singing before so great a personage, whispered to me," Why are you so much afraid, dear mamma? he is only a man."

eve

The little creature had seen him at the Briers a few days before with some young friends, and had pleased and surprised him by singing ral of Milico's Italian canzonets, and had accompanied herself on the pianoforte, although her little hands were scarcely able to reach the octaves; she had been always accustomed to play and sing whenever she was ordered or requested so to do; and she was not old enough to comprehend the prowess and renown of Napoleon Bonaparte, and to judge of the awe and agitation his name was likely to produce, and had produced even on kings and queens.

Behold me now seated at the pianoforte, with the Conqueror of the World standing behind my chair. What an indefinable, indescribable sensation! I forgot my fears in my astonishment, and got through the song of "Ah che nel Petto," tolerably well.-"Bien,” cried Bonaparte; "C'est de Paisiello," which shewed he was well acquainted with the style of the composers. "Ah," said he, in my youth I could also perform a little on the pianoforte." He then ran over the keys of the instrument in tolerable style, to shew that he was not boasting of what he could not perform.

66

"The Italians," said he, "have certainly the first taste for music and composition in the world; then the Germans; then the Portuguese and Spaniards; then the French; and, lastly, the English; but really I do not know which of these two last have the worst taste in composition. But stay, I had nearly forgotten the Scotch. Yes; they have composed some fine airs." All this he said in French, with his usual rapidity. "Madame," said he, "you no doubt delight in performing musical pieces and in singing?" I bowed affirmatively. "I was certain of it," said he; " we all delight to do what we know we do well." With this flattering speech he made a sliding bow and departed.

panied by Captain M-y of the 53d Regiment (the officer at that period in surveillance of Bonaparte), with an invitation from the Ex-Emperor for me to dine that day with him at Longwood House.

"The Emperor," said the Countess Bertrand, "will invite your husband on another day; for he makes it a sort of rule never to invite husband and wife on the same day; so you can, if you wish, go with me and the Grand Maréchal Bertrand”

I was sitting one morning in our tent at Deadwood Camp, when the Countess Bertrand came in, accom

"Yes," replied I; "nor can I give an answer until mine returns." And at this answer she looked surprised, and rather offended. But Captain M-y looked highly delighted, and proud of the superior power of English over French husbands. The Countess Bertrand, however, soon resumed her charming and amiable manuer, and said she would remain with me until my lord and master returned, which, as he did not do so for some time, she was obliged to depart. When he at length came home, he did not much approve of my going without him; for how was I to return to the camp alone? But on hearing that our Colonel, Sir George Bingham, was also invited to dine at Longwood, and would bring me safe to my tent, he consented to my going; and away I went to dress myself for the occasion with no small delight.

I went to the Countess Bertrand's house first, and found her splendidly arrayed; for the ladies were dressed every day the same as at Paris, although they dined every day at Longwood. Bonaparte's carriage and four horses came to fetch General and Countess Bertrand from Hutts Gate, where they then resided, and I ac companied them.

When we arrived at Longwood, we found Count and Countess Montholon, Baron Gourgaud, and Count Las

Casas, and Sir George Bingham, assembled in the drawingroom. Bonaparte soon after entered, and sat down at the chess-table, for he always played a game at chess before dinner. He asked me to play with him, which I declined, saying I was a bad player. He then asked me if I could play at backgammon. "You must teach me," said he, "for I know but little of the game." So down he sat. I was in considerable agitation at the idea of giving instructions to the great Conqueror. But luckily, as soon as he had placed the backgammon men, a servant entered, saying, "Le diner de sa Majesté est servi."

Saying this he started up, and we all followed him into the drawingroom, when each of the Generals taking a chapeau-bras under his arm, formed a circle round Bonaparte; all continuing standing. Coffee was presently brought, and the cups and saucers were the most splendidly beautiful I ever beheld. Napoleon now conversed with all around most agreeably. I admired the china; upon which he took a coffee-cup and saucer to the light to point out its beauties,-each saucer contained a portrait of some Egyptian Chief; and each cup some landscape or views of different parts of Egypt. "This set of china," said he, 66 was given me by the city of Paris after my return from Egypt."

