Bonaparte himself gave me to understand it would be settled, and leaves me no other alternative than that of putting the establishment altogether upon fixed allowances. The number of persons composing the establishment is stated in an accompanying paper, and amounts to fifty-five. In an island like this, where every thing is raised to so extravagant a price, and where no individual concerned has an interest for the observance of that economy which is practiced in a private family, it will, I fear, be impossible to bring the expenses within the limits your Lordship has prescribed. It is only by a diminution of numbers that any material reduction can be effected in the expenditure; and until I receive your Lordship's commands on this subject, I do not feel myself authorized to send away any of the persons referred to-at least upon such a ground as that of the expense they create. . . . . The conversation which passed between General Bonaparte and myself will naturally attract your Lordship's particular attention; and I beg leave to request your instructions in what mode I am to act toward him, whether in notice of the grossly insulting conduct he has manifested on this occasion, or if he should persist in the same line of proceeding hereafter. As the officers who form his suite do not consider themselves as liable to any law of discipline or respect to any authority in the island, I beg also to solicit your Lordship's instructions in what mode I am to conduct myself toward them when they imitate the behavior of him they affect still to consider as their master. In all matters that relate to myself I naturally feel reluctant to adopt any measure which might be considered as proceeding from motives of personal resentment for the treatment I have myself endured. This sentiment has hitherto restrained me in all my proceedings toward Bonaparte ; and in proportion as he has endeavored to provoke me to some act of violence toward him, I have used a correspondent effort to preserve my temper and to render his design abortive.' Having communicated to your Lordship the unprovoked in

The passages in the text deserve particular attention with reference to the important question of Sir Hudson Lowe's temper and demeanor toward Napoleon.

solence of his demeanor in the second interview I had with him, an account of which was transmitted in my letter of the 20th of May, I shall hope not to be long in obtaining your sentiments of his conduct on that occasion, and being able to draw from them a rule for my proceeding, which may be rendered applicable either to the present or to any future instance. The principal delicacy I have felt in acting toward him has sprung, not so much from his defenseless situation and from the power which I hold in my hands, as from reflection on his voluntary surrender to the British nation, and upon my instructions, which command me to treat him with every indulgence that is compatible with his personal security. It is a point, therefore, on which I wish to avoid acting from my own feelings, but the support of my authority may claim your Lordship's regard. The letter of Count Montholon will show the spirit with which Bonaparte is at present actuated."

On the 31st of August the orderly officer at Longwood wrote the following note to the Governor :

"DEAR SIR-All goes on well at Longwood. I was yesterday evening walking about the grounds, when I was surprised by a message from Napoleon, who wished to speak to me. He received me in the billiard-room-asked me if I was not the senior Captain in the regiment: I told him I was. He then said he had been told that it was said in the camp that he did not wish to see the officers of the regiment, and he therefore begged that I, as senior Captain, would explain to the officers that he had never expressed such sentiments; that, on the contrary, he esteemed them as brave men and good soldiers, and should be always happy to see them; and begged I would say, if it was so understood by them, that it was false. He likewise said that he was told some orders had been given to the regiment not to hold communication with him. My answer was simply, that I knew of no such order, and that I believed the whole of his information was without the smallest foundation. He was in a very good humor, and we parted with a great deal of civility on his part. This is

all the real information I have to give you. letters which are requested to be forwarded. yours,

To this the Governor replied:

I inclose two

Very faithfully

T. POPPLETON."

"MY DEAR SIR-You did perfectly right to say the reports he had heard were without the smallest foundation. He must have had a motive for mentioning such inventions to you; and therefore be mindful of every further conversation he may address to you, and acquaint me of it. He perhaps wished to see if you would carry a communication for him. He has placed a restraint upon himself by the letter you brought me from Count Montholon, and now wishes to release himself from it by means that are indirect. Be mindful of what is said and done. Yours, &c.,

H. LOWE."

O'Meara in his book represents Captain Poppleton to have replied, when addressed by Napoleon, not simply that "he believed the information which he had received was groundless;" but also "that the officers of the 53d were acquainted with the good opinion which he had previously expressed of them, which was highly flattering to their feelings that they had the greatest respect for him." And he adds that Napoleon smiled and replied, "Je ne suis pas vieille femme; I love a brave soldier who has undergone 'le baptême de feu,' whatever nation he may belong to." Either this is an invention, or Captain Poppleton suppressed in his note to Sir Hudson Lowe part of the answer he gave to Napoleon.

