of the Alps and the Rhine. These conditions were accepted as bases. This congress, however, like the others, turned out to be a delusion, as at the moment that those pacific proposals were made, the allies violated the neutrality of Switzerland, which they entered in large force. Chatillon, afterwards, they presented their ultimatum, in which they demanded that France should be reduced to the limits she "had previous to 1792, which I rejected. Had it not been for the subsequent treachery of Talleyrand, Marmont, and Augerau the allies would not have succeeded in forcing upon the throne a detested family against whom, for twenty-five years, the nation has combated; and France would not have been degraded by the spectacle of a king upon the throne, who had the baseness publicly to declare that he owed it to the Prince Regent of England."

very bravely, and was well seconded by Phillipeaux, a Frenchman of talent, who had studied with me as an engineer.There was a Major Douglas also who be haved very gallantly. The acquisition of of five or six hundred seamen as cannonAtiers, was a great advantage to the Turks, whose spirits they revived, and whom they shewed how to defend the fortress. But he committed a great fault in making sorties, which cost the lives of two or three hundred brave fellows, without the possibility of success. For it was impossible he could succeed against the number of French who were before Acre. I would lay a wager that he lost half of his crew in them. He dispersed proclamations a mongst my troops, which certainly shook some of them, and I in consequence pub lished an order, stating that he was mad, and forbidding all communication with He spoke of Sir Sydney Smith. "Syd- him. Some days after, he sent, by means ney Smith," said he, "is a brave officer. of a flag of truce, a lieutenant or a midHe displayed considerable ability in the shipman with a letter containing a challenge treaty for the evacuation of Egypt by the to me to meet him at some place he pointed French. He took advantage of the dis-out, in order to fight a duel. I laughed content which he found to prevail amongst the French troops, at being so long away from France, and other circumstances. He also manifested great honour in sending immediately to Kleber the refusal of Lord Keith to ratify the treaty, which saved the French rmy; if he had kept it a secret for seven or eight days longer, Cairo would have been given up to the Turks, and the French army necessarily obliged to surrender to the English. He also showed great humanity and honour in all his proceedings towards the French who fell into his hands. He landed at Havre, for some sottise of a bet he had made, according to some, to go to the theatre; others said it was for esponiage; however that may be, he was arrested and confined in the Temple as a spy; and at one time it was intended to try and execute him. Shortly after I returned from Italy, he wrote to me from his prison, to request that I would intercede for him; but under the circumstances in which he was taken, I could do nothing for him. He is active, intelligent, intriguing,

and indefatigable.

I asked if Sir Sydney had not displayed great talent and bravery at Acre? Napoleon replied, "Yes, the chief cause of the failure there was, that he took all my battering train, which was on-board of several vessels. Had it not been for that, I would have taken Acre in spite of him. He behaved

at this, and sent him back an intimation that when he brought Marlborough to fight I would meet him. Notwithstanding this, I like the character of the man."

me,

Longwood is situated on a plain, formed on the summit of a mountain about eighteen hundred feet above the level of the sea; and including Deadwood, comprises fourteen or fifteen hundred acres of land, a great part of which is planted with an indigenous tree called gumwood. Its appearance is sombre and unpromising. Napoleon, however, said that he should be more contented to fix his residence there, than to remain in the town as a mark for the prying curiosity of importunate spectators. Unfortunately the house only consisted of five rooms on a ground-floor, which had been built one after the other, according to the wants of the family, and without any regard to either order or convenience, and were totally inadequate for the accommodation of himself and his suite. Several' additions were consequently necessary, which it was evident could not be accomplished for some weeks, even under the superintendance of so active an officer as Sir George Cockburn. Upon his return from Longwood, Napoleon proceeded to the Briars, and intimated to Sir George that he should prefer remaining there, until the necessary additions were made to Longwood, to returning to town, provided the

The fisherman sank to his slumbers. sigh'd as I-looked from the hill's gentle slope

