,ii,^ y f/i^^^: ><■•:"/// IV W^y, ^^^.:^-:^^^^%:, "■^l.^-\^ if :<. MAJ.-GEN. SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. C.B OF OUNTROON NAPOLEON AT FONTAINEBLEAU AND ELBA BEING A JOUENAL OF OCCUEEENCES IN 1814—1815 WITH NOTES OF CONVEKSATIONS BY THE LATE MAJOE-GENEEAL SIE NEIL CAMPBELL, C.B. BRITISH COMMISSIONER, KNIGHT OF THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDERS OF ST. GEORGE, ST. ANNE, AND ST. 'WIA.DIMIB itl] a Uemoir at i\it Wiit mxn Stx^am d tijat ©Iter BY HIS NEPHEW AECHIBALD NEIL CAMPBELL MACLACHLAN, M.A. VICAR OF NEWTON VALENCE, HANTS * •WITH ^ IPOI^-Tm^IT LONDON JOHN MUREAY, ALBEMAKLE STEEET 1869 TJie rig/it of transtation is reserved ISAAC FOOT" LIBRARY ^3 3 (I3 LIBRARY UJ^IVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA PEEFACE. The Jouenal of the late Sm Neil Campbell, now ofiered to the public, has been for some years in my possession. From time to time I had looked over the MS. in a cursory manner, and dim visions of submit- ting it to the press had flitted across my mind. At each fresh reading I fancied the characters be- came more difficult to decipher, the paper (very thin and evidently of foreign manufacture) more blurred and wormeaten. One day, after a somewhat longer interval than usual of its being drawn out from under lock and key, — . . . claves et grata sigilla pudico, the truth flashed upon me — it must be ' now or never.' There was no more choice in the matter. Either the MS. w^ould perish by the mere process of natural decay — I should be obliged to say to it, as Horace to his book. Tineas pasces taciturnus inertes, — or it must be at once transcribed. Accordingly it was the pleasant employ of leisure hours during a prolonged winter — the break-in upon the daily routine of a ' country parson,' and the primary a vi PREFACE. duties of parisli-work — to write out a fair copy of the complete MS., and so rescue it from its impend- ing fate. Some friends to whom it was then shown, agreed in thinking that, over and above the value of every fragment bearing upon Napoleon's history, the Diary of Sir Neil Campbell contained much information not hitherto disclosed, touching the conduct of Napoleon during his residence at Elba, the preparations for his escape, and his consummate skill both in veiling and executing the manoeuvres which led to the crowning event of his career. It was therefore decided that the Journal should no longer remain in its manuscript form, but be laid before the general reader. In the next place it seemed necessary to prefix a brief Memoir of the Author, in order to show (how- ever imperfectly) what manner of man he was. But here many difficulties arose from the scarcity of materials. There were few of Sir Neil Campbell's letters or papers at hand, by help of which to trace out the story of his life ' from year to year.' The whole of his baggage, having been near the front when he received his wounds at Fere Cham- penoise in March 1814, disappeared from under the charge of the Cossacks, who were supposed to protect it, and could never afterwards be recovered. With it went the greater part of his military and official papers. At a subsequent period a box, in ^vhich the mass of his correspondence had been treasured up by one of his sisters, was lost together with the ' Duntroon charter- chest,' containing many valuable documents and ancient PREFACE. vii family relics, in consequence of the bankruptcy of the agent to whose care they had been committed by the owners, during their residence on the Continent. I have therefore been obhged, in preparing my own comparatively trifling portion of the book, to content myself with such scanty memoranda as had escaped these disastrous chances. Living in a remote part of the country, with no extensive general library of my own, I have enjoyed few opportunities of consulting books of reference, and thereby fully verifying allu- sions and facts of history ; so that I am only too well aware of my many shortcomings and possible mistakes. And last but not least embarrassment of all, ever pre- sent to my mind while venturing to ^vl'ite of ' battles, sieges, fortunes,' has been the great Emperor's dictum, as recorded by my uncle's pen, and evidently stamped with liis approval, ' that the Archbishop of Malines, icho had been his [Napoleon's] chaj)lai?i, was extremely addicted to descanting on military subjects, wliich is very disgusting to military men ! ' A. N. C. M^L. JS^EWTON Valence "Vicarage : January \, 1869. TABLE OF CONTENTS. MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. [1776—1810.] PAGE Campbells of Duntroon — Commencement of Military Career — Jamaica — Caicos Islands — Military College — Shorncliff Camp — West Indies, Second Time — West Indies, Third Time — Marti- nique — The Saintes — Guadaloupe 3 CHAPTER 11. [1810—1813.] Resigns Staff Appointment in West Indies — Proceeds as Volunteer to Peninsula — Appointed Colonel of 16th Regiment Portuguese Infantry — Blockade of Almeida and Battle of Fuentes d'Onore — Blowing up of Works at Almeida and subsequent Catastrophe — Attack of Fever and Journey to Lisbon — Rejoins the Army near Sabugal— Relief of Ciudad Rodrigo by Marmont — Combats of El Bodon and Aldea de Ponte — Siege and Capture of Ciudad Rodrigo — Receives honourable Mention by Brigadier-General Pack, Lieuteuant-General Picton, and Lord Wellington — Siege of Badajos — Advance from Ciudad Rodrigo towards the Douro — Holds temporary Command of Pack's Brigade — Bridge of Torde- sillas — Battle of Salamanca — Occupation of Madrid — Capture of Hornwork at Fort St, Michael, near Burgos — Mentioned for the Second Time by Lord Wellington in Public Despatch — Retreat of the Army from Burgos — Invalided, and returns to England . 18 CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. [1813.] PACiK Appointed to Lord Catbcart's Staff — Sails from Harwich to Gottcn- burgh — General Hope's Mission — Journey to Stockholm — Inter- views with King, Queen, and Crown Prince of Sweden — Visit to Madame De Stael — Joumev to Carlscrona ..... 44 CHAPTER IV. [1813.] Journey from Carlscrona to Kalisch — Joins Lord Cathcart's Staff — Emperor Alexander, Grand Duke Constantino, and Platoff — Pa- rade of Russian Guards — Progress of Imperial Headquarters from Kalisch to Dresden — Presented to Emperor of Russia and King of Prussia — Advance of Allied Army through Saxony — Joins Wittgenstein — Battle of Lutzen — Incidents of Retreat through Dresden and across the Elbe — Battle of Bautzen — Distant View of Napoleon and Staff — Armistice — News of Battle of Vittoria — Comparison of Napoleon and Wellington ..... G4 CHAPTER V. [1813—1814.] Joins Headquarters of Duke of Wurtemburg before Dantzic — Inci- dents of Siege — Receives Imperial Russian Orders of St. George and St, Anne — Capitulation of Dantzic — Berlin — Dines with Princess of Orange — Evening Visit to Princess Louise of Prussia — Headquarters of Allied Sovereigns at Fribourg — Rejoins Wittgenstein, and crosses the Rhine — Battle of Brienne, &c. — Printed Proclamation of Louis XVIII. at Nogent-sur-Seiue — Wounded at Fere Champenoise — Arrives in Paris — Appointed British Commissioner to Elba — Knighted, with Patent of Aug- mentation to Arms ......... 87 CHAPTER VI. [1814—1816] Return from Elba — Interview with Prince Regent — Debates in Parliament respecting Napoleon's Escape — Retrospect of Events at Elba during Sir N, Campbell's Mission — Proceeds to Brussels — Letter of Introduction from Lord Castlereagh — Dines with the Duke of AVellington on June 15 — Witnesses the Battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo— Joins Sir Charles Colville's Divi- CONTENTS. xi PACK sion — Assault of Cambray — Mentioned in Despatches — Sir Charles Napier a Volunteer — Combat at Aubervilliers — Contro- versy between Sir Charles Napier and General von CTrollmann — Capture of Paris — Appointed to Command of Hanseatic Le- gion — Receives the Thanks of Senate of Bremen — Legion broken up — Return to England — Companion of the Bath, and Knight of St. "VVladimir — Invalided and goes upon Half-pay . . 104 CHAPTER VII. [1816—1827.] Various Visits to the Continent— France, Spain, &c.— Spanish Politics— Coronation of Charles X.— Made a Maj or-General— Appointed Governor of Sierra Leone, and Colonel of Royal African Coi-ps- Notices of the Colony— Illness and Death . . 125 JOUENAL. CHAPTER I. Arrival in Paris— Appointed British Commissioner— Instructions from Lord Castlereagh— Goes to Fontainebleau— First Interview with Napoleon— Treaty of Fontainebleau— Various Anecdotes . 153 CHAPTER IL Morning of Departure — Conversation with Napoleon — Parting Address to the Old Guard — Leaves Fontainebleau — Interview with Napoleon at Briars — Incidents of Joiu-ney — Marshal Auge- reau— Arrival at Frejus 178 CHAPTER in. Napoleon embarks on board H.M.S. 