“God Keep Me From The Russians”, Said Napoleon

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 10

“God Keep Me From The Russians”, Said Napoleon

(Associated Newspapers Feature Services] 'pHE Northumberland sailed from Portsmouth on Friday last; and, on nearing Torbay on Sunday, perceived two lines of battleships approaching her, which proved to be the Bellerophon, with Buonaparte on board, and the Tonnant with Lord Keith. In a few hours, the Northumberland hailed them, and. asked after Buonaparte, who, she is informed,* had not come out of his cabin for some days. The ships came to anchor off Torbay.

General Bertrand went first on board the Tonnant. where he dined with Lord Keith, and Sir George Cockbum. He is a man of about 50 years of age. and extremely well behaved. At dinner. Sir George gave him a general explanation of his instructions with respect to Buonaparte: one of which was, that his baggage must be inspected before it was received on board the Northumberland. Bertrand expressed his opinion strongly against the measure of sending the Emperor <as he and all the suite constantly style him) to St. Helena, when his wish and expectation were to live quietly in England under the protection of English laws. Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn did not enter into any discussion upon the subject. After dinner Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn, accompanied by Bertrand, went on board the Bellerophon. Previously to their arrival, Buonaparte’s arms and pistols had been taken away from him—not without considerable altercation and objections on the part of the French officers. . 'THOSE who were not accom--L panying him were sent on board the Eurotas frigate. They expressed great reluctance at the separation, particularly the Polish officers, Buonaparte took leave of them individually. A Colonel Pistowski, a Pole, was peculiarly desirous of accompanying him: he had received 17 wounds in the service of Buonaparte, and said he would serve in any • capacity, however menial, if he could be allowed to go with him to St.

Helena. The orders for sending off the Polish officer were peremptory, and he was removed to the Eurotas. Savary and Lallemand, however, were not among those sent on board the frigate; they were left in the Bellerophon. When Lord Keith and Sir George Cockbum went on board the Bellerophon on Sunday afternoon, Buonaparte was up 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 threecoloured cockade. His face is remarkably plump, and his head rather bald upon the top. After the usual salutations. Lord Keith, addressing himself to Buonaparte, acquainted him with his intended transfer from the Bellerophon to the Northumberland. Buonaparte immediately protested with great vehemence against this act of the British Government; he did not expect it, he did not conceive that any possible objection could be made to his residing in England quietly for the rest of his life. No answer was returned by either Lord Keith or Sir George Cockbum. A British officer who stood near him observed to him, that if he had not been sent to St. Helena, he would have been delivered up to the Emperor of Russia. TJUONAPARTE. “Dieu me ■*-* garde des Russes!” (God keep n?e from the Russians!). In making this reply he looked at General Bertrand, and shrugged up his shoulders. Sir George Cockbum. “At what hour tomorrow morning shall I come. General, and receive you on board the Northumberland?” Buonaparte, with some surprise at being styled merely General—"At 10 o’clock.” Bertrand, Madame Bertrand. Savary, Lallemand, Count and Countess Moutholon, were standing near Buonaparte. Sir George Cockbum asked him if he wanted anything more before they put to sea. Bertrand replied, 20 packs of cards, a backgammon and a domino table, and Madame Bertrand desired to have some necessary articles of furniture, which, it was said, should be furnished forthwith. One of Buonaparte’s officers, the nephew of Josephine Beauhamais. his first wife, complained that faith had not been kept with the Emperor, who expected to reside with his suite in Great Britain. Buonaparte asked Lord Keith’s advice. His Lordship merely replied that he had to obey the orders he had received from his Government. Buonaparte then desire 4 another interview with his Lordship: Lord Keith declined it, alleging that it could not but

