ST. HELENA 229 



ulcer was found, which had penetrated the coats and the 

 internal surface of the stomach, nearly the whole extent 

 being a mass of cancerous disease, or schirrous portions 

 advancing to cancer. Buonaparte had frequently declared 

 he knew his disease, that it was hereditary, and that his 

 father had died of it. The official report appended shows 

 clearly that the cause of death was cancer, although many 

 have attributed it to heart disease. 



This report on the dissection of the body (made by the 

 medical men on May 6, 1821, appeared in the Scotsman 

 of July 14, 1821. 



With the report was forwarded to Earl Bathurst a letter 

 from Sir Hudson Lowe, as foUows : — 



St. Helena, 

 May 6th, 1821. 



My Lord, — It falls to my duty to inform your Lordship that 

 Napoleon Buonaparte expired at about ten minutes before six 

 o'clock in the evening of the 5th inst., after an illness which had 

 confined him to his apartments since the 17th of March last. He 

 was attended during the early part of his indisposition, from the 

 17th to the 31st March by his own medical assistant. Professor 

 Autommarchi, alone. During the latter period, from the ist 

 April to the 5 th May, he received the daily visits of Dr. Arnott, 

 of H.M. 20th Regiment, generally in conjunction with Professor 

 Autommarchi. 



Dr. Short, physician to the forces, and Dr. Mitchell, principal 

 medical officer of the Royal Navy on the station, whose services, 

 as well as those of any other medical persons on the island, had 

 been offered, were called upon in consultaion by Professor Autom- 

 marchi on the 3rd of May, but they had not any opportunity 

 afforded to them of seeing the patient. 



Dr. Arnott was with him at the moment of his decease and saw 

 him expire. Captain Crokat, orderly officer in attendance, and 

 Doctors Short and Mitchell saw the body immediately afterwards. 

 Dr. Arnott remained with the body during the night. Early this 

 morning, at about seven o'clock, I proceeded to the apartment, 

 where the body lay, accompanied by Rear-Admiral Lambert 

 Naval Commander-in-Chief on this station ; the Marquis de 

 Montchenu, Commissioner of His Majesty the King of France, 

 charged with the same duty also on the part of His Majesty the 

 Emperor of Austria j Brigadier-General Coffin, second in command 

 of the troops ; Thomas H. Brooke and Thomas Greentrce, Esqs. 

 members of Council in the Government of this island ; and Captains 

 Brown, Hendry and Marryat, of the Royal Navy. After visiting 

 the person of Napoleon Buonaparte, which lay with the face un- 

 covered, we retired. 



