newspapers as possible, but particularly the Courier, which they
considered the Ministerial paper, and most likely to contain the
intentions of Government respecting them. They received little
encouragement from any of them, but least of all from those which are
supposed to take the Ministerial side in politics, as they not only
contained a great deal that was personally offensive, but stated, in
very plain terms, that none of the party would be allowed to land in
England, and that St Helena was the probable place of their ultimate
destination. Buonaparte himself always affected to consider this as a
mere newspaper report, though I believe it gave him a good deal of
uneasiness. His followers received it with much irritation and
impatience, frequently endeavouring to convince me that our Government
could have no right to dispose of them in that way, and talking to me,
as if I had been one of his Majesty's Ministers, and had influence in
determining on their future destination. All I could say on the
subject did not prevent them from frequently recurring to it, and
appealing against the injustice of such a measure.
This morning General Gourgaud returned from the Slaney, which we found
lying here, not having been permitted to land, and having refused to
deliver the letter he had been charged with for the Prince Regent to
any person except his Royal Highness himself.
When I was conversing with Madame Bertrand, she said, "Had the Emperor
gained the battle of Waterloo, he would have been firmly seated on the
throne of France." I answered, "It certainly might have protracted his
downfall, but, in all probability, he would have been overthrown at
last, as the Russians were fast advancing, and he never could have
resisted the combined forces of the Allies." To which she replied, "If
your army had been defeated, the Russians never would have acted
against him." "That I cannot believe," I said, "as they were using
every effort to join and support the Allies; and the assertion is
ridiculous." "Ah," said she, "you may laugh at it, and so may other
people, nor will it, perhaps, now be discovered; but remember what I
say, and be assured that at some future period it will be proved,
that it never was Alexander's intention to cross the frontiers of
France, in opposition to him."
In the course of the day I received many applications for admittance
into the ship: among others a note from a lady residing in the
neighbourhood, accompanied by a basket of fruit, requesting a boat
might be sent for her next morning. I returned a civil answer,
informing her that my instructions would not admit of her request
being complied with: no more fruit was sent from that quarter. Lord
Gwydir and Lord Charles Bentinck also applied for admittance, but with
no better success.
No sooner was Buonaparte's arrival known in the neighbourhood, than
the ship was surrounded by a crowd of boats, people being drawn from
all quarters to see this extraordinary man. He came often upon deck,
and showed himself at the gangways and stern windows, apparently for
the purpose of gratifying their curiosity, of which, as he observed to
me, the English appeared to have a very large portion.
In the evening, the officer who had been sent to Plymouth, on the
ship's arrival, with despatches for Lord Keith, returned, bringing
letters, from which I give the following extracts:--
Extract of a Letter from Admiral Viscount Keith, G.C.B., addressed to
Captain Maitland, of H.M.S. Bellerophon, dated Ville de Paris,
Hamoaze, July 24, 1815.
"The officer of the ship you command has just delivered to me your
letter of this date, reporting your arrival in Torbay, with the
Bellerophon and Myrmidon, having on board Napoleon Buonaparte and his
suite. I have also received your other letter, explaining the
circumstances under which you were placed, when you were induced to
receive Napoleon on board; and I shall transmit the same to the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty, in confident expectation, that his
Majesty's Government will fully approve of your conduct."
Extract of a Letter from Admiral Viscount Keith, G.C.B., addressed to
Captain Maitland, of H.M.S, Bellerophon, dated 24th July, 1815.
"I take the opportunity of your officer's return, to congratulate you
and the nation, and to thank you for the perfect manner in which you
entered into my views on the subject, and for the management of the
blockade, about which I was most anxious. It will not be long ere you
are instructed by the Government: the first express would arrive about
four o'clock this morning, and I attempt a telegraph message, but it
is cloudy. I beg you will send for any thing you may want, to me, and
it shall be sent instantly; and I beg to present my respects to
Napoleon, and if I can render him any civility, I will consider it my
duty, as well as in gratitude for Captain Elphinstone's report of the
attention he received from him on the field of battle."
