she avowed in the most 
 feeling terms to * * * her ardent desire to join me, extolled with 
 many tears both myself and my conduct to her, and bitterly 
 lamented her cruel separation, avowing her ardent desire to join 
 me in my exile, fs this the result of the conduct of a merciless, 
 unfeeling tyrant? A man is known by his conduct to his wife, 
 to his family, and to those under him. I have doubtless erred 
 more or less in politics, but a crime I have never committed. 
 The doctor in his book makes me say that I never committed a 
 useless crime, which is equivalent to saying that I have not sen: 
 pled to commit one when I had any object in view, which I deii) 
 altogether. I have never wished but the glory and the good of 
 France. All my faculties were consecrated to that object, but I 
 never employed crime or assassination to forward it. 
 
 "The Due d'Enghien, who was engaged upon the frontiers of 
 my territories in a plot to assassinate me, I caused to be seized 
 and given up to justice, which condemned him. He had a fair 
 trial. Let your ministers and the Bourbons do their utmost to 
 calumniate me, and the truth will be discovered. Les mensong?. 
 passe, la verite reste (a lie passes, i)Ut truth remains). Let theiu
 
 2SS A VOICK KlKm ST. HKLKN'A. 
 
 cuiph*)- 111] dishoiioralilt' tiu-aus liki- liord C * * * *, who, not oon 
 tout with stMul'mg mo ht-n-, lias liad the baseness to riiake iiu 
 spt'rtk, and to put siieh words into my tuoulh as he thinks will 
 best answer his views. C'\'st u/i homine 'ujnuhlc (he is an ignoble 
 n an). Perhaps they wish me to live for a short lime and dt 
 not put me to death, in order to make mo say whatever will snit 
 •hi if purposes. The rnin of England was never my intention. 
 \\ e were enemies, and I did my nlmost to gain the npper hand. 
 England did the same. After the treaty oi Amiens, I would 
 always have made a peace, placing the two countries upt>n equal 
 terms as to commercial relations." 
 
 mentioned that 1 had conceived he had once e.vpressed to me 
 that his intentions had been to have united England and France, 
 if he had found himself sufficiently powerful. He replied, " I 
 said that I could not unite two nations so dissimilar. I Intended, 
 if I had succeeded in my projected descent, to have abolished the 
 monarchy, and establish a republic instead of the oligarchy by 
 which y^u are governed. I would have separated Ireland from 
 England , the former of which I would have made an independent 
 republic. No, no; I would have left them to themselves aftei 
 having sown the seeds of republicanism in their morale.'''' 
 
 I told the emperor then, that Lord Amherst, (the late British 
 ambassador to China,) was expected here in a few days. He 
 said, he thought the English ministers had acted wrong in not 
 having ordered him to comply with the customs of the place he 
 was sent to, or otherwise not to have sent him at all. I observ 
 ed, that the English would consider it as debasing to the nation, 
 if Lord Amherst had consented to prostrate himself in the man- 
 ner required. That if such a point was conceded, the Chinese 
 won. J probably not be contented, and would require similar 
 ceremonies to be performed as those insisted upon l»y the Ja- 
 panese, and Complied with so disgracefully by the Dutch. That, 
 besides. Lord Amherst was willing to pay the same obeisance to 
 the emperor, as he would do to his own king. Napoleon replied, 
 ' It is quite a dilTerent thing. One is a mere ceremony, perform- 
 ed by all the great men of the nation to their chief, and the other 
 is a national degradation required of strangers, and of strangers
 
 1 SI 7— MARCH. 289 
 
 only. It is iny opinion, that whatever is the cnstom of a nation, 
 and is practiced by the first chai'acters of that nation towards 
 their chief, cannot degrade strangers who perforin the same. 
 Different nations have different customs. In Enghind, yon kiss 
 the king's hand at court. Such a thing in France, wouhl be con- 
 sidered ridiculous, and the ])ersons who did it wouhl be hehl up 
 to public scorn ; but still the French ambassador who performed 
 it in England, would not be considered to have degraded himself. 
 In England, some hundred years back, the king was served kneel- 
 ing, the same ceremony now takes place in Spain. In Italy you 
 kiss the pope's toe, yet it is not considered as a degradation. A 
 man who goes into a country, must comply with the ceremonies 
 in use there, and it would have been no degradation whatever 
 for Lord Amherst to have submitted to such ceremonies before 
 the emperor of China, as are performed by the first mandai'ins of 
 that empire. You say, that he was willing to render such respect 
 as was paid to his own king. You have no right to send a man 
 to China to tell them they must perform certain ceremonies, 
 because such are practiced in England. Suppose now, for the 
 sake of example, that it were the custom in England, instead of 
 
 kissing the king's hand, that he should offer his breech to be kiss- 
 es O 7 
 
 ed by those who were presented to him ; why then, foi'sooth, the 
 
 emperor of China must let down his breeches , because 
 
 it> was the practice in England." 
 
 These observations were delivered with such suitable action, 
 and significant gestures, that I could not help giving vent very 
 freely to laughter, for some moments, in which the emperor very 
 good humoredly joined. 
 
 "If I," continued he, "had sent an ambassador to China, I 
 would have ordered him to make himself acquainted with the 
 ceremonies performed before the em^jeror, by tlie first mandarins ; 
 and, if required, to do the same himself, and no more. Now, 
 perhaps, you will lose the friendshij) of the nation, and great 
 commercial advantages, through this piece of nonsense." T said, 
 that we could easily compel the Chinese to gi'ant good terms by 
 means of a few ships of war; that, for example, we could de- 
 prive them altogether of salt, by a few cruisers properly station- 
 
 13
 
 2d(> A voicK Fi;oM .<r. hki.kna. 
 
 t^. NapoV'uii irplii'il. "It would In- tlif worst tliiiiij; ^oii have 
 dom- for ti uuruln'i- of } oars, to go to war with an imtiuiise em 
 piro like China, and possossinj; so man) rosourecs. You would 
 Joul)llcss, at first succeed, take what vessels they have, and de- 
 stroy their trade; l>ut you would teach them their own strength 
 They would ho compelled to adopt measures to defend them 
 selves against you ; they would consider and say, ' We must tr} 
 to make ourselves equal to this nation. Why should we suffer 
 u people, so far away, to do as they please to us? W^e must 
 build ships, we must put guns into them, we must render our 
 selves ecjual to them.' They would," continued the enijteror 
 "get artificers, and ship-builders, Irom France, and America, and 
 even from London; they would build a fleet, and in the course 
 •jf tin)e, defeat you." 
 
 I observed, that it was likely Lord Amherst would wait upon 
 him. Napoleon replied, "if he is to be presented by the Guv- 
 ernor, or if the latter sends one of his staff with him, 1 will not 
 receive him ; if he comes with the admiral, I shall. Neither will 
 [ receive the new admiral if he is to be introduced by the Gon*- 
 crnor. In his last letter, there is an insult to us. lie says, that 
 we may go round by Miss Mason's, but that we must not go off 
 the main road.* Where is this main road ] 1 never could find 
 ai;v. If I were obliged to step aside a few yards for any occa- 
 sion, 1 should be exposed to be shot at by a sentinel. The ad- 
 '".iral, when he was here last, spoke like his advocate, and wanted 
 e to receive him with Lord Amherst. 1 would not receive my 
 wn son if he were to be presented by him !" 
 
 27//'. — Napoleon in his bath. Gave me some explanations 
 vouching what had been said of his having kept secret from his 
 soldiers in Egypt, for a long time, that the plague had got into 
 the army. "1," said he, ^'' once touched a soldier in the hospital 
 who was infected, with a view to convince the troops that the 
 disease was not the plague ; and 1 believe that I succeeded for 
 "ifteen days, in persuading them that it was otly a fever with 
 ouboes. I rarel) practiced visiting the hospital,'' continued he, 
 ••8 the extreme Ben»ibility of my nose was such, that the smell 
 * Tlie main roud i.n ii puth impassable by w heel-car riagM.
 
 181*7 — MARCH. 291 
 
 always made me ill, on which account I was advised by Corvisart 
 and my other physicians not to attempt it. Even during my 
 campaigns in Europe 1 seldom visited them." 
 
 'idth. — The emperor again in his bath. Conversed about the 
 English manufacturers, blamed the ministers for not having 
 availed themselves of circumstances that had existed to make a 
 favorable commercial treaty with Spain and Portugal. '''U,'^ 
 added he, " I were now on the throne of France, Feidinand would 
 be my friend. As long as the Spaniards and Portuguese retain 
 their colonies in South America, so long will they be against 
 England. The world is too enlightened to allow you to usurp 
 the whole of the trade and manufactures. I, myself, during my 
 reign, gave up near five hundred convents, without any payment, 
 to individuals, on the sole condition of their engaging to establish 
 a manufactory in each. Moreover, I lent them out of my own 
 pocket upwards of fifty millions of francs to enable them to go 
 on, which they were to retain for nine years, without paying any 
 interest, after which term the principal was to be returned. In 
 England, your machines are so numerous, that in a short tune 
 you would have had no occasion for hands." I observed, that 
 the prevalence of machinery was one cause of the great distress 
 in England. " But," replied Napoleon. " you were obliged to 
 have recourse to the aid of machinery, because the necessaries of 
 life are twice as dear in England as on the continent, and your 
 taxes six times greater, and also because other nations have them. 
 Otherwise, you could not have sold your manufactures as cheap 
 as they could, and consequently would not find purchasers. Jt; 
 Germany and Switzerland, for example, there were a great num- 
 ber of machines." 
 
 He spoke again about Lord Amherst, and observed, that it 
 would be an insult to ask a Chinese ambassador, if there were one 
 in London, to perform similar ceremonies there, as were required 
 of the English ambassador at Pekin, because it was not the 
 custom of the country he was in." "For example," said he, " if 
 the king of France were to require the English ambassador to 
 kiss his hand, it would be an insult to him, because it is not the 
 custom in France, though his amhassudur did it in Loudon, lo
 
 2}>2 A Volt'K KKiiM sr. IlKLKNA 
 
 like luaiuuM', to ask a niaiitlaiiii to pi'ifoiin a similar cciomonv 
 bcforo king Goorgo's pioliiii" is a /hV/xc ami an iiisiili to Cliiiia ; 
 hoi-auso it is not tlie riisluni «.»1" tiu" piai-f. An aniliassador is t'ni 
 iho ajfairs, and nut for the ceremonies of iho country ho. hoh)n;;s 
 to. IIo hix'onios tho same as one of the first noljles of the country 
 lie is in, ami should conform to the same ceremonies. If any 
 thing more were required of him, then indeed he ought to refuse 
 his consent." 
 
 31*7. — Dined at Plantation House in company with Count 
 Balnuiine, Baron and Baroness Sturmer, Captain Gor, &c. The 
 commissioners very anxious to know something about Napoleon. 
 Told Baron Sturmer, with whom I had a long conversation, that 
 Napoleon had said when he read a letter in the newspapers which 
 was attributed to the Marquis Montchenu, that it was another 
 proof of the imbecility of Vancienne noblesse de France^ que ces 
 jnessictirs la sent ioujoiirs les memes, (the ancient nol>ility of 
 France, that those gentlemen were always the same.) 
 
 April '2nd. — Saw Napoleon, who was in tolerable spirits. I 
 asked if it were true that he had been induced to quit Egypt by 
 his having received private information that the directory pur- 
 posed to get him assassinated there 1 " No," replied the em- 
 peror, "I never heard, or thought so; neither had the directory 
 any intention of causing it to be done. They were jealous of 
 me certainly, but they had no idea of the kind ; and in the actual 
 situation of France, I do not think that they wished it. I re- 
 turned from Egypt because my presence was necessary to the 
 ••epublic, and because the first object of the expedition had been 
 gained by the conquest of Egypt." I asked if the project had 
 originated with him, or with the directory. " With both one and 
 the other," replied Napoleon. " We both thought of it at the 
 same time." 
 
 Told him what I had said to Baron Sturmer about Montchenu. 
 "For the credit of France," said he, "they ought to have sent 
 out amongst the English some person possessed of a little talent, 
 instead of an old imbecile." 
 
