ST. HELENA 219 



Russia's Commissioner was Count Balmain, who, al- 

 though he was a Russian subject, was of Scotch descent. 

 His conduct was to be purely passive. The commissioners 

 were to observe all, and to report to their respective 

 countries, and in their dealings with the British officials 

 always to bear in mind the friendship existing between 

 England and their own countries, and implicitly to obey 

 whatever rules the Governor might lay down. 



The French and Austrian Commissioners were instructed 

 to assure themselves each day of the existence of Buona- 

 parte, and report once a month, which report was to be 

 countersigned by the Governor. Sir Hudson Lowe, in 

 June 1816, announced the arrival of the Commissioners 

 to Count Bertrand (who acted as master of ceremonies), 

 and informed him of their wish to see General Buonaparte. 

 Bertrand replied by asking whether they possessed letters 

 from their respective Sovereigns, and stating the conven- 

 tions of August 2, 1815, had not been made known to the 

 Emperor, who wished to see the terms. For days search 

 was made for an authenticated copy of the Convention, 

 but unfortunately it could not be found, and Sir Hudson 

 Lowe then went personally to Buonaparte concerning the 

 admission of the Commissioners. " If these gentlemen 

 desire to be presented in their capacity of private gentle- 

 men, there is nothing against such a course ; let them go to 

 the Grand Marshall (Bertrand). If, however, they desire 

 to see me in their capacity of Commissioners, let me see a 

 copy of the Convention, and I will take the matter into 

 consideration," was Napoleon's answer. The case was 

 decidedly embarrassing, especially for those two whose 

 orders were to see him every day. They could assure 

 themselves each day of his welfare, but officially they could 

 do nothing. Napoleon endeavoured to get them to visit 

 him as private gentlemen, but this they would not do. 

 But on July 7 the missing copy was found by Baron Stur- 

 mer among his papers. Balmain's instructions contained 

 the following : " You will neither seek nor avoid occasions 

 to see him, and in this respect will implicitly obey any 

 rules laid down by the Governor," so that, while Mont- 

 chenu and Sturmer maintained they could only see him in 

 their capacity of commissioners, and that to do otherwise 