'Undaunted' — Incidents of Voyage — Notes of Conversation — Arrival at Elba— Excursions in the Island with Napoleon — Various Conversations — General Koller leaves Porto Ferrajo — Napoleon holds a Drawing-room — Statistics relating to Elba 198 zu CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. PAGE Florence — Count Stahremberg — Eome— Interviews with the Pope — Returns to Leghorn — Discovery of Napoleon's secret Agents — Escorts Madame Mere and Suite to Elba .... 257 CHAPTER V. Interview -with Napoleon in company with Captain Battersby — Goes to Leghorn to meet Admiral Hallowell — Arrest of Emis- saries — Letter from Count Stahremberg — Despatch from Lord Castlereagh— Declaration of War by Dey of Algiers— Interview with General and Madame Bertrand— Conversation, on Septem- ber 16, of three Hours with Napoleon — Arrival of Polish Lady and Child at Elba — Habits of Napoleon — Goes to Florence, and is presented to the Grand Dulie 280 CHAPTER VI. Arrival of Polish Lancers — Tunisian Corsair — Edict of Napoleon — Hints thrown out by General Bertrand — Conversation with Na- poleon, October 31 — Arrival of Pauline — Pecuniarj- Embarrass- ments of Napoleon — Writes to Lord Castlereagh on Subject — Resistance to Contributions — Visit to Florence — Interview with M. Hyde de Neuville — Old Guns sent from Porto Ferrajo — Conversation with Napoleon, December 4, of three Hours and a Half — Presents Captain Adye — List of Napoleon's Vessels — Report of Conversation between Napoleon and M. Litta — Inter- view with Napoleon, December 21 — Discharge of Soldiers — Gradual Estrangement of Napoleon 308 CHAPTER VII. Goes to Genoa — Interview with Napoleon on Return — M. Ricci, Vice-Consul — Suspicious Persons at Porto Ferrajo — Warm Ar- gument with General Bertrand — Visit to Continent — Meets Mr. Cooke, Under-Secretary — Suspicious Circumstances — Embarks in ' Partridge ' for Elba — iianding and Discovery of Napoleon's Escape — Interviews with Mr. Grattan, Madame Bertrand, M. Lapis, and Pauline— Pursuit of Napoleon — Return to England . 351 MEMOIR OF MAJOR-GEN. SIR NEIL CAMPBELL, XNT., C.B. KNIGHT OF THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDERS OF ST. GEORGE, ST. ANNE, ANB ST. WLADIMIR ; SOMETIME BRITISH COMMISSIONER WITH NAPOLEON AT ELBA ; GOVERNOR OF SIERRA LEONE; AND COLONEL OF THE ROTAL AFRICAN CORPS. B CHAPTER I. [1776—1810.] CAMPBELLS OF DTJNTROOlSr — COMMENCEMENT OF MILITARY CAREER — JAMAICA — CAICOS ISLANDS — MILITARY COLLEGE — SHOKNCLIFE CAMP — -WEST INDIES, SECOND TIME — WEST INDIES, THIRD TIME — MAR- TINIQUE — THE SAINTES — GUADALOUPE. SiE Neil Campbell, the writer of the MS. narrative hereafter to be detailed, was the second son of Neil Campbell, Esq., of Duntroon Castle and Oib, in the count}' of Argyle, a Highland gentleman of ancient lineage, and fair landed estate, and was born on May 1, 1776. His mother was Jean, daughter of Archibald Campbell, Esq., of Blandfield, a younger son of Campbell of Craignish, and Captain in the 3rd (King's Own) Dragoons, who had served as Aide-de-camp to General Humphry Bland, and Judge Advocate, during the war in the Low Countries, and the campaign against the Pretender, under the orders of H.E.H. the Duke of Cumberland, 1745-46. The eldest son of 'Duntroon,' on whom the hopes of the family had fondly rested, fell mortally wounded at the battle of the Helder, October 2, 1799,— 'shot through the body,' as wrote his Colonel, Sir Allan Cameron, ' while most gallantly leading the Grenadier Company ' of the 79th Highlanders — and was the first of&cer of that famous regiment ever killed in action. He had previously served in the East Indies, at the taking of Pondicherry in 1793, and b2 4 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. L at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1795. General Stewart of Garth, in his ' Military Annals of Highland Regiments ' (vol. ii. p. 28), thus speaks of him : ' At Bergen, 1799, the regiment lost Captain James Campbell of Duntroon, who, with great intelligence, an open and generous mind, and a personal appearance the most pre- possessing, exhibited in every view, according to the opinion of an old Highlander, a perfect model of one of the heroes described in Ossian.' The Campbells of Duntroon, a younger branch of the House of Argyll, had been for centuries established in their wild and rocky stronghold, the time-worn battle- ments of which, overlooking Loch Crinan, still form a prominent feature in that bold and picturesque scenery. Although now, except in the female line, that ancient race has come to an end,^ and the lands so long possessed by them have passed into other hands, many and curious are the Gaelic legends and antique poems yet in existence, telling quaintly the story of their feuds and their friend- ships, the devotion of their retainers, and the martial * A tablet erected in Kilmartin Church, Argyleshire, records as follows : To the Memory of General Patrick CAxrpBELL, R.A., Last surviving Son of Neil Campbell, Esq., of Duntroon and Gib. Bom 17th December, 1779. Died 29th August, 1857. 1795, commenced his Military Career in the West Indies, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, against the French, the Caribs, and Negroes. 1800, Major of Brigade to the Artillery at Gibraltar. 1809, joined the Spanish Army under General Ciiesra. As Volunteer present at the Battle of Medellin. and aU the Operations with the British Troops in the South of Spain, at Castalla, Tarragona, &c., and engaged at the Battle of Talavera. 1810, in Isle of Leon, A.D.C. to the Duke of Albuquerque and Military Correspondent to Mr. Frere at Madrid. 1811, raised a Spanish L. I. Regiment, appointed its Colonel, had the rank of Major-General and the Orders of Charles III. and Sau Fernando conferred upon him. 181 1-14, commanded a Spanish Brigade in the Field. 1815 — 21, in Catalonia, on General Castanos" Staff, and Military Correspondent to Mr. Frere at Madrid. 1823, his active Military Service ended, commenced a Diplomatic Career, and, as British Commissioner, made a Treaty with the Columbian Republic. 1825 — 30, Charg6 d' Affaires at Bogota, South America. 1833—40. H.B.M. Agent and Consul-General in Egypt and Syria, His surviving Sisters, Jane, Widow of Lieut.-General Archibald Maclachlan, and Elizabeth, erect this Tablet to record the Public Services of the la£t Representative of their Family. Chap. I. FAMILY OF DUNTROON. 5 exploits of their sons in the old feudal times.'' It had passed into a proverb, that ' the Castle of Duntroon had never vs^anted a hero, a bard, or a piper.' The authentic records of the family date back to the year 1390, when Duncan, son of Sir Colin, 13th Knight of Lochow, acquired the lands of Duntroon, and became the founder of that branch of the Argyll family. The ' Origines Parochiales Scotise ' quotes from Argyll Charters and Breadalbaue Inventory as follows (vol. ii. p. 93) : * In the year 1448, one of the Stewards of Ardskodniche, under Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochow, was Duncan Yong Campbell of Duntrone. ' In 1470, a precept of seisin by Colin, Earl of Argyll, is addressed to John Campbell of Duntroone and others. * In 1511, Donald Campbell of Downtron was one of the local baillies of Archibald, Earl of Argyll. ' In 1513, a precept of seisin by King James Y., in favour of Earl Colin, is witnessed by John Campbell of Duntrone. ' In 1531, John Cam,pbell of Duntrwn was one to whose arbitration all disputes between Archibald, Earl of Argyll, and Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy (ancestor of the Breadalbane family) were submitted by the parties. ' In 1565 there appear on record Duncan Campbell of Duntrone and Donald Campbell his brother.' In ' Sketches of the Highlanders ' (vol. ii. p. 31), General Stewart of Garth refers to the 'uniform practice in the families of the Campbells of Melfort, Duntroon, and Dun- staffnage, that when the head of either family died, the chief mourners should be the other two lairds, one of whom supported the head to the grave, while the other walked before the corpse. In this manner friendship took the place of the nearest consanguinity, for even the eldest 2 ' Gaelic Relics,' Nos. 1, 2, 3, 16. January, March, April, 1823, and Ackermann's Repository of the Arts : March, 1825. 