i be unsatisfactory—he had no dis- : cretion—his fate could not be r altered. 1 . A N officer who stood near him 1 said—" You would have been > taken if you had remained at - Rochefort another hour, and sent : off to Paris.” Buonaparte turned s his eye upon the speaker, but did ■ not speak a word. He next ad- = dressed himself to Sir G. Cock- : burn, and asked several questions ' about St. Helena. ' “Is there any hunting, or shootJ ing there?—Where am I to re- ' side?” He then abruptly changed the subject, and burst into more inr vectives against the Government, to which no answer was returned. 1 Whether he had any idea of a • writ of Habeas Corpus or no, we i know not; but he was very solicitr ous to go ashore. > He then expressed some indig--1 nation at being styled General—- ■ saying, “You have sent Ambas- ■ sadors to me as a Sovereign Pot--1 entate, you have acknowledged! me as First Consul.” He took a great deal of snuff whilst speak- • ing. > After reminding him that the r Northumberland’s barge would - come for him at 10 on Monday 1 morning, Lord Keith and Sir - George Cockbum retired. 1 Early on Monday morning Sir r George Cockbum went on board : the Bellerophon to superintend - the inspection of Buonaparte’s 1 baggage; it consisted of two ser- , vices of plate, several articles in : gold, a superb toilet of, plate, ■ books, beds, etc. They were all sent on board the ’ Northumberland about 11 o’clock. TtUONAPARTE had brought -*-* with him from France about 40 servants, among whom were a groom, postillion and lamplighter. Two-thirds of these were , sent on board the Eurotas. At half-past 11 o’clock, Lord ’ Keith, in the barge of the Ton- ' nant, went on board the Bellero- ; phon to receive Buonaparte, and ; those who were to accompany r him. Buonaparte, before their arrival and afterwards, addressed . himself to Captain' Maitland and the officers of the Bellerophon. After descending the ladder into ‘ the barge he pulled off his hat * to them again. Lord Keith reI ceived in the barge the followr ing personages: Buonaparte, _ General Bertrand and Madame * Bertrand, with their children, ■ Count and Countess Moutholon, and child. Count Lascasas, ’ General Gorgaud, j Nine men and three women servants. Buonaparte’s surgeon refused to accompany him; upon which the surgeon of the Bellerophon offered ! to supply his place. t Buonaparte was this day dressed , in a cocked hat, much worn, , with a tricoloured cockade; his ; coat was buttoned close round him, a plain green one with a red r collar; he had three orders, two , crosses, and a large star, with ' the inscription “Honneur et Pat- ’ rie,” white breeches, silk stock- ! ings, gold buckles. , Savary and Lallemand were left , behind in the Bellerophon. Savary seemed in great dread of being given up to the French Government, repeatedly asserting > that the honour of England would j not allow them to be landed again j on the shores of France. t 1 A BOUT 12 o’clock the Tonnant’s . targe reached the Northum- ; berland. Bertrand stepped first ; upon deck, Buonaparte next, ' mounting the side of the ship with the activity of a seaman. The , marines were drawn out and re- ' ceived him, but merely as a General, presenting arms to him. He pulled off his hat., As soon j as he was upon deck, he said to Sir George Cockbum, “Je suis a vos ordres.” He bowed to Lord j Lowther and Mr Lyttelton, who were near the Admiral, and spoke j to them a few words to which they j replied. “We start walking again. Goodnight. Over and out.” j To an officer, he said: “Dans f quel corps servez-vous?” (In what corps do you serve?) The officer replied: “In the artillery.” > Buonaparte immediately rejoined ’ —"Je sors de cette service moit meme”—(l was originally in that i service myself). After taking > leave of the officers who had t accompanied him from the Bellerophon. and embracing the s nephew of Josephine, who was - not going to St. Helena, he went > into the after-cabin, where, bes sides his principal companions, 1 were assembled Lord Keith, Sir i G. Cockburn, Lord Lowther, the 1 Hon. Mr Lyttelton. t Bertrand—“l never gave in my

adhesion to Louis . the 18th. It is therefore palpably unjust to proscribe me. However, I shall return in a year or two to superintend the education of my children.”

Madame Bertrand appeared much distressed; said she was obliged to leaive Paris in a hurry without clothes, or any necessary. She had lived in a house now occupied by the Duke de Berri. She spoke most flatteringly of her husband; said the Emperor was too great a man to be depressed by circumstances, and concluded by expressing a wish for some Paris papers. Count Moutholon spoke of the improvements made by Buonaparte in Paris; alluded to his bilious complaint, which required much exercise. The Countess Moutholon is a very interesting woman; she said little. Bertrand asked what we should have done had we taken Buonaparte at sea? As we are doing now, was the reply. Lord Keith took leave in the afternoon of Buonaparte, and returned on board the Tonnant. Lord Lowther and the Hon. Mr Lyttelton now entered into very earnest conversation with him,’ which continued for two hours. As he was very communicative, and seemed desirous of a very free conversation with these two accomplished young noblemen, they availed themselves of the opportunity, and entered into a review of much of his conduct.

We understand that they asked him how he came tb commit the impolicy of attacking Spain—the motives for the Berlin and Milan Wecrees—the war against Russia—the refusal of the terms of peace offered him before the first capture of Paris, etc. To all these questions we hear he gave full answers, no tavoiding. but rather encouraging, the discussion. We hope to be able to give the particulars which ought to be known. They are materials for history. At the expiration of two hours, Lord Lowther and Mr Lyttelton took leave of them and went ashore.

Napoleon’s cabin in the Northumberland is fitter up with great elegance. His bed is particularly handsome and the linen upon it very fine. His toilet is of silver. Among other articles upon it is a magnificent snuffbox, upon which is embossed 'in gold an eagle, with a crown, flying from Elba tothe coast of France; the eagle just seeing the coast of France, and the respective distances, are admirably executed. The Valets de Chambres are particularly fine men. They and all about him always address him by the title of Emperor. The Bellerophon, Tonnant, and Euratos returned to Plymouth Sound last Tuesday. The Northumberland was lying to off Plymouth on Tuesday, though the wind was fair; but it is supposed she is waiting for the Weymouth store ship, which was taking in stores, etc., and was to complete them by the next day.

Sale Of Surplus.— The United States has agreed to sell Korea 35,100,000 dollars worth of surplus farm products, tlje Agriculture Department announced yesterday.—(Washington, Dec. 29.)

This article and those which will succeed it in this series are from "Eye-Witness—an Anthology of British eye-witness reporting,” selected and edited by John Fisher and published by Cassell, London.