Oldalképek
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

not aware of the circumstances that his apologies but was undressed and occasioned his condemnation; he was going to bed. He always retired bethe first man to quit his ship, which tween eight and nine in the evening, was fought some time by her officers and did not rise till the same hour and crew after he had left her."1 Na- in the morning, and yet frequently apoleon continued, "I can see no suffi- slept on the sofa in the course of the cient reason why your ships should day. Another instance of this growing beat the French with so much ease. lethargy was given by the emperor's The finest men-of-war in your service complaint when the Bellerophon was are French; a French ship is heavier lying in Plymouth Sound, that the senin every respect thau one of yours, she tries' call of "All's well" disturbed carries more guns, those guns of a him, and the blank musket shots occalarger calibre, and has a great many sionally fired from the guard boats at more men." Then he added, "I hear aggressive shore boats annoyed him that you take great pains in exercising and prevented his sleeping. This is your guns and training your men to fire the more remarkable when one reat a mark." He questioned Captain members that in the plenitude of his Maitland as to the probability of suc- powers Napoleon could always go off cess had he attempted to force his way to sleep under any circumstances, and out with the two frigates at Isle d'Aix, awake again apparently by sheer force and was answered that though much of will. might depend upon chance, the line-ofbattle ship was more than a match for the two frigates in fighting power; and that in point of position as well, the advantage was on the same side, and in fact it was not probable that he could have made his escape.

The day after his embarkation Napoleon returned the visit of the admiral on board the Superb, and as in the Bellerophon requested that the officers might be introduced to him, and that he might be shown round the ship, which he inspected minutely.

Meanwhile the flagship Superb had The first question he asked was curianchored, and Captain Maitland went ous. He inquired was the Superb an on board to report to the admiral, bear-English or a French ship! Of the ing from Napoleon a request that he marines he remarked to Count Bermight see the admiral, who replied trand, "How much might be done with that he would wait on him with pleas- a hundred thousand such soldiers as ure, and in the course of the afternoon these ?" but he condemned the method visited the Bellerophon, and joined the of fixing the bayonets, as he said they dinner-party. On this occasion, and might be easily twisted off if seized by all the time that Napoleon was on an enemy. On stepping into the board, the dinner was served on his Bellerophon's barge he observed to plate and arranged by his maître d'ho- Captain Maitland, "What a very fine tel, who was ordered by the captain to set of men you have got; " indeed, regulate everything in the manner most during his stay on board he seemed to agreeable to his master. Napoleon take pleasure in making complimentary chatted cheerfully and indifferently remarks, and always seemed most anxduring the dinner and throughout the ious to please. Shortly before leaving evening, and afterwards walked the the Bellerophon he said, "There has quarter-deck for a short time, and with- been less noise in this ship, where there drew to his cabin about half past are six hundred men, during the whole seven; shortly afterwards the admiral of the time I have been in her, than wished to take leave, but was told by there was on board the Epervier, with Count Bertrand that the emperor sent only one hundred, in the passage from Isle d'Aix to Basque Roads." Keith, who was in command at Plymouth when the Bellerophon arrived, thought Napoleon's conversation so fas

1 Lord Cochrane, who commanded the attacking squadron at the Basque Roads, believed that the captain of the Calcutta was shot for having surrendered to his frigate, the Impérieuse, alone.

Lord

[graphic]

cinating, that when speaking of his wish | English cruisers off Brest, Napoleon for an interview with the prince regent wished to know if the ships in that he remarked emphatically, "If he had port had hoisted the white flag. The obtained an interview with his Royal question was asked by telegraph, and Highness, in half an hour they would being answered in the affirmative, he have been the best friends in En- made no remark, but merely asked gland." On getting under weigh from how the question and answer had been the Basque Roads he said to the cap- conveyed, and approved of the usefultain, "What I admire most in your ness of the system. ship, is the extreme silence and orderly conduct of your men; on board a French ship every one calls and gives orders, and they gabble like so many geese."