6 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. I. sons of tlie deceased were not permitted to interfere with this arrangement. The first progenitors of these families were three sons of the family of Argyll, who took this method of preserving the friendship, and securing the support of their posterity to one another.' There had likewise been, from time immemorial, a ' bond of friendship ' between the Campbells of Glenorchy and the Duntroon family; and, according to the terms of an ancient treaty, the heir of the Chief of Breadal- bane for many generations was fostered at ' the Castle of Turrets.' To this quaint custom the venerable Earl of Breadalbane (father of the Marchioness de Grey) was wont pleasantly to refer, when any of the Duntroon family chanced to be visiting at Taymouth, and would especially delight in relating the old Highland tradition to his English guests. Duntroon, or ' the Castle of Turrets ' (' Neil Oig of the Turrets ' having been, in olden days, the Gaelic patronymic of the laird), was famed for the natural defences of its position, and the unusual strength and thickness of its walls. In the ' Statistical Account of Scotland' (Argyle- shire p. 558) there is an anecdote told relating to this very point. ' Duntroon Castle,' it says, ' withstood the ravasres of the celebrated Coll Macdonnell, alias Colla Ciotach, i. e. left-handed Coll, and his followers, when he invaded Argyleshire.' And after giving some account of this wild adventurer, the story goes on to tell, that having mth his kinsman, the Earl of Antrim (who bore no goodwill to Argyll for having joined the Covenanters), raised a body of 3000 men in Ulster, Macdonnell landed in Kintyre, and proceeded northwards, destroying and pillaging all in his way. From Castle Sween he pro- ceeded by sea with his forces towards the Bay of Crinan, intending to attack and destroy Duntroon Castle, and sending forward his piper by land in order to procure information. The piper was admitted into the castle, Chap. I. COMMENCEMENT OF MILITARY CAREER. 7 where lie found, by the peculiar construction and narrow- ness of the staircase, that only one person could enter at a time to attack the place, and that it was otherwise sufficiently strong to repel the invaders; and being him- self suspected, he was confined to one of the upper turrets of the castle, where, seeing Macdonnell's forces approach- ing, he contrived to warn him of the danger of making the attack, by playing on his bagpipes the well-known pibroch, Dearest Coll, shun the tower, shun the tower, &c.^ This warning was understood by Macdonnell, who finding Duntroon Castle impregnable, left his faithful piper to his fate, and with his forces proceeded northwards, de- stroying and plundering everything in his way. Bom and nurtured in this wild ancestral home, the young Neil Campbell entered the Army in 1797. His first service was in the West Indies, where he remained for three years. In October, 1798, we find him stationed at Jamaica, as ensign in the 67th Regiment. In consequence of the evacuation of St. Domingo by the British at that period, and its delivery to Toussaint I'Ouverture the Negro chief, the colonists of the Caicos, or Turks' Islands, were appre- hensive that an attack might be made upon them by the Blacks. They therefore sent an appeal for protection to the Earl of Balcarres, the Governor and Commander of the Forces in Jamaica, who accordingly despatched a small detachment of the 67th Regiment, and a party of Artillery with guns and stores, under the command of Ensign Neil Campbell. The Caicos Islands are of different sizes, ex- tending for many leagues, the whole encircled by a reef of coral rocks, excepting in one part, where there is deep water and anchorage within the reef. Upon a small bank opposite to this anchorage Ensign Campbell placed his 3 The ' warnino-,' now called ' the March of Duntroon Castle,' is still played by the pipers. 8 MEMOIR OF SIR XEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. I. detachment, and then proceeded to construct defences, barracks, and storehouses. As the inhabitants, from the capture of their corn vessels and other disappointments incident to an infant colony, were nearly in a state of famine, the detachment was compelled to subsist entirely for many weeks upon fish procured by themselves and Indian corn. Many of the soldiers of the 67th having been rebels taken at Yinegar Hill, and transported from Ireland, were with great difficulty kept in any kind of subordination until commissariat provisions arrived from New Providence in the Bahamas. On his quitting the Caicos, Ensign Campbell received an unanimous vote of thanks fi'om the community in accordance with the follow- ing resolution : ' That the zeal, vigilance, and judgment, manifested by Neil Campbell, Esq., of Her Majesty's 67th Eegiment, in discharge of his duty as Commandant of Fort Georo-e, together with his unremitting attention to the interests and security of the Caicos, justly entitle him to the thanks and esteem of all its inhabitants.' Having been promoted to a lieutenancy in the 57th Regiment by purchase, Neil Campbell returned to Eng- land in 1800, and shortly after joined the Eifle Corps (95th Regiment) upon its original formation, obtaining his company by purchase in the following year. About this time his zeal and abilities began to attract the attention of his superior officers ; and, after passing through a course of study at the Military College,^ from February 1802 to September 1803, he was appointed Assist- ant-Quartermaster-General in the Southern District, in which situation he remained until j)romoted, at the special recommendation of Sir John Moore, to a majority in * ' High Wycomhe would be everything that is bad, and learn "William's ruination ; all the tricks nothing, though others dc study played there have been made known and learn.' Life of Sir Charles to me by Xeil Campbell : there are a Napier, vol. i. pp. 30, 31. set who keep horses, race, bet, play, Chap. I. SHORNCLIFF CAMP. 9 the 43rd Light Infantry, then in his brigade at Shorn- clifF. Besides his own merits. Major Campbell found a passport to the General's favour through the fact, that his eldest brother James, a captain in the 79th Highlanders, had served in Sir John Moore's Brigade during the expe- dition to the Helder, where, as before mentioned, he was mortally wounded at the head of the Grenadier company of his regiment. It was while stationed at Shorncliff, that Neil Campbell formed that close and lasting friendship with Sir Charles Napier, which was often referred to by that great soldier, and of which mention is made in his Life.^ When recalling anecdotes of the camp, Sir Charles would tell of an impromptu race, from the bottom to the top of the Shorncliff height, which took place on some occasion among a party of officers, when, as he said, ' Neil Campbell beat us all ! ' Of this period of service Sir William Napier speaks in the life of his distinguished brother,^ ' To awaken the faculties of those under him, inspiring and teaching, was one of Sir John Moore's qualifications for command. At Shorncliff Camp he devised such improvements in drill, discipline, dress, arms, formations, and movements, as would have placed him for military reforms beside the Athenian Iphicrates, if he had not the greater glory of dying like the Spartan Brasidas. His materials were the 43rd, 52nd, and Rifle Regiments ; and he so fashioned them, that afterwards, as the Light Division under Wellington, they were found to be soldiers unsurpassable, perhaps never equalled. The separate successful careers of the officers strikingly attest the merit of the school. So long a list of notable men could not be presented by three regiments of any service in the world.' That in this school of heroes, this nursery for military • 5 Vol. i. pp. 30, 265, 268. « Vol. i. pp. 58, 59. 10 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. I. tactics, Neil Campbell was no iinreadj learner, is testified hy his ' Instructions for Liglit Infantry and Riflemen.' In the Introduction to the second edition, dated April 4th, 1812, when he was ' in camp before Badajos,' and dedicated by permission to H.R.H. the Duke of York, Commander- in-Chief, he thus writes : ' The first edition of this publication appeared without any name ; and nothing is claimed beyond the labour of writing out, selecting, and arranging the exercises, which were practised by the 95th Rifle Regiment, under Colonel Manningham and the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel "William Stewart, with the subsequent practice of the Light Infantry Brigade (comprising the 43rd, 52nd, and 95th Regiments) under Major-General Sir John Moore, from the year 1800 to 1806, during which period the author served in the 95th and 43rd Regiments. ' The same system of instructions and exercises which were established by these three distinguished officers (two of whom have since sacrificed their valuable lives for their king and country), are still practised by these corps ; and the conspicuous services of the gallant Light Division (composed of them, the 1st and 3rd Portuguese Ca9adores), in the Peninsula, require no comment. ' It has further been extended to all the Ca9adore bat- talions of thePortuguese Army by a translation, verbatim, of the first edition, which has been given to them by Marshal Sir "William Carr Beresford, Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Army, approved of by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Portugal. * A translation has likewise been made into the Spanish language, upon which the light corps of Major- General Whittingham's Legion is now forming in the Island of Majorca.' For nearly sixteen years, from 1808 to 1824, when a re- vised work upon the subject was published by (Jrder of the Adjutant-General, this book was used in all Light In- Chap. 1. VOYAGE TO WEST INDIES. 