“I hereby solemnly protest in the face of heaven and mankind, against
the violence that is done me; and the violation of my most sacred
rights, in forcibly disposing of my person and liberty. I voluntarily
came on board the Bellerophon—I am not the prisoner, I am the guest of
England. I came at the instigation of the Captain himself, who said he
had orders from the Government to receive and convey me to England,
together with my suite, if agreeable to me. I came forward with
confidence to place myself under the protection of the laws of England.
When once on board the Bellerophon, I was entitled to the hospitality of
the British people. If the Government, in giving the Captain of the
Bellerophon orders to receive me and my followers, only wished to lay a
snare, it has forfeited its honour and disgraced its flag.
“If this act be consummated it will be in vain for the English
henceforth to talk of their sincerity, their laws, and liberties.
British faith will have been lost in the hospitality of the Bellerophon.
“I appeal to history: it will say that an enemy who made war for twenty
years against the English people came spontaneously, in the hour of
misfortune, to seek an asylum under their laws. What more striking proof
could he give of his esteem and confidence? But how did England reply to
such an act of magnanimity? It pretended to hold out a hospitable hand
to this enemy; and, on giving himself up with confidence, he was
immolated!
(Signed) “NAPOLEON.”
_Bellerophon at Sea,_ _Friday, Aug._ 4th, 1815.
The Duke de Rovigo told me that the Emperor had demanded permission to
send me to the Prince Regent at London, but that it was obstinately
refused.
The sea was rough, and the wind blew with violence. Most of us were
affected with sea-sickness. But what cannot the pre-occupation of the
mind effect over physical infirmities! This was perhaps the only time in
my life that I was not incommoded by such weather. On leaving Plymouth
Sound, we stood to the eastward before the wind, but were soon after
close-hauled, tacking backwards and forwards, without being able to
comprehend the cause of this new source of torment.
5th.—The whole of this day was passed in the same manner. While
conversing with the Emperor in the evening he gave me two proofs of
confidence, but I cannot now confide them to paper.[9]
Footnote 9:
There is, however, one of these proofs which I am now at liberty to
disclose. While walking in the stern-gallery with the Emperor, at the
usual hour, he drew from under his waistcoat, still conversing on a
totally different subject, a species of girdle, which he handed to me,
saying, “Take care of that for me;” without interrupting him, I placed
it under my own waistcoat. The Emperor told me, soon after, that it
contained a diamond necklace, worth two hundred thousand francs, which
Queen Hortensia forced him to accept on his leaving Malmaison. After
our arrival at St. Helena I frequently spoke of returning the
necklace, but never received any reply. Having ventured to mention the
subject again when we were at Longwood, Napoleon drily asked, “Does it
annoy you?”—“No, Sire,” was my answer;—“Keep it then,” said he. From
wearing the girdle so long, the necklace became as it were identified
with my person; and I thought so little about it that it was not till
some days after my being torn from Longwood, and by the merest
accident, it recurred to my memory; when I shuddered at the idea of
depriving the Emperor of such a resource. For how would it be possible
now to make restitution? I was in the most rigorous confinement,
surrounded by gaolers and sentinels, so that all communication was
impracticable. I vainly endeavoured to contrive a plan; time pressed;
only a few days were left, and nothing could be more distressing than
thus to quit the island. In this predicament, I resolved to run all
risks. An Englishman, to whom I had often spoken, came to the prison
on a particular errand—and it was under the eyes of the Governor
himself, or one of his most confidential agents whom he brought, that
I ventured to communicate my wishes.
“I think you are a man of principle,” said I, “and I am going to put
it to the test;—though with nothing injurious or contrary to your
honour—merely a rich deposit to be restored to Napoleon. If you accept
the charge, my son will put it into your pocket.”
He answered only by slackening his pace; my son, whom I had prepared
for the scene, followed him, and the necklace was transferred into
this man’s possession, almost in sight of the military attendants.
Before quitting the island, I had the inexpressible satisfaction of
knowing that the necklace had reached the hands of the Emperor. How
gratifying to the heart are the recollection and recital of such a
trait on the part of an enemy, and under such circumstances!