memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v14-第8部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


The　execution　of　this　order　was　delayed　by　General　Becker　for　a　few　hours
in　order　to　allow　Napoleon　sufficient　time　to　escape。　　At　daybreak；　he
quitted　the　'Epervier'；　and　was　enthusiastically　cheered　by　the　ship's
company　so　long　as　the　boat　was　within　hearing。　　Soon　after　six　he　was
received　on　board　the　'Bellerophon'　with　respectful　silence；　but　without
those　honours　generally　paid　to　persons　of　high　rank。　　Bonaparte　was
dressed　in　the　uniform　of　the　'chasseurs　a　cheval'　of　the　Imperial　Guard；
and　wore　the　Grand　Cross　of　the　Legion　of　Honour。

On　entering　the　vessel　he　took　off　his　hat；　and　addressing　Captain
Maitland；　said；　〃I　am　come　to　throw　myself　on　the　protection　of　the　laws
of　England。〃　　Napoleon's　manner　was　well　calculated　to　make　a　favourable
impression　on　those　with　whom　he　conversed。　　He　requested　to　be
introduced　to　the　officers　of　the　ship；　and　put　various　questions　to
each。　　He　then　went　round　the　ship；　although　he　was　informed　that　the　men
were　cleaning　and　scouring；　and　remarked　upon　anything　which　struck　him
as　differing　from　what　he　had　seen　on　French　vessels。　　The　clean
appearance　of　the　men　surprised　him。　　〃He　then　observed；〃　says　Captain
Maitland；　to　whose　interesting　narrative　we　refer；　〃'I　can　see　no
sufficient　reason　why　your　ships　should　beat　the　French　ones　with　so　much
ease。　　The　finest　men…of…war　in　your　service　are　French；　a　French　ship　is
heavier　in　every　respect　than　one　of　yours；　she　carries　more　guns；　and
those　guns　are　of　a　larger　calibre；　and　she　has　a　great　many　more　men。'〃
His　inquiries；　which　were　minute；　proved　that　he　had　directed　much
attention　to　the　French　navy。

On　the　first　morning　Napoleon　took　breakfast　in　the　English　fashion；　but
observing　that　his　distinguished　prisoner　did　not　eat　much；　Captain
Maitland　gave　direction　that　for　the　future　a　hot　breakfast　should　be
served　up　after　the　French　manner。　　'The　Superb'；　the　Admiral's　ship；
which　had　been　seen　in　the　morning；　was　now　approaching。　　Immediately　on
her　anchoring　Captain　Maitland　went　on　board　to　give　an　account　of　all
that　had　happened；　and　received　the　Admiral's　approbation　of　what　he　had
done。　　In　the　afternoon　Admiral　Sir　Henry　Hotham　was　introduced　to
Napoleon；　and　invited　by　him　to　dinner。　　This　was　arranged；　in　order　to
make　it　more　agreeable　to　him；　by　Bonaparte's　maitre　d'hotel。　　On　dinner
being　announced　Napoleon　led　the　way；　and　seated　himself　in　the　centre　at
one　side　of　the　table；　desiring　Sir　Henry　Hotham　to　take　the　seat　on　his
right；　and　Madame　Bertrand　that　on　his　left　hand。　　On　this　day　Captain
Maitland　took　his　seat　at　the　end　of　the　table；　but　on　the　following　day；
by　Napoleon's　request；　he　placed　himself　on　his　right　hand；　whilst
General　Bertrand　took　the　top。　　Two　of　the　ship's　officers　dined　with　the
Emperor　daily；　by　express　invitation。　　The　conversation　of　Napoleon　was
animated。　　He　made　many　inquiries　as　to　the　family　and　connections　of
Captain　Maitland；　and　in　alluding　to　Lord　Lauderdale；　who　was　sent　as
ambassador　to　Paris　during　the　administration　of　Mr。　Fox；　paid　that
nobleman　some　compliments　and　said　of　the　then　Premier；　〃Had　Mr。　Fox
lived　it　never　would　have　come　to　this；　but　his　death　put　an　end　to　all
hopes　of　peace。〃

