at Hut's Gate every day. The sentinel cries 'halt;' then the serjeant comes out, and after a sort of consultation together, says 'pass.""

Had some conversation about Alexandria."Your ministers," said he, "acted most unwisely in not having retained possession of Alexandria. For if you had kept it then, it would now be an old robbery like Malta, and would have remained with you quietly. Five thousand men would be sufficient to garrison it, and it would pay itself by the great trade you would have in Egypt. You could prohibit the introduction of all manufactures except English, and consequently you would have all the commerce of Egypt, as there is no other sea-port town in the country. In my opinion, it would be to you an acquisition far preferable to Gibraltar, or Malta. Egypt once in possession of the French, farewell India to the English. This was one of

the grand projects I aimed at.

I know not why you set so great a value upon Gibraltar; it is a bad harbour, and costs an enormous sum of money. From it you cannot prevent a fleet from passing into the Mediterranean. When I was sovereign of France, I would much rather have seen Gibraltar in your hands, than in those of the Spaniards; because your having possession of it always fed the hatred of the Spaniards against you." I observed that it had been reported he

had intended to besiege it, and for that purpose had marched a great army into Spain; although others said that his object was merely to get his troops a footing in that country. He laughed, and said, "C'est vrai. Turkey," added he, "must soon fall, and it will be impossible to divide it without allotting some portion to France, which will be Egypt. But, if you had kept Alexandria, you would have prevented the French from obtaining it, and of ultimately gaining possession of India, which will certainly follow their possession of Egypt."

12th.-Found Sir Hudson Lowe at Plantation House closeted with Sir Thomas Reade.

Had

a conversation with him afterwards in the library relative to the proposition which had been made to him on the 8th. His excellency, however, would not understand that the visiting of only such houses into which entrance had not been prohibited by him, and abstaining from entering all which were marked as objectionable in a list made by himself, was in the end precisely the same as the mode which he had suggested of only visiting certain houses that were specifically named in a list. He said, with considerable ill-humour, that General Bonaparte had some design in it, and that he would not grant his consent. I observed that it was rather unfortunate that he had desired me to make any proposition on the sub

ject, as it might afford a foundation for another charge of shuffling. His excellency replied by desiring me to tell General Bonaparte, as he had done on former occasions, that he might consider himself very fortunate in having so good a man to deal with, &c.

Mrs. and Misses Balcombe arrived at Longwood. I dined with Napoleon in company with them. He was extremely lively and chatty, and displayed a fund of causerie rarely to be met with. He instructed Miss Eliza how to play at Billiards.

In the evening, Napoleon directed me for the future not to bring him any more communications or propositions from Sir Hudson Lowe, without having first asked the latter what the result would be, provided he, (Napoleon,) agreed to them. "C'est un menteur," said he, "un homme d'insinuations comme les petits tyrans d'Italie, qui n'a rien d'Anglais, et qui a la rage de tourmenter et de tracasser les gens."

Application made on the 10th to Sir Hudson Lowe to allow Cipriani to go down into the valley (guarded by a soldier,) to purchase sheep and vegetables from the farmers, as the meat sent by the government was not eatable. Refused by Sir Hudson Lowe. The daily allowance of meat, vegetables, wines, &c. being carted up in the sun to Longwood, many of the articles are rendered unfit for use on the road.

14th.-Breakfasted with Napoleon, with whom I had a conversation about Russia. "If Paul had lived," said he, "there would have been a peace with England in a short time, as you would not have been long able to contend with the united northern powers. I wrote to Paul to continue building ships, and to endeavour to unite the north against you; not to hazard any battles, as the English would gain them, but allow you to exhaust yourselves, and by all means to get a large fleet into the Mediterranean."

Some conversation then took place relative to the manner in which the British ministers had treated him, which he asserted to be much worse than that which had been practised towards Queen Mary.

She

"Mary," said he, "was better treated. was permitted to write to whom she pleased, and she was confined in England, which of itself was every thing; it appears that she was persecuted more on account of her religion by the Puritans, than from any other cause." I observed that Mary was accused of having been an accomplice in the murder of her husband. He replied, "of that there is not the smallest doubt. She even married his murderer afterwards. ** ploys the murderers of his father. One of them O*** is now his aid-de-camp. I must, however, do him the justice to say, that at T*** he ob

em

served to me that I paid a great deal of attention to B****, and begged to know my reasons for it? I answered, because he is your general. 'Cependant,' said *, c'est un vilain coquin. C'est lui qui a assassiné mon père, and policy alone has obliged, and obliges me to employ him, although I wish him dead, and in a short time will send him about his business.' Alexander and the king of Prussia," continued he, "dined with me every day, and in order to pay a compliment to ***, I had intended, on the day that this conversation took place, to have asked B**** to dinner, as being the commanderin-chief of his army. This displeased ***, who, although he asked B**** to his own table, did not wish me to do so, because it would have raised him so high in the eyes of the Russians. Paul," continued he, "was murdered by B****, O****, P***, and others. There was a Cossac, in whom Paul had confidence, stationed at his door. The conspirators came up, and demanded entrance. P*** told him who he was, and that he wanted to see the emperor upon immediate business. The faithful Cossac refused. The conspirators fell upon him, and after a desperate resistance, overpowered and cut him to pieces. Paul, who was in bed, hearing the noise got out and endeavoured to escape to the empress's apartments. Unluckily for himself, he, in his suspicions, a day or two be