During the 25th of July, the concourse of people round the ship was
greater than the day before, and the anxiety of the Frenchmen was
considerably augmented by the confidence with which the newspapers
spoke of the intention to remove Buonaparte to St Helena. In the
afternoon, he walked above an hour on deck, frequently stood at the
gangway, or opposite to the quarter-deck ports, for the purpose of
giving the people an opportunity of seeing him, and, whenever he
observed any well-dressed women, pulled his hat off, and bowed to
them.
At dinner he conversed as usual, was inquisitive about the kinds of
fish produced on the coast of England, and ate part of a turbot that
was at table, with much relish. He then spoke of the character of the
fishermen and boatmen on our coast, saying, "They are generally
smugglers as well as fishermen; at one time a great many of them were
in my pay, for the purpose of obtaining intelligence, bringing money
over to France, and assisting prisoners of war to escape. They even
offered, for a large sum of money, to seize the person of Louis, and
deliver him into my hands; but as they could not guarantee the
preservation of his life, I would not give my consent to the measure."
At three in the morning of the 26th of July, Captain Sartorius
returned from London; having carried my despatch announcing
Buonaparte's intention to embark in the Bellerophon, and brought with
him orders for me to proceed to Plymouth Sound. We immediately got
under weigh, accompanied by the Myrmidon and Slaney. While heaving the
anchor up, Las Cases came upon deck, when I told him the ship was
ordered to Plymouth, supposing, if he thought it requisite, he would
acquaint his master. Soon after the ship was at sea, Madame Bertrand
made her appearance, when she attacked me with some warmth for having
neglected to acquaint Buonaparte with the orders I had received, and
told me he was excessively offended. As she had once or twice before,
when every thing did not go exactly as she wished, held the same
language, I determined to ascertain whether Buonaparte had expressed
any dissatisfaction, and, if so, to come to an explanation with him,
as, though I was inclined to treat him with every proper
consideration, it never was my intention to be looked upon as
responsible to him for my movements; I therefore told Las Cases what
she had said, and requested he would ascertain whether Napoleon really
had felt displeased. He immediately went into the cabin, and on his
return assured me that there must have been some mistake, as nothing
of the kind had taken place.
The ship's removal to the westward was by no means an agreeable event
to the suite of my guest: they naturally reasoned, that, had it been
the intention of the British Government to allow him to land in
England, he would not have been removed further from the Metropolis.
He, however, made no observations on the subject himself; still
affecting to consider the reports in the newspapers as the surmises of
the editors.
We had, during the forenoon of the 26th of July, to beat up from the
Start to Plymouth Sound, against a strong northerly wind. Buonaparte
remained upon deck the greater part of the day. When going into the
Sound, I pointed out the Breakwater to him, and described the manner
in which they were forming it. He said, it was a great national
undertaking, and highly honourable to the country; enquired the
estimated expense, and seemed surprised, when I told him it was
expected to be finished for something less than a million sterling. He
added, "I have expended a large sum of money on the port of Cherbourg,
and in forming the Boyart Fort, to protect the anchorage at Isle
d'Aix; but I fear now, those and many other of my improvements will be
neglected, and allowed to go to ruin."
When the ship had anchored, I informed him I was going to wait on the
Commander-in-chief, and requested to know if I could convey any
message from him. He desired me to return his thanks to Lord Keith,
for the kind intentions he had expressed towards him in his letters to
me, and to say he was extremely anxious to see his Lordship, if it
could be done with propriety. On delivering his message to Lord Keith,
he answered, "I would wait upon him with much pleasure, but, to tell
you the truth, I have as yet received no instructions as to the manner
in which he is to be treated; and until I do receive these, I cannot
well visit him." He then gave me some precautionary orders to prevent
his escape, or any attempt to effect it. From which I give the
extracts below.
Extract of an Order from Admiral Viscount Keith, G.C.B., to Captain
Maitland, of H.M.S. Bellerophon, dated Hamoaze, July 26, 1815.
"In addition to the orders already received, you are to pay the
strictest regard and attention to the directions contained in the
enclosed extract of a letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty. If
General Gourgaud has not already been taken out of the Slaney, you are
to cause him to be removed immediately into the ship you command. I
enclose, for your information, a copy of a general order that I have
issued, forbidding communication with the ship you command; and it is
my intention to order the Liffey and Eurotas to anchor near you, and
to row guard."