 Mr. and Misses Churchill from India came up yesterday to see 
 Madame Bertrand, with a view of having an interview with Na-
 
 1817— APRIL. 293 
 
 poleoD. His excellency, however, took an effectual mode of 
 preventing it, by sending up Sir Thomas Reade to accompany 
 them. 
 
 It is probable that Napoleon, who is very partial to female 
 society, and was informed that the young ladies were highly ac- 
 complished, and spolie French fluently, would have managed tc 
 have met them accidentally^ had not Sir Thomas been an atten 
 tive listener close to their sides during the whole time. 
 
 Captain Cook, of the Tortoise, and Mr. Mackenzie, midshipman 
 of the same ship, came up to Longwood. Mr. Mackenzie had 
 been midshipman on board of the Undaunted, Captain Usher, 
 when the emperor took a passage in that ship to Elba. Captain 
 Cook told me, that after waiting some time on the look out, they 
 saw Napoleon walking in the garden, who sent for and asked 
 them many questions. He recollected Mr. Mackenzie, observed 
 that he had grown much since he had seen him bef<)re, and made 
 some inquiries about Captain Usher. He asked Captain Cook 
 how long he had been in the service'? to which he replied, 
 " Thirty years." — He seemed surprised at this, and asked what 
 actions ; Cook mentioned, amongst others, Trafalgar. Napoleon 
 asked the name of the ship he belonged to, and divers questions 
 about the battle, where he came from, and concluded by asking 
 him where he was going to dine % " At camp," was the reply ; 
 " at camp, then take care," said Napoleon, " that you do not get 
 drunk." 
 
 Cipriani in town, making the usual purchases. 
 
 Zrd. — Napoleon observed, that he had seen yesterday an old 
 seaman, which he expressed in English. " He looks," said he, 
 "like a seaman e -pare un bfav''uomo, (and seems a brave man.) 
 There was with him a midshipman who was on board of the 
 frigate with Usher, when I took a passage in her to Elba. He is 
 much grown," continued he, ''but I recollected him." 1 told 
 him that the midshipman had said, the ship's company of the 
 Undaunted had liked him, (Napoleon,) very much. "Yes," re- 
 plied Napoleon, " I believe they did ; 1 used to go amongst 
 them, speak to them kindly, and ask different questions. My 
 freedom in this respect quite astonished them, as it was so dif
 
 294 A voicK mow fi.r. hei.ena. 
 
 fercnt from tliut which ihoy had been acoustonicd to reccivt {n>u 
 their own ofiicers. You Enjrlish are aristocrats. You koop p 
 jirout distance hotwccu yourselves and the popolof"* I observed 
 that on board of a man-of-war, it was necessary to keep the se» 
 men at a £freat distance in order to maintain a proper respect for 
 the odieors, "I do not think," replied the emperor, " that it i' 
 necessary to keep up so much as you practice. When the off? 
 cers do not eat or drink, or make too many freedoms with them 
 I see no necessity for any greater distinctions. Nature formed 
 all men equal. It was always my custom to go amongst the 
 soldiers and the canaille, to converse with them, ask their little 
 histories, and speak kindly to them. This I found to be of the 
 greatest benefit to me. On the contrary, the generals and offi- 
 cers, It trattai poco bene, (treated them badly,) and kept them at 
 a great distance. 
 
 " I asked," continued he, " the old seaman where he was to 
 dine, and cautioned him not to get drunk. lie told me he was 
 married, and had no children. I asked him what he intended to 
 do with his money. lie said that he would leave it to an hos- 
 pital. 1 then asked him if he had any nephews or nieces, and 
 recommended him to leave his riches to them, instead of to an 
 hospital." 
 
 " You ])rought a book," said he, " about the battle of Water- 
 loo, to Gourgaud. The author says that I was an imbecile, and 
 that my army were a set of robbers, and that I committed one 
 of the greatest blunders of which a military man could be guilty, 
 by engaging Lord Wellington with a forest in his rear. Now 
 the great fault in Lord Wellington was having engaged me in a 
 position witn a forest in his rear, with only one road leading to 
 it ; as in case of a defeat he could not have retreated. To effect 
 a retreat well, it is necessary to have several roads by which 
 your army can retire in large bodies, and with celerity ; and also 
 be able to defend themselves if attacked. It would have required 
 twelve hours, without being molested, to enable Wellington's 
 army to have got into the forest. The confusion of a beaten 
 army, attempting to retreat by one road, would have been such 
 
 * People.
 
 1817— APRIL. 296 
 
 fts to cause its total destruction when attacked. Another libeler 
 says that I conquered Italy with a few thousand galley slaves. 
 Now the fact is, that probably so fine an army never had existed 
 before. More than one half of them were men of education, the 
 sons of merchants, of lawyers, of physicians, or of the better 
 Older of farmers and burgeoisie (citizens). Two-thirds of them 
 knew how to write, and were capable of being made officers. 
 Indeed, in a regiment it would have puzzled me to decide who 
 were the most deserving subjects, or who best merited promo- 
 tion, as they were all so good. Oh," continued he, with emotion, 
 " that all my armies had been the same ! When on a march, I 
 frequently called to the soldiers for some one to come forward 
 and write from my dictation. I was surrounded directly by 
 dozens eager to undertake it, as there were few who did not write 
 like a clerk. 
 
 " If," continued he, " the French army had even been a set of 
 brigands, which was not the case, it ill becomes a Frenchman to 
 say so. But, for your purposes, you have found worse French- 
 men than Louis has yet found Englishmen. Perhaps there is 
 more nationality — more public spirit than in France. You are 
 islanders. C'e lo spirito isolare, (this is an islander's spirit). 
 And besides, you have not had a revolution so lately as in 
 France. To form a correct judgment of the two nations, it 
 would be necessary to see both immediately after a revolution. 
 Moreover, your ministers have many Frenchmen in pay to write 
 whatever is pointed out to them against their own country." 
 
 Napoleon then asked if we kept Good Friday sacred, if we 
 fasted, and what was our mode of doing so ? I replied, that we 
 did observe it ; that Protestants seldom fasted ; but that when 
 we practiced it, we abstained altogether from food. That we did 
 not consider avoiding animal food, and gorging with turbot, or 
 with any other delicate fish, as fasting: "You are right," said 
 the emperor, " you are perfectly right. If one fasts at all. It 
 ought to be from every thing, or else it does not deserve the 
 name. Oh come gli uomini son bestie, (how much a beast is mac) 
 U> believe that abstaining from flesh, and eating fish, which i^ »c
 
 296 A VOICE I'JiOM SI". HELENA. 
 
 much more deliciite and di-licioiis, constitutes fasting. Povtrmc 
 f*o»jo," (poor ninn.) 
 
 '' Boforo u\\ reign,"' said he, " the oath taken by the French 
 kings was to exterminate all heretics! At my coronation, /swore 
 lo protect all worfships ! Louis has not yet sworn, because he 
 lias not been crowned, and in all probability will not take the 
 nath of extermination through fear of you and of the Prussians; 
 nut that he has not the will, on the contrary, he would with plea- 
 sure both swear and cause it to be effected. For the family of the 
 Bourbons are the must intolerant upon earth. The English will 
 yet discover what they are." 
 
 Napoleon afterwards spoke about Iloche. " Hoche," said he, 
 " was one of the first generals that ever Fiance produced. He 
 was brave, intelligent, abounding in talent, decisive, and pene- 
 trating, intriria)it also. If Iloche had lauded in Ireland, he would 
 have succeeded. He possessed all the qualities necessary to in- 
 sure success. He was accustomed to civil war, and knew how 
 to conduct himself under such circumstances. He had pacified 
 La Vendee, and was well adapted for Ireland. He had a fine 
 handsome figure, a good address ; he was prepossessing and in- 
 triguing, but by some imbecility he was placed on board of a 
 frigate which never reached the Irish coast, while the rest of the 
 expedition of about eighteen thousand men, got into Bantry Bay, 
 where they remained for some days perfectly masters of the 
 means of disembarkation. But Grouchy, who I believe was 
 second in command, did nut know what to do ; so that after 
 liaving had it in their power to land and send the ships away, as 
 -hey ought to have dune, they remained a short time, did 
 nothing, and then departed like imbeciles. If Hoche had arrived, 
 Ireland was lost to you." 
 
 "If the Irish," added he, " had sent over honest men to me, I 
 would have certainly made an attempt upon Ireland. But I had 
 no confidence in either the integrity or the talents of the Irish 
 leaders that were in France. They could oflfer no plan, were 
 divided in opinion, and continually quarreling with each other. 
 i had but a poor opinion of the integrity of that O'Connor, who 
 was so much spoken of amongst you."
 
 1817— APRIL. 29? 
 
 4/A. — Napoleon dressed and in the billiard-room. In very 
 good spirits. Spoke abont the admiralty ; asked who signed the 
 commissions of naval officers? Was surprised when I informed 
 him that none were signed by the king. " What, was not Nel- 
 son's commission signed by King George?" I replied in the nega- 
 tive, and said that none but officers of the army and marines had 
 commissions signed by the king; that his majesty had nothing 
 to do with naval promotions. " Who appoints the admiralty ?" 
 said Napoleon. I replied, "The sovereign." "Then," said he, 
 " it is a humbug ; as, if the king wants to give a command to an 
 admiral, or to promote an officer, he has nothing more to do than 
 to signify his wish to the Admiralty, who would not dare to re- 
 fuse him, through fear of losing their own places." I observed 
 in reply, that it had been said that the sovereign had at times 
 caused the appointment of an admiral and commander-in-chief 
 not exactly agreeable to the wish of the Admiralty ; but that in 
 such cases, it was at the option of the lords of the Admiralty to 
 confirm or not the promotions made by him, excepting certain 
 vacancies which by right or by custom were in his gift. "Bah," 
 said Napoleon, " if they did not confirm the promotions, would 
 not the king dismiss them from their places? The king can pro- 
 mote whom he likes. He has great power, because he appoints 
 the ministers, and commands those who have the direction of 
 every thing. Ministers love their places too well to run the risk 
 of losing them by refusing to comply with the wishes of the 
 sovereign ; unless in rare instances. It has happened to myself 
 that a minister has said, ' Sire, I cannot agree to this. It is con 
 trary to my opinion, and I will sooner resign than comply.' " 
 
 I remarked that several instances were not wanting in England 
 of ministers having given up their places rather than comply vvith 
 the wishes of the crown, or act against their principles. That the 
 king of England had considerable power over the army and the 
 navy : but that over independent persons not military, naval, 
 placemen, or place-hunters, he had only the influence which arose 
 from their being conscious of the rectitude of his measures. "And 
 what more had I in France?" said Napoleon, " what could I effect 
 unless with those classes that you have excepted?" I venture'^
 
 298 A VOICE FROM ST. IlKLENA. 
 
 to observe that in Fraiici' tlu-iv was noitlu r liljcrty of speech, noi 
 of the press, and that a iium might lie ehvi>pocl into prison for 
 opposing the measures of government, and kept there for an in- 
 definite period. Napoleon replied, " There certainly was not in 
 Fraiiee that freedom of discussion which prevails in England ; 
 though sometimes there was a very strong opposition in the 
 senate; nor was there so much freedom of speech or liberty of 
 the press ; but what could 1 have done to a banker, or to other 
 independent persons who opposed my measures? Put them in 
 prison, vex and annoy them by arrestations 1 They could appeal 
 to the senate and to the laws. Besides, it would have been an 
 unworthy mode of acting. I do not deny that the old constitu- 
 tion of France was a very bad one, and required to be newly 
 modified; but that constitution which I gave them when I return- 
 ed from Elba was excellent; indeed its only fault was that it left 
 too little power in my hands, and perhaps too much in those of 
 the senate. I could not imprison a man without a decree, order 
 a fine, impose taxes, or levy them by conscription ; and there 
 was a law for the liberty of the press." 1 said that his enemies 
 had asserted that the constitution he had given was only for the 
 moment, and that when firmly seated on the throne, he would 
 have brought back things to the old system. " No, no," replied 
 the emperor, " 1 would have continued the last constitution ; I 
 was well convinced that the old one required a great change. I 
 suppose that it was Lord Castlercagh who made the assertion ; 
 but you must not believe Lord Castlercagh. You know what 
 falsehoods he publicly asserted about me since I came here. 
 I should not be surprised if they were to falsify all the official 
 papers, as they have already done those concerning Murat, and 
 also myself. When I returned from Elba, I found all the ajjjjo- 
 ratus. They had falsified a number of the state papers, with the 
 intention of publishing them. M. Blacas had the direction of the 
 wnole; but it was a priest who managed and executed it. The 
 same had been done before to Murat's papers. The fabrications 
 were shown to some Englishmen. Blacas in like manner falsified 
 a letter from a femme de chambre (chambermaid) of my sister 
 Pauinie, containing seven or eight pages of ha oar dag e, (nonsense.)
 
