"What a fool I was to give myself up to you," continued he; "I had a mistaken notion of your national character; I had formed a romantic idea of the English. There entered into it also a portion of pride. I disdained to give myself up to any of those sovereigns whose countries I had conquered, and whose capitals I had entered in triumph; and I determined to confide in you, whom I had never vanquished. Doctor, I am well punished for the good opinion I had of you, and for the confidence which I reposed in you, instead of giving myself up to my father-in-law, or to the emperor Alexander, either of whom would have treated me with the greatest respect." I observed, that it was possible that Alexander might have sent him to Siberia; "not at all," replied Napoleon, "setting aside other motives, Alexander would, through policy, and from the desire which he has to make himself popular, have treated me like a king, and I should have had palaces at command. Besides, Alexander is a generous man, and would have taken a pleasure in treating me well; and my father-in-law, though he is an imbecile, is still a religious man, and incapable of committing crimes, or such acts of cruelty as are practised here."

Saw Las Cases and son along with Mr. Baxter. Wrote a letter afterwards to Sir Hudson Lowe respecting the state of health of young Las Cases,

and concluded by recommending him to be removed to Europe for the recovery of his health. Mr. Baxter also wrote one of a similar tendency, and one about the count himself, in which he said, that in consequence of his being afflicted with dyspepsia, it was probable that a change to a colder climate would be beneficial, and that that of Europe would be preferable.

25th.-Napoleon in very good spirits. Asked many questions in English, which although he pronounced it as he would have done French, yet the words were correct, and applied in their proper meaning.

26th.-Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me. Found him in town. He observed that I had put too much political feeling into my letter respecting young Las Cases: that my opinion must have related to what would have happened had he remained at Longwood; and that it appeared to enter too much into the feelings of those people. I replied, that I could not separate my opinion from the cause of his complaints, and that he himself had said, if the state of his son's health absolutely required his removal to Europe, he would not oppose it. Sir Hudson answered, that he had certainly said, that if it absolutely required such a measure, he would not oppose it; but that I had entered into a discussion not called for in the letter.

He then spoke about the restrictions, and shewed me a letter which he said he intended to send to Bertrand, and upon which he desired to know my opinion. After reading it, I observed to his excellency that I thought it calculated to produce some severe remarks from Napoleon; as in fact it left matters in nearly the same state as they had been before, after having nominally removed some of the restrictions. On a little reflection, his excellency appeared to be of the same opinion, and said that he would reconsider the matter. In the mean time he authorised me to tell General Bonaparte that several of the restrictions should be removed, especially those relative to speaking; that the limits should be enlarged, and that liberty should be granted to people to visit him, nearly as in former times under the admiral.

Informed Napoleon of this, who replied, that he desired no more than to have matters put as nearly as possible as they were under the admiral. That he thought it right and just if the governor suspected either an inhabitant of the island, or a passenger, or any of them, that he should not allow them to enter Longwood; but that what he (Napoleon) meant was, that the majority of respectable passengers or inhabitants should be allowed to visit him, and not one or two who had been picked out and sent up to

Longwood by the governor, or by his staff, as a keeper of galley-slaves would send a curious traveller to his galleys to see some extraordinary criminal. If," continued he, "I met a man whose conversation pleased me (like the admiral, for example) I should wish to see him again, and perhaps ask him to dinner or breakfast, as was done before this governor's arrival; therefore I wish that a list should be sent in the first place by the governor to Bertrand, containing the names of the persons that he will allow to visit us; and that afterwards, Bertrand shall have the privilege of asking any person again whose name is upon that list. I will never see any one coming up with a pass in which the day is fixed, which is a way of saying, come out this day and exhibit yourself. I want also that our situation may be clearly defined, so that my household shall not be liable to the insults which they have all suffered, and continue to suffer, either from being kept in the dark respecting the restrictions which he imposes, or from misconception of sentinels, or the orders given being of a discretional nature, which may put a sentinel upon his responsibility, and will constitute him an arbitrary judge. The trifling vexations and humiliations which he makes us undergo, are worse to us than the greater. I am willing," continued he, "to listen to accommodation, and not to insist upon too much. But, he

has no heart or feeling. He thinks that a man is like a horse, give him a bundle of hay and a roof to cover him, and nothing further is necessary to make him happy. His policy is that of the petty states of Italy; to write and promise fairly, apparently give liberty, but afterwards by insinuations change every thing. His is the policy of insinuations."

I then asked, if the governor consented, and the admiral were satisfied, would he hold a conference with that officer as an intermediator, in order to bring about an arrangement? Napoleon replied, "willingly. With the greatest pleasure I would treat personally with the admiral, and I think that we could settle it in half an hour. I have so much confidence in him, that if the English government would allow it, and the admiral would pledge his word of honour, that no one but himself should know the contents, (unless there was some plot or intrigue against his government,) I would write a letter, putting him in possession of every thing I know relative to my property, in order that I might be able to make use of it. To-morrow," continued he, "I shall let you know whether I am of the like opinion relative to the intermediation. If I continue the same, you shall go to the governor and propose it

to him."

A letter sent by Count Bertrand to Sir Hudson

VOL. I.

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