[ocr errors]

The first day at sea Napoleon was in good spirits, chatting cheerfully, and knowing that Captain Maitland had served under Sir Sydney Smith on the coast of Syria, he turned the conversation at dinner to that subject, asking the captain, "Did Sir Sydney Smith ever tell you the cause of his quarrel with me?" Being answered in the negative, "Then," said he, "I will." As sundry versions of this story have gone abroad, all more or less incorrect, we give it here in Napoleon's own words. "When the French army was before St. Jean d'Acre, he had a paper privately distributed among the officers and soldiers, tending to induce them to revolt and quit me; on which I issued a proclamation denouncing the English commanding officer as a madman, and prohibiting all intercourse with him. This nettled Sir Sydney so much that he sent me a challenge to meet him in single combat on the beach at Caiffa. My reply was, that when Marlborough appeared for that purpose I should be at his service, but I had other duties to fulfil besides fighting a duel with an English commodore."

There is no word here of the grenadier whom Napoleon is said to have proposed as his substitute according to M. Lanfrey and other writers. Before quitting the subject of Syria, Napoleon, patting Captain Maitland on the head as he sat next to him at the table, said: "If it had not been for you English, I should have been Emperor of the East; but wherever there is water to float a ship we are sure to find you in our way." On passing one of the

On arriving in Torbay, the ship was at once surrounded by a crowd of boats filled with persons from all directions, anxious to see so extraordinary a man as Buonaparte. He frequently came on deck and showed himself at the gangways and stern-windows for the purpose of gratifying their curiosity, of which, however, he remarked to the captain, the English appeared to have a very large portion.

From Torbay the Bellerophon was ordered to Plymouth, the most stringent orders being given that on no account should any communication be allowed with the shore.

It was not until the 31st of July, just a week after his first arrival in England, that Napoleon was formally notified of the intention of the government to transfer him to St. Helena. His mind had been so much prepared for this by the newspapers that he did not show any strong emotion at receiving the information, though he complained in bitter terms of the injustice of such a measure, saying, "The idea of it is perfect horror to me- c'est pis que la cage de fer de Tamerlan," and expressed a desire to write another letter to the prince regent. This he did; the letter was carried to Lord Keith the same afternoon, and by him forwarded immediately to London.

At dinner that day he conversed as usual, and Captain Maitland notes with astonishment with what elasticity his spirits regained their usual cheerfulness, though on several subsequent occasions he repeated the expression, "Je n'irai pas à St.-Hélène."

On the 4th of August the Bellerophon was ordered to be prepared to go to sea at a moment's notice, and Captain Maitlaud had to explain to Napoleon that it was the intention of the govern

ment that his removal to the Northum- | my thanks for the manner in whicht berland, which was to take him to St. you have treated me while on board Helena, should take place at sea. Ever the Bellerophon, and also to request since the final decision of the govern- you will convey them to the officers and ment was made known, Count Ber- ship's company you command." Turntrand had been requested to ascertain ing to the officers he said, "Gentlethe wishes of his master as to the men, I have requested your captain to members of his suite who were to ac- express my gratitude to you for your company him. On this occasion Ber- attention to me, and to those who have trand was again pressed on the subject, followed my fortunes." He then went but the only answer he returned was, forward to the gangway, and, before "L'Empereur n'irai pas à St.-Hélène." stepping over the side, bowed two or About this time an attempt was made three times to the ship's company who to serve a subpoena on Napoleon. A were collected in the waist, and on the case was got up in which it was pre- forecastle; the ladies and officers of tended that the presence of Napoleon the suite, and lastly, Lord Keith, folas a witness was essential to the de-lowed. : fence, and both Lord Keith and Cap- When the boat was some thirty tain Maitland were obliged to use great vigilance, and were put to considerable inconvenience in the effort to avoid the person endeavoring to serve the writ.

yards from the ship he stood up, took off his hat and bowed, first to the officers and then to the men, sat down,. and entered into conversation with It was not until the 7th of August, Lord Keith with apparent unconcern,. the very day named for the transfer of as if he had only been going from one Napoleon and his suite to the North- ship to the other to pay a visit.. umberland, that Count Bertrand com- Shortly before quitting the ship Napopleted the list of those who were to go. leon sent General Montholon to the They were Count Bertrand, his wife captain with a kind message saying. and three children, General Montho- that he had hoped to be able to ask: lon, wife and one child, Count Las of the prince regent, as a favor, that Cases and his son, and General Gour- Captain Maitland be promoted to thegaud, with, in all, twelve domestics. rank of rear-admiral, and that heNapoleon also asked that Mr. O'Meara, | meant to have presented him with a the surgeon of the Bellerophon, might box containing his portrait. The capbe allowed to accompany him, and this tain explained that such a request request was granted, and his French could not have been complied with, as... surgeon was allowed to return to such promotion was contrary to the France. rules of the service, and moreover that The fatal day had now arrived. All it was quite impossible under the cirhope must be abandoned, the "n'irai cumstances that he could receive any pas recalled, and Napoleon himself present. Montholon replied, "the em-must have felt that his career was ab-peror is perfectly aware of the delicacy solutely at an end. Now at this moment one would think that human nature must assert itself, and yet, indeed, from this most wonderful being not one burst of passion, not one sigh of regret, not one sign of weakness, conqueror at last of himself.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