 1817 — APRIL. 299 
 
 He had it interpolated so as to make it appear that I had slept 
 with my sister ! This Blacas is a wicked man, and a blockhead 
 withal. He was base enough to leave behind him at Paris letters 
 containing the offers of all those in France who had betrayed me 
 before, signed by the writers themselves ; so if I had pleased, 1 
 could have executed thousands. I did not however make any 
 use of them further than remembering their names. Now a 
 greater proof of imbecility and of treachery could not have been 
 given than this conduct of Blacas ; those letters ought to have 
 been the very first things put in security, or destroyed ; as they 
 compromised the lives of so many persons. But M. Blacas was 
 only intent upon saving his quatlrini ;* and gave himself but 
 little concern about the lives of those who had been the means 
 of bringing himself and his master back. He was then minister 
 of the king's household. Every thing was trusted to him by 
 Louis, who is incapable himself, and whose chief qualities are 
 dissimulation and hypocrisy. His legs are covered with ulcers, 
 which are dressed for him by the Duchess of Angouleme. He 
 gorges to that degree every day, that they are obliged to give 
 him God kno" ivhat to enable him to disencumber himself of 
 his load. "^ ine morning he will be found dead in his bed. He 
 has son Ignorant imbeciles of physicians about him. They 
 wan''-.. Corvisart to attend him, but he refused, saying, that if 
 ni; ■ accident happened, he might be accused of having contribut- 
 ed to his end. When I returned to the Tuilleries, I found my 
 apartments poisoned with the smell of his legs, and of divers 
 sulphureous baths, which he was in the habit of using." 
 
 " These Bourbons are the most timorous race imaginable," 
 continued Napoleon : " put them in fear, and you may obtahi 
 anything. While I was at Elba, an actress, named Mademoi- 
 selle Raucour, died. Slie was greatly beloved by the public, and 
 an immense concourse of people went to her funeral. When 
 they arrived at the church of St. Roque, in order to have the 
 funeral service celebrated over the corpse, they found the doors 
 shut, and admittance was refused to it. Nor would they allow 
 it to be buried in consecrated ground, as by the old regulations 
 
 * Monc\'.
 
 800 A VOICE FROM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 of those priests, people of her profession were exchided from 
 Christian inirial. The populnce broke open the doors with sledges, 
 and, perceiving that there was no priest to perforin the funeral 
 serviee, they l>eeanie clamorous — their rage knew no bounds. 
 They cried, Au chaUaii^ an chafeaii, ties ThniUeries, (to the castle, 
 to the castle, of the Thuilleries). We will see what right these 
 priests have to refuse interment to a Christian corpse. Theii 
 fury was heightened still more, by learning that the very coqtiin, 
 (villain) the eurate of St. Ixoqiie, who hail refused Christian 
 burial t*) the eorpse of Mile. Kaucour, had been in the constant 
 habit of receiving presents from her, both for himself and for the 
 poor, (for she was extremely charitable) and had dined and 
 supped with her repeatedly. Moreover, that he had actually 
 administered the sacrament to her a few days before her demise. 
 The populace cried out, Here is a canaille of a priest, who ad- 
 ministers the sacrament to a woman, and afterwards denies her 
 body Christian burial. If she was worthy of the sacrament, she 
 surely is worthy of burial. He receives her benefactions, eats 
 her dinners, and refuses her body interment ! About fifty thou- 
 sand of them went to the Thuilleries to seek redress from the 
 king. An architect, who was in the inner apartments at the 
 time, told i le that he was present when Louis was first informed 
 of it. Not being then aware that the mob was so numerous, 
 Louis said, ' The curate is right. Those players are ungodly 
 gentry ; they are excommunicated, and have no right to Christian 
 burial.' A few minutes afterwards, Blacas entered in a great 
 fright, and said that there were above seventy thousand furious 
 people about the palace, and that he was afraid they would pull 
 it down about them. Louis, almost out of his senses with fear, 
 cried out to give immediate orders to have the body buried ac- 
 cording to the rites of the church, and actually hurried some 
 persons away to see it carried into execution directly. He was 
 not quit of his terror for some days. Those priests tried with 
 me an experiment of a similar nature with the body of a beauti- 
 ful dancer, but ^ Per Dio^ (by God) said he, with emotion, ' they 
 had not Louis to deal with, I soon settled the affair.' " 
 
 " i," continued Napoleon, '"rendered all the burying places
 
 1817 — APRIL. 801 
 
 independent of the priests. I hated friars, {/rati) and was the 
 annihilator of them and of their receptacles of crime, the monas- 
 teries, where every vice was practiced with impunity. A set of 
 miscreants, (sceleruti) who in "general are a dishonor to the human 
 race. Of priests I would have always allowed a sufficient num- 
 ber, but no/m^!^," (friars). 
 
 I observed to the emperor after this, that it had been asserted 
 that after having at first refused to agree to the peace proposed 
 by the allies at Chatillon, he had sent a messenger to inform 
 Lord Castlereagh that he had changed his mind, and was willing 
 to agree to the terms which had been offered ; but Lord Castle- 
 reagh had replied, "That it was too late, and that they had deter- 
 mined upon their measures."* 
 
 Napoleon answered, " It is false. I never would consent to 
 the peace at Chatillon, because I had sworn to preserve the integ- 
 rity of the empire : rather than deviate from which, I wrote to 
 Caulaincourt that I would abdicate. I would have agreed to the 
 terms proposed at Francfort, where the Rhine was to form the 
 boundaries of France, as being the natural one."f 
 
 * This information was given to me by Sir Hudson Lowe. 
 
 t The following extract of a letter from the Duke of Vicenza may not be unin- 
 teresting : 
 
 Sir — In a work of M. Kooh, entitled, " Campagne de 1814," several fragments 
 of letters, written by me to the emperor and to the Prince de Neufchatel, during 
 the congress at Chatillon, are inserted. 
 
 As to the congress of Chatillon, if events have justified the desire which I 
 had to see peace restored to my country, it would be unjust to leave France and 
 history ignorant of the motives of national interest and honor which induced 
 the emperor to refuse signing the conditions which the allies desired to impose 
 upon us. 
 
 I fulfil, therefore, the first of duties, that of equity and truth, in making known 
 those motives by the following extract from the orders of the emperor : 
 
 Paris, January 19iA, 1814. — "That which the emperor insists on the most, 
 i8 the necessity of Franco preserving her limits. This is a sin^ q\M non condi- 
 tion. All the powers, even England, have recognized these limits at Francfort. 
 France, reduced to her ancient limits, would not have to-day two-thirds of the 
 relative power which she possessed twenty years ago. What she has acquired 
 on the side of the Alps and of the Rhine, does not compensate what Russia, 
 Austria, and Prussia, havs acquired by the sole dismemberment of Poland. AU 
 thoee statns are aggrandized. To wish to bring back France to its ancient state, 
 would b') to bring it to decay and degradation. France, without the depart- 
 ments cf the Khine, without Belgium, without Oatend, without Antwerp, would
 
 802 A VOICE FROM SI'. HELENA 
 
 1 took the liberty to oliservt', tliat it might naturally be sup 
 posed that he would imt have ailhered to the treaty of Paris, the 
 terms of whieh were worse. " Yes," replied Napoleon, " 1 WDuld 
 strictly have complied with that treaty. I would not have made 
 it myself; but finding it made, and that it was not my work, I 
 wtiuld have adhered to it and remained in peace." 
 
 A part of the conversation which followed led me to make 
 some remarks not favorable to Marcchal Davoust, and also to 
 ask Napoleon whether he was not considered as one of the best 
 of his generals. " No," replied the emperor, " 1 do not think 
 him a bad character. He never plundered for himself. He cer- 
 tainly levied contributions, but they were for the army. It is 
 necessary for an army, especially when besieged, to provide for 
 itself As to being one of the first of the French generals, he is 
 by no means so — though a good general." I then asked who in 
 his opinion now^ was the first. '' It is difiicult to say," replied 
 Napoleon. " I think, however, that Suchet is probably the first. 
 Massena was ; but you may say that he is dead. He has a com- 
 plaint in his breast, which has rendered him quite another kind 
 of man. Suchet, Clausel, and Gerard, are, in my opinion, the 
 first of the French generals. It is difficult to pronounce which is 
 superior,* as they have not had many opportunities of command- 
 be nothiiifr. The system of bringing back Friinee to her ancient frontiers is 
 inseparable from the re-establislmieut of the Bourbons, because they alone could 
 offer a guarantee for the maintenance of this system : England feels this well. 
 In all other respects, peace upon such a basis would be impossible, and couJd 
 not last. Neither tlie emperor nor the republic, if some political commotion 
 should revive it, would ever subscribe to such a condition. For the emperor's 
 part, his resolution is talicn— he is unchangeable— he will not leave France less 
 great than he has received her. If, then, the allies wish to change the basis 
 proposed and accepted, th£ natural limits, he can see but three courses, either to 
 fight and conquer, or to fight and die gloriously ; or, tinally, if the nation would 
 not support him, to abdicate. He does not cling to liigh place : he never will 
 preserve it by hia own degradation." 
 
 I expect, Sir, from your impartiality, that you would give a place to this letter 
 in your journal, and I seize this opportunity of offering you the assurance of 
 my distinguished consideration. 
 
 (Signed) CAUIJVINCOt^T, DUC DE VICENZA. 
 
 To the Editor of the Constitutionnel. 
 
 • An the emperor was rolling the balls of the billiard-table about at this mo-
 
 1817 — APRIL. 
 
 ing in chief, which is the only mode by which you can ascertair. 
 the extent ot" a man's talents." He also mentioned Soult in 
 terms of praise. 
 
 Went along with Captain Poppleton, Captain Fuller, Impett, 
 and other officers of the 53d, to a rat hunt in the camp, which 
 was conducted in the following manner. Some soldiers had been 
 furnished with spades, and began to dig close by a ditch and a 
 wall, which were infested with rats. Two dogs were in waiting, 
 and wc were provided with sticks. As soon as the rats found 
 their premises moving about them, they sallied out and endea- 
 vored to make their escape. They were then attacked by the 
 dogs and men, and a most animated scene of confusion took 
 place ; the rats trying to get into other holes, and the others pur- 
 suing and striking at them in every direction, and hitting each 
 other's legs in their eagerness to reach their prey. Some of the 
 rats turned upon the assailants, and made a desperate resistance. 
 Fourteen of them were killed in less than half an hour. 
 
 The rats are in numbers almost incredible at Longwood. I 
 have frequently seen them assemble like broods of chickens 
 round the offal thrown out of the kitchen. The floors and wood- 
 en partitions that separated the rooms were perforated with holes 
 in every direction. The partitions, being for the most part double, 
 and of one-inch deal, afforded a space between them sufficiently large 
 to admit a rat to move with facility. It is difficult for any per- 
 Sfou wno has not actually witnessed it. to form an idea of the 
 rioise caused by those animals running up and down between the 
 partitions, and galloping in flocks in the garrets, whether in search 
 of food or amorously gambolling, I know not. At night, when 
 disturbed by their entrance into my chamber, and by their run- 
 ning over me in bed, I have frequently thrown at them my 
 boots, the boot-jack, and every thing I could readily reach, with- 
 out intimidating them in the slightest degree, to effect which I 
 have been ultimately obliged to get out in order to drive them 
 away. We amused ourselves sometimes in the evening bj 
 removing the pieces of tin which we had nailed over their holes 
 
 ment, I am not positive whethor it was only llio two last tluit ho montionod na 
 not hiiviiig often cfnimandcil in chiof.
 