Extract of a Letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty to Admiral
Viscount Keith, G.C.B., dated 24th July, 1815, enclosed in the
foregoing.
"Referring your Lordship to Mr Croker's letter of the 1st instant,
respecting Buonaparte, I am to signify their Lordships' directions to
you, to give the most positive orders to Captain Maitland to prevent
all communication whatever with the shore but through him, and by him
through your Lordship; and on no account to permit any person
whatsoever to go on board the ship, without your Lordship's permission
given in writing for that purpose; which permission, for obvious
reasons, will only be granted in such cases as the public service may
require: and proper measures are to be taken to prevent boats and
small craft from crowding near the Bellerophon.
"Your Lordship will restrict the captains and commanders of your
squadron from communicating, until further orders, with the
Bellerophon."
There was also enclosed the following copy of a Memorandum, addressed
to the respective Captains of H.M. Ships Liffey and Eurotas.
"Ville de Paris, in Hamoaze,
26th July, 1815.
"MEMO:
"The Liffey and Eurotas are to take up an anchorage on each side of
the Bellerophon, at a convenient distance, and observe the following
directions, as well for the purpose of preventing the escape of
Buonaparte, or any of his suite, from that ship, as for restraining
shore-boats and others from approaching too close to her, either from
curiosity or any other motive.
"A constant watch of an officer, a quarter-watch, and double
sentinels, are to be kept by day, as well as a boat manned and armed
alongside, in constant readiness, as a guard-boat: the same
precaution is to be observed all night, with the exception, that one
of the boats, in charge of a lieutenant, is to row guard, and to be
relieved every hour.
"No shore-boats, or others, are to be suffered, either by night or by
day, to approach nearer the Bellerophon than one cable's length; and
no boats are to be permitted to loiter about the ship, even at that
distance, either from curiosity or any other motive: neither the
captains of the Liffey or Eurotas, nor any other officer belonging to
those or any other ships, are to go on board the Bellerophon, either
to visit, or on any pretence whatever, without permission from me in
writing."
Signed, KEITH, Admiral.
A Copy.
Keith, Admiral.
To the respective Captains of the
Liffey and Eurotas.
When I returned on board, I found the frigates had taken their
positions as directed in the last order, and their boats were
endeavouring as much as possible to keep the shore-boats at the
specified distance from the ship. I stated to Buonaparte what Lord
Keith had said; to which he answered, "I am extremely anxious to see
the Admiral, and therefore beg he will not stand upon ceremony: I
shall be satisfied to be treated as a private person, until the
British Government has determined in what light I am to be
considered." He then complained of the two frigates being placed as
guard-ships over him, "as if," said he, "I were not perfectly secure
on board a British line-of-battle ship;" and added, "The guard-ships'
boats have been firing musquetry all the evening, to keep the
shore-boats at a distance: it disturbs and distresses me, and I shall
be obliged to you to prevent it, if it lies in your power." I
immediately sent to the Captains of the frigates, to put a stop to
the firing.
On the 27th of July, I received a letter from the Secretary of the
Admiralty, of which I give an extract:--
Extract of a Letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, addressed to
Captain Maitland, of H.M.S. Bellerophon, dated 25th July, 1815.
"I have received and laid before my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, your letter of yesterday's date, reporting your arrival in
the Bellerophon in Torbay, accompanied by the Myrmidon, having on
board Napoleon Buonaparte and suite, and transmitting a copy of a
letter you had addressed to Admiral Lord Keith, reporting your
proceedings, under the various circumstances which occurred prior to
his embarkation, of which their Lordships have been pleased to direct
me to signify their approval."
I waited on Lord Keith in the morning, and carried with me
Buonaparte's original letter to the Prince Regent, which General
Gourgaud had refused to deliver to Captain Sartorius: finding that one
of his own officers would not be allowed to proceed with it, he now
consented to its being forwarded through the Admiral. I reported to
his Lordship all the occurrences of the previous day; and that, in
consequence of the frequent repetition in the newspapers of its being
the intention of his Majesty's Government to send Buonaparte to St
Helena, he, as well as the officers of his suite, had expressed much
uneasiness. I also carried a message from him, stating his desire to
see his Lordship, and that he would willingly waive all ceremony, and
be considered as a private person. To which Lord Keith answered, "I
shall now have no difficulty whatever, having received full
instructions as to the manner in which he is to be treated: he is to
be considered as a General Officer, and have the respect due to that
rank paid him, and no more: you may therefore say I shall wait on him
to-morrow forenoon." He then put into my hands the following
additional orders.
