A.D. 1815.1 BUONAPARTE RECEIVED ON BOARD THE BELLEROPHON. justly offensive to Prussia, they ought to be left to the decision of the king of France, in whose capital they were, and that the name of the bridge might be changed. Blucher was unwilling to give way, and also insisted on the levy of a military contribution on the city of Paris of one hundred million francs, as some reparation for the spoliations of the French in Berlin. Wellington suggested that these matters should be left for the determination of the allied sovereigns, and at length prevailed. The next day, the 8th of July, Louis a second time entered his capital, escorted by the national guards. Fouché announced to the two chambers that their functions were at an end; but they still declared themselves sitting in permanence. But general Desolles, commander of the national guards, proceeded to close the chambers. He found both of them deserted, and locked the doors, and put his seal upon them, setting also a guard. Soon after the members of the chamber of representatives, who had only adjourned, began to arrive, but were received with jeers and laughter by the guards, which were eagerly joined in by the populace, and they retreated in confusion. Fouché, in reward for his politic private correspondence with the allies, was reinstated in his old office of minister of police, and the government of Louis recommenced in great quiet-affording the French much more real liberty than they had enjoyed either under Buonaparte or the factions of the revolution. And thus ended the celebrated Hundred Days from the landing of Napoleon to his second exclusion. Buonaparte had arrived in Rochefort on the 3rd of Julyonly fifteen days after the battle of Waterloo. The two frigates provided by the provisional government to convey him to America-the Saale and the Medusa, accompanied by the corvette Balladière and the large brig, Epervierlay in the Aix roads; but Buonaparte was very sure that the British government would not permit them to sail. That government, anticipating such an event as the endeavour of Napoleon to make his escape to America whence he might watch his opportunity of once more renewing the troubles of the world-had, immediately after the battle of Waterloo, placed no less than thirty vessels of different descriptions along the whole coast of France, from Ushant to cape Finisterre, thus making it impossible for any vessel to pass out of a French port without undergoing the severest search. An order was issued to the commanders of the British vessels engaged in this blockade, by admiral lord Hotham, by authority of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, directing any one to whom Buonaparte might surrender himself to convey him and family to England, entering Torbay in preference to Plymouth; that he was to be kept in safe custody, and the most profound secrecy, not permitting any contact with the shore by either Buonaparte, any of his train, or any person belonging to the ship, except by the officer or officers dispatched, under orders of strictest secrecy, to lord admiral Keith, or to the admiralty itself. Buonaparte was well satisfied that the attempt to sail out in the frigates was useless, but he thought he might possibly escape by a small coasting vessel, manned with young officers of the navy, equivalent to our midshipmen; but this was despaired of, as sure to attract the notice of 507 English ships at sea; and then a Danish corvette was fixed on, and Buonaparte was to be smuggled away in a cask stowed away in the hold, and supplied with air by tubes; but neither would Buonaparte venture, after reflection, on this uneasy mode of concealment, and he began to turn his attention to getting away to the Loire, and resuming the command of the army. But this prospect did not appear very flattering, when the allies had eight hundred thousand men on foot; and, after a week spent in discussing these schemes, he was compelled to send Savary and Las Cases to captain Maitland on board the Bellerophon. They represented that Napoleon expected a passport from England, and wanted to know if captain Maitland would allow the frigates to sail with him, or some neutral vessel. Maitland informed them that, by his orders, he could not allow either of these measures. This interview took place in the presence of captain Knight, of the Falmouth. On the 14th Las Cases came again with general Lallemand, and captain Maitland sent for captain Sartorius, of the Slaney, to be present. The emperor's messengers represented that he was anxious to spare further effusion of blood, and, though he was under no necessity to quit France, was anxious to retire to America in any vessel that the British government should think proper. Captain Maitland, who was well aware that every day the emperor's necessity to escape became more imminent, replied that he had no authority from his government except to receive him on board and convey him to England, where he must await the decision of the British government as to his reception and his disposal. Finding captain Maitland firm, Las Cases and Lallemand informed him that Napoleon had written a letter to the prince regent, and requested that general Gourgaud might be allowed to proceed to England with it. To this captain Maitland consented, and general Gourgaud was dispatched the same day in the Slaney. The following morning Buonaparte proceeded on board the Bellerophon, accompanied by four of his generals—Bertrand, Savary, Lallemand, and Montholon-as well as Las Cases, counsellor of state, and