He afterwards made a present of one of these beautiful coffee-cups to Lady Malcolm, wife of Admiral Sir Pultney Malcolm, on her departure from St Helena. Sir Pultney had shewn Bonaparte much kindness and consideration.

Napoleon then requested me to sing, and I sang a few Italian airs. The Countess Montholon then performed some little French songs, and he joined in humming the tune.

A party of reversis was then formed for him by his Generals, and I sat down to a round game with the two Countesses and Sir G. Bingham.

Madame Bertrand then whispered to me, "You are to sit in the Empress's seat. It has been so ordered." I accordingly was led to it by the Grand Maréchal Bertrand. The instant Bonaparte was seated, a servant came behind him and presented him with a glass of wine, which he drank off before he began to eat. This, it seems, was his invariable custom. The dinner was served on superb gold and silver plate, and beautiful china. The meat was served on the side-tables by several smart servants in magnificent liveries of green and gold. There was vast variety of dishes and vegetables, cooked in the most delicate manner. Bonaparte ate of a number of dishes with great appetite; he several times offered things to me-an honour, I was told by Las Casas, he never condescended to do even to queens. Napoleon talked a great deal to me; his conversation was chiefly questions respecting India, and the manners and dress of the natives there, and I must not forget to inform my female friends that he admired my dress, which consisted of a silver worked muslin in stripes. He asked me how much I gave ayard for it in India. He also admired, or pretended to admire, my bracelets, which were of beautiful pearls. Be that as it may, I believed it all, and began to feel tolerably conceited and much at my ease.

"Your English gentlemen," said he, sit an intolerable time at din ner-and afterwards drink for hours together, when the ladies have left them. As for me, I never allow more than twenty minutes for dinner, and five minutes additional for General Bertrand, who is very fond of bon bons,"

Napoleon was now in high spirits; he was winning at reversis, and he always liked to win at cards; he be gan to sing merry French songs. About ten o'clock he retired, making a sliding bow, to his private apartments, attended by Count Las Casas.

The second time I dined with Bonaparte at Longwood, the invitation was by chance, and from his own mouth.

I went with my husband and little daughter to pay a visit to Countess Bertrand, who at this period had removed from Hutts Gate to a house built by Government for General Bertrand, close to Longwood House. After having paid our visits to her and to Countess Montholon, we met Bonaparte walking in the garden with General Bertrand; he walked up to us, and talked a long time to us, and told little Ey she had a "Spanish countenance."

When we were about to take leave

to return to camp, Napoleon, in a most polite and easy manner, requested we would all stay and dine with him, and in this instance broke through the rule he usually made of inviting husbands and wives separately; and as for "La Petite," pointing to Ey," she will like to stay and dine with the children of Madame Bertrand."

after she got back to camp, put them into a small tin-box, and preserved them safely for some years.

On that evening Bonaparte played several games at chess with his Generals; and after he retired, they amused themselves with making a large bowl of excellent punch, of which all the ladies tasted; we then walked back to our camp, which was very near, and within sight of Longwood-House.

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His barouche, drawn by four fiery horses, now drew up to the door, and he invited Madame Bertrand and myself to get into it with him, and accompany him in a drive round Longwood, saying, that while the Capitaine returned to camp, pour faire sa toilette, and to faire apporter la toilette de madame to the ladies' apartments, we would take the air. Behold me then seated in the barouche next to the Ex-Emperor, the great Bonaparte. The three French Generals, Bertrand, Montholon, and Gourgaud, were in splendid uniforms; the horses went like fury, and the road being extremely rough, I thought it not improbable that I should have my neck broken in company with the Conqueror of the World. Bonaparte was rather abstracted during this drive, but he talked a little of the singular appearance of the gumwood trees, which composes the heads of Longwood and Deadwood Camp. At dinner he conversed a great deal about different ladies of St Helena. The young ladies born in that island are extremely pretty. One of them he had named the Rose Bud, and another "La Nymphe;" this last was a Miss Rn, a very beautiful young lady, who shortly after married a captain of an Indiaman.

