radiction
of this story, of which even themselves could hardly dispute the
weight--to wit, the _date_ of the following letter to the Prince Regent
of England, which General Gourgaud brought out the same evening to the
_Bellerophon_, and which clearly proves--that what Napoleon ultimately
did on the 15th, depended in nowise on anything that Maitland said on
the 14th.

_Rochefort, July_ THE 13TH, 1815

_"Royal Highness,_

_"A victim to the factions which divide my country, and to the
hostility of the greatest Powers of Europe, I have terminated my
political career, and come, like Themistocles, to seat myself on
the hearth of the British people. I put myself under the protection
of their laws, which I claim from your Royal Highness as the most
powerful, the most constant, and the most generous of my enemies._

NAPOLEON."

Maitland sent on Gourgaud in the _Slaney_ with this letter; and having
once more addressed Las Cazes in these words "You will recollect that I
am not authorised to stipulate as to the reception of Buonaparte in
England, but that he must consider himself as entirely at the disposal
of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent"--prepared his ship for the
reception of the fallen Emperor.

On the 15th the _Epervier_ brig brought him out of the Aix roads; but
wind and tide being unfavourable, Maitland sent the barge of the
_Bellerophon_ to transport him to the ship. The officers and most of the
crew of the _Epervier_ saw him depart, with tears in their eyes, and
continued to cheer him as long as their voices could be heard. Captain
Maitland received him respectfully, but without any salute or
distinguished honours. Napoleon uncovered himself on reaching the
quarter-deck, and said in a firm tone of voice, "I come to place myself
under the protection of your prince and laws."

On board the _Bellerophon_, as before in the _Undaunted_, Buonaparte
made himself very popular among both officers and crew. He examined
everything--praised everything--extolled the English nation--above all,
the English navy--and even admitted that the Duke of Wellington, "equal
to himself in all other military qualities, was superior in prudence."
On the 23rd they passed Ushant, and Napoleon gazed long and
mournfully--and for the last time--on the coast of France. On the 24th
the _Bellerophon_ entered Torbay, and Maitland was instantly admonished
to permit no communication of any kind betw