have to acquaint you that the Count Las Cases and General Lallemand
this day came on board His Majesty's ship under my command, with a
proposal from Count Bertrand for me to receive on board Napoleon
Buonaparte, for the purpose of throwing himself on the generosity of
the Prince Regent. Conceiving myself authorised by their Lordships'
secret order, I have acceded to the proposal, and he is to embark on
board this ship to-morrow morning. That no misunderstanding might
arise, I have explicitly and clearly explained to Count Las Cases,
that I have no authority whatever for granting terms of any sort, but
that all I can do is to carry him and his suite to England, to be
received in such manner as his Royal Highness may deem expedient.
"At Napoleon Buonaparte's request, and that their Lordships may be in
possession of the transaction at as early a period as possible, I
despatch the Slaney (with General Gourgaud, his Aide de Camp),
directing Captain Sartorius to put into the nearest port, and forward
this letter by his first Lieutenant, and shall in compliance with
their Lordships' orders proceed to Torbay, to await such directions as
the Admiralty may think proper to give.
"Enclosed, I transmit a copy of the letter with which General
Gourgaud is charged, to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and
request that you will acquaint their Lordships, that the General
informs me, he is entrusted with further particulars, which he is
anxious to communicate to his Royal Highness."
When these gentlemen had left the ship, as well as the Saale's barge,
I said to Monsieur Las Cases, I propose dividing the after-cabin in
two, that the ladies may have the use of one part of it. "If you allow
me to give an opinion," said he, "the Emperor will be better pleased
to have the whole of the after-cabin to himself, as he is fond of
walking about, and will by that means be able to take more exercise."
I answered, "As it is my wish to treat him with every possible
consideration while he is on board the ship I command, I shall make
any arrangement you think will be most agreeable to him."
This is the only conversation that ever passed on the subject of the
cabin; and I am the more particular in stating it, as Buonaparte has
been described, in some of the public Journals, as having taken
possession of it in a most brutal way, saying, "Tout ou rien pour
moi:"--All or nothing for me. I here therefore, once for all, beg to
state most distinctly, that, from the time of his coming on board my
ship, to the period of his quitting her, his conduct was invariably
that of a gentleman; and in no one instance do I recollect him to have
made use of a rude expression, or to have been guilty of any kind of
ill-breeding.
As the ship had for some time been kept clear for action, with all the
bulkheads down, it became necessary to prepare for the reception of so
many guests, by putting the cabins up again: in consequence of making
the requisite arrangements, it was past one o'clock in the morning
before I could get to bed. About ten at night, the officer of the
watch informed me that a boat from the shore had asked permission to
come alongside. A man being allowed to come on board from her; "I am
sent off from Rochelle," said he, "to inform you that Buonaparte this
morning passed that town in a chasse-maree, with another in company,
for the purpose of escaping to sea by the Pertuis de Breton: he is now
in that passage, and means to set sail this night." I told him, "that
I doubted his information, having at that moment one of his attendants
on board, who had come with a proposal for me to receive him into the
ship." I then asked him how he came by his intelligence? He answered,
"The vessels passed close to a boat that I was in; and I saw a man
wrapt up in a sailor's great coat, whom one of the people with me
asserted to be him: for my part, I am not acquainted with his
appearance, never having seen him; but when the owner of the vessels
attempted to go on board of them, he was kept off, and told that they
were required for two or three days, when they would be restored with
ample payment." He told his story so circumstantially, and with such
confidence, that I feared there must be grounds for what he stated;
and the anxiety of my situation may be easily conceived, when it is
recollected that I had sent off a ship to England with despatches,
announcing the intention of Buonaparte to embark the following morning
in the Bellerophon. After a little consideration, I determined to
inform Las Cases abruptly of the intelligence I had received, and
endeavour to judge by the effect it had on his countenance, whether
there was any truth in the report or not. I accordingly went into the
cabin and did so; he seemed perfectly calm and collected, saying,
"Pray at what hour does your informant state the Emperor to have
passed Rochelle?" "At ten A.M." "Then I can safely assert, on my
honour, that he was not in either of those vessels. I left him at
half-past five this evening, when it was his full intention to come on
board this ship to-morrow morning; what he may have done since that
hour, I cannot be responsible for." I answered, "As you give your word
of honour that Buonaparte had not left Isle d'Aix when you quitted it,
I shall trust to what you say, and take no steps in consequence of the
information that has been brought to me, but conclude it has
originated in some mistake."