11 fantry Regiments as the only standard of reference for uniformity of movement and practice. In Febniary, 1806, Major Neil Campbell was removed from the 43rd to the 1st battalion of the 54th Regiment, in order that he might endeavour to keep in check some irregularities which had arisen in that corps. Accompany- ing it to Jamaica in 1807, he remained there for a year, when failing health compelled him to return to England for a brief rest. In October 1808, however, he again proceeded • to the West Indies, for the third time, having been appointed Deputy-Adjutant- General to the Forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands, with the brevet of Lieu- tenant-Colonel. A Journal kept by him during the voyage, and illustrated by plans and drawings, relates the usual incidents on board a troopship of that period, sailing from Woolwich to Barbadoes, and passing by Porto Santo, Madeira, and Teneriffe. The * Creole ' mounted twelve six-pounders and two nine-pounders ; had a crew of twenty-four men, including master and mate ; and carried, besides Lieu- tenant-Colonel Campbell and his servant, a detachment of Artillery, consisting of five officers and forty-six men. At the Downs she joined company with 150 sail, many of them transports destined for Spain; but soon after, weighing anchor from thence, the convoy was caught by a tremendous gale, which effectually dispersed it, and blew over several of the vessels — the ' Creole ' among them — to the French coast near Boulogne, though with no ultimate loss. On November 2nd, off Lymington, a de- tachment of Foreign Artillery, consisting of one sergeant and twenty-six men, was taken in. On the 4th the ' Creole ' passed through a fleet of light transports beating up Channel. 'These are probably,' Colonel CampbeU notes, ' the ships returning from France, after landing the French troops agreeably to the Convention of Cintra.' * On the 13th, the day being a dead calm, the 12 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. I. boat was lowered to pursue a turtle, wliicli was spied 300 yards from tlie ship. Two hands rowed, I took the helm, and the master sat in the bow of the boat ready to seize him. As he seemed to be asleep upon the surface of the water, we approached him with as little noise as possible. "SVhen the boat almost touched him, the mate suddenly grasped him by one of his fore-fins, and tossed him into the boat. The exploit being witnessed from the ship, we were welcomed by a loud cheer in exultation of our success. The appearance of the ship with all its sails set, indolently bending from one side to another, her deck and sides crowded with men, the sea clear and smooth as glass, and the delightful warmth of the day, were truly beautiful and cheering to our spirits. There was no small anxiety to view the prize — sailors and soldiers, women and children, all crowding about us to satisfy their curiosity. The turtle was laid on his back upon the deck, to the joy of every one. In course of the evening we made three attempts after other turtle, but none of them succeeded. They were not asleep, and, when we approached within a few yards, lifted up their heads, surveyed us, and disappeared.' In the early pai-t of the year 1809, Colonel Campbell served as Deputy-Adjutant-General with the expedition which captured the island of Martinique. The fleet and transports destined for the attack having been assembled in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, got under weigh on the morning of January 28th. The Commander- in-Chief, Lieutenant -General Sir George Beck with, was on board the * Castor,' Captain Beaver; Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost on board the ' Penelope,' Captain Dick ; Major-General Maitland and Brigadier-General Sir Charles Shipley, commanding the Engineers, on board the ' Nep- tune,' Admiral Sir Charles Cochrane. Colonel Campbell was on board the ' Owen ' schooner, taken up by his own department. The Artillery were commanded by Brigadier- General Stehelin. Chap. I. CAPTURE OF MARTINIQUE. 13 The campaign was short but brilliant, lasting only twentj-five days. The army landed at various points of the island without opposition, under cover of the fleet, by sunset on January 30. On February 1, the different corps having been united under the Commander-in-Chief, ad- vanced to the attack of the enemy's first position, which was protected in front by a deep ravine formed by the river Monsieur, and carried up the heights of Mount Surrery, which were exceedingly steep and rugged, and strengthened by redoubts. ' One light three-pounder was brought up to the great road, and placed upon a height in front, an entrenchment being thrown up for its protection by a party of work- men under the directions of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, Deputy- Adjutant-General and Captain O'Reilly, Assistant Engineer.' ' Nothing,' Colonel Campbell notes in his Journal of operations, * can exceed the apparent joy of the inhabitants of this island, of all colours and ranks, at our arrival among them ; the projDrietors waiting upon the Commander-in- Chief to pay their respects, and bringing presents of poultry, &c. ; the militia quitting their ranks, and returning home ; the inhabitants and negroes leaving Fort Royal, and going into the country, to avoid the effects of the approaching bombardment.' On the separation of the British Force, the Commander- in-Chief was pleased by a general order 'to renew, for the last time, his thanks and affectionate respects to the various officers of his Staff,' and among others ' to Lieu- tenant-Colonel Campbell, Deputy -Adjutant- General, for his active services in many instances, and in particidar upon the 2nd of February, when the Commander-in-Chief was an eye-witness of the rapidity and judgment with which this officer executed his orders for Avithdrawing the troops from the enemy's works.' Colonel Campbell's papers contain a memorandum of 14 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. I. the operations on that day, although, unlike the Com- mander-in-Chief, he does not mention his individual part in them. ' At midday the right wing of the 8th Eegiment, with their two flank companies, commanded by Major Maxwell, and under the immediate orders of the Commander of the Forces, proceeded to attack an advanced post of the enemy at St. Omer's, upon the extremity of a point of land to our right, which projected to the rear of Mount Surrery, towards the Bouille redoubt. When within half a mile of the houses upon the point, they received a fire from the advanced sentries. They pushed forward through a coffee plantation along the ridge, opposed by the enemy's picquets, and some round shot from the Windmill re- doubts, forced the post at the end of the point, and took possession of the houses. The enemy must have expected an attack upon the Windmill redoubts in front, and from this post, for they immediately drew out their force in different parties in front of those works, amounting to 300 or 400 men, and set fire to the proprietor's house and premises in flank of the redoubt. A part of Major Maxwell's force was detached to the left, to take posses- sion of another projecting point between St. Omer's and Surrery. The Light Battalion having been brought up to the left opposite to the Windmill, a few advanced skir- mishers commenced a fire against the enemy's out-sentries, near the great road to the Windmill, about half an hour after Major Maxwell had forced St. Omer's. The Light Company of the 25th Regiment, which had just that moment joined the Light Battalion after a march, and was imacquainted with the ground, drove in the enemy's sentries, and followed their picquets with the bayonet, chasing them past the Windmill into the redoubts. One of the Black Companies of the Light Battalion accom- panied them, but at this moment Major Campbell of the Royal W. I. Rangers, who commanded the Light Batta- Chap. I. MA.RTINIQUE. 