Extract of a Letter from Admiral Viscount Keith, G.C.B., addressed to
Captain Maitland, of H.M.S. Bellerophon, dated Ville de Paris,
Hamoaze, 27th July, 1815.
"I herewith transmit an extract of an order, containing certain
directions relative to Buonaparte and his suite, and you are forthwith
to carry the same into execution; sending on board the Liffey or
Myrmidon, with directions similar to those that have been addressed to
yourself, such of his suite as are to be withdrawn from the ship you
command."
Extract of an Order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to
Admiral Viscount Keith, G.C.B., dated July 25th, 1815.
"That he should give immediate orders, that, upon the arrival of the
Bellerophon, Napoleon Buonaparte should remain, until the Prince
Regent's further pleasure shall be signified, on board of that, or
such other ship of war as we shall appoint, and shall not be permitted
on any account to come on shore; or to hold communication with the
shore, or with other vessels, either personally, or by writing. Not
more than four or five persons of his suite (exclusive of menial
servants) are to remain on board the same ship with himself: the
remainder of his suite are to be kept under similar restraint, on
board of other vessels of war. Napoleon Buonaparte is to be considered
and addressed as a General Officer."
In consequence of those orders, several of the officers of inferior
rank, and some of the servants, were sent to the frigates appointed to
guard us.
In the afternoon Sir Richard and Lady Strachan, accompanied by Mrs
Maitland, came alongside the ship. Buonaparte was walking the deck,
and, when I told him my wife was in the boat, he went to the gangway,
pulled off his hat, and asked her if she would not come up and visit
him. She shook her head; and I informed him, that my orders were so
positive, I could not even allow her to come on board. He answered,
"C'est dur, ca." "That is very hard." And addressing himself to her,
"Milord Keith est un peu trop severe; n'est-ce pas, Madame?" "Lord
Keith is a little too severe; is he not, Madam?" He then said to me,
"Ma foi, son portrait ne la flatte pas; elle est encore plus jolie que
lui." "I assure you her portrait is not flattering; she is handsomer
than it is." I told him Sir Richard Strachan was in the boat with her,
and that he was second in command of the Channel fleet: he bowed to
him, and said, "He appears a very young man to hold so high a rank."
There were this day a great many boats round the ship, full of people,
among which were a number of well-dressed females. He expressed
himself in strong terms of admiration of the beauty of the English
women, and was desirous of knowing which were the ladies,--"les dames
comme il faut," as he termed it; as they were all so well dressed that
he could not distinguish them.
In the evening a letter was sent to me by Lord Keith, of which I
subjoin an extract:--
Extract of a Letter from Admiral Viscount Keith, G.C.B., addressed to
Captain Maitland of H.M.S. Bellerophon, dated Ville de Paris, Hamoaze,
27th July, 1815.
"From the representation you have made to me of the dissatisfaction
expressed by Buonaparte, on observing by the newspapers that he was to
be sent to St Helena; it will be necessary that you redouble your
vigilance to prevent his escape; and you are therefore to station
double sentinels, and resort to every other means that may be
necessary for frustrating any such intention."
On the 28th of July, Lord Keith came on board, between eleven and
twelve o'clock, and was shown by me into the cabin, where Count
Bertrand introduced him to Buonaparte. I immediately withdrew, and
cannot therefore state what passed between them; but Lord Keith
afterwards informed me, that Buonaparte had been very anxious to know
whether the Government had come to any determination with regard to
his disposal; of which his Lordship professed total ignorance.
After Lord Keith came out of the cabin, he remained some time with
Buonaparte's suite, who were collected in the state room. Madame
Bertrand drew him aside, and entered into conversation with him,
saying what she had repeated to me a hundred times, that it would be
the height of injustice to send them to St Helena, and endeavouring
to persuade him to interfere in preventing her husband at least from
going, should Napoleon be sent there.