About three in the morning, the officer of the watch awoke me, and
said that another boat wished to come alongside. I rose and went upon
deck immediately, and found that she brought the same intelligence
from another quarter; and they both eventually proved correct, to a
certain extent: for two chasse-marees, as I was afterwards informed,
had been prepared, manned, and officered from the frigates, to be used
as a last resource to attempt an escape in, in the event of Las
Cases' mission to the Bellerophon not being successful; and they had
actually passed Rochelle, in their way to Pointeau d'Aguillon, at the
hour specified, and were there to await his joining them should it
prove necessary.[3]
[Footnote 3: Chasse-Marees are small decked vessels, rigged
as luggers; they are generally from twenty to thirty-five
tons burthen, and are used almost exclusively for the
coasting trade of France. Though there is no doubt that,
during the summer months, a vessel of this description might
succeed in making the voyage to America; yet if we take into
consideration the indolent habits that Buonaparte had of late
years given way to; the very small space for the
accommodation of himself and suite, and for the stowage of
provisions, water, and other necessaries; that there was no
friendly port he could have touched at, to gain
supplies;--the utter impracticability of his reaching his
destination in a vessel of that description, even if he had
eluded the vigilance of our cruisers, will at once be evident
to every one.]
After I had determined to abide by Las Cases' assurance, that
Buonaparte had not quitted Isle d'Aix, I enquired of the person who
brought off the information in the evening, "What was the state of
Rochelle, and whether I might with safety send a boat there to
purchase refreshments?" as the white flag was then hoisted all over
the town; he said, "he would not recommend it, as, though the
towns-people were well inclined towards the Bourbon family, the
garrison, consisting of four thousand men, were all attached to
Buonaparte; but if he were once on board the ship, there would be no
risk in doing so, as their fear of his meeting with bad treatment
would keep the soldiers in awe."
At break of day, on the 15th of July, 1815, l'Epervier French brig of
war was discovered under sail, standing out towards the ship, with a
flag of truce up; and at the same time the Superb, bearing Sir Henry
Hotham's flag, was seen in the offing. By half-past five the ebb-tide
failed, the wind was blowing right in, and the brig, which was within
a mile of us, made no further progress; while the Superb was
advancing with the wind and tide in her favour. Thus situated, and
being most anxious to terminate the affair I had brought so near a
conclusion, previous to the Admiral's arrival, I sent off Mr Mott, the
First Lieutenant, in the barge, who returned soon after six o'clock,
bringing Napoleon with him.
On coming on board the Bellerophon, he was received without any of the
honours generally paid to persons of high rank; the guard was drawn
out on the break of the poop, but did not present arms. His Majesty's
Government had merely given directions, in the event of his being
captured, for his being removed into any one of his Majesty's ships
that might fall in with him; but no instructions had been given as to
the light in which he was to be viewed. As it is not customary,
however, on board a British ship of war, to pay any such honours
before the colours are hoisted at eight o'clock in the morning, or
after sunset, I made the early hour an excuse for withholding them
upon this occasion.
Buonaparte's dress was an olive-coloured great coat over a green
uniform, with scarlet cape and cuffs, green lapels turned back and
edged with scarlet, skirts hooked back with bugle horns embroidered in
gold, plain sugar-loaf buttons and gold epaulettes; being the uniform
of the Chasseur a Cheval of the Imperial Guard. He wore the star, or
grand cross of the Legion of Honour, and the small cross of that
order; the Iron Crown; and the Union, appended to the button-hole of
his left lapel. He had on a small cocked hat, with a tri-coloured
cockade; plain gold-hilted sword, military boots, and white waistcoat
and breeches. The following day he appeared in shoes, with gold
buckles, and silk stockings--the dress he always wore afterwards,
while with me.
On leaving the Epervier, he was cheered by her ship's company as long
as the boat was within hearing; and Mr Mott informed me that most of
the officers and men had tears in their eyes.