15 lion, was stunned by a musket ball, wbich, however, his watch prevented from penetrating into his body. A few minutes after Captain St. Clair of the Light Company, 25th Eegiment, was shot through the head, and Major Campbell was forced to retire into the Windmill from a second wound in the arm. The other companies of the Light Battalion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham with part of the 7th Eoyal Fusiliers, pushed on to their support, but he too was wounded, and forced to quit the field. The men found that the first redoubt was farther from the summit of the ridge which they had gained than they imagined, and that in addition to the fire from this first redoubt there was another flanking them to the left, which poured upon them incessant volleys of grape. To avoid those fires they lay down under the edge of the ridge, and continued from that position to fire towards the batteries. The 23rd Eegiment was brought down the road, and formed in columns of subdivisions, ready to advance to the support of the others, or to cover their retreat. The Commander of the Forces and Lieuten ant- General Sir George Prevost took post at their head. This position and the firing on both sides were continued for twenty minutes ; during which time it was doubtful whether to advance with the 23rd, in order to storm the redoubts with the bayonet, or to draw off the troops, who were dispersed in various parties along the crest of the hill, lying on their faces. Many men were retm^ning wounded, many others without ammunition, and it was reported that very few rounds remained. Two or three Staff officers were sent forward to reconnoitre the works, and their reports being decidedly against any such attempt at that time, from the apparent strength of the redoubts, it was determined to draw off the men. A Staff officer was sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney'' of the 7th with ' Afterwards Field-Marshal Sir Edward Blakeney. 16 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. L these orders. The " Retreat " and the " Close " were sounded by two bugles, and the retreat was effected by the parties passing through each other in succession. It might have been expected that the enemy would seize this very favourable moment to sally from their redoubts, but nothing was attempted, as probably from their own in- cessant fire, and a heavy fall of rain at the time, they were prevented from seeing our movements. We lost several men in the course of this morning upon the height of Surrery by cannon shot from these redoubts, particu- larly the easternmost flanking battery. ' The King's Regiment, 8th, threw up an entrenchment on their own front, across the advanced point which they occupied.' After a series of obstinate fights, the enemy's troops were driven into Fort Bourbon, the key of the island ; and on its being besieged and taken, the final conquest of Mar- tinique was effected, and the French with the Governor Yice-Admiral Yillaret-Joyeuse (the opponent of Lord Howe, June 1, 1794) surrendered. In the following April, 1809, Colonel Campbell accom- panied Major- General Maitland, as Senior Officer of the Staff, in his successful attack upon the Saintes Islands. Having been landed under the protection of a British squadron commanded by Captain Philip Beaver, of His Majesty's frigate ' Acasta,' the trooj)s first possessed them- selves of a mountain called Moine Russel, which com- pletely commanded the harbour or roadstead. This, from having three distinct entrances, was not easily blockaded, but some guns from the height above having been brought to bear, three French ships of war, which had taken re- fuge there, were obliged to put to sea, and, after a smart chase, one of them, the ' D'Hautpoult,' was captured by the British fleet. The landing at the Saintes took place on April 14, and the island finally surrendered on the ] 7th. The act in Chap. I. THE SAINTES. GUADALOUPE. 17 regard to the capitulation was signed by Lieutenant- Colonel Campbell on the part of the British, and by Colonel Madier on the part of the French commander. In the despatch of MaJQr- General Maitland, dated, Camp at the Saintes, April 18, 1809, and addressed to Lieut. General Beckwith, Commander of the Forces, he says : ' Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, Deputy- Adjutant-General, has been always forward ; he is an ofl&cer who must rise by his merits.' In January, 1810, Colonel Campbell served as Deputy- Adjutant- General with the expedition which terminated in the capture of Gaudaloupe. During these operations he was detached with a column under the command of Major-General Harcourt, and in the despatch of that officer to Sir George Beckwith, the following observations occur : ' Port Bellair, Moine St. Louis, Gruadaloupe : 'February 7, 1810. * Lieut. -Colonel Campbell, Deputy- Adjutant-General, merits my warmest acknowledgments by his zealous ser- vices, which have been unremitting, particularly for his exertions and able assistance in the affair of the 3rd.' On that day an engagement had taken place between General Harcourt's division and a body of French troops, on the ridge Beaupere St. Louis, when the latter were de- feated. The island surrendered on April 6, the Governor, General Ernouf, and the whole garrison becoming prisoners of war. 18 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. II. CHAPTER 11. [1810—1813.] RESIGNS STATT APPOIXTMEXT IX "WEST DfDIES — PEOCEEDS AS VOLTIN- TEER TO PEXIJfSTJLA — APPOINTED COLOXEL OF IGtH REGIMENT PORTUGrESE INFANTRY — BLOCKADE OF ALMEIDA AND BATTLE OP FUENTES d'oNORE — BLOWING EP OF WORKS AT ALMEIDA AND SUB- SEQEENT CATASTROPHE — ATTACK OF FETER AND JOERNET TO LISBON — REJOINS THE ARMY NEAR SABTTGAL — RELIEF OF CIEDAD RODRIGO BY MARMONT — COMBATS OF EL BODON AND ALDEA DE PONTE — SIEGE AND CAPTERE OF CIEDAD RODRIGO — EECEITES HONOERABLE MENTION BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL PACK, IIEETEN ANT- GENERAL PICTON, AND LORD "WELLINGTON — SIEGE OF BADA JOS — ADVANCE FROM CIEDAD RODRIGO TO"WARDS THE DOERO — HOLDS TEMPORARY COMM.AND OF PACK'S BRIGADE — BRIDGE OF TORDESILLAS — BATTLE OF SALAMANCA — OCCUPATION OF MADRID — CAPTURE OF HORN"WORK AT FORT ST. MICHAEL, NEAR BURGOS — MENTIONED FOR THE SECOND TIME BY LORD "WELLINGTON IN PUBLIC DESPATCH — RETREAT OF THE ARMY FROM BURGOS — INVALIDED, AND RETURNS TO ENGLAND. The successful operations in tlie West Indies having entirely expelled tlie Frencli from those islands, and there apx^earing therefore no further prospect of active service in that quarter, Colonel Campbell's energetic mind turned ■wistfully towards the stirring events then passing in the Peninsula. Accordingly, in the hope of being transferred to the seat of "war there, he resigned his staff appointment, and returned to England at the end of 1810. It "was not long before his -wish "was gratified. Proceeding to the Peninsula in the first instance merely as a volunteer, in April, 1811, he -was appointed Colonel of the IGth Eegi- ment of Portuguese Infantry. Brigadier- General Pack's brigade, to "which this regiment belonged, was not placed in any division with British troops, but was invariably detached where the service was most active. The regiment, under the command of Colonel Campbell, was employed in the blockade of Almeida (which formed Chap. II. FUENTES D'ONOEE. 19 the left of tlie position during the battle of Fuentes d'Onore), the sieges of Ciudad Eodrigo, Badajos, and Burgos, and the battle of Salamanca. He received a medal for Ciudad Eodrigo with a clasp for Salamanca; and subsequently the gold cross for four general actions and sieges, including, besides the two former, Martinique and Guadaloupe. He considered himself likewise entitled to a medal for Fuentes d'Onore, in accordance with the following statements : ' Mj regiment was arduously employed in the blockade of Almeida, before and after the battle of Fuentes d'Onore, constantly exposed to cannonade and skirmishing, in which many men were killed and wounded. The blockade and attempted relief of Almeida by Massena caused the battle, and formed a part of it ; and our brigade was the left of the line and of the position.' And again : ' The medal for Fuentes d'Onore cannot be intended for only those regi- ments which were engaged with the enemy in the village of Fuentes d'Onore, and to exclude others which were ex- posed to cannon and ruusketry against the same enemy, contending night and day for the same object, and forming the left of the position. Our patrols were undoubtedly in immediate connection with the division commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine, for his line ex- tended to Fort Conception, and our line of picquets crossed the road of Almeida, about a mile from the latter place towards the former. ' I do not believe this exclusion has been made on ac- count of the escape of General Brennier and his garrison. The regiments composing General Pack's brigade were marched to two villages several miles distant at sunset the day before, by order of Lieutenant-General Alexander Campbell, who took possession at the same time (in his person and with the 36th Eegiment) of our quarters, and of the position which our brigade had occupied for the week preceding. c2 20 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. IL ' The men of our brigade, who composed the picquets where the enemy forced his passage, were bayonetted on the spot, and those who were in immediate contact fol- lowed him to the last.' ^ In consequence of the battle of Fuentes d'Onore the Trench failed to relieve Almeida, the only place they retained in Portugal, and the garrison subsequently escaped. Colonel Campbell was left there with his regi- ment, while the rest of the army proceeded southwards to the Alentejo, with the exception of one brigade, which was stationed at Sabugal, fifty miles off. From 'Almeida, May 20, 1811,' he writes as follows : ' Brennier deserves great credit for the attempt and execution of^ his retreat, as well as the perfect manner in which he destroyed everything here. However, had he not hit upon the very point of the circumference of picquets which he did, and had there not been a coinci- dence of errors, any one of those cii'cumstances changed would have prevented his escape. 