on board
the Bellerophon.

It has been stated in many of the public prints, that had not the
Marquis of Anglesea received a wound when he was leading on a charge,
Buonaparte must have fallen into his hands. In consequence of
observing this assertion, I asked Generals Bertrand and Gourgaud
whether they knew if any such occurrence had taken place: both of whom
replied, "Certainly not; the Emperor was frequently in the midst of
the British troops (pele-mele avec les troupes Angloises); but at no
time during the battle was he in danger of being captured by a charge
of cavalry."

The midshipmen of the Bellerophon were in the habit of occasionally
performing plays, to amuse themselves and the officers during the
tedious operations of a blockade. Buonaparte being told of it by
Savary, requested that they would oblige him by acting one for his
amusement. During the performance, Madame Bertrand sat next to him,
and interpreted. He appeared much amused, and laughed very heartily at
our ladies, who were personated by great strapping fellows dressed in
women's clothes, and not in the most tidy fashion. 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.

I heard several of the French officers discussing the merits of the
British troops. One of them said, "The cavalry is superb." I
observed, "In England we have a higher opinion of our infantry." "You
are right," said he; "there is none such in the world: there is no
making an impression on them: you may as well attempt to charge
through a wall: and their fire is tremendous." Another of them
observed: "A great fault in your cavalry is their not having their
horses sufficiently under command: there must be something wrong in
the bit, as on one or two occasions in a charge, they could not stop
their horses: our troops opened to the right and left, let them pass
through, and then closed their ranks again, when they were either
killed or taken prisoners."

I never heard Buonaparte speak of the battle of Waterloo, or give an
opinion of the Duke of Wellington; but I asked General Bertrand what
Napoleon thought of him. "Why," replied he, "I will give you his
opinion nearly in the words he delivered it to me. 'The Duke of
Wellington, in the management of an army, is fully equal to myself,
with the advantage of possessing more prudence.'"

During the time that Buonaparte was on board the Be