y in the Plymothian
journals as having been detected in the act of conveying wine and
other presents on shore, received from Napoleon. What was the fate of
the wine, I do not know, but the gig, of course, was restored
immediately, and I should suppose the wine also, considering the
shameful nature of the seizure.

On the 4th of August we left Plymouth Sound in company with the
Tonnant, bearing the flag of Admiral Lord Keith, and on the 6th we
came to an anchor off Berryhead, there to wait the arrival of the
Northumberland, which was hourly expected. She made her appearance in
the course of the day, and after due salutes from both admiral's
ships, in which noisy greeting we of course joined, for we are very
polite at sea, in our own thundering way, she took up her station
close by us.

Towards evening Lord Keith came on board of us, and had a long
personal interview with Napoleon in the cabin, which we may judge was
not of the pleasantest nature. From some intemperate threat of Savary,
I believe, who had declared that he would not allow his master to
leave the Bellerophon alive, to go into such wretched captivity, it
was judged proper to deprive the refugees of their arms. A good many
swords, and several brace of pistols, marked with a large silver N. at
the butt end, were brought down to the gun-room, where they remained
for some hours. Three of the swords belonged to Napoleon, and two of
them were pointed out to us as those he wore at Marengo and
Austerlitz.

I never in my life felt such a strong inclination to lay my hands on
what was not my own. A sword I durst not think of, but could I have
got a brace of pistols, or even one solitary pistol, belonging to
Napoleon, I would have thought myself the happiest man alive; but it
would not do, detection was certain, and with bitter vexation I saw
them carried out of the gun-room. Now, reader, do you think this
would have been a pardonable theft? Their value was nothing in my
eyes; it was a relic of the great man I wanted, and I cared not what
it was, or how I came by it; therefore, had I been able to secure a
pistol, my conscience would never have smote me with having done
wrong; and I am sure, could the Emperor have known with what a pure
spirit of devotion I meant to commit the theft, he would have ordered
me a brace instantly.

It was this night settled that our surgeon, Barry O'Meara, who
afterwards became so conspicuous for his spirited defence of his
patient a