BOOKS.
THE SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON.*
"You are publishing a great and interesting national docu- ment," wrote Sir Walter Scott when Maitland's Surrender of Napoleon first saw the light, and the years which have inter- vened have not lessened its importance. Where Napoleon is concerned prejudice and interest have both vastly increased, and nothing but good can come from a knowledge of the truth, which, while it satisfies interest, allays prejudice. Therefore Maitland's account of a very delicate transaction was well worth reprinting. In Sir Walter's words, it is "fine, manly, and explicit"; though written by a chief actor in the drama, it is curiously impersonal ; and the author displays as noble a patience in recollection as he displayed in the conduct of a more difficult affair than ever was entrusted to a British officer.
It is proof of the awe inspired by the mere name of Napoleon that immediately after Waterloo the coasts of France were eagerly watched for the frigate which (it was said) would carry the Emperor to America. To Captain Maitland, of the Bellerophon,' was entrusted the task of guarding Rochefort and the Ile d'Aix, and to him also fell the good or evil fortune of receiving on board his ship Napoleon and his Staff. Indeed, he had not long to wait for the opportunity of his life. At daybreak on July 10th, 1815, a small schooner, flying a flag of truce, approached the Bellerophon.' It was the Mouche,' and on board of it were Savory and Las Cases, charged with a letter from Count Bertrand, which announced that Napoleon, having abdicated the throne of France, and having determined to find a retreat in America, demanded a passport from the British Govern- ment Whereto Maitland replied that, while he knew not the intentions of his Government, he could not "allow any vessel, under whatever flag she may be, to pass with a personage of such consequence." With this answer Las Cases was by no means satisfied, and presently asked Maitland what reception Napoleon might expect in England. Again Maitland was unable to give an undertaking of any sort, and Las Cases quitted the ship, saying : "I have little doubt that you will see the Emperor on board the Bellerophon.' " But by this time the Emperor's mind was made up, and his letter to the Prince Regent was written. He came, said he, "like Theraistocles, to throw himself upon the hospitality of the British people"; and on July 15th Maitland sent off Mr. Mott, the First Lieutenant, in the barge, who returned soon after six o'clock, "bringing Napoleon with him." In these simple words does Maitland record one of the most momentous episodes of modern history, and with a like simplicity he tells
* The Surrender of Napoleon. By Bear-Admiral Sir F. L. Maitland, K.C.B. A New Edition, Edited, with a Memoir of the Author, by W. K. Dickson. London: W. Blackwood and Sous. [1.5s. net.]
his story to the end. The Emperor ascended, came upon the quarter-deck, took off his hat, and said in a firm voice: "I am come to throw myself on the protection of your Prince and laws." Determined, as always, to make a good impression, he approved of his cabin with the words : "line belle ohambre," and, catching sight of Mrs. Maitland's portrait, he exclaimed : " Ah, elle eat tres-jeune et tres-jolie." Henceforth Captain Maitland was more than willing to serve him, and throughout the miserable weeks that followed he treated his august guest with the utmost sympathy and tact. Nor was his task an easy one. Bertrand and Las Cases were as difficult to con- ciliate on shipboard as they were at St. Helena, while Madame Bertrand did her beat to perplex a dangerous situation, not only by quarrelling with either party, but by threatening suicide. And throughout all Maitland appears to have re- mained imperturbably correct, while Napoleon himself evi- dently appreciated the difficulty of his guardian's position.
The plain narrative of Captain Maitland shows the Emperor insatiably curious concerning the life and conduct of the British Navy. Nothing escaped his genius for detail, and he was keenly desirous of discovering why the English always beat the French at sea. Moreover, he asked many questions
concerning English customs, saying with a pathetic hopeful-
ness: "I must now learn to conform myself to them, as I shall probably pass the remainder of my life in England." Of
his marvellous fascination he gave many proofs. The ship's company had but one opinion of him. "Why, Sir," said Maitland's servant, "I heard several of them conversing together about him this morning ; when one of them ob- served, Well, they may abuse the man as much as they please ; but if the people of England knew him as well as we do, they would not hurt a hair of his head ' ; in which the others agreed." Lord Keith's testimony was equally characteristic. " D—n the fellow," said he ; "if he had obtained an interview with his Royal Highness, in half an hour they would have been the best friends in England." Though, while Napoleon was on board the Bellerophon,' life was conducted after the French manner, the Emperor took his part in the amusements of the ship. He witnessed the per- formance of a play given by the Midshipmen, and "laughed heartily at the ladies, who were personated by great strapping fellows dressed in women's clothes, and not in the most tidy fashion." Maitland was obviously pleased with this mark of interest; for, says he with an amiable naivete, "he had the patience to remain to the end of the third act, though, when attending the Opera at Paris, he had always retired at the end of the first." But the Emperor who carried Europe on his shoulders, and who appeared at the Opera for a moment snatched by policy from more serious pursuits, was not the same as the man of enforced leisure who killed his valueless time by watching the antics of English Midshipmen.
But when the 'Bellerophon' reached England Napoleon's anxiety and disappointment increased. The newspapers were the first to tell him that be was destined to end his days at St. Helena, though at the outset he was loth to believe it. At first he hoped that he might influence the Admiral, and only at the last did he despair of moving the Regent to acquiescence. Indeed, however we look at it, we cannot hide the tragedy of the last few days which Napoleon spent upon the English coast. He was still the greatest of living men, and the curiosity of the English, which, by the way, did not displease him, was an eloquent testimony to the awe and wonder wherewith even his enemies regarded him. But for the first time in his life he was unable to control events. He was forced to beg, to hear his petition refused, and to obey the commands of others. Yet he showed neither anger nor annoyance. "He never in my presence," said Maitland," allowed a fretful or captious expression to escape him : even the day he received the notification from Sir Henry Bunbury that it was determined to send him to St. Helena, he chatted and con- versed with the same cheerfulness as usual." Here he showed his real grandeur, which la politigv,e de Longwood did not enhance. But there is not a page of Maitland's honest narrative which does not increase our respect for Napoleon, and which does not convince us that, when it was necessary to find a refuge, he could not have been better guided than to the kindly and honourable Captain of the Bellerophon.'
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