1 "Voice," vol. i. p. 107.

CHAPTER VII.

REDUCTION OF EXPENSES AT LONGWOOD-PLATE BROKEN UP FOR SALE-REAL OBJECT OF THIS LETTERS OF O'MEARA -DISPATCHES FROM LORD BATHURST-O'MEARA'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR. FINLAISON AT THE ADMIRALTYINFORMATION GIVEN OF PROJECTS FOR NAPOLEON'S ESCAPE -REFUSAL OF NAPOLEON TO SEE SIR HUDSON LOWE-INTERVIEWS OF SIR THOMAS READE WITH BONAPARTE AND COUNT BERTRAND.

On the 1st of September, Sir Hudson Lowe forwarded to Earl Bathurst a letter which he had received from O'Meara on the 6th of the preceding month, requesting an increase of his salary. The following passages of that letter deserve attention:

"It may be proper, Sir, to inform you that General Bonaparte himself, in a private conversation with me, after asking minutely concerning my allowances, made me an offer of 6000 francs yearly, independent of any sum the British Government might give me; which I then declined, and always will, as I conceive that, holding the rank and situation of a British officer, it would not be honorable or allowable in me to receive pay from a foreign captive, circumstanced as he is; but as the officers employed for his security enjoy nearly double pay, I certainly conceive myself entitled to a suitable augmentation. I conceive, Sir, that it is scarcely necessary to point out to an officer of your discrimination, talent, and observation, that mine is a situation peculiarly and unprecedentedly delicate, and necessarily accompanied by several inconveniences and unpleasant circunstances indispensably united with so novel and trying an appointment-such a one, I believe I safely may say, as no person has ever filled before, and requiring not a little management,' prudence, and patience on VOL. I.-L

the part of any individual holding it, which, independent of the expatriation to so circumscribed and remote a residence as St. Helena, would undoubtedly require the aid of a liberal salary to induce any persons to make such sacrifices as are inseparable from the nature of the appointment. Besides, Sir, in consenting to live here, I give up all hopes of establishing myself in England in a professional capacity; and my time of life renders it obviously necessary for me to endeavor to obtain a permanent situation. My present salary does not admit of a thought of saving such a sum yearly out of it as (in the course of a few years, in case of the demise of the General) would be sufficient to recompense me for the loss of so much time; neither is it sufficient to defray the expenses of a probable family, supposing that I was inclined to change my state (which I must either do speedily or never), and which certainly, in such a place as St. Helena, is essentially necessary to render existence tolerable. I hope, Sir, you will excuse the tedious minuteness of the above details, and that you will be pleased not to consider my requesting your approbation of my prayer, and your decision in favor of my being allowed a similar sum to that offered unto me by General Bonaparte, as presumptuous, or beyond the bounds of moderation; as I certainly can not bring myself to determine upon remaining in a situation so peculiarly embarrassing for such a salary as I now receive, particularly as the allowance which I have requested is by no means a novelty in the naval service, as the surgeons of naval hospitals receive from £500 to £600 yearly, and also the dispenser of the naval hospital at Madras, who is a naval surgeon, has £600 per annum allowed."

Upon this letter Sir Hudson Lowe observed to Earl Bathurst, "The peculiarity of Dr. O'Meara's situation in General Bonaparte's family is so particularly adverted to in his letter, that it is unnecessary for me to enter into any exposition of it; and having had experience of Dr. O'Meara's zeal and useful information to me in several instances, I feel induced to solicit your Lordship's consideration to his claim, in granting him such an increase to the salary he already receives from the