career of the other, remained without a |fort on the preceding night with a view chronicler himself. We shall be well to flight by the mouth of the Charente, pleased if Mr. Douglas gives us more or from Bordeaux by the Garonne or of Scott's letters with Lockhart's as a La Teste (le Bassin d'Arcachon) and kind of commentary, but that removes advising that a sharp lookout be kept, us almost further from our object. Is particularly it too much to ask that Mr. Lang should complete his labors on Scott by reediting his "Life," and supplement them by giving us a memoir of the biographer? Surely these desultory notes have shown that such a work is not uncalled-for. From The United Service Magazine. on American vessels. Though the writer of this note pointed more especially to La Teste, Captain Maitland was of opinion that the attempt would be made from Rochefort, and therefore stationed the two smaller ships off the passages of the Garonne, while he in the Bellerophon remained off the Charente, and from that time was never by day or night more than three miles from the land. Two French frigates and a brig were lying close under the Isle d'Aix off the mouth of the Charente, and on the 1st THE BLOCKADE OF ROCHEFORT, AND SUR-July the Bellerophon spoke a vessel RENDER OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. From "Captain Maitland's Narrative," published in 1826. from Rochefort, which reported that these vessels had just taken in their powder and completed all preparations ON the 24th of May, 1815, H.M.S. for sea, also that several gentlemen in Bellerophon, Captain Frederick Lewis plain clothes and some ladies, all supMaitland, sailed from Cawsand Bay posed to form part of Napoleon's suite, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Sir had arrived at Isle d'Aix. Captain Henry Hotham, whose flag was flying Maitland at once anchored the Bellein the Superb. The object of the rophon as close to the French squadsquadron under Sir Henry was to de- ron as the batteries would permit, kept tain and send into port all armed ves-guard-boats rowing all night, and desels belonging to France, and to assist termined on a line of action should the and support the Royalists in La Vendée. It must be understood that although the escape of Napoleon from Elba, his arrival and enthusiastic reception in Paris were known to the government, the formal declaration of war by Great Britain was not received by Hotham's squadron until the 27th June, nine days after the battle of Waterloo, and when Napoleon was on the point of setting out for Rochefort with the idea of escaping to America. French squadron attempt to escape. His plan was to silence and disable the frigate he should first encounter, throw on board her a hundred men he had specially trained for the purpose, and then go in chase of the other. On the 7th and 8th of July, further information was received confirming the former reports that Napoleon was on the way from Paris to Rochefort, there to embark for America, and instructions from the government were forwarded to the admiral directing that Intelligence of the battle of Waterloo no effort be spared "to intercept the reached Maitland on the 28th June, fugitive on whose captivity the peace and on the 30th a boat from Bordeaux of Europe appears to depend." brought a letter without date or signa- he be taken," adds the admiral, “he is ture written in English, and concealed to be brought to me in this bay (Quiin a quill. This letter, which Maitland beron), as I have orders for his disforwarded unopened to the admiral, posal; he is to be removed from the then off Quiberon, stated that the ship in which he may be found to writer had good reason for believing one of his Majesty's ships." Later that Napoleon passed through Roche-on, "If you should be so fortunate 66 If etc. as to intercept him, you are to transfer | Napoleon finally quitted the Bellerohim and his family to the ship you com- phon, a most difficult part to play. It maud, and there keeping him in careful was necessary for him to weigh every custody, return to the nearest port in word before utterance, and as far as England with all possible expedition," possible to consider even the interpretation which might be put on his words, especially as to any action taken by Napoleon in consequence of representations made, or supposed to have been made, by Maitland. As it was, Las Cases actually stated to Lord Keith, after reaching England, that Captain Maitland had assured the French officers that he was authorized to receive the general and his suite on board the Bellerophon, for conveyance to England, and at the same time as At daylight on the 10th July a small schooner was seen standing out from the French squadron, and the Bellerophon prepared to chase. As she approached, the schooner hoisted a flag of truce, and soon afterwards General Savary, Duc