 S(H A VOICE FROM ST. IIKT.ENA. 
 
 mill allowins; thfin suflicinit liiiu' to fiiliT, \s lini tlu> sorvunts, 
 arnietl with sticks, iwul fulKiwi-d liy cl<>i;s, rushed in, covnt'd the 
 holes, and nttju-kcd tht* rats, who fViHjueiilly made a dt-sjierate 
 resistanoo, and hit the assailants severely. 
 
 However good the dojjs may have been at first, they generally 
 became indiirerent or nnwilling to attack those noxious animals ; 
 and tlie same may be said of the cats. Poisoning them was im- 
 practicable, as the snu'll of their jintrid carcases would render 
 the rooms uninhabitable. Indi-ed, in more instances than one, 
 it has been necessary to open a partition, in order to extract the 
 body of a rat which had died there, and had caused an insupport- 
 able stench. 
 
 The wretched and ruinous state of the building, the roofs* and 
 ceilings of which were chiefly formed of wood, and covered with 
 brown paper, smeared over with a composition of pitch and tar, 
 together with the partition being chiefly of wood, greatly favored 
 the introduction of those reptiles, and was productive of another 
 great inconvenience, as the composition, when heated by the 
 rays of the sun, melted and ran off", leaving a number of chinks 
 open, through which the heavy tropical rain penetrated in tor- 
 rents. Countess Montholon was repeatedly obliged to get up in 
 the night, to shift her own and her children's beds to different 
 parts of the room, in order to escape being deluged. The con- 
 struction of the roofs rendered this irremediable, as a few hours 
 of sunshine produced fresh leaks. 
 
 6^//. — Napoleon in very good spirits. Mentioned Marquis 
 Cornwallis in terms of great praise. " Cornwallis," said he, 
 " was a man of proltity, a generous and sincere character. Un 
 trh-bnive homme^ (a very brave man.) He was the man who 
 first gave me a good opinion of the English ; his integi'ity, fidelity, 
 frankne.-^s, and the nobleness of his sentiments, impressed me 
 
 * All the additioti.s made to the old buildinp were roofed in this manner 
 As this book rauy fall into the hands of some readers who may not credit the 
 above deHcription of Longwood House, I beg to call the attention of respectable 
 persons who may touch at St. Helena, to the state of the house in wliieh the 
 exiled sovereign of France breathed his last after six years of captivity. To them 
 I confidently appeal for a confirmation of the above, and of the description of the 
 'uUind in the Appendix.
 
 1817 — APRIL. 806 
 
 with a very favorable opinion of you. 1 recollect Cornwallis 
 saying, one day, ' There are certain qualities which may be 
 bought, but a good character, sincerity, a proper pride, and calm- 
 ness in the hour of danger, are not to be purchased.' These 
 words made an impression upon me. I gave him a regiment of 
 cavalry to amuse himself with at Amiens, which used to manoe- 
 uvre before him. The officers of it loved him much. I do not 
 believe that he was a man of first rate abilities, but he had talent, 
 great probity, and sincerity. He never broke his word. At 
 Amiens, the treaty was ready, and was to be signed by him at 
 the Hotel-de-Ville, at nine o'clock. Something happened which 
 prevented him from going ; but he sent word to the French min- 
 isters, that they might consider the treaty as having been sign- 
 ed, and that he would sign it the following day. A courier from 
 England arrived at night, with directions for him to refuse his 
 consent to certain articles, and not to sign the treaty. Though 
 Cornwallis had not signed it, and might have easily availed him- 
 self of this order, he was a man of such strict honor, that he said 
 he considered his promise to be equivalent to his signature, and 
 wrote to his government that he had promised, and that having 
 once pledged his word, he would keep it. That if they were not 
 satisfied, they might refuse to ratify the treaty. There was a 
 man of honor — a true Englishman. Such a man as Cornwallis 
 ought to have been sent here, instead of a compound of false- 
 hood, suspicion, and meanness. I was much grieved when I 
 heard of his death. Some of his family occasionally wrote to me, 
 to request favors for some prisoners, which 1 always complied 
 with." 
 
 He then spoke about his having given himself up to the Eng- 
 lish, and observed, " My having given myself up to you, is not so 
 simple a matter as you imagine. Before I went to Elba, Lord 
 Castlereagh ofl^ered me an asylum in England, and said, that I 
 should be very well treated there, and much better off than at 
 Elba." I said, that Lord Castlereagh was reported to have as 
 sorted that he (Napoleon) had applied for an asylum in England, 
 but that it was not thought proper to grant it. "The real fact," 
 said Napoleon, " is, that he first proposed it. Before 1 went to
 
 808 A VOICK FUOM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 Elba, Lord Custlrreagh said to Caiilaiiicourt, ' Why duos Na- 
 poleon think of goinji to Ell»a? Li't him come to England. IIo 
 will l>e received in London with the greatest pleasure, and will 
 experience the best possible treatment. He mnst not, however, 
 ask permission to come, I)eeause that would take up too much 
 time ; but let him give hiniscll' ui> to us, without making any 
 conditions, and he will be received with the greatest joy, and be 
 much better than at Ell)a.' This," added he, " had much in- 
 fluence with me afterwards." 
 
 On asking Napoleon his opinion of Baron Stein, he replied, "A 
 patriot, a man of talent, and a busy stirring character." I ob- 
 served, that I had heard it asserted, that Stein had done him 
 more mischief than Metternich, or indeed any other person, and 
 had been mainly instrumental to his fall, " Not at all," replied 
 Napoleon ; " he was certainly a man of talent, but had his advice 
 been followed, the King of Prussia would have been ruined past 
 all redemption ; as Stein was always hatching intrigues, and 
 wanted Prussia to declare prematurely against me, which would 
 have caused her destruction. The king, however, was better 
 advised, and did not declare himself until the proper time had 
 arrived, that is to say, until that accident of Russia, of which he 
 took immediate advantage." A pause now took place, Napoleon 
 walked a few paces, stopped, looked at me, and said, in an ex- 
 pressive manner, " None but myself ever did me any harm ; I 
 was, I may say, the only enemy to myself; my own projects, 
 that expedition to Moscow, and the accidents which happened 
 there, were the causes of my fall, I may, however, say, that 
 those who made no opposition to me, who readily agreed with 
 rae, entered into all my views, and submitted with facility, were 
 those who did me the most injury, and were my greatest enemies; 
 because, by the facility of conquest they afforded, they encourag- 
 ed me to go too far. They were more my enemies than those 
 who formed intrigues against me, because the latter put me upon 
 my guard, and rendered me more careful. I caused Stein to be 
 sent away from the court of Prussia. It would, however, have 
 been very fortunate for me, if his projects had been followed, a8 
 Prussia would have broken out prematurely, and 1 should have
 
 1811 — APRIL. 307 
 
 extinguished her like that," (raising one of his feet, and stamping, 
 as if he were putting out the snufF of a candle ;) " I could," con- 
 tinued he, "have dethroned the King of Prussia, or the Emperor 
 of Austria, upon the slightest pretext, as easily as I do this," 
 stretching out one of his legs. " I was then too powerful for any 
 man, except myself, to injure me." 
 
 I asked him if he had ever said something of the following 
 tenor relative to Metternich : " One or two lies are sometimes 
 necessary, but Metternich is all lies. Nothing but lies, lies, lies, 
 lies, from him !" Napoleon laughed and said, " C^esf vrai, (it 
 is true.) He is composed of nothing but lies and intrigues." 
 I asked if he were not a man of great talent 1 " Not at all," re- 
 plied he, " e bugiardo ed intrigante, intrigante e bugiardo* That 
 is the sum total of his character. 
 
 " Lord Whitworth," continued Napoleon, " in that famous in- 
 terview which he had with me, during which I was by no means 
 violent, said on leaving the room, that he was well satisfied with 
 me, and contented with the manner in which 1 had treated him, 
 and hoped that all would go on well. This he said to some of 
 the ambassadors of the other powers. A few days afterwards 
 when the English newspapers arrived with his account of the in- 
 terview, stating that 1 had been in such a rage, it excited the 
 astonishment of every body ; especially of those ambassadors, 
 who remonstrated with him and said, ' My Lord, how can this 
 account be correct. You know that you allowed to us that you 
 were well contented and satisfied with your reception, and 
 stated your opinion that all would go on well.' He did not 
 know what to answer, and said, ' but this account is also true.' " 
 
 "Your ministers never publish the facts," continued he: "if 
 this governor sent no other accounts of the battles, and other 
 circumstances, than those that were published in the papers, he 
 betrayed his country ; as they are almost all false, similar to 
 those of others employed on your political missions. A false 
 account is sent to be submitted to the public, and deposited in 
 the archives ; and a secret one, stating the truth, for your minis- 
 ters themselves to act upon, but never to be produced. So that 
 * Ho is a liur and an intriguer — an intriguer and a liar.
 
 808 A VOICK FKOM ST. UKl.ENA. 
 
 your ministers, upon an inquiry being made by parliament, have 
 H sot of documents in llie archives ready to submit for inspection ; 
 from whence conclusions are to be drawn, and decisiitns made. 
 In this nnmnor, though the contents are untrue, the ministers: 
 cannot be accused of imposing false statements upon the parlia- 
 ment because they were officially transmitted to them, and the 
 public and parliament are satisfied. References are made, and 
 every thing appears satisfactory, though the ground-work of the 
 whole is false. In consequence of having been so long opposed 
 to your ministers, there is nobody knows them better than I do. 
 Your system is a compound of lies and truth. In no other 
 ministry in the world is there so much macliiavelism practiced ; 
 because you have so much to defend, and so many important 
 points to contest against the rest of Europe, and because you are 
 obliged to enter into explanations with the nation." 
 
 I mentioned to Napoleon that it had been stated in one of the 
 papers, that he had once sent a shipwright to Algiers or Tunis, 
 in order to teach the pirates ship-building. He replied, " Never. 
 It is possible that they may have got a Frenchman as a ship- 
 builder, but not with my consent. They might have procured 
 some person from Marseilles. At Constantinople, when the 
 Turks were at war with France, there was a ship-builder named 
 Le Musa. Instead of succoring the pirates, I proposed to Eng- 
 land to exterminate them, or at least to oblige them to live like 
 honest people, to which your ministers would not consent. There 
 was nobody who disliked or despised those canaglie of pirates 
 more than I did, or who treated them more like dogs. It was 
 not the policy of the English ministers to destroy those barba- 
 rians, or else they would have done it long ago. By permitting 
 those wretches to exist and to plunder, you engrossed the greatest 
 part of the trade of the Mediterranean to yourselves; because 
 the Swedes, Danes, Portuguese, and others, were afraid to send 
 their ships there ; and consequently fluring the war, you had 
 almost all the Mediterranean trade. The reason you sent that 
 expedition to Algiers, was to ingratiate yourselves with the 
 Italians, and to prevent their regretting me. For 1 gave %\w 
 French flag to all the Italian states, and made the barbarians re
 
 1817— APKIL. 809 
 
 sf'iCt i^; which has not been the case since the Bourbons mounted 
 the throne. The Italians would have been discontented, and iiavo 
 cried, that in Napoleon's reign, they were at least free from the 
 attacks ani piracies of the Corsairs. That expedition deserves no 
 credi' except '^r-i the great bravery and nautical skill displayed 
 by the admiral, and by those under him. As to the negotiations, 
 Lord Exmouth has failed ; as he ought to have made the extinc- 
 tion of piracy t^ e s; rrender of their fleet, and an obligation to 
 build no moie ships of war, (unless the Grand Signor made war 
 upon som . of .ne ?^uropean powers,) the sine qua noti. You say 
 that it nas been stipulated that only prisoners, and not slaves, 
 are in future to be made. I fear much that if any difference be 
 made am nps'; those barbarians between the lot of prisoner and 
 of slave^ it will be to the disadvantage of the former. For those 
 wretch ^j had some interest in preserving the lives of their slaves 
 in order to obtain their ransom ; whereas with prisoners they 
 will have no such expectation ; and therefore giving way to their 
 natural cruelty and deadly hatred of Christians, they will in all 
 probability mutilate and put them to cruel deaths. I think that 
 your ministers ordered Lord Exmouth not to endeavor to abolish 
 piracy altogether, but merely to give it a check, to punish the 
 Algerines in a certain degree, cause your flag to be respected, 
 and gain the favor of the Italians and other Mediterranean states, 
 which you have lost by your having so basely given them up to 
 their oppressors. — For, if the pirates were totally annihilated, 
 all nations could trade securely in the Mediterranean, which would 
 not agree with your ideas of engrossing the principal share of the 
 commerce of that sea. Your ministers would not wish to seethe 
 Corsairs destroyed. You say that the expedition gave an eclai 
 to your marine.* Certainly it was a very gallant affair; but 
 your marine has no occasion for another eclat. My opinion is 
 that it was a very ill advised expedition. You ran the risk of 
 being drubbed by barbarians, and of losing two or three ships. 
 Even with your victory, you may say that you lost a thousand 
 
 * I had observed, that in consequence of the checks we had sustained from 
 the Americans, it was desirable that our navy should wind up by doing some- 
 thing brilliant.
 
