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Soon after I left him； full of anxiety respecting his fate； my heart
oppressed with grief； but still far from suspecting the extent to which
both the rigour of fortune and the cruelty of his enemies would be
carried。〃
All the morning of the 29th of June the great road from St。 Germain rung
with the cries of 〃Vive l'Empereur！〃 proceeding from the troops who
passed under the walls of Malmaison。 About mid…day General Becker； sent
by the Provisional Government； arrived。 He had been appointed to attend
Napoleon。 Fouche knew that General Becker had grievances against the
Emperor； and thought to find in him willing agent。 He was greatly
deceived； for the General paid to the Emperor a degree of respect highly
to his honour。 Time now became pressing。 The Emperor； at the moment of
departure； sent a message by General Becker himself to the Provisional
Government； offering to march as a private citizen at the head of the
troops。 He promised to repulse Blucher； and afterwards to continue his
route。 Upon the refusal of the Provisional Government he quitted
Malmaison on the 29th。 Napoleon and part of his suite took the road to
Rochefort。 He slept at Rambouillet on the 29th of June； on the 30th at
Tours； on the 1st of July he arrived at Niort； and on the 3d reached
Rochefort； on the western coast of France； with the intention of escaping
to America； but the whole western seaboard was so vigilantly watched by
British men…of…war that； after various plans and devices； he was obliged
to abandon the attempt in despair。 He was lodged at the house of the
prefect； at the balcony of which he occasionally showed himself to
acknowledge the acclamations of the people。
During his stay here a French naval officer； commanding a Danish merchant
vessel； generously offered to some of Napoleon's adherents to further his
escape。 He proposed to take Napoleon alone； and undertook to conceal his
person so effectually as to defy the most rigid scrutiny； and offered to
sail immediately to the United States of America。 He required no other
compensation than a small sum to indemnify the owners of his ship for the
loss this enterprise might occasion them。 This was agreed to by Bertrand
upon certain stipulations。
On the evening of the 8th of July Napoleon reached Fouras； receiving
everywhere testimonies of attachment。 He proceeded on board the Saale；
one of the two frigates appointed by the Provisional Government to convey
him to the United States； and slept on board that night。 Very early on
the following morning he visited the fortifications of that place； and
returned to the frigate for dinner。 On the evening of the 9th of July he
despatched Count Las Cases and the Duke of Rovigo to the commander of the
English squadron； for the purpose of ascertaining whether the passports
promised by the Provisional Government to enable him to proceed to
America had been received。 A negative answer was returned； it was at the
same time signified that the Emperor would be attacked by the English
squadron if he attempted to sail under a flag of truce； and it was
intimated that every neutral vessel would be examined； and probably sent
into an English port。 Las Cases affirms that Napoleon was recommended to
proceed to England by Captain Maitland； who assured him that he would
experience no ill…treatment there。 The English ship 'Bellerophon' then
anchored in the Basque roads； within sight of the French vessels of war。
The coast being； as we have stated； entirely blockaded by the English
squadron； the Emperor was undecided as to the course he should pursue。
Neutral vessels and 'chasse…marees'； manned by young naval officers； were
proposed； and many other plans were devised。
Napoleon disembarked on the 12th at the Isle of Aix with acclamations
ringing on every side。 He had quitted the frigates because they refused
to sail； owing either to the weakness of character of the commandant； or
in consequence of his receiving fresh orders from the Provisional
Government。 Many persons thought that the enterprise might be undertaken
with some probability of success； the wind； however； remained constantly
in the wrong quarter。
Las Cases returned to the Bellerophon at four o'clock in the morning of
the 14th； to inquire whether any reply had been received to the
communication made by Napoleon。 Captain Maitland stated that he expected
to receive it every moment； and added that； if the Emperor would then
embark for England； he was authorized to convey him thither。 He added；
moreover； that in his own opinion； and many other officers present
concurred with him； be had no doubt Napoleon would be treated in England
with all…possible attention and respect； that in England neither the King
nor Ministers exercised the same arbitrary power as on the Continent；
that the English indeed possessed generosity of sentiment and a
liberality of opinions superior even to those of the King。 Las Cases
replied that he would make Napoleon acquainted with Captain Maitland's
offer； and added； that he thought the Emperor would not hesitate to
proceed to England； so as to be able to continue his voyage to the United
States。 He described France； south of the Loire； to be in commotion； the
hopes of the people resting on Napoleon as long as he was present； the
propositions everywhere made to him； and at every moment； his decided
resolution not to become the pretest of a civil war； the generosity he
had exhibited in abdicating； in order to render the conclusion of a peace
more practicable； and his settled determination to banish himself； in
order to render that peace more prompt and more lasting。
The messengers returned to their Master； who； after some doubt and
hesitation； despatched General Gourgaud with the following well…known
letter to the Prince Regent：
ROCHEFORT； 13th July 1815。
ROYAL HIGHNESSA victim to the factions which divide my country；
and to the hostility of the greatest Powers of Europe； I have
terminated my political career； and come； like Themistocles； to
share the hospitality of the British people。 I place myself under
the protection of their laws； and I claim that from your Royal
Highness as the most powerful； the most constant； and the most
generous of my enemies。
（Signed） NAPOLEON。
About four P。M。 Las Cases and Savory returned to the 'Bellerophon'； where
they had a long conversation with Captain Maitland； in the presence of
Captains Sartorius and Gambler； who both declare that Maitland repeatedly
warned Napoleon's adherents not to entertain the remotest idea that he
was enabled to offer any pledge whatever to their Master beyond the
simple assurance that he would convey him in safety to the English coast；
there to await the determination of the British Government。
Napoleon had begun to prepare for his embarkation before daylight on the
15th。 It was time that he did so； for a messenger charged with orders to
arrest him had already arrived at Rochefort from the new Government。
The execution of this order was delayed by General Becker for a few hours
in order to allow Nap