ST. HELENA 205 



against him they had taken arms, abdicated the throne of 

 France, fully confident that the allies would keep faith and 

 allow the French to choose their own form of Government. 

 His first wish had been to retire to America and devote 

 himself to literature ; but, disappointed, he had resolved 

 to seek protection in England, and had so placed himself 

 in the power of the British Government, and in this pre- 

 dicament he protested against the decision now announced 

 to him, as the Government could not consistently with the 

 principles of the British constitution doom him to perpetual 

 banishment without accusation or trial. 



Sir Henry Bunbury replied that he was only delegated 

 to acquaint him with the decision of the Cabinet, but that 

 he would faithfully report the objections raised. 



The Betterophon and Tonnant sailed from Plymouth on 

 Friday, August n, to Torbay, to meet the Northumberland, 

 which came from Portsmouth and on which Napoleon was 

 to be conveyed to St. Helena. Lord Keith and Sir George 

 Cockburn went from her to the Betterophon, and found 

 Napoleon on deck to receive them dressed in a green coat 

 with red facings, two epaulets, white waistcoat and breeches, 

 silk stockings, the star of the Legion of Honour, and a 

 chapeau bras with the tri-coloured cockade. According to 

 instructions he was now to be treated only as a General, and 

 the Admiral, approaching him, removed his hat, saying, 

 " How do you do, General Buonaparte ? " 



Buonaparte was surprised, and hesitated for a moment ; 

 then replied very distantly. After a moment's pause he 

 broke out into invectives against the Government for their 

 conduct towards him. Lord Keith and Admiral Cockburn 

 remained silent, but an officer standing near remarked that 

 " if he had not been sent to St. Helena he would have been 

 sent to the Emperor of Russia ! " 



" Dieu me garde de Russes ! " (" God keep me from the 

 Russians ! ") was his ejaculation. 



Sir George Cockburn asked at what hour he should receive 

 him on the Northumberland. Instead of answering, Na- 

 poleon turned to Lord Keith abruptly, seeking his advice. 

 His lordship said that he considered it would be better for 

 him to submit with a good grace, on which Napoleon ap- 

 pointed the hour of ten. No sooner had he done so than 



