ST. HELENA 209 



whole, are admirably suited to the climate for which they are 

 intended. In Buonaparte's wearing apparel, his favourite colour 

 (dark green) has been preserved. Shirts, cravats, pocket hand- 

 kerchiefs, boots, shoes, stockings of every description, are also 

 provided for him. His friends and suite are no less attended to, 

 for they are equally to be provided with suitable equipments. A 

 pianoforte and articles of dress are furnished for Madame Bertrand. 

 (Madame Bertrand was born at Martinique of Irish parents. Her 

 maiden name was Dillon). 



Directly stores and provisions were on board, the Northum- 

 berland sailed for St. Helena. 



Buonaparte ate and drank, conversing familiarly with 

 the officers on board who could speak the French language, 

 and playing whist in the evenings. At dinner he helped 

 himself to a mutton cutlet, which he ate from his fingers 

 without the use of either knife or fork. Indisposition com- 

 pelled seclusion in his cabin, but he would not acknowledge 

 to sea-sickness ; and it is said his suite, who still paid him 

 all the attention the most despotic monarch could desire, 

 were courtiers too refined to question the veracity or dis- 

 cernment of their imperial master when he ascribed his 

 illness to different causes. But he was soon on deck again, 

 assailing all whom he met with questions. To one of the 

 midshipmen he put the question as to how long he had been 

 in His Majesty's service, and on being told " Nine years " 

 remarked on the length of time. " Yes," replied the mid- 

 shipman, " but part was passed in imprisonment in France, 

 and I happened to be at Verdun when you, sir, set out on 

 your expedition to Moscow." At this answer Buonaparte 

 shrugged his shoulders and ended the conversation. 



Amongst the baggage brought on the Northumberland 

 were two camp bedsteads which had accompanied him in 

 several campaigns. They are described by one who was 

 on board as being about two yards long and one wide, with 

 furniture of green silk, the frames being of steel and so 

 extremely light that they could very easily be carried. 

 Napoleon used one, and the other was set apart for Madame 

 Bertrand. He much wished to see Madeira, but unfortu- 

 nately the weather was cloudy, and the island was not seen 

 till the vessel got between Desert Island and Puerto Santo. 

 Desert Island was pointed out to him as having a slight 

 resemblance to St. Helena, in that its rocks are almost per- 



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