On　one　occasion　he　ordered　his　camp…bed　to　be　displayed　for　the
inspection　of　the　English　officers。　　In　two　small　leather　packages　were
comprised　the　couch　of　the　once　mighty　ruler　of　the　Continent。　　The　steel
bedstead　which；　when　folded　up；　was　only　two　feet　long；　and　eighteen
inches　wide；　occupied　one　case；　while　the　otter　contained　the　mattress
and　curtains。　　The　whole　was　so　contrived　as　to　be　ready　for　use　in　three
minutes。

Napoleon　spoke　in　terms　of　high　praise　of　the　marines　on　duty　in　the
Bellerophon；　and　on　going　through　their　ranks　exclaimed　to　Bertrand；
〃How　much　might　be　done　with　a　hundred　thousand　such　soldiers　as　these！〃
In　putting　them　through　their　exercise　he　drew　a　contrast　between　the
charge　of　the　bayonet　as　made　by　the　English　and　the　French；　and　observed
that　the　English　method　of　fixing　the　bayonet　was　faulty；　as　it　might
easily　be　twisted　off　when　in　close　action。　　In　visiting　Admiral　Hotham's
flag…ship；　the　'Superb'；　he　manifested　the　same　active　curiosity　as　in
former　instances；　and　made　the　same　minute　inquiries　into　everything　by
which　he　was　surrounded。　　During　breakfast　one　of　Napoleon's　suite；
Colonel　Planat；　was　much　affected；　and　even　wept；　on　witnessing　the
humiliation　of　his　Master。

On　the　return　of　Bonaparte　from　the　Superb　to　the　'Bellerophon'　the
latter　ship　was　got　under　weigh　and　made　sail　for　England。　　When　passing
within　a　cable's　length　of　the　'Superb'　Napoleon　inquired　of　Captain
Maitland　if　he　thought　that　distance　was　sufficient　for　action。　　The
reply　of　the　English　officer　was　characteristic；　he　told　the　Emperor　that
half　the　distance；　or　even　less；　would　suit　much　better。　　Speaking　of　Sir
Sidney　Smith；　Bonaparte　repeated　the　anecdote　connected　with　his　quarrel
at　St。　Jean　d'Acre　with　that　officer；　which　has　already　been　related　in
one　of　the　notes　earlier　in　these　volumes。　　Patting　Captain　Maitland　on
the　shoulder；　he　observed；　that　had　it　not　been　for　the　English　navy　he
would　have　been　Emperor　of　the　East；　but　that　wherever　he　went　he　was
sure　to　find　English　ships　in　the　way。

The　'Bellerophon'；　with　Bonaparte　on　board；　sighted　the　coast　of　England
on　Sunday；　the　23d　of　July　1815；　and　at　daybreak　on　the　24th　the　vessel
approached　Dartmouth。　　No　sooner　had　the　ship　anchored　than　an　order　from
Loral　Keith　was　delivered　to　Captain　Maitland；　from　which　the　following
is　an　extract：

　　　　　Extract　of　an　Order　from　Admiral　Viscount　Keith；　G。　C。　B。；　addressed
　　　　　to　Captain　Maitland；　of　H。　M。　S。　　〃Bellerophon；〃　dated　Ville　de
　　　　　Paris；　Hamoaze；　23d　July　1815。

　　　　　Captain　Sartorius；　of　His　Majesty's　ship　'Slaney'；　delivered　to　me
　　　　　last　night；　at　eleven　o'clock；　your　despatch　of　the　14th　instant；
　　　　　acquainting　me　that　Bonaparte　had　proposed　to　embark　on　board　the
　　　　　ship　you　command；　and　that　you　had　acceded　thereto；　with　the
　　　　　intention　of　proceeding　to　Torbay；　there　to　wait　for　further　orders。
　　　　　I　lost　no　time　in　forwarding　your　letter　by　Captain　Sartorius　to　the
　　　　　Lords　Commissioners　of　the　Admiralty；　in　order　that　their　Lordships
　　　　　might；　through　him；　be　acquainted　with　every　circumstance　that　had
　　　　　occurred　on　an　occasion　of　so　much　importance；　and　you　may　expect
　　　　　orders　from　their　Lordships　for　your　further　guidance。　　You　are　to
　　　　　remain　in　Torbay　until　you　receive　such　orders；　and　in　the　meantime；
　　　　　in　addition　to　the　directions　already　in　your　possession；　you　are
　　　　　most　positively　ordered　to　prevent　every　person　whatever　from　coming
　　　　　on　board　the　ship　you　command；　except　the　officers　and　men　who
　　　　　compose　her　crew；　nor　is　any　person　whatever；　whether　in　His
　　　　　Majesty's　service　or　not；　who　does　not　belong；　to　the　ship；　to　be
　　　　　suffered　to　come　on　board；　either　for　the　purpose　of　visiting　the
　　　　　officers；　or　on　any　pretence　whatever；　without　express　permission
　　　　　either　from　the　Lords　Commissioners　of　the　Admiralty　or　from　me。　　As
　　　　　I　understand　from　Captain　Sartorius　that　General　Gourgaud　refused　to
　　　　　deliver　the　letter　with　which　he　was　charged　for　the　Prince　Regent
　　　　　to　any　person　except　His　Royal　Highness；　you　are　to　take　him　out　of
　　　　　the　'Slaney'　into　the　ship　you　command；　until　you　receive　directions
　　　　　from　the　Admiralty　on　the　subject；　and　order　that　ship　back　to
　　　　　Plymouth　Sound；　when　Captain　Sartorius　returns　from　London。

