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either from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty or from me。 As
I understand from Captain Sartorius that General Gourgaud refused to
deliver the letter with which he was charged for the Prince Regent
to any person except His Royal Highness； you are to take him out of
the 'Slaney' into the ship you command； until you receive directions
from the Admiralty on the subject； and order that ship back to
Plymouth Sound； when Captain Sartorius returns from London。
It was stated about this time； in some of the English newspapers； that
St。 Helena would be the place of exile of the ex…Emperor； the bare report
of which evidently caused great pain to Napoleon and his suite。 General
Gourgaud was obliged to return to the 'Bellerophon'； not having been
suffered to go on shore to deliver the letter from Bonaparte to the
Prince Regent with which be had been entrusted。 The ship which bore the
modern Alexander soon became a natural object of attraction to the whole
neighbourhood； and was constantly surrounded by crowds of boats。
Napoleon frequently showed himself to the people from shore with a view
of gratifying their curiosity。 On the 25th of July the number of guard…
boats which surrounded the vessel was greatly increased； and the alarm of
the captives became greater as the report was strengthened as to the
intention of conveying Bonaparte to St。 Helena。
In conversation with Captain Maitland； Napoleon； who seemed to be aware
that the English fishermen united the occupation of smugglers to their
usual trade； stated that many of them had been bribed by him； and had
assisted in the escape of French prisoners of war。 They had even
proposed to deliver Louis XVIII。 into his power； but as they would 。not
answer for the safety of his life； Napoleon refused the offer。 Upon the
arrival of despatches from London the 'Bellerophon' got under weigh for
Plymouth Sound on the 26th of July。 This movement tended still further
to disconcert the ex…Emperor and his followers。 In passing the
breakwater Bonaparte could not withhold his admiration of that work；
which he considered highly honourable to the public spirit of the nation；
and； alluding to his own improvements at Cherbourg； expressed his
apprehensions that they would now be suffered to fall into decay。
Captain Maitland was directed by Lord Keith to observe the utmost
vigilance to prevent the escape of his prisoners； and with this view no
boat was permitted to approach the Bellerophon； the 'Liffey' and
'Eurotas' were ordered to take up an anchorage on each side of the ship；
and further precautions were adopted at night。
On the 27th of July Captain Maitland proceeded to Lord Keith； taking with
him Bonaparte's original letter to the Prince Regent； which； as General
Gourgaud had not been permitted to deliver it personally； Napoleon now
desired to be transmitted through the hands of the Admiral。 As Lord
Keith had now received instructions from his Government as to the manner
in which Napoleon was to be treated； he lost no time in paying his
respects to the fallen chief。
On the 31st of July the anxiously…expected order of the English
Government arrived。 In this document； wherein the ex…Emperor was styled
〃General Bonaparte；〃 it was notified that he was to be exiled to St。
Helena； the place of all others most dreaded by him and his devoted
adherents。 It was； moreover； specified that he might be allowed to take
with him three officers； and his surgeon； and twelve servants。 To his
own selection was conceded the choice of these followers； with the
exclusion； however； of Savary and Lallemand； who were on no account to be
permitted any further to share his fortunes。 This prohibition gave
considerable alarm to those individuals； who became excessively anxious
as to their future disposal； and declared that to deliver them up to the
vengeance of the Bourbons would be a violation of faith and honour。
Napoleon himself complained bitterly on the subject of his destination；
and said； 〃The idea； of it is horrible to me。 To be placed for life on
an island within the tropics； at an immense distance from any land； cut
off from all communication with the world； and everything that I hold
dear in it！c'est pis que la cage de fer de Tamerlan。 I would prefer
being delivered up to the Bourbons。 Among other insults；〃 said he；
〃but that is a mere bagatelle； a very secondary considerationthey style
me General！ They can have no right to call me General； they may as well
call me ‘Archbishop；' for I was Head of the Church as well as of the
Army。 If they do not acknowledge me as Emperor they ought as First
Counsul； they have sent ambassadors to me as such； and your King； in his
letters； styled me 'Brother。' Had they confined me in the Tower of
London； or one of the fortresses in England （though not what I had hoped
from the generosity of the English people）； I should not have so much
cause of complaint； but to banish me to an island within the tropics！
They might as well have signed my death…warrant at once； for it is
impossible a man of my habit of body can live long in such a climate。
Having so expressed himself； he wrote a second letter to the Prince
Regent； which was forwarded through Lord Keith。 It was the opinion of
Generals Montholon and Gourgaud that Bonaparte would sooner kill himself
than go to St。 Helena。 This idea arose from his having been heard
emphatically to exclaim； 〃I will not go to St。 Helena！〃 The generals；
indeed； declared that were he to give his own consent to be so exiled
they would themselves prevent him。 In consequence of this threat Captain
Maitland was instructed by Lord Keith to tell those gentlemen that as the
English law awarded death to murderers； the crime they meditated would
inevitably conduct them to the gallows。
Early on the morning of the 4th of August the 'Bellerophon' was ordered
to be ready at a moment's notice for sea。 The reason of this was traced
to a circumstance which is conspicuous among the many remarkable
incidents by which Bonaparte's arrival near the English coast was
characterised。 A rumour reached Lord Keith that a 'habeas corpus' had
been procured with a view of delivering Napoleon from the custody he was
then in。 This； however； turned out to be a subpoena for Bonaparte as a
witness at a trial in the Court of King's Bench； and； indeed； a person
attempted to get on board the Bellerophon to serve the document； but he
was foiled in his intention； though； had he succeeded； the subpoena
would； in the situation wherein the ex…Emperor then stood； have been
without avail。
On the 5th Captain Maitland； having been summoned to the flag…ship of
Lord Keith； acquainted General Bertrand that he would convey to the
Admiral anything which Bonaparte （who had expressed an urgent wish to see
his lordship） might desire to say to him。 Bertrand requested the captain
to delay his departure until a document； then in preparation； should be
completed： the 〃PROTEST OF HIS MAJESTY THE LATE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH；
ETC。〃
Captain Maitland denied that any snare was laid for Bonaparte； either by
himself or by the English Government； and sta