 810 A VOICE VlUn\ ST. nKLKNA. 
 
 men in killed and disuMod, and got livi- or six ships kntcke'7 ti 
 iM'^cos. Now thi> livos and limbs of a thousand brave English, 
 soanion are of more value and consequence than the tchole of (ht 
 piratical sfatcs. Bl<.>ekading the jxirt with a seventy-four and two 
 or three frigates, under Captains Usher and Maitland, would have 
 •jained you just as good terms as you have got, without the loss 
 •f a man.'' 
 
 "I always had a high opinion of your seamen," continued Na- 
 poleon. '• When I was returning from Holland along with the 
 Empress Marie Louise, we stopped to rest at Givet. During 
 the night, a violent storm of wind and rain came on, which 
 swelled the Meuse so much that the bridge of boats over it was 
 carried away. I was very anxious to depart; and ordered all 
 the boatmen in the place to be assembled that I might be ena- 
 bled to cross the river. They said that the waters were so high 
 that it would be impossible to pass before two or three days. 1 
 questioned some of them, and soon discovered that they were 
 fresh-water seamen. I then recollected that there were English 
 prisoners in the caserns ; and ordered that some of the oldest 
 and best seamen amongst them should be brought before me to 
 the banks of the river. The waters were very high, and the cur- 
 rent rapid and dangerous, I asked them if they could join a 
 number of boats so that 1 might pass over. They answered that 
 it was possible, but hazardous. 1 desired them to set about it 
 instantly. In the course of a few hours they succeeded in effect- 
 ing what the other imbeciles had pronounced to be impossible; 
 and I crossed before the evening was over. I ordered those who 
 had worked at it to receive a sum of money each, a suit of 
 clothes, and their liberty. Marchand was with me at the time." 
 " When 1 landed at Elba," added he, " with Usher, my guard 
 had not arrived, and Usher gave me one composed of his marines 
 under the command of a sous officier (subaltern), who constantly 
 remained at Porto Ferrajo, and formed my body-guard for some 
 days. I had every reason to be contented with them. When 
 my own guard arrived, they contracted a friendship with the ma- 
 rines and the sailors. They were frequently seen rolling about 
 in the streets drunk, locked arm in arm, singing and shaking
 
 1817 — APRIL. 81 1 
 
 hands with each other. Your seamen were surprised at the 
 familiarity with which I treated them, which was so different 
 fk)m the aristocratic morgue to which they had generally been 
 accustomed. I believe that not a man in the ship would have 
 injured me if it were in his power. When I left them, I ordered 
 a Napoleon to be given to each, and I made Usher a present of a 
 box, with my picture set round with diamonds. If I had had 
 such able seamen as Usher for officers, the naval combats between 
 the French ships and yours would have terminated very differ- 
 ently." 
 
 I mentioned that the governor had said he wished to have 
 some conversation with Count Bertrand relative to the ride 
 towards Woody Range, and had said that if the count would 
 give an assurance that certain houses would not be entered, it 
 might be arranged. "What houses are there?" replied Napo- 
 leon, " Miss Mason's, and that of Legge, the carpenter. Is he 
 afraid of Miss Robinson's virtue? Beiise (nonsense), if I wished 
 to correspond, you well know that I could cause letters to be 
 sent to Europe every day." 
 
 8^/t. — On the 7th, the races were held at Dead wood, at which 
 Madame Sturmer, the three commissioners, and Captain Gor, 
 were present. General Gourgaud also went, and had a long con- 
 versation with Baron and Baroness Sturmer, Count Balmaine, 
 and, latterly, Marquis Montchenu. During the greatest part of 
 the time, no British officer listened to them. Sir Hudson Lowe 
 and Sir Thomas Reade were spectators a considerable portion of 
 the time. Lady Lowe was also present. Towards the end of 
 the races, the Commissioners, Madame Sturmer, and Baroti 
 Gourgaud, went to Mrs. Younghusband's house in camp, where 
 they remained together for some time, before any of the gover- 
 nor's officers followed them. Mentioned to Sir Hudson Lowe 
 the opinion which Napoleon had expressed of Marquis Cornwal- 
 lis, to which his excellency replied that " Lord Cornwallis was 
 too honest a man to deal with him." 
 
 Napoleon went down to Count Bertrand's, where he had from 
 the upper windows a good view of the races, at which he re- 
 mained until they were finished, and appeared to be highly 
 entertained.
 
 tli A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 Bir Thoiras Tuado oxpressed great anger towards Mrs. Younjj 
 lioshand for having iiivitod the commissioners and (ieneral Gour 
 gaui' together, without having J)een aoa)m|)anied, and said that 
 the governor had a right and ought to turn her ofV the isJand for 
 it, adding, that the ct>mmissioners themselves were mean wretches, 
 for having spoken to Gourgaud, when his master treated them 
 with such contempt. 
 
 Napoleon walked out tvr some time with Counts Montholon 
 and Bertrand. Saw him at mid-day. He asked many questions 
 about the races, in which he appeared to take interest. Ob- 
 served, that from what he had heard, Montchenu must have been 
 very badly educated, as he had made use of very improper and 
 even indecent language before Lady Lowe, on occasion of the 
 breeze (which was very smart) having interferred with some 
 lady's drapery. " In general," said Napoleon, " Frenchmen at 
 his time of life are proverbially polite ; but from what I have 
 heard, this man never could have been brought up in good 
 company, and has Pair d\m sons lieutenant de Vancien regime^^ 
 (the manners of an under lieutenant of the old dynasty). 
 
 Mr. Rainsford, the minister of police, died on the 7th. 
 
 lAtk. — General Gourgaud, while going through the camp, went 
 into the apartments of Major Fehrzen of the 53d regiment, where 
 he remained for a few minutes. 
 
 Iblh. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for the orderly officer, and de- 
 manded " What business General Gourgaud had to enter Major 
 Fehrzeii's rooms?" 
 
 Saw Napoleon, who was reclining upon his sofa. Very anxious 
 L his inquiries aVjout the health of Madame Bertrand, Tristan de 
 Montholon, and the little Napoleonnc, both of whom were very 
 unwell, especially Tristan, who labored under a severe attack of 
 dysentery of a highly inflammatory nature, and for which 1 had 
 bled him. When I told Napoleon that the bleeding had afforded 
 the child great relief, " Ah," said he, " experience — experience ia 
 everything."* 
 
 Showed him a very curious edict which had been issued by 
 
 • Napoleon had frequently before condemned the practice of Weeding, vUoi 
 he maintained was abstracting so much of one's life.
 
 1817--APRTL. 818 
 
 the Emperor of China relative to the English ambassador, and 
 explained the purport of it. After he had heard what I had to 
 say, he said that he was still of opinion that the amhassadoi 
 ought to have complied with such ceremonies as were practiced 
 by the first mandarins of the empire towards the emperor : that 
 the Chinese did not ask us to send ambassadors to them. That 
 OUT having sent one, was a proof that we had some favor to ask, 
 or some object to gain ; therefore, we ought to have complied 
 with their customs, or else not have sent an ambassador out, 
 " You ought," continued he, " to have treated those brutes like 
 children — to have humored them, in fact, as if you had sent an 
 ambassador to the moon. I recollect having had a conversation 
 on the subject at Tilsit with the Emperor Alexander, when we 
 were very good friends. He asked my opinion and advice : I 
 gave it to him exactly as I have done to you. He was perfectly 
 convinced, and wrote a reprimand to his ambassador for not 
 having complied with the ceremonies that had been required 
 from him." 
 
 " When I was at war with Russia," said he, " I had an intention 
 of injuring the Russians in their Chinese trade, by inciting the 
 king of Persia to make war upon them, which, in fact, he did. I 
 nad hopes of causing a diversion by means of the hordes of 
 Tartars under the Persian government." 
 
 I asked afterwards if it were true that Talleyrand had proposed 
 to him to cause all the Bourbons to be assassinated, and had 
 even offered to negotiate for its accomplishment ? Napoleon 
 replied, "It is true. Talleyrand proposed and offered to have ii 
 effected." In reply to a question of mine, whether one huudreO 
 thousand francs was not the sum demanded, the emperor answer- 
 ed, "A great deal more; if I recollect right, a million of franca 
 for each. But I always refused my consent. There wanted no- 
 thing but that. I even forbade the attempt to be made." 
 
 16//i. — Napoleon informed me, that he was now employed in 
 writing observations, military and otherwise, upon the seven 
 years' war of the Great Frederick, which would, when finished, 
 form two or three volumes. 
 
 Cipriani employed in town as usual 
 
 14
 
 814 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 8O//1. — Co^iiit Biilmaiiio and Cajitain Gor oaine up as far as 
 Li^ngwt^od, Jogged by a sergeant of the G(>th regiment, dressed 
 ill plain clothes, who was in the oniploy of Sir Thomas Reade. 
 
 21s/. — N.ipoloon has been for some days in very good 
 spirits. (Ml Saturday, the 19th, some captains of East In 
 diamen came to see Count and Countess Bertranj. Captain 
 Innes, Campbell, and Ripsley, with Mr. Webb, stationed them 
 selves at the back of the house in such a situation as to be likely 
 to see Napoleon on his return from Bertrand's, where he had 
 gone about four o'clock. Napoleon beckoned to, and conversed 
 with them for nearly an hour, during which he asked many ques- 
 tions about India, the East India Company, Lord Moira, their 
 own profits, &c.; and to the Commodore, who had a very youth- 
 ful appearance, in a laughing manner he observed, that he was a 
 child, and ought to be ashamed of commanding captains so much 
 older than himself. 
 
 Asked the emperor whether it was at Lodi or Areola that he 
 Tiad seized the standard, and precipitated himself amongst the 
 enemy's troops. He replied, " At Areola, not Lodi. At Areola 
 I was slightly wounded ; but at Lodi no such circumstance oc- 
 curred. Why do you ask? Do you think me Idche T* said he, 
 laughing. 1 begged to assure him of my thorough conviction of 
 the contrary, which was too well known to be doubted ; and that 
 it was merely to solve a difference of opinion, which had occurred 
 between some of us English, who had not the means of procur- 
 ing at 6t. Helena any books to satisfy us at which of the two it 
 had occurred, that I had taken the liberty to ask him. "Those 
 Ihingo, ' said he, with a smile, " are not worth mentioning." 
 
 Had a long conversation with him on medical subjects. He 
 aftpeared to entertain an idea that in cases purely the province 
 of the physician, the patient has an equal chance of being dis- 
 patched to the other world, either by the physician mistaking 
 the cornj>laint, or by the remedies administered operating in a 
 dillerent manner from what was intended and expected, and was 
 ior trusting entirely to nature. With respect to surgery, he pro- 
 fessed a far different opinion, and acknowledged the great utility 
 
 • Cowardly.
 