de Rovigo, and Count Las Cases were put on board the Bellerophou. They brought a letter from Count Bertrand, which stated that the emperor having abdicated the throne of France, and chosen the United sured them that they would be well States as a retreat, was then actually received there. ou board one of the frigates in the The captain, however, had taken harbor for the purpose of proceeding the precaution of having witnesses to his destination, and stating that he present, and was able to disprove any was expecting a passport from the accusation of exceeding his instructions British government which he said had or of committing himself by any sort been promised. He asked if Captain of injudicious expressions; this was Maitland had any knowledge of the the more difficult, as he says of himsaid passport, and if the British gov- self he had considerable difficulty in ernment intended to throw any im- expressing himself in French, and pediment in the way of the proposed could not but fear lest any mistake he voyage, and further, the bearers of might unconsciously make should be the letter asked verbally if the emperor understood as implying some promise would be prevented from proceeding in or condition on the part of the British a neutral vessel if the frigates were government in the event of Napoleon forbidden to pass. To this amazing deciding to surrender himself. Almost announcement Captain Maitland wrote immediately on receiving the emperor, in reply, "I cannot say what the in- Maitland asked to be allowed to adtentious of my government may be; dress him in English, but Napoleon but, the two countries being at present himself replied in French, "The thing in a state of war, it is impossible for is impossible; I hardly understand a me to permit any ship of war to put word of your language." The Duc de to sea from the port of Rochefort." | Rovigo and Las Cases remained on. As to allowing the emperor to proceed board some hours talking a good deal, in a merchant vessel, the captain an- endeavoring to impress upon Captain swered, also in writing, "It is out of Maitland the idea that Napoleon's situmy power-without the sanction of ation was by no means so desperate as my commanding officer, Sir Henry might be supposed, from which, says Hotham, who is at present in Quiberon the captain, "I took the liberty of Bay, and to whom I have forwarded drawing a conclusion directly opposite your despatch to allow any vessel, to that which they were desirous of under whatever flag she may be, to impressing on my mind;" however, pass with a personage of such conse- he made but few remarks, being enquence. To "Le Grand Marechal, gaged on his own despatches. Comte Bertrand." . Again and again in the course of the Captain Maitland had now, and until next few days did Maitland receive notices purporting to give information | emperor the conversation which he had as to Napoleon's whereabouts and his with you this morning. His Majesty probable course of action. will proceed on board your ship with Sometimes these messages were sent the ebb-tide to-morrow morning beapparently in good faith, sometimes tween four and five o'clock." with the hope of confusing or mislead- Whether Napoleon really believed in ing; but so judiciously had he sta- the possibility of a passport from the tioned his ships and so keen was his admiral or the British government is lookout that ere long Napoleon and difficult to say; but Count Bertrand, his friends seem to have recognized the having announced the intention of the impossibility of escape, and on the 14th emperor to embark on board the BelleJuly Las Cases and General Count|rophon, continues: "If the admiral, in Lallemand came on board under a flag consequence of the despatch you forof truce. After some conversation the warded to him, should send the passformer said, "The emperor is so anx-port for the United States therein ious to spare the further effusion of demanded, his Majesty will be happy blood that he will proceed to America to repair to America, but should the in any way the British government passport be withheld, he will willingly chooses to sanction, either in a French proceed to England as a private iudiship of war, a vessel armed en flute, a vidual, there to enjoy the protection of merchant vessel, or even in a British the laws of your country." In all ship of war." Captain Maitland au- probability the idea of the passport was swered, “I have no authority to agree a mere invention of Bertrand's, a forto any arrangement of that sort, nor do lorn hope of misleading the admiral I believe that my government would and accomplishing by ruse what he consent to it, but I think I may venture well knew could not otherwise be done. to receive him into this ship and con- A list of persons proposing to embark vey him to England; but," he added, with Napoleon was enclosed, five gen"I