General Bertrand came first up the ship's side, and said to me, "The
Emperor is in the boat." He then ascended, and, when he came on the
quarter-deck, pulled off his hat, and, addressing me in a firm tone of
voice, said, "I am come to throw myself on the protection of your
Prince and laws." When I showed him into the cabin, he looked round
and said, "Une belle chambre," "This is a handsome cabin." I answered,
"Such as it is, Sir, it is at your service while you remain on board
the ship I command." He then looked at a portrait that was hanging
up, and said, "Qui est cette jeune personne?" "Who is that young
lady?" "My wife," I replied. "Ah! elle est tres jeune et tres jolie,"
"Ah! she is both young and pretty."[4] He then asked what countrywoman
she was, begged to know if I had any children, and put a number of
questions respecting my country, and the service I had seen. He next
requested I would send for the officers, and introduce them to him:
which was done according to their rank. He asked several questions of
each, as to the place of his birth, the situation he held in the ship,
the length of time he had served, and the actions he had been in. He
then expressed a desire to go round the ship; but, as the men had not
done cleaning, I told him it was customary to clean the lower decks
immediately after their breakfast, that they were then so employed,
and, if he would defer visiting the ship until they had finished, he
would see her to more advantage.
[Footnote 4: I have been induced to insert Buonaparte's
observation on Mrs M.'s portrait, as well as one he made on
seeing her alongside of the Bellerophon in Plymouth Sound, as
they show, in a strong point of view, a peculiar trait in his
character; that of making a favourable impression on those
with whom he conversed, by seizing every opportunity of
saying what he considered would be pleasing and flattering to
their feelings.
[I have passed over the important and interesting passage
respecting Mrs M. I trust she will consent it should remain,
for I think everything connected with such a remarkable
passage of history becomes historical. Perhaps it will
somewhat change the view of the subject, and relieve Mrs M.'s
delicacy, if we consider it not as immediately applicable to
Mrs M. personally, but as a point illustrative of Bonaparte's
address. It was of importance to him to secure Capt.
Maitland's good opinion, and he took a delicate and ingenious
way of giving pleasure. I have always understood that there
could be only one opinion of the justice of the compliment,
yet I think the praise would have been bestowed even had the
portrait less charm. I do pray that Mrs M. will consent to be
_immortal_.--SCOTT.]]
At this time I proposed to him to allow me to address him in English,
as I had heard he understood that language, and I had considerable
difficulty in expressing myself in French. He replied in French, "The
thing is impossible; I hardly understand a word of your language:" and
from the observations I had an opportunity of making afterwards, I am
satisfied he made a correct statement, as, on looking into books or
newspapers, he frequently asked the meaning of the most common word.
He spoke his own language with a rapidity that at first made it
difficult to follow him; and it was several days before I got so far
accustomed to his manner of speaking, as to comprehend his meaning
immediately.
In about a quarter of an hour, he again intimated a desire to go round
the ship; and although I told him he would find the men rubbing and
scouring, he persisted in his wish of seeing her in the state she then
was. He accordingly went over all her decks, asking me many questions;
more particularly about any thing that appeared to him different from
what he had been accustomed to see in French ships of war. He seemed
most struck with the cleanliness and neatness of the men, saying "that
our seamen were surely a different class of people from the French;
and that he thought it was owing to them we were always victorious at
sea." I answered, "I must beg leave to differ with you: I do not wish
to take from the merit of our men; but my own opinion is, that perhaps
we owe our advantage to the superior experience of the officers; and I
believe the French seamen, if taken as much pains with, would look as
well as ours. As British ships of war are constantly at sea, the
officers have nothing to divert their attention from them and their
men; and in consequence, not only is their appearance more attended
to, but they are much better trained to the service they have to
perform."