 1817 — APRIL. gl6 
 
 of that science. I endeavored to convince him, that in some 
 complaints, nature was a bad physician, and mentioned in prooi 
 of my argument the examples which had taken place under hia 
 own eyes of the cases of Countess Montholon, General Gour 
 gaud, Tristan, and others ; who, if left to nature, would have 
 gone to the other world. I observed, that in practice we always 
 had a certain object in view, and never prescribed remedies with- 
 out first having considered well what we had to expect from 
 their operation. Napoleon, however, was skeptical ; and in- 
 clined to think that if they had taken no medicine, maintained 
 strict abstinence from every thing except plenty of diluents, they 
 would have done equally well. However, after having heard all 
 my arguments, he said, "Well, perhaps if ever I have a serious 
 malady, 1 may change my opinion, take all your medicines, and 
 do what you please. I should like to know what sort of patient 
 I should make, or whether I should be tractable or otherwise. I 
 am inclined to think the former." I reasoned with him after- 
 wards about inflammation of the lungs, and asked him if he 
 thought that nature, if left to herself, would eft'ect a cure in that 
 complaint. He appeared a little staggered at this at first ; but 
 after asking me what were the remedies, to which I replied that 
 venesection was the sheet anchor, he said, " That complaint 
 belongs to the surgeon, because he cures it with his lancet, and 
 not to the physician." 1 then mentioned dysentery and inter- 
 mittent fevers. "The remedies given in intermittent fevers," 
 said he, " frequently produce worse complaints than the disease 
 that they remove. Suppose now that the best informed physi- 
 cian visits forty patients a day ; amongst them he will kill one 
 or twc a month by mistaking the disease, and in the country 
 towns, the charlatans will kill about half of those who die under 
 their hands." 
 
 " The country towns in England, as well as in France," said 
 he, "abound with Moliere's doctors. Are you a fatalist?" I 
 repl.'ed, "in action I am." "Why not every whtM-e else?" said 
 the emperor; I said, that I believed a man's dissolution, in cer- 
 tain cases, to be inevitable if he did not endeavor, by proper 
 means placed in his power, to prevent his fate. For example, I
 
 SIS A VOICE FROM ST. HKLENA. 
 
 said, that if a man in battlo saw a cannoii shot coming towards 
 him, as somotinies happened, ho would naturally step to fnie 
 side, and thereby avoid an otherwise inevitable death which 
 comparison I thought would hold good with certain complaints 
 by Cf>nsiderinij the ball t<> be the disease, and stepping aside, the 
 remedy. Napoleon replied, " Perhaps by stepping to one side, 
 you may throw yourself in the way of another ball, which other- 
 wise would have missed you. I remember," added he, "an ex- 
 ample of what I tell you having occurred at Toulon, when I com- 
 manded the artillery. There were some Marseilloise artillery- 
 men sent to the siege. Now of all the people in France, the 
 Marseilloise are the least brave, and indeed, generally speaking, 
 have but little energy. I observed an officer to be very careful 
 of himself, like the rest, instead of showing an example. I there- 
 fore called out and said, ' Monsieur officer, come out and observe 
 the effect of your shot. You do not know whether your guns 
 are well pointed or not.' At this time we were firing upon the 
 English ships. I desired him to see if our shot struck them in 
 the hull. He was very unwilling to quit his station; but at last 
 he came over to where I was, a little outside of the parapet, 
 where he began to look out. Wishing, however, to make him- 
 self small, and to secure as much of his body as possible, he 
 stooped down and sheltered one side of his body behind the 
 parapet, while he looked under my arm. He had not been long 
 in that position before a shot came close to me, and low down, 
 which knocked him to pieces. Now, if this man had stood up- 
 right, and more exposed to danger, he would have been safe, as 
 the ball would have passed between us, without hurting either." 
 
 I recounted to the emperor, after this, a circumstance which 
 had happened in the Victorious, seventy-four. Captain Talbot, 
 when I was on board of her, which I explained minutely to him. 
 During the action with his ship, the Rivoli, a man who had been 
 slightly wounded, had crept into the heart of the cable tier in the 
 orlop deck, and placed himself amongst the cables in such a 
 manner, that it appeared to be a matter of impossibility, that a 
 shot could reach him. Notwithstanding the apparent security of 
 the place, towards the end of the action a shot struck the ship
 
 1817 — APRIL. 817 
 
 very low down, penetrated the wings, went through two or three 
 coils of the cable, then rose upwards, struck one of the beams 
 which supported the lower deck, and being spent, rebounded 
 back, fell upon this man's breast, who was lying on his back, and 
 killed him. He was found afterwards with the shot, (a thirty- 
 six pounder,) lymg upon his breast. 
 
 "This," said he, "confirms what I say to you, that a man can- 
 not avoid his destiny." Napoleon appeared entertained with this 
 anecdote, and asked, whether the man was a sailor or a soldier ? 
 1 replied, a sailor. 
 
 The emperor during the course of conversation, spoke about 
 eunuchs; the making of whom, he observed, was a most dis- 
 graceful and horrid practice. " I put a stop to it," said he, " in 
 all the countries under my dominion ; even in Rome itself I pro- 
 hibited it under pain of death. It was entirely put a stop to, 
 and I believe that although the pope and cardinals are now in 
 power, it will not be again revived. I recollect," added he, " an 
 incident with respect to one of those gentry which made me 
 laugh. There was one Crescentini, an excellent singer, who often 
 sang before me, and delighted me much. As I wished to encou- 
 rage merit in every science, and as it was his misfortune and not 
 his fault, to have been mutilated, having been probably only two 
 or three years old when it was performed, 1 conferred upon him 
 the knighthood of the iron crown. This, however, displeased a 
 great many, who said that a thing who was not a man ought not 
 to have an order for manhood conferred upon him. There were 
 great discussions about it, in which Madame Grassini, whom I 
 suppose you know, took a part. Whilst others were blaming 
 me, Grassini said, 'I really think the emperor has done right in 
 giving it to him ; I think that he deserves it.' Being asked why, 
 she replied, ' I think he merits it, if it were only on account of 
 his wounds.^ This sally produced the greatest laughter, and 
 turned the business completely. 1 believe that no person laughed 
 more at it than myself." 
 
 23«?. — Yesterday Napoleon was indisposed, and had recourse 
 to his customary remedies, diet and diluents. He remained all
 
 S18 A VOICE FHOM ST. HELENA. 
 
 day in his Itedroom, and ate notliing. Told mo that he had riseft 
 at throe in the morning, and wrote or dictated all day. 
 
 Gave him two or three newspapers. He repeated his disbe- 
 lief of the rumor of war being likely to take place between Rus- 
 sia and America, as it was contrary to the interest of both. 
 
 General Gourgaud the day before yesterday rode out towards 
 the alarm house, and on his way met the Russian commissioner 
 and Captain Gor, with whom he conversed for a considerable time. 
 They were seen by Captain Poppjeton, who was on his way to 
 dine at Plantation House. When his excellency was informed 
 of this, he said at first that Captain Poppleton ought to have 
 remained with them to listen; but when it was explained to him 
 that he could not have done so without atTronting them, as Gene- 
 ral Gourgaud knew that he was to dine at Plantation House, he 
 acknowledged that it could not have been done. 
 
 This day, however, a note came from Major Gorrequer, stating 
 that the governor wanted to see Captain Poppleton directly, and 
 that he was required to write an official statement of what he 
 had seen take place yesterday between the commissioner and 
 Gourgaud. That the governor regretted he had not followed and 
 kept company with them, in pursuance of the conversation he 
 had had with him (Captain Poppleton) in town on a certain day. 
 In this conversation the governor said he expected that he would, 
 whenever he saw them speaking together, drop in as it were by 
 accident, and make one of their party. 
 
 These precautions appeared curious, as the parties had a long 
 interview together at the last races, before the governor himself 
 and his staff, without molestation. 
 
 Saw Naptjleon in the evening again, who declared himself to 
 be quite well. He spoke of the time he was in the habit of 
 devf)ting to business when in Paris. That ocasionally he used 
 to dictate to four different secretaries at a time, all upon dif- 
 ferent subjects, and sometimes even to five, each writing as fast 
 as he could. Made some observations upon the Emperor of 
 Austria. Observed that if he were in his power, no treatment 
 could be too good, or limits too extensive. The emperor he
 
 1817 — APRIL. 819 
 
 Drouounced to be a good and religious man, but a ganache * A 
 man who, though he did not want common sense, never did any 
 ining of liimself, but was always led by the nose by Metternich 
 or some one else. As long as he had a bad minister, his govern- 
 ment would be bad, as he entirely trusted to him, and only paid 
 attention to botany and gardening. 
 
 24<^, — Napoleon in very good spirits. Very curious in his 
 inquiries about Murat's expedition against Sicily. Asked me to 
 describe minutely the strength of the English force which had 
 then occupied Sicily, and appeared surprised when I said that it 
 had amounted to about twenty thousand English, Hanoverians, &;c. 
 lie asked if I thought that Murat would have succeeded in taking 
 the island, if he had landed. f I replied that I believed not, as, 
 independent of the formidable English force against him, the 
 Sicilians themselves in general hated the French, and declared 
 that they would have caused another "Sicilian Vespers" if they 
 came. He asked " how many troops Ferdinand had ?" I replied, 
 perhaps fifteen thousand men, of whom, however, we were very 
 doubtful, and consequently kept near Palermo, with the excep- 
 tion of a regiment of cavalry. He asked, " If our ships could 
 have kept the channel on the night that Murat had caused a laud- 
 ing to be made by a small body, and whether they could have 
 been kept at anchor along the Sicilian side of the Faro f I re- 
 plied, that I had no doubt the ships might have kept the channel 
 on that night ; that they might also have remained at anchor 
 along the Faro, but at a risk during the Scirocco winds, as the 
 bottom was a bad holding ground, and if the anchors went, the 
 ships must go on shore. He asked the name of the English 
 admiral. "That imbecile Murat," added he, "lost me about 
 twelve or thirteen hundred men by the foolish disembarkation he 
 made in Sicily. I know not what object he could have had in 
 view by thus landing a few men." I replied, that Murat had 
 said he intended to have landed with his whole army near the 
 
 • Tluck-Bkullod follow. 
 
 t it may be necessary to explain to the reader, that I was attached to the 
 flotilla against Murat in a mortar-boat, under the command of Captain Coffin, 
 B. N., daring the whole of the period alluded to.
 
 920 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 
 
 Faro, while this small body was intt'iided to act as a diversion 
 " Do you think that ho could have lauded on that night?" said 
 Napoleon. I replied, 1 thought lie could, as all our ships had 
 been withdrawn from their stations, and were locked up in the 
 harbor of Messina. Napoleon said, " If I had really intended 
 Murat to have taken Sicily, I would have pushed out the Toulon 
 flci't with thirty thousand men to eflect a landing near Palermo, 
 fntin whence the Heet should have proceeded directly to the 
 Faro, to cover Murat's landing. But it was only intended to 
 keep your English army doing nothing in Sicily by means of the 
 catiaglie* under Murat,f and not to take Sicily, as there were 
 few French troops with him, and I was apprehensive that your 
 army might have been employed elsewhere against me." ] 
 asked if there had been any secret treaty between Murat and the 
 English admiral and general, to allow Murat to withdraw with 
 his boats and troops without molestation. "No," said the em- 
 peror, " none that I know of. Why do you ask such a question ?" 
 I replied, " Because so little had been done to annoy them in 
 their retreat, that I often thought that some agreement must have 
 been made to let Murat withdraw quietly with his troops, provid- 
 ed he abandoned his enterprise." He laughed, and said, " There 
 was none, at least to my knowledge." 
 
 I then mentioned to him the plot to massacre the English 
 officers, and drive the English out of Sicily, said to have been 
 discovered in 1810, (I think) by*** "Caroline," said he, 
 " was very capable of forming such a plot. I believe, however, 
 that * * invented a great part of it, and also betrayed you at the 
 lime that he pretended to make such important discoveries. 
 Murat got information from some officer in the English service." 
 1 said that * * * had frequently gone over to Calabria disguised 
 
 * Mob. 
 
 t Murat was not aware of this. He wa.s sincere in his intentions of landing in 
 Sicily ; but on the night in which he wanted to embark all his army for that pur- 
 pose, General Grenier, who commanded the French troops with him, showed 
 him an order prohibiting them to make the attempt. This 1 iiuve been since 
 informed V)y a person who was minister at the time to the unfortunate King 
 Joachim.
 
 1817— APRIL. 321 
 
 as a peasant. " Very probably he betrayed you every time he 
 vent," replied Napoleon. 
 
