154 EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 



to have acknowledged Napoleon Bonaparte as 

 a citizen. It might rather have been a subject 

 of pride to England that the conqueror of almost 

 all Europe but herself, sought, in his adverse for- 

 tune, to pass the remainder of a life which forms 

 so splendid an epocha in the history of our age, 

 in any retired spot of her domains which she 

 might have allotted him." 



In the next chapter we are told that their 

 illustrious guest displayed rather an eager appe- 

 tite : he made a very hearty dinner, which he 

 moistened with claret ; he was observed to select 

 a mutton chop, which he contrived to dispose 

 of without the aid of either knife or fork. He 

 passed the evening on the quarter-deck, and 

 chatted with easy pleasantry with those near 

 him. He never moved his hands from their 

 habitual places in his dress, except to apply 

 them to a snuff-box; but he never offered a 

 pinch to any one with whom he was conversing. 

 He played at cards during the evening. He 

 never omitted an opportunity of asking ques- 

 tions. On one occasion he inquired about a 

 religious community in Scotland called John- 

 sonians ! a question which no one could 

 answer ; the only probable solution being that 