It　was　stated　about　this　time；　in　some　of　the　English　newspapers；　that
St。　Helena　would　be　the　place　of　exile　of　the　ex…Emperor；　the　bare　report
of　which　evidently　caused　great　pain　to　Napoleon　and　his　suite。　　General
Gourgaud　was　obliged　to　return　to　the　'Bellerophon'；　not　having　been
suffered　to　go　on　shore　to　deliver　the　letter　from　Bonaparte　to　the
Prince　Regent　with　which　be　had　been　entrusted。　　The　ship　which　bore　the
modern　Alexander　soon　became　a　natural　object　of　attraction　to　the　whole
neighbourhood；　and　was　constantly　surrounded　by　crowds　of　boats。
Napoleon　frequently　showed　himself　to　the　people　from　shore　with　a　view
of　gratifying　their　curiosity。　　On　the　25th　of　July　the　number　of　guard…
boats　which　surrounded　the　vessel　was　greatly　increased；　and　the　alarm　of
the　captives　became　greater　as　the　report　was　strengthened　as　to　the
intention　of　conveying　Bonaparte　to　St。　Helena。

In　conversation　with　Captain　Maitland；　Napoleon；　who　seemed　to　be　aware
that　the　English　fishermen　united　the　occupation　of　smugglers　to　their
usual　trade；　stated　that　many　of　them　had　been　bribed　by　him；　and　had
assisted　in　the　escape　of　French　prisoners　of　war。　　They　had　even
proposed　to　deliver　Louis　XVIII。　　into　his　power；　but　as　they　would　。not
answer　for　the　safety　of　his　life；　Napoleon　refused　the　offer。　　Upon　the
arrival　of　despatches　from　London　the　'Bellerophon'　got　under　weigh　for
Plymouth　Sound　on　the　26th　of　July。　　This　movement　tended　still　further
to　disconcert　the　ex…Emperor　and　his　followers。　　In　passing　the
breakwater　Bonaparte　could　not　withhold　his　admiration　of　that　work；
which　he　considered　highly　honourable　to　the　public　spirit　of　the　nation；
and；　alluding　to　his　own　improvements　at　Cherbourg；　expressed　his
apprehensions　that　they　would　now　be　suffered　to　fall　into　decay。

Captain　Maitland　was　directed　by　Lord　Keith　to　observe　the　utmost
vigilance　to　prevent　the　escape　of　his　prisoners；　and　with　this　view　no
boat　was　permitted　to　approach　the　Bellerophon；　the　'Liffey'　and
'Eurotas'　were　ordered　to　take　up　an　anchorage　on　each　side　of　the　ship；
and　further　precautions　were　adopted　at　night。

On　the　27th　of　July　Captain　Maitland　proceeded　to　Lord　Keith；　taking　with
him　Bonaparte's　original　letter　to　the　Prince　Regent；　which；　as　General
Gourgaud　had　not　been　permitted　to　deliver　it　personally；　Napoleon　now
desired　to　be　transmitted　through　the　hands　of　the　Admiral。　　As　Lord
Keith　had　now　received　instructions　from　his　Government　as　to　the　manner
in　which　Napoleon　was　to　be　treated；　he　lost　no　time　in　paying　his
respects　to　the　fallen　chief。

On　the　31st　of　July　the　anxio