cannot enter into any promise as to eral officers or personages of rank, the reception he may meet with," and viz., Generals Comte Bertrand, Duc de more to the same effect; and asked Rovigo, Baron Lallemand, Comte de where Buonaparte then was, to which Montholon, and Comte de Las Cases; Las Cases answered, "At Rochefort." two ladies, Mesdames les Comtesses This, though confirmed by General Bertrand and de Montholon, three Lallemand, was untrue, as it afterwards children of the former and one of the proved, for Napoleon never left the latter named lady, three officers in frigates or Isle d'Aix after his arrival attendance with male and female serthere on the 3rd. Shortly before leav-vants, making a total of thirty-three ing the ship Las Cases said: "Under all circumstances, I have little doubt that you will see the emperor on board the Bellerophon." persons. There was also a supplementary list of seventeen others to be embarked on board one of the smaller vessels, and Captain Maitland undertook to receive two carriages and five or six horses; but eventually the admiral gave a per The same evening another flag of truce came off, bringing Las Cases again, who now confessed that Napoleon was at Isle d'Aix, and General mit to a vessel to transport the whole Gourgaud, one of Buonaparte's aides- of Napoleon's equipages, consisting of de-camp, the former bearing a letter six carriages and forty-five horses, but from Count Bertrand addressed to this was not acted upon. Captain Maitland, and the latter one from the emperor himself addressed to H.R.H. the prince regent. Count Bertrand's letter began thus: "Count Las Cases has reported to the The letter addressed by the emperor to H.R.H. the prince regent and entrusted to General Gourgaud was in the following terms, a copy being handed to Captain Maitland : D 1 Your Royal Highness, — A victim to the sailor's great coat whom one of my factions which distract my country, and to people asserted to be him," and furthe enmity of the greatest powers of Eu-ther, that the owner of the vessels was rope, I have terminated my political career, prevented from going on board, being and I come, like Themistocles, to throw told that they were wanted for two or myself upon 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. ROCHEFORT, 13 July, 1815. NAPOLEON. Captain Maitland now undertook to forward General Gourgaud immediately to England, telling him at the same time that he would not be allowed to land without permission from London or from the port admiral wherever he might arrive, but assured him that the letter would be forwarded without delay and presented by the ministers to his Royal Highness. It may be stated here that on his arrival in England General Gourgaud refused to deliver his letter into any other hands than those of the prince regent himself, consequently it did not reach his Royal Highness until the arrival of the Bellerophon, when the original was handed to Lord Keith, commander-in-chief at Plymouth, by Captain Maitland, when Napoleon consented to it being forwarded by an officer despatched to London by his Lordship. Be three days, and that they should be restored with ample payment. Here was a predicament! Las Cases was still on board the Bellerophon, and the captain determined to tell the story abruptly to him, and from the effect produced judge of the value of the information. The Frenchman listened coolly to the story; asked at what hour the emperor was said to have passed Rochelle. ing told, he said: "Then I can safely assert, ou my honor, that he was not in either of those vessels." Maitland decided on treating the information as based on some mistake, and told Las Cases that he accepted his word of honor and would take no steps in cousequence of the message. At three in the morning another boat was reported, and brought precisely the same intelligence as the last, but from a different quarter. This must have occasioned a cruel anxiety, but the captain determined to abide by the assurance of Las Cases. After all both messages proved to be truthful to a certain extent. The chasse-marées had been prepared and manned from the frigates, and had passed Rochelle at the The Slaney, one of the two smaller hour named. They were intended as a ships under Maitland's orders, was at last resource if the mission of Las once despatched to England with Gour-Cases had failed, and were to have gaud, and her captain was charged awaited the emperor at a point in the with a letter to the Admiralty au- Breton passage. nouncing the intention of Napoleon to surrender on board the Bellerophon on the following morning, but Maitland's troubles and perplexities were not yet at an end. At ten o'clock that night a boat asked permission to come alongside, which being granted, a man came on board and said: "I am sent off from Rochelle to inform you that Buonaparte this morning