"I believe you are right," said he. He then went on to talk of
several naval actions; adding, "Your laws are either more severe, or
better administered, than ours; there are many instances of French
officers having conducted themselves ill in battle, without my being
able to punish them as they deserved:" among others, he mentioned the
names of two naval officers; and speaking of one of them, said, "He
ought to have suffered death, and I did all I could to bring it about,
but he was tried by a French naval court-martial, which only dismissed
him the service." I observed, "The laws appear sometimes to be
administered with more than sufficient severity. I commanded a frigate
in the affair of Basque Roads; and in my opinion, the sentence of
death on the Captain of the Calcutta was unjust: he could do no more
to save his ship, and she was defended better and longer than any one
there." He answered, "You are not aware of the circumstances that
occasioned his condemnation; he was the first man to quit his ship,
which was fought some time by her officers and crew after he had left
her."
He next said, "I can see no sufficient reason why your ships should
beat the French with so much ease. The finest men of war in your
service are French; a French ship is heavier in every respect than one
of yours, she carries more guns, those guns of a larger calibre, and
has a great many more men." I replied, "I have already accounted for
it to you, in the superior experience of our men and officers." "I
understand," said he, "from some Frenchmen who were on board your ship
for several days,[5] that you take great pains in exercising your
guns, and training your men to fire at a mark." I answered, "I did so,
because I considered it of the greatest importance;" and I added,
"that if the frigates had attempted to put to sea, he would probably
have had an opportunity of seeing the effect of it." He asked me "if I
thought two frigates, with four-and-twenty pounders on their main
decks,[6] were a match for a seventy-four gun ship; and whether it was
my opinion, if he had attempted to force a passage in the ships at
Isle d'Aix, it would have been attended with success." I replied,
"that the fire of a two-deck ship was so much more compact, and
carried such an immense weight of iron, in proportion to that of a
frigate, and there was so much difficulty in bringing two or three
ships to act with effect at the same time upon one, that I scarcely
considered three frigates a match for one line-of-battle ship;--that,
with respect to forcing a passage past the Bellerophon, it must have
depended greatly on accident, but the chances were much against it; as
the frigates would have had to beat out against the wind for three or
four leagues, though a narrow passage, exposed to the fire of a
seventy-four gun ship, which, from being to windward, would have had
the power of taking the position most advantageous for herself." He
then said, reverting to what had passed before about firing at marks,
"You have a great advantage over France in your finances: I have long
wished to introduce the use of powder and shot in exercise; but the
expense was too great for the country to bear." He examined the sights
on the guns, and approved of them highly; asked the weight of metal on
the different decks, disapproving of the mixture of different calibres
on the quarter-deck and forecastle. I told him the long nines were
placed in the way of the rigging, that they might carry the fire from
the explosion clear of it, which a carronade would not do: he
answered, "That may be necessary, but it must be attended with
inconvenience." His enquiries were generally much to the purpose, and
showed that he had given naval matters a good deal of consideration.
[Footnote 5: They were part of the officers and crew of the
AEneas store-ship, mentioned as having been detained on the
18th of June, who were on board the Bellerophon about a week,
and were landed at Isle d'Aix, in a chasse-maree, a few days
before Buonaparte's arrival there.]
[Footnote 6: I was afterwards told, that one of the frigates,
at Isle d'Aix, had changed her eighteen pounders for
twenty-fours.]
On seeing the additional supply of wads for each deck made up along
with the shot-boxes, in the form of sophas, with neat canvass covers,
he observed, "The French ships of war have all the preparations for
action that you have, but they have not the way of combining
appearance with utility."
We had breakfast about nine o'clock, in the English style, consisting
of tea, coffee, cold meat, &c. He did not eat much, or seem to relish
it; and when, on enquiry, I found he was accustomed to have a hot meal
in the morning, I immediately ordered my steward to allow his Maitre
d'Hotel to give directions, that he might invariably be served in the
manner he had been used to; and after that we always lived in the
French fashion, as far as I could effect that object.
During breakfast he asked many questions about English customs,
saying, "I must now learn to conform myself to them, as I shall
probably pass the remainder of my life in England."
The Superb, as I before observed, had been seen in the offing early in
the morning, and was now approaching with a light breeze: he asked two
or three times how soon she would anchor, seemed very anxious to know
whether the Admiral would approve of my having received him; and when
I went to wait on Sir Henry Hotham, requested I would say he was
desirous of seeing him.