All hush'd was the billow commotionAnd I thought that the beacon look'd lovely as hope,

ticaly situated about a mile and a half from James Town, comprising a few acres of highly cultivated land, excellent fruit and kitchen gardens plentifully supplied with water, adorned with many delightful walks, and long celebrated for the genuine old English hospitality of the proprietor, Mr. Balcombe. About twenty yards from the dwelling house stood a little pavilion, consisting of one good room on the groundfloor, and two garrets, which Napoleon, not willing to cause any inconvenience to the family of his host, selected for his abode. In the lower room his camp-bed was put up, and in this room he eat, slept, read and dictated a portion of his eventful life. Las Cases and his son were accommodated in one of the garrets above, and Napoleon's premier valet de chambre, and others of his household, slept in the other, and upon the floor in the little hall opposite the en- In life's closing hour, when the trembling

Yet, when my head rests on its pillow, Will memory sometimes kindle the

I meet with, especially if they possess any thing absurd in their temperament. There were two or three such characters present, in particular a country One of the earliest friends. I got lad named Butter, newly imported acquainted with in the Highlands was from the turnip fields of Mid-Lothian, S He was really a jolly blade He was a respectable farmer's sonafine, strong-limbed, able-bodied fel- very simple-very good natured-but low, with a very fiddle of a face. Egot possessing that kind of feeling incident acquainted with him cident. He to those who have seen little of the happened to el ouse of the world, viz. a suspicion that when the gentleman with. There company laughed, it was at him. This were half-a-dozen eus busily em- invariably put him in a passion, for he ployed in the evening laying seige to knew very well he could not defend a half-gallon bottle of whiskey, which himself against raillery. In fact, he stood on the table; and he called in as was a proper country bumpkin, and I we were beginning to get a little fro-baptized him Johnny Raw, a name licksome on our seats. In fact, we which he went by, all the time he was were at the time in a roar of merri- in the Highlands. There was another ment, singing songs, drinking toasts, named L- a little man about five

making speeches, cutting capers, and feet high, somewhat advanced in years, setting defiance to every sober law of and withal a very eccentric being.house-keeping. This was the element He had picked up, somehow or other, for S After shaking us all by a smattering of Geometry, Logarithms, the hands and saluting me in particular Mathematics, and Astronomy, which with a most unmerciful squeeze, he sat he was everlastingly sporting forth in down, and we all fell to as vigourously every company; but his harangues were as ever. The little bare-footed table so unconscionably long, that he con boy was kept flying up and down, like sidered himself well off if any person a shuttlecock, supplying us with fresh had patience enough to hear him whiskey, sugar, tumblers, glasses, and through the half of one. It was quite heaven knows what all! You know I common to interrupt him in the midst. a little quizzical, and incurably ad- of his learned displays, by drinking his

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health, singing songs, and other kinds hold out till nineteen twentieths were of annoyance. He had a watch which laid below the table. In fact, he was he roundly matched against any time-considered a sober fellow in the Highpiece in the kingdom. This famous lands. He was also as fond as possiwatch he regulated by an enormous ble of ridiculous characters; and had sun dial, which he had erected in the a strong perception of human nature, garden; and the country-side was in- especially when diversified with any debted to him for keeping them to thing odd. On a certain occasion we true time, as there was neither orlage fell in with the Rev, Mr. B, one nor clock in the parish. With of f our ministers. He was one of 1 Johnny Raw, and Mr. L, who those dull, heavy, metaphysical heads, went by the name of the philosopher, who go, among the vulgar, for wise we enjoyed capital sport. Johnny, in and learned, men whose dullness of particular, was an admirable butt for expression passes for sanctity; and ridicule; and I was battering him in whose general heavyheadedness is conproper style at the very moment Ssidered an infallible mark of a correct, made his appearance. I changed my pious demeanour. While at the Colbattery, however, and commenced a lege, of Aberdeen he went by the risimilar one against him. But it is diculous nickname of the Boiled only a blockhead who can be laughed Fowl, in consequence of some resemat and even with a blockhead there blance his pale-marbled physiognomy is nolijest, if he discovers that he is was thought to bear to that object. Iplayed upon. When I reflect upon Notwithstanding the gravity of the my impudence, in ridiculing, before his worthy divine, we resolved to make face, a person whom I never saw before, him a butt. One evening, therefore, I cannot help wondering how he kept while at supper, I took notice of a his temper. But, as I have told you, drink very common in some parts of he was a knowing blade, and took America; to wit, a composition of nothing in earnest which was given in porter and sweet milk, which was used joke. However, his acuteness and as a bitter for removing ague and curdrollery rendered all attacks in vain. ing weakness of the stomach. S Instead of retorting, as a duller head who immediately smelt game, put on would have done, he entirely agreed all his gravity, and asserted that it with) me in all that was said to his was a highly pleasant, wholesome, and 3 disadvantage, and exhibited such nutritious composition. I resolved, to boundless complacency, humour, and put it to the test. Having filled a fellowship, that I was compelled to tumbler, therefore, with an equal desist. We then associated ourselves quantity of the two remedies mixed together against poor Johnny Raw, together, I managed with infinite and so dumbfounded him, that even difficulty to swallow about a teathe inspiring steams of John Barley- spoonful of the mixture. Encour corn could not elevate his fallen crest. aged by my commencement, the miFrom this happy hour I dated my ac-nister, with his characteristic dullness, quaintanceship with S. took up the tumbler, and saying he

