The life of Napoleon Buonaparte, emperor of the French. By Sir Walter Scott.

LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 79ig
war, which was conducting him to his place of least entitled to security of life, by his surrender to
imprisonment, and, as it proved, his tomb. Yet Na- the British flag.
poleon seemed cheerful and contented during the As needless would it be to go over the firequaetly
whole day, and was even pleased with being for- repeated ground, which proves so clearly that in
tunate at play, which he received as a good omen. other respects the transaction with Captain Maitland
Upon the 15th of October, 1815, the Northum- amounted to an unconditional surrender. Napoleon
berland reached St Helena, which presents but an had considered every plan of escape by force or
unpromising aspect to those who design it for a address, and none had seemed to him to present
residence, though it may be a welcome sight to the such chance of a favourable result, as that which
sea-worn mariner. Its destined inhabitant, from upon fill consideration he adopted. A surrendeer to
the deck of the Northumberland, surveyed it with England insured his life, and gave him the hope ol
his spy-glass. St James' Town, an inconsiderable taking further advantages from the generosity of the
village, was before him, enchased, as it were, in a British nation; for an unconditional surrender, as it
valley, amid arid and scarped rocks of immense secures nothing, so it excludes nothing. General
height; every platform, every opening, every gorge, Bertrand, when on board the Northumberland, said
was bristled with cannon. Las Cases, who stood by that Napoleon had been much influenced in taking
him, could not perceive the slightest alteration of the step he had done by the Abb6 Siryes, who had
his countenance. The orders of government had strongly advised him to proceed at once to England,
been, that Napoleon should remain on board till a in preference to taking any other course, which proves
residence could be prepared suitable for the line of that his resolution must of course have been formed
life he was to lead in future. Bat as this was likely long before he ever saw Captain Maitland. Even
to be a work of time, Sir George Cockburn readily Monsieur Las Cases, when closely examined, comes
undertook, on his own responsibility, to put his pas- to the same result; for he admits that he never hoped
sengers on shore, and provide in some way for the that Napoleon would be considered as a free man,
security of Napoleon's person, until the necessary or receive passports for America; but only that he
habitation should be fitted up. fie was accordingly would be kept in custody under milder restrictions
transferred to land upon the 16th October; and thus than were inflicted upon him. But as he nmade no
the Emperor of France, nay well nigh of Europe, stipulation of any kind concerning the nature of these
sunk into the Recluse of St Helena. restrictions, they must of course have been left to
the option of the conquering party. The question,
CHAPTER CXI. therefore, betwixt Napoleon and the British nation,
was not one of justice, which has a right to its due,
Causes which justify the English government in the mea- though the consequence should be destruction to
sure of Napoleon's banishmeLnt-He was a prisoner of the party by which it is to be rendered, but one of
war, and had already shown, by breach of the treaty of generosity and clemency, feelings which can only be
Fontainebleau, that no confidence could be reposed in wisely indulged with reference to the safety of those
hint. —The government was eveut censuredfor not taking who act upon them.
stronger precautions to prevent his escape from Elba. Napoleon being thus a prisoner, surrendered at
-Napoleon's wish to retire to England, in order that discretion, became subjected to the common laws of
being near France, he might again interfere in her af- war, which authorize belligerent powers to shut tip
fairs.-Reasons for withholding from him the title of prisoners of war in Ilaces of confinement, from
emperor.-Advantages of St Helena, as a place of ba- Which it is only usual to except such whose honour
nishment.-Sir George Cockburn's instructions for the
treatment of Napoleon.-Lo7ywoodflxed on as the place may be accounted as a sufficient guarantee for their
of residence of the ex-emperor.-Temporary accommo- good faith, or whose power of doing injury is so small
dation prepared for hint at Briars. —He removes'to that it might be accounted contemptible. But BonaLongwood.-Precautions taken for the safe custody of parte was neither in the one situation nor the other,
the prisoner.-Regulations concerning the vessels per- His power was great, the temptation to use it po-wermitted to enter the harbour. ful, and the confidence to be placed in his resolution or
promise to resist such temptation, very slight indeed.
WE are now to touch upon the arguments whlich There is an unautlhorized report that Lord Castleseem to justify the administration of Eingland in the reagh, at the time of the treaty of Fontainebleau,
strict course which they adopted towards Napoleon asked Caulaincourt, why Napoleon did not chuse to
Bonaparte, in restraining his person, and abating the ask refuge in England, rather than accept the almost
privileges of rank which lie tenaciously claimed. ridiculous title of Emperor of Elba. WVe doubt
And here we are led to observe the change produced much if Lord Castlereagh said so. But if, either
in men's feelings within the space of only twelve tipon such a hint, or upon his own free motion, Nayears. In 1816, when the present author, however poleon had chosen, in 1814, to repose his confidence
inadequate to the task, attempted to treat of the in the British nation, or even had he fallen into our
same subject, there existed a considerable party in hamnds by chance of war, England ought certainly,
Britain who were of opinion that the British govern- on so extraordinary an occasion, to have behaved
ment wvotld best have discharged their duty to with magnanimity; and perhaps ought either to have
France and Europe, by delivering up Napoleon to permitted Napoleoni to reside as an individual within
Louis XVIII.'s government, to be treated as he him- her dominions, or suffered him to have departed to
self had treated the Duke d'Enghien. It would he America. It might then have been urged (though
at this time of day needless to throw away argumnent cautious persons might even then hesitate), that the
upon this subject, or to show that Napoleon was at pledged word of a soldier, who had been so lately a