He then asked me if I understood housekeeping; "For example," said he, “do you know how to make a pudding yourself?"

I told him that since I had been encamped at St Helena I had learned to make a pudding and a pie; also, that having no servant but a soldier's wife, and she not always able to attend on us, I was obliged to learn to do a number of things myself. When the dessert came on the table, Bonaparte took a large plateful of glittering sugar-plums and crystallized sweetmeats--and calling to a servant, said, "Take these to the young lady who sings so well." When E- y got them, she wrapped them carefully up; and

I was one morning walking with my little daughter before breakfast to visit the lady of an officer of our regiment who was ill, and to whom belonged a small cottage, close to Longwood, on the borders of the camp. teturglim • On entering this cottage, I saw Bonaparte and his secretary, Count Las Casas, approach the door; the Ex-Emperor began very considerately to scrape his boots on the scraper that he might not soil the floor, for, be it known, we had no carpets within the camp at St Helena. He then sat himself down to rest, and taking up a book, which happened to be a novel, he began to try to read it aloud, for he had then been studying English under the Count Las Casas, who had passed many years in England. Bonaparte's mode of reading was in the Italian style of pronunciation, sounding the final vowels, which had a very singular effect; and upon hearing him read in that style, we all began to laugh. "Ah ha!" said he, "I dare say you all think I read very ill, but, for my part, I think I read very well; I understand it, and that is enough for me," said he, laughing.

“

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He then rose from his chair, and proceeded to examine some prints which were hung round the room, taken from the story of Cinderella, which he perceived at once, although there was no inscription under them. "Bon!" said be, when he came to the picture where Cinderella is represented trying on the Little Glass Slipper, "few ladies have such small feet nowadays."

He then walked into a room where were a number of spruce-beer bottles, which had just been filled with spruce-beer, made by the master of the house.

Bonaparte imagining them wine, exclaimed, "Ah, monsieur, so much

wine is too much extravagance for a subaltern officer."

In this sort of easy, pleasant manner he often conversed with the ladies of our regiment. I say our regiment, for no military lady has a proper esprit de corps until she often catches herself saying our regiment.

As I pursued my way through the garden at Longwood, one day, towards camp, accompanied by my little daughter, I met the great Napoleon walking there with General Bertrand. The first question Bonaparte always put to Ey was this, Etes vous sage?" To which she instantly answered, "No!"

He began on that day to discourse "with me respecting religion. understand, madame," said he, "that you are a Puritan ?"

"I

"From what circumstance," replied 1," has this denomination ari

sen ?"

"Why," returned he, "I am informed by persons who have attended church in your barracks, that you are often seen kneeling on the bare floor."

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"My reason for so doing," replied I, "is that there are no cushions, or hassocks, in the barracks, and having from infancy been accustomed to kneel during particular parts of divine service, I took to the floor, without minding the want of cushions."

"Bon," replied he; "and, pray, what is your opinion of us Catholics? Do you think that we have any chance of going to Heaven?"

I replied I did think it possible. "Excellent well! You are much more tolerant than we Catholics for we all think that you Protestants must all burn." This he said laughingly, and in a manner which shewed that he was not of so harsh an opinion. He then asked me if I ever rode on horseback, and then, with out stopping for an answer, he began to exclaim on his own delight in riding on horseback. "I have frequently," said he, "rode sixty miles before breakfast. But at present I have not quite so much room to do so." This he said in a halfangry, half-joking tone of voice.

We were staying at Plantation House, the country residence of the Governors of St Helena, with Gover nor and Mrs Wilks, about a fortnight just before the arrival of Sir Hudson Lowe from England, who succeeded Colonel Wilks in the government of the Island.

Mrs Wilks one morning entered my dressingroom before breakfast, saying she came to ask a favour of "What is it?" said I," for I am sure I shall be but too happy to grant you any in my power."

me.

"It is this," replied she, "that you will chaperone Miss Wilks on her visit to Longwood. She is going to see Bonaparte with her father, but wishes a lady to accompany her."