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W

It would be impossible to relate all was subject to weakness of the stothe mad pranks we played together. mach, he fairly cleared the whole S took a particular pleasure in compound, Mercy on us! he cleared making people drunk; and as he pos- every drop at a single draught. I sessed a light stomach, he could safely know not, in the name of miracle,

2

how I preserved my gravity at this ri-, then did is to be approved of or that diculous scene. It was too much for what I now mention, is to be laid down S, who immediately left the room, as a model for them. This unexand gave vent to his merriment in an pected piety struck Mr. B with uncontrollable fit of laughter. He admiration, and the whole house with afterwards told me that, if necessity had amazement. He considered mea compelled him to contain his feelings strayed sheep recovered to the fold. As on that occasion, he must have perish-for the neighbours, they knew not what ed in the attempt. to imagine. Some thought, I had I cannot say that I gained much turned methodist others, that my the esteem of the clergy and more head was disordered but the greater pious folks, while I dwelt there; and part regarded it as a piece of mere the reason was, I very seldom went to waggery carried on against the worthy church. In the country, any neglect parson. However, I gave the house of religion is far more seriously noticed trouble enough, for I made a point of than in a town, and a sort of disrepute making every individual attend prayers is attached to the neglect. However, punctually, and called upon each by I had a very good reason for my ab- name before the minister, as I knew sence, as the church was many miles they would not disoblige him by a reoff, and my particular employment fusal. This conceit, however, was occupied my time as much on one like to turn every thing topsy turvey. day as on another. However, if I Was the dinner or breakfast ill prewas deficient in this respect, I cannot pared, the blame lay with me; I had plead guilty to any want of spiritual called the servants to prayers. Were exertion while at home. I was often the cows not milked in time the obliged to officiate, even for weeks, as dairy maid was attending prayers. landlord; and it was very frequently Once, the pot containing fish that my lot to have Mr. B as my were boiling for supper, fell into the guest for days together. In such times, fire scalded a dog, and destroyed I always endeavoured to make up for with dust a fine sago pudding which my ordinary neglect; and the follow-was tosting hard by. I was dreadfully ing is a sample of the discipline I kept mortified at this event, and scolded the in the family. Psalms and prayers be- cook with all the powers of rhetoric. fore breakfast a short sermon in the The only answers Ig got was, O Sir, forenoon Psalms and prayers before I could na help it, ye ken I was at supper and prayers after supper.prayers. On one occasion, a child To this was constantly joined a long fell into a pot of boiling porridge, grace before and after each meal, and which had been shortly before lifted an almost incessant feast of spiritual off the fire, and was nearly burned to conversation between the minister and death. I was firmly bent on turning myself. Mr. B- honest man, off the cook for this other instance of was in no respect loath to do whatever carelessness but lo! what is her deI requested on this score he did it fence. She canna baith pray and cook. readily and pleasantly. I should be Every fault was committed while we most unwilling to treat sacred matters were at prayers. In short prayers, with levity, or ridicule the preacher of prayers, prayers resounded through the the Gospel. I am merely stating facts house. All misdemeanours were laid as they did occur, with every hope to the account of prayers, and I was that no one can imagine, that what I compelled, by the universal voice, to banish prayers altogether.

J.