of your situation and approves of your conduct." Soon afterwards the North-umberland and her consorts made sail for St. Helena, the Tonnant and Bellerophon returning to Plymouth.

Such was the close of the most wonderful career that modern history at

He walked out of the cabin with a least has on record.

steady firm step, went to Captain Maitland, and taking off his hat said, "Captain Maitland, I take this last opportunity of once more returning you

But where is he, the modern, mightier far,
Who, born no king, made: monarchs draw

his car.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

and the whole of his countenance appeared evidently under the influence of a strong feeling of grief.

As Maitland had never heard Napoleon speak of Waterloo or of the Duke of Wellington he asked Count Bertrand what Napoleon thought of the duke. "I will give you his opinion in his own words," he replied. Duke of Wellington, in the management of an army, is fully equal to myself, with the advantage of possessing more prudence.'"

The

One more characteristic story and we must close. The captain wishing to know the feeling of the ship's company, asked his servant what the men said of the illustrious captive. "Sir," he answered, "I heard several of them conversing together about him, when one of them observed Well, they may abuse that man as much as they please; but if the people of Euglaud knew him as well as we do, they would

[ocr errors]

A few words as to the personal appearance of this wonderful man as described by Captain Maitland at the time of his surrender. Napoleon Buonaparte, when he came on board the Bellerophon, wanted one month of completing his forty-sixth year. He was then a remarkably strong, well built man, about five feet seven inches high, his limbs particularly well formed, with a fine ankle and a very small foot of which he seemed rather vain, as he always wore, while on board the ship, silk stockings and shoes. His hands were also very small, and had the plumpness of a woman's rather than the robustness of a man's. His eyes light grey, teeth good, when he smiled the expression not hurt a hair of his head,' in which of his countenance highly pleasing, but under disappointment of a dark gloomy cast. Hair a very dark brown, a little thin on the top but without a grey hair. His complexion was a very uncommon one being of a light sallow color, differing from almost any other I ever met with. From his having become corpulent he had lost much of his personal Captain Maitland, from whose narraactivity, and according to those who tive the foregoing article is for the attended him a very considerable por- most part taken, was a cadet of the tion of his mental energy was also gone.

the others agreed." This was the more extraordinary, adds the captain, as owing to his presence they suffered many privations, not being allowed to see wives and friends, or to go on shore, having to keep watch in port, etc.

In

Lauderdale family. Entering the navy when very young he had seen a good Once, during his stay on board the deal of active service before obtaining Bellerophon, he showed signs of emo- command of the Bellerophon. Under tion and distress. He was speaking of Sir Sydney Smith he assisted in the dehis wife and child, and said, "I feel feat of Acre, and in co-operating with the conduct of the allied sovereigns to Abercromby's army in Egypt. be more cruel and unjustifiable towards 1809 he commanded the thirty-six gun me in that respect," his separation frigate Emerald under Lord Cochrane from them, "than in any other." I at the destruction of the French fleet looked steadily in his face, says Mait- at Aix Roads. He was finally comland, as he expressed himself thus; mander-in-chief in the East Indies, the tears were standing in his eyes, and died on that station in 1839.

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

For EIGHT DOLLARS remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually forwarded for a year, free of postage.

Remittances should be made by bank draft or check, or by post-office money-order, if possible. If neither of these can be procured, the money should be sent in a registered letter. All postmasters are obliged to register letters when requested to do so. Drafts, checks, and money-orders should be made payable to the order of LITTELL & CO.

Single copies of the LIVING AGE, 18 cents.

« ElőzőTovább »