1822.] 
though the two nations could scarcely 
be called friendly. Thought this a 
fair ground for suspicion, and exa- 
niined her most strictly, lest the game 
should escape by concealment; but in 
vain The master said he was not yet 
arrived at | Rochfort, though daily 
expected) Three successive couriers 
hadarrived on the night of the 29th of 
June, with dispatches, ordering two 
frigates to be got ready for sea with- 
out a moment’s delay, and they were 
now, in the nautical phrase, all 
a-tanto. 
»sAt three o’clock same day, boarded 
the Daphne man-of-war, from Eng- 
land, with further injunctions to keep 
a sharp look-out for the run-away. 
In the evening communicated with his 
Majesty’s ship Slaney; and from the 
Bellerophon received orders to pro- 
ceed again to Isle Dieu, some fears 
being entertained that, from his non- 
arrival, another port had been chosen 
for embarking. 
On the evening of the 8th, at five 
o’clock, reached our destination, after 
capturing a boat with three soldiers 
onboard, from Isle Noirmoustier, 
They had stripped off their uniforms, 
and» endeavoured to pass for fisher- 
men; but nothing could escape our 
argus-eyes, eagerly looking into every 
rat-hole: for “ Napoleon le Grand.” 
--Sunday the 9th, at four o’clock in 
the! afternoon, the captain of his Ma- 
jesty’s ship Falmouth, proceeding off 
Cape Finisterre, came on-board with 
information from the Sheldrake brig- 
of-war, stationed off the mouth of the 
Loire, that the commander had re- 
ceived intelligence of Bonaparte being 
at Nantes, and that our force there 
was ‘insufficient to prevent his de- 
parture. Made sail immediately for 
the entrance of that river. 
* On‘the 11th, at twelve o’clock, com- 
municated with the Sheldrake, which 
had in the mean time been joined by 
the Dwarf cutter and Opossum brig; 
and, thinking this force fully enough, 
left them ‘in an hour, retracing our 
steps with all expedition to the Belle- 
roplion, off her old ground, the Oleron 
passage. ° 
At one o’clock, on the 12th, having 
had a fine breeze during the night, 
found her in company with the Slaney. 
The. commodore telegraphed to us, 
“ Keep close off Balaine light-house— 
Bowaparte is here endeavouring to 
escape.-Hxamine every description 
of vessel closely for him.—I have had 
Surrender of Napoleon described. 
397 
two of his generals on-board to ask 
for the frigates.” : 
In the afternoon, at three, observed 
a brig coming out of the Breton pas- 
sage, at this time rather to windward 
of us. Made all sail in chase; she 
would not heave-to, though firing re- 
peatedly at her, nor did we get near 
enough to board till three next morn- 
ing. Proved to be an American; sent 
men on-board, acquainted with the 
person of Napoleon, to examine the 
crew, in case of any disguise being 
attempted, but found nothing suspi- 
cious, after tumbling over nearly half 
his cargo. Master said he was from 
St. Martin’s, Isle Rhé, and had no 
doubt but that. Bonaparte was at 
Rochfort, though it was not suffered 
tobe talked of by the authorities on 
the island he had just left. 
At half past one, on the 18th, saw 
the Bellerophon and the Slaney a con- 
siderable distance off, with a flag of 
truce at the mast-heads, and a chasse 
marée near them with a similar flag. 
After lying-to a considerable time, 
they all made sail for Basque Roads. 
Concluded that Napoleon had either 
surrendered, or was negociating for 
that purpose. 
During the last fortnight have cap- 
tured a considerable number of the 
coasting vessels, called chasse mares, 
all with the tri-coloured flag, which the 
people themselves, as well as us, con- 
sider the emblem of hostility to the 
Bourbons. They, however, plead ne- 
cessity for hoisting it, not being allow- 
ed to clear out at the custom-houses 
except this flag be displayed; but we 
can easily discover their inclination 
fully seconds the orders of the local 
authorities. The vessels are sent to 
England to await the orders of govern- 
ment. 
On the 14th, the Superb, Admiral 
Hotham, communicated with us by 
signal, and passed into Basque Roads. 
In the night anchored in the mouth of 
the Breton passage; sent the boats in 
chase of several chasse marées, which 
however would not venture far from 
land, in dread of falling into our hands. 
Next morning (15th). the Slaney 
passed us about four miles distant, 
making the telegraph signal, ‘ For 
England, with important dispatches,” — 
of the nature of which we felt pretty 
well assured from preceding events. 
On the 16th, in the morning early, 
were recalled to the admiral in the 
Basque Roads, and to our infinite 
joy 