 He spoke about the Corsicans : observed that they were brave 
 and revengeful by nature — the best friends, and the most inex 
 orable enemies in the world. " Their prominent national cha 
 racter," added he, "is never to forget a benefit or an injury 
 For the slightest insult in Corsica, ^ma archibvgiata* Murders 
 are consequently very common. At the same time, no people 
 are more grateful for benefits conferred, and they will not scruple 
 to sacrifice their lives for the person who bestowed them." 
 
 '^bth. — Had some conversation with Napoleon relative to Count 
 Bertrand having been stopped by the sentinel a few days back, 
 when going down towards Mr. Whilton's cottage. Napoleon 
 said that he supposed the sentinel had orders to stop all suspicious 
 persons, similar to those given to the one at Hut's Gate, and 
 observed, in a laughing manner, that the French were the only 
 susjncious people in the island. Told him that a report had 
 arrived in the island, of war having been declared between Spain 
 and America, and Russia and America. " Russia and America 1" 
 said he, — " Impossible. If it takes place, I shall never be aston- 
 ished again at any circumstance that happens. The Spaniards 
 will be well drubbed." I said that one of the American large 
 frigates could take a Spanish seventy-four. This he would not 
 believe. I then said that during the war with Spain, one of our 
 frigates, which were smaller than the Americans, would not have 
 been afraid to attack a Spanish seventy-four. Napoleon looked 
 at me in rather an incredulous manner, shook his head, laughed, 
 and said, " Sempre per la marina, dotiore* — she certainly would 
 have been taken." I replied that if the weather was bad, I did 
 not think so. He said that there had never been an instance on 
 record of a frigate's having taken a seventy-four. 
 
 29th. — Dined with Sir Pulteney Malcolm in town. Count Bal 
 maine came to pass the evening, during the course of which he 
 had a long conversation with me. He said that he had that day 
 met General Guurgaud near the alarm-house, and that finding 
 
 • A Bhot 
 
 f Always for the navy, Doctor. 
 
 14*
 
 822 A \OlCK FKoM ST. IlKLKNA. 
 
 hinist'lf in :i very di'Iioati" sitiiatitui. he li;ul told the fronor.il ihfl'. 
 his position was vorv oniliarrjissin<;, iis it appeared that he (Ba'- 
 maino) was an oljeet of suspicion to the governor ; that he must 
 consequently lie<r to decline any further communication with him 
 lieyond the custi>mary salutations of politeness, iiowev(\r uiiplea 
 sant it was to do so in a place where there was so little French 
 society, until after the arrival of the Conqueror, by which vessel 
 he expected instructions of importance, and such as would clearly 
 point out to him the line of conduct which he was in future to 
 pursue. That in doing this, he had rather gone beyond his pre- 
 sent instructions, which were not to eviier ccs messieurs la* but 
 to treat them precisely as he did the inhabitants and other resi- 
 dents on the island ; that he could not account for the suspicion 
 manifested by the governor, as it would not be supposed that he 
 was sent to betray. 
 
 Cipriani in town. On his return he related the obligations he 
 was under to Sir Thomas Reade, who was very busily employed 
 in assisting him to procure some hams and other articles of pro- 
 visions out of the company's stores. 
 
 oOth. — Napoleon has been occupied for some days in dictating 
 and writing observations upon the works of the Great Frederick. 
 Told me that when finished they might probably comprise some 
 five or six octavo volumes, and would consist of military obser- 
 vations and reflections only, with as much detail as would be 
 necessary for the explanation of the operations commented upon. 
 For several mornings he biis been up at 3 a. m. writing. Saw 
 several pages of his handwriting, which was much more legible 
 than any I had before seen. He observed, that formerly he was 
 frequently in the habit of writing only half or three quarters ot 
 each word, and running them into each other, which was not 
 attended with much inconvenience, as the secretaries had become 
 so well accustomed to it, that they could read it with nearly as 
 much facility as if it were written plainly ; that, however, no 
 person, except one well accustomed to his manner of writing, 
 could read it. Latterly, he said, he had begun to write a little 
 
 • Avoid tlioae persons.
 
 ISl'Z— MAY. S23 
 
 more legibly, in consequence of not being so much hurried as on 
 former occasions. 
 
 Napoleon then observed that I had made a considerable progress 
 in French since he had first seen me, "though you have," said 
 he, "a very bad accent. It has been said by some of the Eng- 
 lish, that 1 understand Italian better than French, which is not 
 true. Though I speak the Italian very fluently, it is not pure. 
 Non paria Toscana* nor am I capable of writing a book in Ita- 
 lian, nor do 1 ever speak it in preference to the French." 
 
 Speaking about Chateaubriand's attacks upon him, he observed, 
 "C"cs< un de ces laches qui crachent sur un cadavre. (He is one o( 
 those poltroons who spit upon a dead body.) Like Pichon and 
 others, he is one of those insects that feed upon a corpse which, 
 while living, they dared not approach." After some other con- 
 versation, I asked him if there had been a sufficiency of provi- 
 sions for his army on the retreat from Moscow, whether it might 
 not have been accomplished with a loss much smaller than that 
 which they had sustained? Napoleon answered, "No; the cold 
 would have destroyed them, even if they had had a sufficiency 
 of provisions. Those who had food died by hundreds. Even 
 the Russians themselves died like flies." 
 
 May 2d. — General Montholon very ill. Napoleon expressed 
 much anxiety about him. 
 
 4tk. — Baron Sturmer came inside of Longwood, and had some 
 conversation with the orderly oflicer relative to Napoleon. 
 
 Gth. — Saw Napoleon, to whom I gave a book, entitled, Moeurs 
 et Goutumes des Corses,\ which he ran over, frecjueiitly laughing 
 very heartily at several of the anecdotes which were recounted in 
 it. The author, he said, was an ignorantaccio^\ and wholly unac 
 quainted with many circumstances relative to the history, manu- 
 factures, &c., of Corsica ; in fact, that he was either a place-hunter 
 or a man who had been ben bastonato^^ by the Corsicans. That 
 many of the anecdotes he related respecting assassinations which 
 
 * I do not speak Tuscan. 
 
 t Manners and Customs of the Corsioans. 
 
 X Ignoramus. 
 
 i Well- beaten.
 
 S24 A VOICK FliOM .ST. HKLKNA. 
 
 had 1>oen comiuillod, wito true, Imt tlial tlu- C'orsicans were not 
 in (lio lKil)it of assassiiiatiti}? strnngors; that ihey were the best 
 friends and the worst enemies in the world ; that those who es- 
 P'^used a pjirty remained unchangeaV)le. " Even I," continued 
 h'^, "in the height of my power, eould never induce the English 
 [.arty to change tlu'ir opinions, though I ofTered to receive them 
 all into my service." 
 
 " The admiral," said he, " held a long conversation with me a 
 day or two ago. He praised the governor; said that I was mis- 
 taken in him ; that he was an extremely well-informed man, and 
 had a good heart at bottom. He was very anxious that I should 
 meet him, on an opportunity that soon would be afforded by the 
 arrival of the ambassador, when he suggested that we might 
 meet as if nothing had previously occurred. I told him that he 
 did not know the governor ; that until he changed his conduct, I 
 would not see him, unless by force. I observed that he might, 
 without any discussion, alter his restrictions, and treat me as I 
 would myself treat a person placed in a similar situation : in 
 fact, in a word, put matters upon the same footing as he found 
 them, or nearly so : but that it would answer no purpose for us 
 to meet. I complain of the ill treatment I receive. He says, 
 ' I comply w'ith my instructions.' This is always his excuse. 
 Now, although 1 am convinced that his instructions specify no 
 more than that he should take every precaution to prevent my 
 escape and otherwise to treat me well, and with as little possible 
 expense as may be, yet I could not well tell him that he asserted 
 a falsehood. All that I could reply would be by making a com- 
 parison (in doing which you must always exaggerate,) by liken- 
 ing him to a hangman, who, while he puts a rope round your 
 neck to dispatch you, only executes his orders ; but that is not a 
 reason that you should be obliged to make a companion of him, 
 or receive him until the moment of execution. — I could only say 
 this, and tell him that if such were his orders, he had disgraced 
 himself by accepting a dishonorable employment; that if he had 
 not, he was still worse, in being the contriver of such. As long 
 as he treats me a la Botany Bay, so long will not I see him. I
 
 1817 — MAT. 825 
 
 certainly would understand not to see the commissioners, and not 
 enter houses which he said he suspected." 
 
 " I told the admiral," continued he, " that I hoped the Prince 
 Regent would know of the treatment which I receive here. The 
 admiral said, that if I thought myself aggrieved, I ought to com- 
 plain, either to the Regent, or to the ministers. I think it would 
 be a degradation to me to complain to ministers who have 
 treated me so ill, and who act from hatred. The admiral strove 
 to excuse the governor, and declared that he knew it was the 
 intention of the English government to treat me well, and that 
 there must be some mistake or misconception, which would be 
 rectified. I told him, that you English were great 'egdistes,* very 
 fond of excusing each other and of praising your country and 
 yourselves ; but that to strangers, every thing was justifiable. I 
 spoke to him about the detention of the French prisoners, and 
 the reception of the prisoners who had broken their parole, of 
 which I had been accused. I explained, that the English were 
 first to begin ;" here Napoleon gave an explanation similar to 
 that which appears in a preceding part of the work. " I then 
 published in the Moniteur, the names of several English who had 
 violated their parole and escaped, before any Frenchman had 
 done the same. For it was much easier to escape in France 
 than in England, as the English prisoners were allowed great 
 liberty, and much more space than the French were in England. 
 But the fact is, that your ministers hate me, because I acted 
 vigorously, and always retaliated upon them. When they 
 blockaded France, I blockaded England, and I always made re- 
 prisals, which they had not been accustomed to under the feeble 
 government of the Bourbons, whom they used to insult at their 
 pleasure. I told him that the English would hereafter repent of 
 having prosecuted the war with so much hatred against me. If 
 they had left me in France, after my return from Elba, all 
 Europe would have been quiet, France contented, no internal 
 commotions, nor hatred against the English, for forcmg on the 
 nation a king whom they detested. The revolutionary spirit 
 which exists now against the actual government of France, may 
 
 * Egotists.
 
 326 A VOICE FROM ST. IIKLKNA. 
 
 find its way to England, and if so, there is no knowing how it 
 uiuy tenninato," 
 
 "I told him alst)," continued Napoleon, "that I had been well 
 pleased at the capture of Copenhagen, because it made bitter 
 oneniios of the Danes, without injuring me. For it was not 
 .-ihips that I wanted, but naval ollicers and seamen, who were all 
 left behind to man my vessels. I also informed him, that the 
 capture and robbery of the Spanish frigates pleased me; as it 
 caused you to be hated in Spain, where you might have been 
 and were popular before, and besides, was unworthy of a great 
 nation. I told him that I did not receive money direct from 
 Spain. That 1 got bills upon Vera Cruz, which certain agents 
 sent by circuitous routes, by Amsterdam, Hamburg, and other 
 places, to London, (as 1 had no direct communication.) The 
 bills were discounted by merchants in London, to whom ten 
 per cent., and sometimes a premium, was paid as their reward. 
 Bills were then given by them upon different bankers in Europe 
 for the greatest part of the amount, and the remainder in gold, 
 which last was brought over to France by the smugglers. Even 
 for the equipping my last expedition, a great part of the money 
 was raised in London." I asked if he meant that after his return 
 from Elba? He replied, "Yes, that last expedition." 
 
 " I told the admiral," continued Napoleon, " that you had been 
 the first violators of the peace of Amiens ; that your ministers, 
 who boast so much of not having acknowledged me as emperor, 
 were so conscious, themselves, of having been the violators of 
 the treaty, that they offered, through Lord Whitworth, to give 
 thirty millions of francs, and to assist, as much as lay in their 
 power, to make me King of France, if I would consent to the 
 English retaining Malta." I took the liberty of asking to whom 
 the proposal had beer, made? "To Malouei, who was minister 
 to Louis a short time ago," replied the emperor ; " my answer 
 to this offer was, ' Tell Lord Whitworth, that I will owe nothing 
 to strangers, or to their interference. If the French nation do 
 not, of themselves, create me king, foreign influence shall never 
 be employed by me to obtain it.' The fact is, that your minis- 
 ters always deceived the people by false and artful representar
 
 1817— MAY. 827 
 
 tiond, and are of the opinion expressed by the great Lord Chatham, 
 ' that if England acted towards France with justice for twenty- 
 four hours, she would be ruined.' 
 