The Superb anchored about half-past ten, and I immediately went on
board, and gave the Admiral an account of all that had occurred,
adding, "I trust I have done right, and that the Government will
approve of my conduct, as I considered it of much importance to
prevent Buonaparte's escape to America, and to get possession of his
person." Sir Henry Hotham said, "Getting hold of him on any terms
would have been of the greatest consequence; but as you have entered
into no conditions whatever, there cannot be a doubt that you will
obtain the approbation of his Majesty's Government."
He then said, "How do you feel as to keeping him? would you like to
part with him?" "Certainly not," was my answer: "as I have had all the
anxiety and responsibility of conducting this matter to an issue, I am
of course desirous of taking him to England; but, as I do not wish to
keep him, or any man, in my ship against his will, if he desires to
remove into another, I shall certainly not object."
I then delivered Buonaparte's message, that he was desirous of
receiving a visit from the Admiral, who said he would wait upon him
with much pleasure.
I soon after returned to the Bellerophon, and told Buonaparte that the
Admiral meant to wait on him; upon which he desired Count Bertrand to
go and pay his respects to Sir Henry. I accompanied him, and while the
Admiral was preparing for his visit, Captain Senhouse attended General
Bertrand through the ship.
In the afternoon, Sir Henry Hotham, accompanied by Captain Senhouse,
and Mr Irving, his secretary, came on board the Bellerophon. They were
introduced to Buonaparte by General Bertrand, in the after-cabin,
where he had a good deal of conversation with them: he showed his
portable library, which was laid out in small travelling cases round
the cabin; asked various questions, principally relative to the
discipline and regulation of our ships of war, and finally invited
them all to remain to dinner.
Dinner was served about five o'clock upon Buonaparte's plate. This was
arranged by his Maitre d'Hotel, whom I had told to regulate every
thing in the manner most likely to be agreeable to his master.
When dinner was announced, Buonaparte, viewing himself as a Royal
personage, which he continued to do while on board the Bellerophon,
and which, under the circumstances, I considered it would have been
both ungracious and uncalled for in me to have disputed, led the way
into the dining-room. He seated himself in the centre at one side of
the table, requesting Sir Henry Hotham to sit at his right hand, and
Madame Bertrand on his left. For that day I sat as usual at the head
of the table, but on the following day, and every other, whilst
Buonaparte remained on board, I sat by his request at his right hand,
and General Bertrand took the top. Two of the ward-room officers dined
daily at the table, by invitation from Buonaparte, conveyed through
Count Bertrand.
He conversed a great deal, and showed no depression of spirits: among
other things, he asked me where I was born. I told him, in Scotland.
"Have you any property there?" said he. "No, I am a younger brother,
and they do not bestow much on people of that description in
Scotland." "Is your elder brother a Lord?" "No, Lord Lauderdale is the
head of our family." "Ah! you are a relation of Lord Lauderdale's! he
is an acquaintance of mine, he was sent Ambassador from your King to
me, when Mr Fox was Prime Minister: had Mr Fox lived, it never would
have come to this, but his death put an end to all hopes of peace.
Milord Lauderdale est un bon garcon;" adding, "I think you resemble
him a little, though he is dark and you are fair."[7]
[Footnote 7: [It was an odd idea that you should be like Lord
Lauderdale.--SCOTT.]]
When dinner was over, a cup of strong coffee was handed round; he then
rose and went into the after-cabin, asking the Admiral and all the
party to accompany him, the ladies among the rest. This was the only
time I ever saw them in the apartment in which he slept.
After some conversation, he said, in a cheerful and playful way, that
he would show us his camp bed; and sent for Marchand, his premier
valet de chambre, who received his order, and soon returned with two
small packages in leather cases; one of which contained the bedstead,
which was composed of steel, and, when packed up, was not above two
feet long and eighteen inches in circumference; the other contained
the mattress and curtains, the latter of green silk. In three minutes
the whole was put together, and formed a very elegant small bed, about
thirty inches wide.
He then went out, and walked the quarter-deck for some time, and
retired to his cabin about half-past seven o'clock. Soon after, when
the Admiral was going to return to his ship, he proposed to Bertrand
to take leave of him. He went into the cabin, but returned immediately
with an apology, saying he was undressed, and going to bed.