244 ST. HELENA 



naval circles about this period. It will be remembered that his 

 Royal Highness was despatched by the French Government in La 

 Belle Poule, the finest frigate in their service, to convey the remains 

 of Napoleon from St. Helena to France. After the exhumation of 

 the body, which was performed in the presence of many English and 

 French officers, the features of Napoleon were recognized, contrary, as 

 it wasstatedj to French expectations. The coffm, after being placed 

 in a sumptuous one brought from Europe, was conveyed, after many 

 compliments upon the honour and good faith of England, on board 

 La Belle Poule, which with its sacred freight soon after put to sea. 

 The faith of " pcrfide Albion " was not so bad as expected. A few 

 weeks after the French frigate had taken her departure from St. 

 Helena, and was nearing the coast of Europe, an English frigate 

 hove in sight, and perceiving a French ship-of-war, she bore down 

 upon her to siMjak her. From some unexplained reason the Prince 

 imagined she might be sent to capture the precious relic he had 

 on board La Belle Poule, and rushing on the qiiarter-deck he ord<Ttil 

 his crew to quarters and prepare for action. A word, however. fn>m 

 the captain of the English frigate was enough to dispel the gallant 

 Prince's vain alarms, and the explanations wliich soon followed 

 afforded the British tars a hearty laugh at the distorted view the 

 Frenchmen had of English faith. 



This rumoured bravado of the Prince is nevertheless m perfect 

 keeping witli his Bodadil pamphlet, published soon after liis return 

 with Napoleon's remains, in which he attempts to show " how 

 easily he could invade England, if he had only ships enough, with 

 men of the right sort to man them." 



Sir Hudson Lowe's Memoirs. 



The publication of these long expected memoirs was from time 

 to time delayed from a variety of circumstances, the principal 

 cause, however, being a disagreement between the publisher and 

 Sir Hudson's family, respecting the mode of pubhshing. Sir Hudson's 

 son wishing,naturally enough, to vindicate the character and memory 

 of his father from the endless slanders so mercilessly heaped upon 

 him, respecting his connexion with Napoleon whilst at St. Helena, 

 thought it advisable for this purjxise to curtail the mere memoirs, 

 and give as many original documents as it was possible to do ; and 

 from the number in his possession, and that of his family, he thought 

 at least five volumes would be required. To this, objections were 

 raised by the pubhshcr, who, of course, looked upon the matter 

 merely in a mercantile point of view, and considered three volumes 

 ample for the purpose, and perhaps quite as many as would com- 

 mand a profitable sale. 



When these objections were raised by the publisher and strictly 

 insisted on by him, Sir Hudson's son declined having anything 

 further to do in the matter, and left it entirely for his family and 

 the pubhsher to arrange between themselves, which led to the MS. 

 memoir and original documents being placed in the hands of Sir 

 Harris Nicholas, who took them with him to France to re-arrange, 



