• NAPOLEON BONAPARTE AT ELBA AS SEEN BY A CONTEMPORARY.
ITO THE EDITOR or ran '‘ SPECTATOR 1 SIK,—I think the following memorandum found among old papere is likely to interest your readers. It appeared in a provincial journal in February, 1815. It is stated to be from the pen of "Mr. North, a young men at the Bar."—I am, Sir, "Bonaparte has the squarest figure. I think, that I ever recollect to have seen. Ile is extremely corpulent, his face is a perfect square from the effects of- fat, and as he has no whiskers his cheeks are thrown more into relief. This descrip- tion, joined to his odd little three-cornered cocked hat, would certainly give him the appearance of a very vulgar person if the impression was not counteracted by his erect soldierly carriage and the peculiar manner of his walking, which is confident, theatrical, and even a little rufflanlike; for baajamps the ground every step and at the some time twists his body. He was dressed that day in a green coat turned up with dirty white, buttoned with one button across the breast, single- breasted like a Quaker's, no embroidery, no epaulet, but lying quite close everywhere, with Kersernere breeches and waist- coat and white cotton stockings. His neck is short, his shoulders very broad and his chest open. He had to mount up on the terrace by a wooden board thrown negligently there for the purpose. An officer placed himself behind it, uncovered like all the rest, and in the posture of one of the patients at the game of leap-frog. The Emperor laid hold of his shoulders and so helped himself up without saying one word or even looking at the man. Two paces after he was an near use that I might Lave pinched his nose had I been so disposed, but— I thought it better not. His features, I then saw, are remark- ably masculine, regular and well formed. He seemed in good humour, and had more or less a smile upon his open mouth. which, notwithstanding a beautiful set of teeth, could not conceal that expression which men, immoderately exalted in their own opinion, generally carry about that feature. His ski's is coarse and weather-beaten, though quite unwrinkled, and Iris colour bad and sunburnt would spoil his handsome features were they not already altered by fat. His countenance is not of that pensive, meditating cast whirls his picture gives him. but in revenge his eyes possess a natural and unaffected fierce- ness, the most extraordinary that I ever beheld. They are full, bright and of a brassy colour. As soon as he was come upon the terrace lie directly looked at me, and continued to do so os long as possible, and his stare is by far the most determined and intense I ever experienced. This time, however, curiosity made me a match, and I vanquished him. It is alien he regards you that you mark the singular expression of his eyes. No frown, no ill-humour, no affectation of appearing terrible, but the genuine expression of that iron, inexorable temper upon which any drop of the milk of human kindness that cony have ever fallen must instantly turn to rust. He goes every day in a barouche and four, with a piquet of ten Hussars, an officer and a Mameluke, to his country house; whither he is also accom- panied by his mother in another carriage and four, and by Madame Bertrand. Altogether they form a gay-looking party. I saw him at his country house feeding the chickens. He sleeps little at night and without taking off his clothes, rises at 2 or even 1 o'clock in the morning, breakfasts at 10 or II, then goes to bed. He plays billiards at his mother's house, and some- times cards in the evening—pays all he loses, but never accepts what he wins, so that the ladies of honour and others gain much by this method. I am informed that Ile supporta his fall with unalterable firmness, that he is cheerful and pleasant com- pany, joins in everything, and has always something to say for himself. Neither he nor Iris mother ever alludes in conversation to the subject of their reverses. It is the custom here to pay him marks of reverence which I never now practised about the persons of great potentates. General Bertrand goes in the carriage with him, uncovered, at the risk of getting a coup de +Weil. You take off your hat at his approach at the greatest distance you think it possible that he can discern you. In the meantime he looks at you without taking any other kind of notice of you. Madame la Mere is the best-looking woman of her time of life I have ever seen (she is near 70), and rnuet.have been very handsome, her countenance is at once sweet and dignified, nothwithstanding the obscurity of her origin. ` She
isgood and kind. said ' but her education and talents ate very moderate.' She made a good use of tree influence when her son was the King of Kings, and prevented many bad things from being done."
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