the ladies of Bertrand and Montholon, with four of their children, the son of Las Cases as a page, nine officers of inferior rank, and thirty-nine domestics. The chief persons were received on board the Bellerophon, the rest were sent into the corvette. He went on board the Bellerophon from the Epervier, and the crew of that vessel, after he left it, continued to cheer him so long as their voices could be heard. He was received on board the Bellerophon with respect, but without any honours. Captain Maitland advanced to meet him on the quarterdeck. Napoleon took off his hat, and, addressing him in a firm voice, said, "I come to place myself under the protection of your prince and laws." As it is interesting to know how this extraordinary man appeared at this eventful moment, this is captain Maitland's account :-" His 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 with gold, plain sugar-loaf buttons, and gold epaulettes, being the uniform of a chasseur-à-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 him from seizure by the officers of Louis, king of France. his left lapel. He had a small cocked hat with a tricolour He affected to claim the protection of British laws, when he cockade, plain, gold-hilted sword, military boots, and white was a notoriously proclaimed outlaw, so proclaimed by the waistcoat and breeches. The following day he appeared in whole of the allied powers for the breach of his solemn shoes with gold buckles, and silk stockings, the dress he engagement to renounce all claims on the throne of France. always afterwards wore while with me." There was, therefore, no answer whatever to that note from the prince regent, who was under engagement to his allies, as they to him, to hold no communication with a man who had so shamefully broken his word, and had, moreover, thereby sacrificed so many valuable lives. The reply was from lord Melville, first lord of the admiralty, announcing to him that the British government, with the approbation of its allies, had determined that, to prevent any further opportunity for the disturbance of the peace of Europe by general Buonaparte, he should be sent to St. Helena; and that they had been guided in this choice, not only by the desire of his security, but also by the consideration that the island was extremely healthy, and would afford him much greater liberty than he could enjoy in a nearer locality; that the general might select three officers, with his surgeon, and twelve domestics to attend him. From the number of the officers Savary and Lallemand were expressly excepted. It also added that the persons permitted to accompany him would be subject to a certain degree of restraint, and would not be permitted to leave the island without the sanction of the British government. It was finally added that general Buonaparte should make no delay in the selection of his suite, as rear-admiral Sir George Cockburn, appointed to the command of the Cape of Good Hope, would convey him in the Northumberland to St. Helena, and would be presently ready to sail. As when previously on board captain Usher's vessel, Buonaparte showed a curiosity regarding everything in the ship, and in its movements. He praised the marines greatly, and both he and his officers declared that there was now no army in the world equal to the English; that you might as well charge a stone wall as the infantry, and he added that the duke of Wellington, in the management of an army, was equal to himself, and superior in prudence. This is a very different style of language to that which he afterwards permitted himself at St. Helena. On the voyage they passed Ushant on the 23rd of July, where he saw the last of France. He remained long on deck looking at the coast, but made no observation. At daybreak they lay off Dartmouth, and about eight that morning they entered Torbay, at the sight of which Buonaparte expressed much surprise at the beauty of the scenery, which he said reminded him of that of Porto-Ferrajo. No intercourse was permitted with the shore, and on the 26th the vessel received orders to move round to Plymouth Sound. Newspapers then found their way on board, which struck consternation into Napoleon and his party; for in them it was freely declared that the French emperor would be sent to St. Helena. He thereupon expressed a great desire to see lord Keith, to whose nephew he had shown kindness when he was wounded and taken prisoner at Waterloo. On the 28th admiral lord Keith went on board, but could give Napoleon no assurance as to his destination, having yet no orders from the government. Meantime, the Bellerophon was surrounded by such shoals of boats, loaded by eager desirants of a sight of the long-talked of Buonaparte, that it was only by firing muakets into the water that they could be kept at the prescribed distance of a cable's length. Buonaparte was received with stunning hurras whenever he showed himself, and he expressed much astonishment at the curious excitement of the crowd. On the evening of the 30th major-general Sir Henry Bunbury, one of the under secretaries of state, came on board, accompanied by lord Keith and Mr. Meike, the secretary of lord Keith, bringing the decision of the government. The following is a copy of the letter of Buonaparte to the prince regent: During the reading of this most unwelcome document by Sir Henry Bunbury, which was done in French, Napoleon listened without any apparent impatience or emotion of any kind; but when he was asked whether he had any observations to make, he pronounced a most