'My regiment is the only one quartered here. I am happy to think that the ruinous state of the works holds out no temptation to the French for retrograde operations. For in that case any defence on our part, however honour- able, would scarcely reconcile me to a useless sacrifice of life, or at best to indefinite detention in France. ' However, we are perfectly quiet, for the whole of Mas- sena's army is at Salamanca, and bej'ond it, exceiDting the garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo. Badajos is at present the active scene ; and I confess my anxiety, knowing the diffi- culty of opposing a foe in the field, with an enemy's stronghold in the rear, and few points to pass the river.' ' Napier, History of War in Pe- a nicety proving at once his cool- ninsula, toI. iii. book xii. chap. v. ness and previous observation. Pack p. 156 : ' On the 10th, at midnight, followed him with a few men ha.stily he sprang his mines, broke through collected, and plied him with fire,' the picquets in one column, and &c. steered between the reserves with Chap. II. ALMEIDA. 21 Soon after, however — altliougli in place of throwing a force into Almeida, the French under Marmont, who had in reality moved out of Ciudad Eodrigo, were at that moment on their march to the Alentejo — an alarm was raised that thej were advancing. Almeida had become a great depot of shojJS from Oporto, Lisbon, and Coimbra, through which goods of all sorts were rapidly sold to the army. The Militia had likewise been sent by the Govern- ment of the country, in order to re^Dair the place tem- porarily, and the inhabitants looked to it as a place of security. * On the afternoon of June 7,' writes Colonel Campbell, ' I received an order to join the brigade at Sabugal imme- diately, previously destroying five or six hundred barrels of gunpowder, and exploding six mines which had been prepared. This was of course to prevent the stores from being taken by the French, and to render the place useless to them. Had a small corps been left in front to feel the enemy in case of their advancing, all this would have been unnecessary, and the subsequent catastrophe avoided. ' Fancy my sending for the Juiz de Idra (chief magis- trate) at four in the afternoon, to inform him of the orders I had received, and to desire him to quiet the peojDle's minds : that they should remain in their houses, where no harm should happen to them from the mines ; that the exj)losion was merely a precaution, and a measure uncon- nected with the movements of the armies ! This, however eloquent, was unsatisfactory to those poor people. In a few minutes whole families, of all ages, began to move out with mules, asses, and horses, loaded with baggage, infants, and aged and infirm people, leaving behind them their property, and in many instances shops filled with goods. In half-an-hour there were about four hundred j)eoj)le and as many animals assembled outside the fort, where the regiment was under arms. I also sent for the Lieutenant- Colonel of Militia to tell him he might go where he pleased 22 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. II. with his working parties. Lieutenant Trench of the Engineers with eight men was left with me to destroy the mines. I gave him sixty picked men to assist. They carried out every barrel, knocked in their heads, and tumbled out their contents from a high bastion into the ditch, while Lieutenant Trench and I stood by them. He then informed me he was ready to proceed to set the slow matches to the mines. I told him I would go to the next bastion to make a signal to my Major to march off my regiment, and should return in five minutes to accompany him through the whole operations. I was waving my hand to the Major, not thirty yards from the bastion I had left, when a most dreadful explosion took place in that direction, which perfectly stupefied me, and covered me with smoke and dirt. I sallied over the parapet into the ditch, and got out at the gate of the fort, not knowing what it could possibly arise from. An instant after there came forth eleven poor fellows, with an appearance scarcely human. Their clothes torn into shreds like bits of tinder, their skin perfectly black except where it was hanging in pieces, and the blood issuing in streams. Some rolled on the ground, others danced or screamed in agony. The poor young man. Lieutenant Trench, was carried out by his men in the same state. ^ ' It appears that during my absence he discovered a box of grenades and small shells, from which he took the fusees, and then threw them into the ditch where the powder 2 Jones, Journal of Sieges in of Engineers witli the corps, was, Spain, vol. i. note 7 : ' Several from the awkwardness of the iinin- shafts, left in an unfinished state structed soldiers employed under by the French, were by order of hira, blown to pieces, and in conse- Sir Brent Spenser completed and quence no report could ever be exploded, when he marched with obtained of the details of the ope- hia corps to the Alentejo in the ration, or of the quantity of powder following month, and utterly de- used, nor of the exact distances of molished other considerable por- the French shafts, or the precise tions of the reveteraent. manner in which they applied the In the performance of this duty, powder.' Lieutenant Trench, the only officer Chap. II. EXPLOSION OF MINES. 23 was. Falling from a considerable height npon stones, thej of course emitted sparks. The whole of the powder blew up even to the bastion, where three barrels were standing without their heads, which Lieutenant Trench had reserved for the mines. I fancy he must have been stationed near them. I had him carried back into Almeida, and left with him his two servants, one of my assistant surgeons, and every possible necessary ; but he died in two days. This unfortunate occurrence set the whole of the inhabitants and their baggage to flight, and their screams and cries, united to those of our poor men in rear of the regiment, were truly appalling. We had to march on half a mile to be out of the reach of the explosion of the mines, and then to dress these poor creatures, and place them in litters, though they could scarcely bear to be touched. It was now nearly sunset, but my orders for the explosion of the mines were still unexecuted. As the regiment had to march fifteen miles, I ordered them on, and returned to Almeida with the party of engineers. They were perfectly ignorant as to the mode of exploding the mines, and had very nearly blown up themselves and me. We exploded four, and left two undone, which were close to the gate. One of them being set fire to, we galloped out — as we thought, at the hazard of our lives — every instant expecting the explosion to take place over us. * It was then dark. We had a dreadful night's march, with our poor men in the greatest agony. Three of them died in two days, and I suppose none wiU survive. So melan- choly a service I never was engaged in, and hope never shaU again. The poor young man. Lieutenant Trench, was at dinner with me when we received the order, and we proceeded to execute the service together instantly. Then to leave him in the bastion in perfect health and spirits, and five minutes after to see him carried out a dreadful object, with scarcely any traces of the same 24 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. II. person ! After the place was destroyed, the subordinate general wished he had not sent the order, as the French had retired ! ! ' After joining the army at Sabugal, Colonel Campbell was again ordered back with his regiment to Fuchedas, in rear of Almeida, to defend the passes of the Coa, as a body of French, on their march from Salamanca to the Alentejo, had made a reconnaissance in that direction in order to deceive the British general. A severe attack of fever followed, induced probably by the distressing scenes he had witnessed four days before, and by bodily fatigue during the subsequent march and counter-march. 