I was delighted to chaperone so elegant, amiable, and beautiful a young lady as Miss Wilks, and felt proud that Napoleon should see so perfect a specimen of my fair country women. Miss Wilks was then in the first bloom of youth, and her whole demeanour, affability, and elegant, modest appearance, conspired to render her the most charming and admirable young person I ever before or have since met with in all my peregrinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa, for the space of thirty years.

Governor Wilks was a Colonel in the East India Company's service at Madras. He was a tall, handsome, venerable-looking man, with white curling locks, and a courtier-like manner. He had been employed in India in the diplomatic line, and was also an author, having published the History of the Mahratta War, which he had submitted to the perusal of the Ex-Emperor, who, besides admiring his literary performances, respected his character as a man and as a Governor; and never had the Island of St Helena, since its first possession by the English, been under the government of a man so enlightened, so judicious, so mild and affable, or so much beloved. His kindness, firmness, and philanthropy, caused his departure to be regretted by all ranks on that Island, where he had made so many wise and lasting improvements.

The Governor, his daughter, and myself, set forth from Plantation House in the Government carriage,

a huge vehicle, drawn by six bullocks; for in the steep precipitous roads up and across the Island of St Helena, to proceed in a carriage drawn by horses would be dreadfully dangerous, nay almost impossible. These bullocks, therefore, were drawn and driven by three men; and after some hours going across the most dangerous narrow roads, or rather paths, sharp turnings, and precipitous horrors beneath, enough to terrify the stoutest heart, and turn giddy the strongest head, we arrived at Longwood House. We proceeded first to visit Countess Bertrand, and the Countess de Montholon.

The Countess Bertrand accompanied us into the drawingroom at Longwood. We found Bonaparte full dressed, and standing to receive Governor Wilks with etiquette. He was arrayed in a green coat, with all his stars, orders, and ribbons silk stockings, small shoes with gold buckles, and a chapeau-bras under

his arm.

His secretary and interpreter, Count Las Casas, stood by his side. Governor Wilks having introduced his charming daughter to Bonaparte, the Ex-Emperor looking at her with a pleasing smile, addressed her in these words:"I have long heard from various quarters of the superior elegance and beauty of Miss Wilks; but now I am convinced, from my own eyes, that report has scarcely done her sufficient justice." Saying this, he bowed politely.

And now a most animated conver. sation took place, through means of his interpreter, between Bonaparte and Governor Wilks.

This most curious and interesting conversation lasted two hours, during which time Bonaparte became animated to excess, and appeared almost a supernatural being.

His Majesty's 53d regiment being relieved by his Majesty's 66th regiment, prepared to embark in July, 1817. Part of the officers, and most of the privates, proceeded to join the other battalion in the East Indies; and part returned to England, under command of Major F- -n.

A few days previous to their several embarkations, the officers, in a body, waited on the Ex-Emperor, at Longwood House, to take leave of their mighty prisoner. Bonaparte had always expressed his unqualified approbation of the conduct both of the officers and privates of the 53d regiment. They had never shown any impertinent curiosity when he came within their view, nor had ever looked or stared at him like a wild-beast, or Bajazet in a cage. On the contrary, they all respected his feelings; so he was well pleased when they paid him the compliment of taking leave of him in a body.

The next day the married officers waited on him again, accompanied by their wives and children.

On this occasion he took his usual kind notice of Ey; and put the usual question to her of " Etes vous sage?" which, in the French idiom, signifies, "Are you a good girl?"

To which she as usual replied, "No."

This conversation was committed to paper, separately, by Miss Wilks and myself, we having been previously requested to note all we heard by Colonel Wilks. I gave my notes of the conversation to the Governor the same evening on our return to Plantation-house, and Miss Wilks likewise presented hers; but he did not return them to us again. Therefore farther the deponent sayeth not.

"How old are you now?" said Bonaparte.

"Ten years old," replied she. "Well," said he, "you have now attained the age of reason, you are no longer a child.”

Saying these words, he placed his hand kindly on her head, and smiled most benevolently; and no one can deny, who has ever seen Bonaparte smile, that the expression conveyed was of the finest and most benevolent nature.