determined protest against the whole design. He declared the British ministry had no right to dispose of him in that manner; that he had come on board the Bellerophon a free agent, claiming the protection of the British laws; that he had stated this to the captain, and by him had been led to expect that b would have freedom to live in England; that if this were not meant, it was a snare that had been spread for him; that h would never go to St. Helena-it would be his death in three months. He declared that he could have gone to his father-in-law, the emperor of Austria; or he could have remained for years concealed in France, where the people entertained a warm affection for him. He resented the term "Royal Highness,-A victim to the factions which dis-" general Buonaparte," and declared himself still a prince, tract my country, and to the enmity of the greatest powers of Europe, I have terminated my political career, and I come, like Themistocles, to throw myself on the hospitality of the British people. I put myself under the protection of their laws, which I claim from your royal highness, as the most powerful, the most constant, and the most generous of my enemies. "NAPOLEON." This note contained much that was not true. It implied that Buonaparte had come voluntarily and without necessity on board the Bellerophon, whilst it was well known that perhaps another hour would have been too late to secure and ought to be treated as such. Again and again he vowed that he would never go to St. Helena, and demanded that his request to land, and live in England under any survelance that the government might please, should be immdiately forwarded to the ministry, and no time lost in communicating their reply. Sir Henry Bunbury and kri Keith replied that they had no authority to enter into any discussions; they had discharged their entire commission by making him acquainted with the resolution of government. He next appealed expressly to lord Keith to interfere on his behalf; but his lordship replied that he could A.D. 1815.] DEPARTURE OF BUONAPARTE FOR ST. HELENA. only obey his instructions, and assured him that he would be much better off in St. Helena than if given up to Russia. “Russia!" exclaimed Napoleon-" God preserve me from that!" Napoleon now raised the loudest outcries against the English government, and directly charged captain. Maitland with having promised him that he should be well received in England. Las Cases asserted the same thing. On the 7th of August he presented a protest to lord Keith from Buonaparte, which commenced with the assertion that England was violating her most sacred rights, though it was self-evident enough that, having broken his convention with the allied sovereigns, and in consequence been proclaimed an outlaw, he had no rights whatever, except such as a prisoner at the mercy of his captors may have. To assume such rights it was necessary to plead promises on the part of his captors, and he did not hesitate through Las Cases, as he had done personally, to charge captain Maitland with the breach of such promises. Lord Keith bluntly replied that if captain Maitland had made any promises of a reception by England, he must be a fool, for he had the strictest orders, drawn up by himself, and to which we have already referred, to offer him nothing but a passage to England, there to await, while still on board, the orders of government. In this respect, Napoleon, however, treated captain Maitland no worse than he was in the habit of treating his own generals, on whom he continually, as we have shown, laid the blame of his own measures. Lord Keith, however, to set the matter at rest, called on captain Maitland to answer the charge, who attended and repeated what he had before said, that Napoleon did not freely come on board the Bellerophon; for he could not escape the English vessels at sea, or the French pursuit on land; that he gave him no promises, for his instructions authorised him to give none, but that he had refused to make any promises whatever, in presence of both captain Sartorius and captain Gambier, to the repeated importunities of both Las Cases and general Gourgaud. The characters of these officers for manly honour and straightforwardness were quite sufficient to satisfy any honourable mind. Captain Maitland afterwards published a statement of all that took place whilst Buonaparte was on board his vessel, which is quite sufficient to convince any one, were there no other evidence; but fortunately we have the evidence of both Napoleon and some of his officers. On the 6th of August, the very day before Las Cases made this statement to lord Keith, Napoleon said to captain Maitland-"They say I made no conditions. Certainly, I made no conditions. How could an individual enter into conditions with a nation? I wanted nothing of them but hospitality, or, as the ancients would say, air and water." If he made no conditions, there is an end of the matter; but it may be as well to furnish the confirmation of count Montholon, who, before quitting the Bellerophon, pressed captain Maitland to accept from Napoleon his portrait set in liamonds. Maitland declined, and also mentioned how much he was hurt at the emperor charging him with making lelusive promises to him. Montholon said that was Las Cases's representation; that he wanted to throw from himself the responsibility of inducing Napoleon to go on board 509 a British ship; "But I assure you," he added, "the emperor is convinced your conduct has been most honourable;" and, taking his hand and