'On the 11th,' ^vrites Colonel Campbell, *I was sud- denly seized with a chilliness, and had scarcely strength to sit on my horse for the last league of the march to Fuchedas. On the 13th the regiment followed the army to the Alentejo, and left me insensible, in charge of three Portuguese surgeons. On recovering my faculties a week after, I found myself so weak as scarcely to be able to articulate, or to turn in my bed. Although it was not likely that the French would send any party twenty miles in advance from Ciudad Rodrigo, it was not pleasant to think that I was on the great road from that, and not a British or Portuguese soldier within fifty miles of me. I was carried in my bed, on peasants' shoulders, to Pin- hel on the 20th. Wliat I suffered in conveyance from thence to Coimbra is beyond description — a distance of more than 100 miles, part of it rough road, and no inns. I first tried a liteira. This is a very large sedan-chair, but instead of men, there is a mule before, and another behind, with the poles fixed on their sides. Conceive their unequal movements, sometimes at a slow trot, but generally a walk. The liteira, besides jolting up and down, possesses a motion backwards and forwards like a sedan-chair, but to a much greater extent. I had no Chap. II. JOUKNEY TO LISBON. 25 alternative but my horse, exposed to tke sun, in very liot vs^eather, and on white glaring roads. I was lifted out and in, off and on, twenty times, trying both conveyances in turn — obliged to go on, in order to reach some village where I could find shelter, perhaps ten or twelve miles off. Unable in my weak state to endure this suffering and fatigue for more than one day, my attendants hired a cart of the country, which is very clumsy, and mounted on two solid wooden wheels (the noise of which may be heard a mile off), and drawn by two oxen. Having then no bed, I was placed in it, lying at full length upon straw. I could have borne this had the roads been good, but when we came to some places, where the cart was jolted and thrown in all directions, I really felt sometimes as if I must give up. After two days' trial, I was obliged to discharge the cart, the motion was so violent. The rest of the journey I made on horseback at a walk ; and so feeble was I, that I could not move two paces without a supporter. I generally managed to travel five miles in the morning, and again from two to seven in the after- noon and evening, frequently resting for twenty or thirty minutes under the shade of a tree, to slumber on my cloak. In most of the villages the houses were full of filth and vermin, and in many instances the French had burnt everything, down to the very doors and flooring, so that it was impossible to enter them. When this was the case, I generally went into the church for shelter. '■ My attendants were numerous : my assistant- surgeon, a subaltern of my regiment, an orderly corporal, four ser- vants and two of their wives, three riding and four bag- gage horses, an ass, and two goats. Whenever we came to a town or large village for our night halt, the civil magistrate gave us a billet on one of the principal inha- bitants, who was thereby obliged to provide accommoda- tion for myself, my servants and horses, as well as the use of kitchen and table utensils ; and also a bed for me, with 20 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. II. clean linen and liglits. If there is no commissary, the mao'istrate must likewise furnish rations of fresh beef and mutton, bread and wine. If the inhabitant on whom the billet is given be rich, he frequently sends in a dinner or supper. In the course of my journey this hap- pened to me three or four times. On one occasion a widow lady was peculiarly courteous in this respect. She sent her servant to my subaltern, putting all she had in her house at our disposal, and apologising for her supplies not being better. ' The cause of her apology was as follows : When the French came to the village, she had left a servant with every- thing in charge, ordering him to offer them the use of her house, with a table provided for the commanding officer. Massena, with some fift}- officers and attendants, occupied the house, eat her provisions, and drank her wine. Some of this party had discovered the place — within a plank in the roof of one of the rooms — where all her ready money was hid (she named the sum), and the poor lady's hoard was carried off. However, she was very grateful on find- ing that her house and furniture, offices and garden, had not been injured. And well she might, when the whole country (with a few such exceptions) was devastated. ' A Monsieur Pais, at whose house, half-way to Co- imbra, I rested, was more fortunate. His was a princely house, handsomely furnished, with some good paintings, an extensive park, and everything in great style. He buried his chief stock of wine, and carried off his plate ; but left an upper servant, an Italian, with a cook, and two or three others — the furniture as it stood, and a small quantity of wine. A letter addressed to Massena informed him of the articles placed at his disj^osal. Massena, in his advance, occupied the house with his whole staff, and ate and drank freely of its supplies, but nothing was ever injured. * If you refer to the map, you will see that my route Chap. 11. REJOINS THE ARMY. 27 from Pinhel lay bj Vizen, on the right bank of the Mon- dego. About twenty-five miles from Coimbra I em- barked in a boat, and reached it the same day, which was the 5th of July. This was a relief beyond description. From Coimbra I went by water to Figueira, at the mouth of the Mondego, and by the same mode, a few days after, to San Martinho, and thence to Caldas, where there is a hot chalybeate spring, and a very fine public establish- ment. Here upwards of 100 poor persons have access to the baths, are lodged in the hospitals, fed, and provided with medical attendance ; and have also free admittance to the public gardens. It used to be much frequented by the nobility and gentry as a place of recreation at this season of the year, and even now there are several fami- lies here.' Colonel Campbell finally arrived at Lisbon on July 21, by which time his health had so improved, that he was able within a few days to set out to rejoin his corps, which was stationed at Pena Macor, near Sabugal. The army had then gone into cantonments — one line being between the Guadiana and the Tagus — the other north of the Tagus, in and about Castello Branco, where Lord Wellington had his headquarters. ' The army,' Colonel Campbell reports on rejoining, ' is not healthy, and inconceivably diminished by invalids sent to the rear. When last in front of Marmont and Soult, between Elvas and Badajos, Lord Wellington had under 30,000 men, inclusive of waggon- train, and 21,000 Portu- guese, while the enemy had 64,000.' ^ No operations are recorded until more than a month afterwards, when Marmont, ably taking advantage of the comparative weakness of Wellington's force, collected a 2 Napier, vol. iii. book xiv. cli. sabres and bayonets were in line ; vi. p. 316 : ' Altbough largely re- whereas the French had a fourth iuforced, the British had so many more of artillery and infantry, and sick and wounded, that only 28,000 twice as many cavalry.' 28 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. IL body of from 50,000 to 60,000 men out of all his garrisons, Placensia, Coria, Burgos, &c., for the purpose of escorting a convoy to Ciudad Rodrigo with provisions for fonr months. While Wellington, on the other hand, however anxious to prevent this supply being thrown in to the blockaded garrison, would not, as he said, risk his ' little army against double numbers, for an object on which the fate of Spain did not depend.' The enemy were ' double his number in infantry, and three times so in cavalry.' The relief of Ciudad Rodrigo and the consequent affairs at El Bodon, &c., are thus described by Colonel Cam]3bell : ' Begiuning their march early in September, the French columns approached Ciudad Rodi-igo by the mid- dle of the month, and reached it on the 23rd, our detach- ments falling back. On the 2oth the enemy attacked our right. They had lancers and hussars mixed, and infantry skii-mishers to support them. We drew back leisurely to Fuente Guinaldo. Our right was then towards the sources of the Agueda and Coa, and our position crossed a line of hills which rise from Ciudad Eodrigo to Sabuo-al. This was occupied by the 3rd and 4th Divisions, and by our brigade. The 6th Division was on the left, in the low country, detached under General Graham ; the Light Division did not cross a ford, and join on the right, until 3 p.m. on the 26th. During that day the French re- mained immediately under our view, little more than a mile off, and close to our advanced guard of cavalry. The fields were quite open, so that we could count every man, and we could see as many as five times our own little numbers. Lord Wellington sat all day on a heio-ht to the left, in the ditch of a