BONAPARTE.
We have collected the following additional particulars respecting the departure of BONAPARTE:--
Letter from an Officer on board the Northumberland off Plymouth, 8th August, 1815.
"Lord Keith joined us off Torbay, when we received the celebrated General of the day. It would be useless in me to dwell on the manner in which Napoleon was conveyed from the Bellerophon to the Northumberland- that you would see in the daily papers. There was a commanding majesty in his appearance, while he continued in the boat, which struck me as well represented in the prints; but on his èntre on the quarter-deck, I thought the majesty of the character decreased. Bertrand ascended first? Napoleon followed. I was breathless with expectation. The Guard received him as a General. He was clad in a green coat, white facings, red collar, waistcoat, breeches, and stockings white, with a formidable cocked hat. He walked uncovered from the gangway to the after part of the quarter-deck. He bowed to each individual, asked twenty questions, and appeared to smile with approbation at the reception he met with. He eat a most hearty dinner, came out afterwards, and requested the band play God Save the King, and Rule Britannia. His head is larger than you see in the prints-- more care-worn, pale, and wan; his forehead thinly covered with hair, but a luxuriance behind, and not a grey hair in it; his eye is not black, nor could I perceive any thing remarkably penetrating? it was quick, and he appeared to watch every eye that was bent on him. I have had a great deal of conversation with Madame Bertrand and with the Count; they are anxious to learn the sentiments of the English nation regarding their conduct."
We learn that on parting from those of his attendants which were taken from him, all wept, but particularly Savary, and a Polish Officer (six feet two inches high) who had been exalted from the ranks by Bonaparte. He clung to his master's knees; wrote an interesting letter to Lord Keith, entreating permission to accompany him, even in the most menial capacity, which could not be admitted. Previous to the moment of separation, Bonaparte gave some of his Officers left behind a certificate to the following effect, which had been first drawn up, at the general request, by General Gorgaud, and then altered by Bonaparte himself, and signed:--
"Circumstances prevent my retaining you any longer near me. You have served me with zeal. I have always been satisfied with you. Your conduct on this last occasion deserves my praise, and confirms me in what I had reason to expect from you. On board the Northumberland, 7th Aug. 1815.
"NAPOLN."
The words in Italics were substituted by Bonaparte for: "In my prosperity you have served me with zeal, and by accompanying me in my adversity you have confirmed the good opinion I had of you. Receive my thanks."
Bonaparte had, according to report, about 3500l. in Napoleons; which, with his plate and other valuables, were counted and sealed up in the presence of Lord Keith and Sir G. Cockburn, and are to be held in trust.
His baggage consisted of two services of plate, some articles in gold, and a superb toilet of plate, books, beds, &c. which he took with him.
After settling his followers and domestics, he had about 200l. to carry with him. The persons suffered to attend him were Bertrand, his wife, and children, Montholon, his wife and child, Gorgaud, and Les Casses. The principal individuals separated from him, were Savary and L'Allemand.
It is said that he sent into Plymouth, in the course of one week, linen of various descriptions to be washed, to the value of 800l. Among the articles was a pair of sheets of exquisite texture, and bordered with lace more than half a yard in breadth. All the other articles were of a corresponding rarity and value.
Our sentiments on the forced deportation of this extraordinary man have been openly and fully expressed in our preceding numbers. It is indeed to be regretted for the honour of our country, that at a period when the name of England stands so high in military glory, advantage should not have been taken of the opportunity which his surrender gave, to place it equally above contradiction in the renown of magnanimity and forbearance. That some risk would have attended this proceeding, we are ready to admit? but a certain portion of risk seems necessary to the constitution of all great actions, and here the risk was not so great (for he might still have been watched) as to counterbalance the reputation.
In dismissing this subject for the present, it is impossible not to remark, on the extreme eagerness with which our ministerial Papers lay hold of every opportunity to blacken a fallen man. Every species of annoyance that malevolence can dictate or invention supply, every engine of fraud and deception is, at present, employed to destroy the character of Napoleon; who, belied at home and calumniated abroad, stands the general butt of malice and revenge. The town is inundated with fabricated portfolios, exaggerated journals of Spanish campaigns, forged letters of Ney, and accounts of his conduct after the battle of Waterloo, by a man of the name of St. Didier - a wretch, who, having like Fouche betrayed his patron, now deems it necessary to lift up his heel against him. How contrary is such conduct to that resulting from real bravery. The behaviour of the officers and crew of the Bellerophon is a proof of this. They were incapable of insulting over the fallen fortunes of a man who once gave laws to the greater part of the civilized world.? Indeed, if we cast our eyes upon the personal habits and private peculiarities of Napoleon, we shall observe little to censure, and much to admire. If we take into consideration his exemplary emperance, his early rising, his simplicity of dress, his dignity of manner, his prodigious and incredible energy in the Cabinet, and in the field, his ardent love of literature, his undaunted courage, his promptitude of conception and rapidity of execution; if we contemplate the unparalleled celerity and extent of his conquests, and call to mind the circumstance of his having effected the subjugation of Continental Europe before he had attained the age of forty: we shall not be surprised that all the Monarchs of Europe dread the very sound of his name. He has truly said posterity will judge him, and judge him justly.
Much has been said of Bonaparte's want of faith in quitting Elba and landing in France, which we always suspected he was impelled to by the conduct of the Allied Powers. In one of the declarations issued on his landing, he expressly accuses the Allies of an intention to remove him from Elba; and we now learn that a proposition was actually made at the Congress to transfer him to St. Helena as the prisoner of the British Government. This proposition, we have the best authority to state, was made by Telleyrand, strongly seconded by the Spanish Minister, and countenanced by Lord Castlereagh, the opposition of Austria alone prevented its immediate adoption, and the escape of Bonaparte from Elba put a stop to the discussion. But it is stated that Bonaparte, aware of the proposition, and apprehensive that Austria would yield, was urged abruptly to quit Elba and invade France much sooner than his partizans desired or expected. It is added, by our informant, upon whose veracity and intelligence we have utmost reliance, that this proposition was the meditated breach of the Treaty of Fontainebleau, to which our readers may remember Bonaparte pointedly alluded in one of his earliest Proclamations upon his return to France.
When some of the free passages of the English newspapers were read to Bonaparte, or rather when the Countess Bertrand, upon coming to them, suddenly stopped her reading, being unwilling to offend him by the epithets therein lavished on him, Bonaparte desired her to proceed - "It is posterity, Madam, that will judge me justly; these people speak of what they do not understand."
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