passed that town in a chasse-marée with another in company. He is now in the Breton passage and means to set sail to-night." On being questioned the man stated: "The vessels passed close to a boat that I was in, and I saw a man wrapped up in a At the last moment, when Las Cases was writing to Count Bertrand the acquiescence of Captain Maitland in the proposal that he receive and convey to England Buonaparte and his suite, Maitland once more repeated that he was not authorized to stipulate as to their reception in England, but that Buonaparte "must consider himself entirely at the disposal of his Royal Highness the prince regent." Las Cases answered: "I am perfectly aware of that, and have already acquainted the emperor with what you said on the subject.” At break of day, 15th of July, 1815, L'Epervier, French brig of war, was observed under sail standing out towards the Bellerophon with a flag of truce up. Once more it appeared as if the reward of so much anxiety was to slip past Captain Maitland. any children, what service he had seen, and many other personal questions with the object apparently of making favorable impression by pleasing and flattering his host. He requested that the officers might be introduced to him, At half past five the ebb-tide failed, and questioned each as to his rank, the wind was blowing right in, and the length of service, and if he had taken brig, now within a mile, made no far- part in any action, and then expressed ther progress, while the flagship Superb a wish to be shown round the ship. was seen in the offlug advancing with The captain begged him to wait for a wind and tide. Of course, were she on little while, as the ship's company were the spot in time, Napoleon must have then scrubbing and cleaning in all surrendered not to the captain but to directions; however, in another quarter the admiral. So, says Maitland, "Be- of an hour he repeated his request, ing most anxious to terminate the and was accordingly taken over all her affair I had brought so near to a con- decks. He noticed and inquired about clusion, previous to the admiral's everything which appeared to him difarrival, I sent off the Bellerophou's ferent from what he had seen in French barge in charge of her first lieutenant, who returned soon after six o'clock, bringing Napoleon with him." "it ships, especially he was struck with the cleanness and neatness of the men, remarking that he thought our seamen were surely a different class of people from the French, and that he thought that it was owing to this that the English were always victorious at sea. Captain Maitland differed, saying that, without any wish to take from the merit of the men, he thought more was owing to the superior experience of the officers-British ships being so constantly at sea the officers have nothing to divert their attention from them and When the Bellerophon's barge came alongside, the first to come on board was General Bertrand, who said to the captain, "The emperor is in the boat." Napoleon then ascended, and on reaching the quarter-deck, took off his hat, and, addressing Captain Maitland, said in a firm tone of voice, "I am come to throw myself on the protection of your prince and laws." On being shown into the cabin, he looked round and said, "Une belle chambre.' "Such their men. as it is, sir," the captain answered, is at your service while you remain on board the ship I command;" and he emphatically contradicts the story, circulated by some of the journals of the day, that Napoleon took possession in a brutal way, saying, "Tout ou rien pour moi." On the contrary, Maitland asserts" that from the time of coming on board to the period of his quitting the ship, his conduct was invariably that of a gentleman, nor in one instance did he ever make use of a rude expression, or was guilty of any kind of ill-breeding." Noticing a portrait hanging up in the cabin, Napoleon asked, "Qui est cette jeune personne ?" "My wife," said the captain. "Ah! elle est très jeune et très jolie." 1 He then asked had he 1 Subsequently, on seeing Mrs. Maitland herself Napoleon spoke of several naval actions, and said, "Your laws are either more severe or better administered than ours ;" and mentioned instances when, he said, he had been unable to punish officers as they had deserved. This gave an opportunity to Captain Maitland to refer to the case of the French captain of the Calcutta, who was shot by sentence of a court-martial for misbehavior in the action of Basque Roads, unjustly, in the opinion of most of the British officers engaged. "He could do no more to save his ship," said Maitland, who had been present on the occasion, "and she was defended better and longer than any one there." Napoleon answered, "You are said, "Mai fol, son portrait ne la flatte pas, elle est at Plymouth, he turned to Captain Maitland and plus jolie que lui." |