ST. HELENA 207 



Lowther and Mr. Lyttleton, who were standing near, he 

 made a few remarks, and then, taking leave of the officers 

 who had escorted him from the Bellerophon, and embracing 

 the nephew of Josephine, who was not to accompany him 

 to St. Helena, he went into the after-cabin. Here were els- 

 sembled Lord Keith, Sir George Cockburn, Lord Lowther, 

 Hon. Mr. Lyttleton, and others. An interesting conversa- 

 tion took place between them, for in a tirade against the 

 measures taken for his safety, he said, " You do not know 

 my character ; you ought to have relied on my word of 

 honour." 



One of those present said, " May I tell you the truth ? " 



" You may." 



" I must then teU you that since your invasion of Spain 

 no EngHshman could put any confidence in your most solemn 

 engagements." 



He said : "I was called into Spain by Charles IV to assist 

 him against the machinations of his son." 



" No ! No ! Only, in my opinion, to place your brother 

 Joseph on the throne." 



After much discussion he concluded by saying, " Well, 

 I have been deceived in your generosity — in confining me 

 you have acted like a little aristocratic Power, not like a 

 great free people." He afterwards added : " I do not say 

 I have not for twenty years endeavoured to ruin England," 

 and then, as if feeling he had said more than he wished to, 

 he said, " that is to say, to lower you." " I wished to force 

 you to be just — at least less unjust." Again he broke out 

 into a furious tirade against the conduct of the allies, calling 

 it both perfidious and treacherous. He said, " I would 

 have given my word of honour to remain quiet, and to hold 

 no political correspondence in England ; I would have 

 pledged myself not to quit the place assigned me, but to live 

 as a simple individual. Why not let me remain in England 

 upon my parole of honour ? " 



He dehvered a protest to Lord Keith (in writing) against 

 his banishment to St. Helena, as follows : — 



I solemnly protest, before God and man, against the violation 

 of my sacred rights, in disposing of my person and liberty. I 

 came voluntarily on board the Bellerophon ; I am not a prisoner, 

 I am a guest of England. As soon as I was on board the Bellerophon 



