rope yarns, and every thing kept ready to make sail at a moment's
warning. Guard-boats were also kept rowing all night, as near the
frigates as they could venture, having signals established to show in
the event of the enemy getting under sail.

On the 14th of July, at daybreak, the officer of the watch informed
me, that the Mouche was standing out from Isle d'Aix, bearing a flag
of truce, which I ordered to be accepted. Here it is necessary to
mention, that the British flag of truce, being a white flag at the
fore-top-gallant mast-head, which was also hoisted as a matter of
course when Buonaparte was received on board, has by some persons been
construed into the Bourbon flag, and thence into an intentional insult
to him. It never was my intention, nor do I believe it could have been
that of any British officer, to treat with insult any fallen enemy,
much less one who had shown such confidence as to throw himself on the
protection of his former foe.

When the schooner, the Mouche, reached the ship, Count Las Cases came
on board, attended by General Count Lallemand. This meeting was highly
interesting to me, as Lallemand had been a prisoner for three weeks in
the Camelion under my command in Egypt, with Junot, whose Aid-de-Camp
he then was; and General Savary, who accompanied Count Las Cases in
his first visit to the Bellerophon, had lived nearly as long at Sir
Sydney Smith's table with me, at the Turkish camp at El Arish, when
the convention, which takes its name from that place, was under
discussion, being Aid-de-Camp to General Dessaix, who negotiated on
the part of the French.

On their coming on board, I made the signal for the Captain of the
Slaney, being desirous of having a witness to any conversation that
might pass, as our communications were chiefly verbal: he arrived
while we were at breakfast.

When Count Las Cases came on the quarter-deck, he informed me that he
was sent off to learn whether I had received an answer from the
Admiral to the letter he had brought off on the 10th instant. I told
him that I had not, but, in consequence of the despatch which I had
forwarded to him, I had not a doubt he would immediately repair here
in person, and I was hourly in expectation of seeing him, adding, "If
that was the only reason you had for sending off a flag of truce, it
was quite unnecessary, as I informed you, when last here, that the
Admiral's answer, when it arrived, should be forwarded to the frigates
b