Upon the Northumberland crossing the line, the emperor desiring to
exhibit his munificence to the seamen, by presenting them with a hundred
louis d'or, under pretext of paying the ordinary fine, Sir George
Cockburn, considering this tribute to Neptune as too excessive in
amount, would not permit the donative to exceed a tenth part of the sum;
and Napoleon offended by the restriction, paid nothing at all. Upon
another occasion, early in the voyage, a difference in national manners
gave rise to one of those slight misunderstandings which we have
noticed. Napoleon was accustomed, like all Frenchmen, to leave the table
immediately after dinner, and Sir George Cockburn, with the English
officers, remained after him at table; for, in permitting his French
guests their liberty, the admiral did not choose to admit the right of
Napoleon to break up the party at his, Sir George's, own table. This
gave some discontent. Notwithstanding these trifling subjects of
dissatisfaction, Las Cases informs us that the admiral, whom he took to
be prepossessed against them at first, became every day more amicable.
The emperor used to take his arm every evening on the quarter-deck, and
hold long conversations with him upon maritime subjects, as well as past
events in general.
While on board the Northumberland, the late emperor spent his mornings
in reading or writing; his evenings in his exercise upon deck, and at
cards. The game was generally _vingt un_. But when the play became
rather deep, he discouraged that amusement, and substituted chess. Great
tactician as he was, Napoleon did not play well at that military game,
and it was with difficulty that his antagonist, Montholon, could avoid
the solecism, of beating the emperor.
During this voyage, Napoleon's _jour de fête_ occurred, which was also
his birthday. It was the 15th of August; a day for which the Pope had
expressly canonized a St. Napoleon to be the emperor's patron. And now,
strange revolution, it was celebrated by him on board of an English
man-of-war, which was conducting him to his place of imprisonment, and,
as it proved, his tomb. Yet Napoleon seemed cheerful and contented
during the whole day, and was even pleased at being fortunate at play,
which he received as a good omen.
Upon the 15th of October, 1815, the Northumberland reached St. Helena,
which presents but an unpromising aspect to those who design it for a
residence, though it may be a welcome sight to the seaworn mariner. Its
destined inhabitant, from the deck of the Northumberland, surveyed it
with his spy-glass. St. James' Town, an inconsiderable village, was
before him, enchased, as it were in a valley, amid arid and scarped
rocks of immense height; every platform, every opening, every gorge, was
bristled with cannon. Las Cases, who stood by him, could not perceive
the slightest alteration of his countenance. The orders of government
had been, that Napoleon should remain on board till a residence could be
prepared suitable for the line of life he was to lead in future. But as
this was likely to be a work of time, Sir George Cockburn readily
undertook, on his own responsibility, to put his passengers on shore,
and provide in some way for the security of Napoleon's person, until the
necessary habitation should be fitted up. He was accordingly transferred
to land upon the 16th of October; and thus the emperor of France, nay,
wellnigh of Europe, sunk into the recluse of St. Helena.