pressing it, added, "and that is my opinion also." Yet, after all this, French writers have continued to repeat the charge. Having failed to produce any effect by remonstrance, Buonaparte and his suite endeavoured to alarm the officers by menaces of committing suicide. Having delivered his protest, and written a second letter to the prince regent, Buonaparte shut himself up in his cabin, and would scarcely see any one. Madame Bertrand, who had done all in her power to persuade her husband to go back to Paris with her, and had even pretended to throw herself out of the cabin window on his refusal, now hinted that the emperor would not be found alive the next morning. General Lallemand added that, sooner than see the emperor taken to St. Helena, he would himself blow out his brains; on which lord Keith coolly replied, " Then you would get hanged." The Bellerophon had been ordered to quit Plymouth Sound on the 4th of August, to put an end to the inconvenience of the perpetually crowding round the ship-sometimes not less than three thousand boats being assembledand captain Maitland was ordered to cruise off the Start till joined by Sir George Cockburn's squadron, 'bound for St. Helena. This took place the next morning, so that all this tempest of passion and remonstrance occurred whilst Sir George was waiting for his charge. But now Buonaparte-all the bluster, and menace of suicide, and blowing out of brains, being as ineffectual as the preceding remonstrance-gave an indication that he meant to comply by requesting captain Maitland to allow O'Meara, the surgeon of the Bellerophon, to accompany him to St. Helena, his own surgeon wishing to return on plea of ill-health. He had taken a fancy to O'Meara, and this was acceded to. Accordingly, the following morning, about eleven o'clock, lord Keith came in his barge to convey him on board the Northumberland, Sir George Cockburn's flag-ship; and he took his departure quietly, and took a polite leave of the officers and men, all of whom he had personally won upon by his powers of attraction during the voyage. As to his astonishment at being sent to St. Helena, it seems to have been all assumed, as an effort which it was as well to make; for even in Elba he had talked of the intention of the English to send him to St. Helena, and on the voyage in the Bellerophon, according to Las Cases' account, he had said to him, "It is quite certain that I shall go to St. Helena; but what can we do in that desolate place?" Las Cases replied that they would imitate Cæsar; and Napoleon added, "Yes, we will write our memoirs." Savary and Lallemand remained on board the Bellerophon when the Northumberland hoisted sail, and, followed by the squadron, directed its course for St. Helena. They had been in great alarm lest the British government should give them up to Louis XVIII., who had, in a proclamation of the 24th of July, declared them traitors. Savary in particular, who had the blood of the duke d'Enghien on his head, was in agonies of terror. He wrote to Sir Samuel Romilly to intercede on his behalf, repeating the threadbare falsities that he and Lallemand had gone on board the Bellerophon under the most positive assurances that they would be under the protection of the laws of England; and though they did not hesitate to assert that captain Maitland had given them such assurances, that officer himself wrote to lord Melville on their behalf. The British government, however, had no other intentions towards them than that they should not accompany Napoleon to St. Helena, and that they should not remain in England. And now, having dismissed the great troubler of Europe on his voyage to his last abode on earth, we must return, and finish the war with the United States of America. Early in the year 1813 the American general, Dearborn, suddenly approached York, on Lake Ontario, and attacked it, supported by the flotilla under command of commodore Chauncey. We had about seven hundred men there, partly regulars, partly militia, with some few Indians. General Sheaffe drew off the main part of his force, and left the rest to capitulate, thus leaving a considerable quantity of military and other stores, which were most desirable for the Americans. Our government ought to have taken care to have a good fleet on the lakes, but this had been utterly neglected, The war in America, amid the absorbing momentousness of the gigantic conflict in Europe, went on with little attention from ministers at home, and, consequently, with the results which seem destined to attend our campaigns in that quarter. In Canada, which the Americans were particularly anxious to snatch from us, we had a most meagre and inadequate force; and, what was more disastrous, government still continued there the incompetent and dastardly governor, Sir George Prevost. The only circumstances to which we owed the preservation of those provinces were the loyalty of the people and the sterling bravery of the handful of soldiers. stand. Dearborn, rendered confident by his great superiority | attack the next morning, but in this he was forestalled; for of numbers, marched after him, and, on the 4th of June, was seen approaching the English position. He encamped about five miles from Vincent, with three thousand five hundred men and nine pieces of artillery. He intended to colonel Harvey reconnoitred his camp, and advised general Vincent to assault it at midnight with fixed bayonets. This was done, and though the attacking party numbered only seven hundred and four men, the Americans fled in all direc |