 "The admiral," continued Napoleon, "is very well informed 
 about the history of the last years ; is really an Eiiglishnian, and 
 sticks up for his country whenever he can ; but notwithstanding, 
 he could not contradict several of the assertions 1 made to him 
 because they were incontrovertible facts. He returned fre 
 quently to the proposed interview with the ambassador, which 
 he is most desirous should take place. I am convinced that no 
 good would arise from it. I wish," added he, " that he should 
 know my sentiments on these matters." 
 
 I remarked, that perhaps his refusing to see the ambassador 
 might be construed into an insult to the British government, and 
 to the nation, which he represented. Napoleon replied, " It can- 
 not admit of such a construction. He is not sent as an ambas- 
 sador to St. Helena. He was ambassador to the Emperor of 
 China, and at St. Helena can only appear in his private capacity. 
 Consequently, there is no necessity for his being introduced by 
 the governor. If he wants to see me, let him go to Bertrand, 
 without being accompanied by any of the governor's people ; 
 then wp will see about it. However, I think it would be better 
 for both, that it should not take place. For if 1 receive him, I 
 must put on an appearance of cheerfulness, and clothe my face 
 with smiles ; as it is contrary to my custom to receive any per- 
 son otherwise. Then, I must either be obliged to make com- 
 plaints to a stranger of the barbarous treatment I receive here, 
 which is lessening to the dignity and character of a man like 
 me ; or else, I must furnish an ooportunity to this governor to 
 fill the ambassador's heaa witn lies, ana make him observe, that 
 I am so well treated, that I have made no complaints, that I 
 want for nothing, that for me on a tous les egards possibles* and 
 enable him to write home a bulletin of falsehoods, with an appeal 
 to the ambassador in proof of the truth of them. So that it 
 would place ine in an awkward dilemma, and one which it would 
 be better to avoid." 
 
 * They pay me ovory ntlontion possible.
 
 828 A VOICK FROM ST. 1IK1,ENA. 
 
 He was very anxious in his iiujuiiios almnt Capta.n Moynell, 
 who WHS very danijoroiisly ill. Geiu'ial Moiitholi.n much better. 
 
 I showod him (ho Navtil Chroniolo, in which there was a long 
 article about the death of Captain Wright, "No person," said 
 Napoleon, " assorts positively that he had seen him murdered ; 
 and the principal evidence who testifies to the belief of it, was a 
 man who was himself in prison. Let him be asked for what 
 crime he was thrown into a jail. It is not a place for honest 
 people, or for those whose testimony could be relied upon. If I 
 had acted properly, I should hivve ordered Wright to be tried by 
 a military commission as a spy, and shot within twenty-four 
 hours, which, by the laws of war, I was entitled to do. What 
 would your ministers, or even your parliament, have done to a 
 French captain that was discovered landing assassins in England 
 to murder King George ? If I had, in retaliation of the assassins 
 sent to murder me, sent others to murder * * * and the Bourbon 
 princes, what would have been done to the captain of the vessel 
 who had landed them in England, if he were taken 1 They 
 would not have been so lenient as I was with Wright. Thoy 
 would have had him tried and executed sur le champ."* 
 
 * Immediately. 
 
 ■ND OF yOL L
 
 Old Spanish Romances. 
 
 Illustrated by 48 beautiful Etchings by R. de Los Rios. 12 vols, 
 crown 8vo, cloth |i8.oo ; half calf extra, or, half morocco, I36.00. 
 
 The History of Don Quixote of la Mancha. 
 
 Translated from the Spanish of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra by 
 Motteux. With copious notes (including the Spanish Ballads), and 
 an Essay on the Life and Writings of Cervantes, by John G. Lockhart. 
 Preceded by a Short Notice of the Life and Works of Peter Anthony 
 Motteux, by Henri Van Laun. Illustrated with sixteen original 
 etchings by R. de Los Rios. 4 vols., post 8vo, 1,758 pp., $6.00. 
 
 Lazarillo de Tormes. (Life and Adventures of) 
 
 Translated from the Spanish of Don Diego Hurtado De Mendoza, 
 by Thomas Roscoe. Also, the Life and Adventures of 
 Guzman d'AlfaracIie; or, Tlie Spanish Rogue, by 
 Mateo Aleman. Translated from the French edition of Le Sage, 
 by John Henry Brady. Illustrated with eight original etchings by 
 R. de Los Rios. 2 vols., post 8vo, 729 pp., I3.00. 
 
 Asmodeus, or the Devil upon Two Sticks. 
 
 Preceded by dialogues, serious and comic between Two Chimneys 
 of Madrid. Translated from the French of Alain Ren6 Le Sage. 
 Illustrated with four orginal etchings by R, de Los Rios, i vol., 
 post8 vo., 332 pp., I1.50. 
 
 The Bachelor of Salamanca. ByLeSage. Trans- 
 lated from the French by James Townsend. Illustrated with four 
 original etchings by R. de Los Rios. i vol., postSvo, 400 pp., I1.50. 
 
 Vanillo Gonzales, or the Merry Bachelor. By 
 
 Le Sage. Translated from the French. Illustrated with four original 
 etchings by R. de Los Rios. i vol., post 8vo. 455 pp., I1.50. 
 
 The Adventures of Gil Bias of Santillane. 
 
 Translated from the French of Le Sage by Tobias Smollett. With 
 biographical and critical notice of Le Sage by George Saintsbur\ . 
 New edition, carefully revised. Illustrated with twelve original etcli 
 ingsby R. de Los Rios. 3 vols., post 8vo. 1,200 pp., $4.50. 
 
 F*RESs Notices. 
 
 "This prettily printed and prettily illustrated collection of Spanish Ro- 
 mances deserve their welcome from all students of seventeenth century liter- 
 ature."— 77/^ Titnes. 
 
 "A handy and beautiful edition of the works of the Spanish masters of 
 romance We may say of thisedition of the immortal work of Cer- 
 vantes that it is most tastefully and admirably executed, and that it is em- 
 bellished with a series of striking etchings from the pen of the Spanish artist 
 De los Rios."- Z^a/Zy Telegraph. 
 
 "Handy in form, they are well printed from clear type, and are got up 
 with much elegance; the etchings are full of humor and force The read- 
 ing public have reason to congratulate tliemselves that so neat, compact, and 
 well arranged an editum nf romances that can never die is put within their 
 reach. The publisher has spared no pains witn them." -Scotsman.
 
 Popular editions of the Spanish R'jmances. 
 Asmodeus; or, the Devil upon Two Sticks. 
 
 My A. R. Le Sai^e. \Vitli tk-sii^ns by Tony Joliannot. 'lianslaliicl 
 Iroiu the French. Willi fourteen Illustrations. Post 8vo, 332 pp., 
 paper, 5octs.. cloth jfi. 00. 
 
 A new illustrated edition of one of the masterpieces of the world of fictfon 
 
 The Bachelor of Salamanca. ByLeSase. Trans- 
 
 laud Ironi tile l-ivnch by James Tounseiul, with five illustratione 
 by R. lie Los Rios. 400 pp., paper, 50 cts., cloth |;i.oo. 
 
 Adventures related in an amusing manner. The writer exhibits remark- 
 able boldness, force, and orifjinality while charminK us by his surprising 
 th^hts i>f imagination and his iirofound knowledge of Spanish character. 
 
 Vanillo Gonzales, or the Merry Bachelor. By 
 
 Le Sage. Translated from the French. With tive illustrations bj 
 R. de Los Rios. 455 paji:es, paper 50 cts., cloth |i. 00. 
 
 Audacious, witty, and entertaining in the highest degree. 
 
 The Adventures of Gil Bias of Santillane. 
 
 Translated from the French of Le Sage by Tobias Smollett. With 
 biographical and critical notice of Le Sage by George Saintsbury. 
 New edition, carefully revised. With twelve illustrations by R. d« 
 Los Rios. 3 vols., post 8vo, 1,200 pp., cloth fo.oo. 
 A classic in the realm of entertaining literature. 
 
 Napoleon. Memoirs of the Life, Exile, and Conversations of the 
 Emperor Napoleon, by the Count de Las Cases. With eight steel 
 portraits, maps and illustrations. Four vols., post 8vo, each 400 
 pp., cloth, jfs.oo, half calf e.xtra, |io.oo. 
 
 With his Son the Count devoted himself at St. Helena to the care of the Em- 
 peror, and passed his evenings in recording his remarks. 
 
 Napoleon in Exile; or A Voice from St. Helena. 
 
 Opinions and Reflections of Napoleon on the Most Important Events 
 in his Life and Government, in his own words. By Barry E. 
 O'Meara, his late Surgeon. Portrait of Napoleon, after Delaroche, 
 and a view of St. Helena, both on steel. 2 vols., post Svo, 662 pp., 
 cloth I2.50, in half calf extra, ;f;5.oo. 
 
 Mr. O'Meara's work contains a body of the most interesting and valuable 
 information- information the accuracy of which stands unimpeached by any 
 attacks made against its author. The details in Las Cases' work and those of 
 Mr. O'Meara mutually support each other. 
 
 Shakespeare Portrayed by Himself, a Reveia> 
 
 Ikjh of the Poet in the Career and Character of one of his own Dr* 
 matic Heroes. By Robert Waters, i vol., i2mo., cloth extra, I1.25. 
 In this able and interesting work on Shakespeare, the author shows con- 
 clusively how our great poet revealed himself, his life, and his character. It 
 is written in good and clear language, exceedingly picturesque, and is alto- 
 gether the best popular life of Shakespeare that has yet appeared. 
 
 Cobbett's, (Wm.) English Grammar. Edited by 
 
 Robert Waters, i vol., i2mo., cloth li.oo. 
 
 'Of all the books on English grammar that I have met with, Cobbett's 
 seems to me the best, and, indeed, the only one to be used with advantage t» 
 teaching English. His style is a model of correctness, of clearness, and of 
 strength. He wrote English with uncon.scious en^G."— Richard Grant White 
 
 "The best English grammar extant for s>&\{-m?Xrwc\.\o-!\."— School Board 
 Chronicle. " As interesting as a story-book."— //dz////. 
 
 "The only amusing grammar in the world."- Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer. 
 
 "Written with vigor, energy, and courage, joined to a force of understand 
 ing, a degree ot logical power, and force of expression which has rarely been 
 equalled "-- Saturday Revh-iV
 
 A VISIT TO CEYLON 
 
 BT 
 
 ERNEST HAECKEL, 
 
 raonteos ik thb univbrsitt of jena. author of "thb history or crxation," 
 " history of thb bvolution op man," ktc. 
 
 WITH PORTRAIT, AND MAP OF INDIA AND CEYLON. 
 
 TB.ft.-N.Sl^&.T'El'D BY O'Lifi.'B.fi. B-ElILLl. 
 
 One yolome, post 8vo, 348 pages, extra vellum cloth, $1.00. 
 
 Before venturing on this memorable voyage to India and Ceylon, whose results have 
 delighted and entranced many readers in both hemispheres, our enthusiastic author, 
 having conferred many zoological titles in honor of the ;iiii:;ust divinity that controls and 
 governs the solar orb, claimed in returu special consideration and protection from the 
 occult forces of that brilliant luminary, and hoping to l)e favored with pleasant and agree 
 able weather during the entire voyage, he made, with all the solemnity that becomes a 
 scientist, the following propitiatory invocation to Hettos, the benignant god of the Sun: 
 
 " I beseech thee, adored Sun-god, that this, my zoological tribute, may find favor in 
 thine eyes I Guide me, safe and sound, to India, that I may labor in thy light, and return 
 home under thy protection in the spring."— //a^c/t?/'i Visit to Ceylon, page jo. 
 
 " These letters constitute one of the most charming books of travel ever published, quit* 
 worth/ of baiiijc placed by the side of Darwin's ' Voyage of the Biaglt.' "—l^mtwn.
 
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