During the whole of the 29th of July it rained incessantly, and
nothing worth relating took place: the Frenchmen were deprived of
their usual amusement of admiring the ladies, and being admired in
return, not a boat having made its appearance. They often remarked,
with the characteristic vivacity of their nation, that they were
placed in the situation of Tantalus,--so many beauties in view,
without the possibility of approaching them.
On Sunday, the 30th of July, the crowd of boats was greater than I
ever remember to have seen at one time. I am certain I speak within
bounds when I state, that upwards of a thousand were collected round
the ship, in each of which, on an average, there were not fewer than
eight people. The crush was so great, as to render it quite impossible
for the guard-boats to keep them off; though a boat belonging to one
of the frigates made use of very violent means to effect it,
frequently running against small boats, containing women, with such
force as nearly to upset them, and alarming the ladies extremely. The
French officers were very indignant at such rude proceedings, saying,
"Is this your English liberty? Were such a thing to happen in France,
the men would rise with one accord and throw that officer and his crew
overboard."
After the ship's arrival in England, Buonaparte seldom left the cabin
earlier than five o'clock in the afternoon; passing his time in
walking up and down the after-cabin, reading a great deal,[8] and
often falling asleep on the sopha, having within these two or three
years become very lethargic.
[Footnote 8: The books that seemed to occupy his attention,
when I had an opportunity of observing him, were, a Life of
Washington, and a translation of Ossian's Poems.]
I this day informed him, that Lord Keith had received an intimation,
that Sir Henry Bunbury, one of the Under Secretaries of State, was to
arrive in the course of the day with the decision of the British
Government as to his future disposal. He asked me many questions, but,
although Lord Keith had acquainted me that Buonaparte was to go to St
Helena, he had at the same time desired me not to communicate this
information, and I was therefore obliged to evade his interrogatories
as I best could.
In the newspapers of this day there appeared the lists of persons
proscribed by the Government of France. Among the first class were the
names of Bertrand, Savary, and Lallemand: the first treated it with
derision, the two others appeared much alarmed, and often asked me if
I thought it possible the British Government would deliver them up to
Louis. I said, "Decidedly not; you have been received on board an
English man of war, and it never can be the intention of the Ministers
to deliver you over to punishment." They were not, however, satisfied
by any means; and a French frigate, bearing the white flag, which lay
in Hamoaze, was an object of much jealousy to them.
When I waited on Lord Keith, the morning of the 31st of July, he
acquainted me that Sir Henry Bunbury had arrived, and was to accompany
him on board at ten o'clock. He also showed me a notification of the
decision of Government respecting Buonaparte, in which he was styled
General throughout. It stated, that he was to be sent to St Helena,
and to be permitted to take with him three of the higher class of
those that had accompanied him from France, and twelve domestics, who
were to be selected by himself, with the exception of Savary and
Lallemand, who were not on any account to be permitted to go with him.
I immediately returned on board, to be in readiness to receive Lord
Keith and Sir Henry Bunbury; and informed Buonaparte, that he might
expect them. He asked me if I knew what they were to communicate; and
having then received his Lordship's sanction for doing so, I told him,
I understood it was determined he was to be sent to St Helena. His
mind had, by this time, been so much prepared by the newspapers for
that event, that he did not show any very strong emotion at receiving
the intimation; though he complained, in strong terms, of the
injustice of such a measure. As, however, the Admiral's barge was seen
approaching, and I was obliged to go upon deck to receive him, I had
very little conversation with him at that time.
Lord Keith and Sir Henry Bunbury arrived about half-past ten in the
forenoon, when I showed them into the cabin, where Buonaparte was
attended by Count Bertrand. I then withdrew, leaving them shut up with
him for about half an hour, when Lord Keith called me into the
fore-cabin, where all the suite were assembled, and I presented each
of them to the Admiral and Sir Henry. They all appeared very much
distressed, but particularly Savary and Lallemand; who were extremely
urgent to know how they were to be disposed of; protesting, most
vehemently, against their being given up to France, as a breach of all
faith and honour. Madame Bertrand again tried to induce Lord Keith to
use his influence with our Government, to prevent Bertrand from
accompanying Buonaparte to St Helena.