field-work thrown up durino- the night, sometimes napping in the sun ; and I fancy, if the enemy had seriously advanced, we must have scam- pered off, giving them some rounds of artillery. The Light Division, too, must have scrambled away as they could. Chap. II. COMBATS OF EL BODON, ETC. 29 separated from us by a river and chain of hills. During the night we retreated to Alfyates, three leagnes in rear of our former position. The French followed us close, and diu'ing the whole day of the 27th we had some fighting, principally near our brigade, at the village of Aldea de Ponte; but our Ca9adores only were actually engaged, being advanced in fi'ont. On the night of the 27th, or rather early morning of the 28th, we retreated again to Sabugal, but the French drew back at the same time, and since then have marched off to Salamanca and Pla- censia as hard as they can. ' The army of Gallicia is becoming formidable, and the French are certainly hampered by the g-uerillas, and the difiiculty of getting provisions except by force, as they have but little money. Both Spain and Portugal are so ex- hausted, that this war seems to be turning into a mere struggle for subsistence.' ■* On Marmont's retu-ing, and there being no further ap- prehension of attack, Wellington and his army went into winter- quarters at the beginning of October. The Com- mander-in-Chief was* at Freneda, on the right bank of the Coa ; Pack's Brigade close by, at Azenhal, one league from Almeida. Colonel Campbell writes from thence, on November 20 : ' We are quite quiet, and will probably continue so for some months.' That prediction, however, was destined to be soon rudely shaken. Within five days from the previous date, the army was again on the move — and Pack's Brigade with them — ' expecting a convoy from Ciudad Eodrigo, which it was intended to intercept.' But as it did not * This was Wellington's own and of the French military system, view of the ease. Despatch to Lord They are now, in a great measure, Liverpool, Sta. Marinha, March 23, on the defensive, and are carrying 1811 : ' We have already, in some on a war of magazines.' degree, altered the nature of the war 30 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. 11. come, the troops returned to their winter cantonments, * excejDting tlie Light and Cole's Divisions and ourselves. We are rather nearer Ciudad Eodrigo than any of these (Colonel Campbell is writing from Espiga, December 10, 1811) ; in fact, only five miles from it. Our market is entirely supplied with cabbages brought from its im- mediate vicinity, and the peasantry go there and back at all hours of the day. The garrison do not venture beyond their guns. They are dissatisfied for want of pay and provisions, and many Italians desert.' At this time it was supposed that General Pack would shortly be removed to a British brigade ; and in expecta- tion of this he had recommended Colonel Campbell to Marshal Beresford as successor to his present command. The change, however, did not take place. General Pack himself continuing to hold the appointment ; and Colonel Campbell had consequently only the temporary command of the brigade during a brief period, when the brigadier was incapacitated by illness. Wliile thus acting, he was led to form a most favourable estimate of the Portuguese soldiery composing the several corps.* * The next campaign will give us opportunities to show off the Boys, not a Spanish undisciplined collection of peasantry, but three good veteran regiments, completely equij)ped and disciplined, and acting in the most honour- able situations of the Allied Army.' ® This favourable opinion was amply justified in the issue. The campaign of 1812 commenced at a very early period of the year. Invested on January 8, Ciudad Eo- drigo capitulated on the 19th. For their part in the assault Colonel Camj)bell and his regiment received hon- ourable mention in the several despatches of the Brigadier, ^ Napier, Ilisfonj of War in P*- -wliether British or Portuguese, that ninsula, vol. iv. book xviii. ch. i. regiment was distinguit^hed in the p. 234 : ' Whenever an oflicer formed war for its discipline and enduring under Moore obtained a regiment, qualities.' Chap. 11. ASSAULT OF CIUDAD RODRIGO. 31 Pack, — the Divisional Commander, Sir Thomas Picton, — and the Commander-in-Chief himself. Brigadier-General Pack to the Adjutant-General of the Portuguese Army. [Translated from the Portuguese.] 'Convent of Caridad, January 20, 1812. ' I have the honour to transmit a return of the casual- ties during last night, and have the most sincere pleasure at the same time of communicating, for the information of His Excellency the Count of Transcoso, Commander- in-Chief of the Portuguese Army, the extreme good con- duct of the regiments. 'This attack, agreeably to the general orders, was to have been a feint upon the exterior works of the gate of St. Yago ; but His Excellency, Lord Wellington, was pleased afterwards to grant us some ladders, in case of opportunity. With these the walls were scaled, and we made prisoners of two officers, three sergeants, and seventy- five rank and file. ' The 16th Eegiment, by its relative situation, was first directed to the point of attack, and from the gallant style with which it advanced, led by Colonel Campbell, I have felt it my duty to request that officer to recommend a sergeant for promotion, whose name I take the liberty of adding for the favourable consideration of His Excel- lency.' Extract from General Orders, as issued hy Lieutenant-General Picton J commanding the bth Division, Army of Portugal. ' Ciudad Eodrigo, January 20, 1812. ' Lieutenant-General Picton* avails himself of this oj?- portunity of returning his best thanks to the whole of his division for the promptness, valour, and soldier-like 32 MEMOIK OF SIR XEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. II. steadiness with wliicli they inotmted the breach and fausse-braye of the garrison last evening ; and if any- thing could surpass his well-founded expectations of the troops under his command, it was the consummate judg- ment displayed by all the officers of his division. But the Lieutenant- General would be doing injustice to what he owes to such brilliant services, if he did not particu- larly mention the names of Colonel Neil Campbell, 16th Portuguese Regiment, &c.' Extract from Lord Wellington's Public Despatch. 'Gallegos, January 20, 1812. 'The 1st Portuguese Regiment under Colonel Hill, and the 16th under Colonel Campbell, being Brigadier-General Pack's brigade, were likewise distinguished in the assault under the command of the Brigadier General.' o Although present throughout the siege of Badajos, com- menced March 25, the 16th Regiment appears to have had no part in the actual assault, April 6. But in the suc- ceeding operations of the year's compaign, including the battle of Salamanca, and long series of previous man- oeuvres, the subsequent march to Madrid, and the siege of Burgos, it was again prominent. On June 13 the army moved forward from Ciudad Rodrigo and its vicinity, and entered Salamanca on the 17th, having crossed the river Tormes the same day in two columns. During that march, Pack's Brigade held the advance of General Picton's Division. On the 20th the army were collected in a position before Salamanca, facing southwards, and with their right on the Tormes. Mar- mont remained close in front for three days, then fell back some miles, and threw a few thousand men across the Tormes, who, however, returned the following day. On the 27 th, the fortified Convent,'' which had prevented the ' The works ' consisted of a fort formed out of the large convent of on the north-west of the city, St. Vicente, which stands in the Chap. II. ADVANCE OF THE ARMY INTO SPAIN. 33 British from using tlie bridge of Salamanca, surrendei-ed ; and on tlie 29th thej again advanced, Marmont retiring in his turn. This was the first occasion on which Colonel Campbell had seen anything of the interior of Spain, Ciudad Eodrigo and Badajos being only frontier-towns ; and accordingly his letters at this period contain some graphic sketches of Spanish scenery and character, as well as afford glimpses of the general condition of {he country. ' Our operations have of late been very interesting, for every rock and tree on the frontier of Portugal had become familiar to us, and besides it presented nothing but desolate villages and misery-stricken inhabitants. From Ciudad E-odrigo to Salamanca the country is beautifully varied, with corn and pasture-land, wood, and water. The vil- lages are uninjured ; the people sturdy, healthy-looking, and well-clothed ; the roads excellent ; in fact, no traces whatever of the ravages of war. Beyond Salamanca, how- ever, as far as the Douro, the whole scene changes. There is scarce a tree to be seen — very little water^ except stag- nant pools, now nearly dry from heat and exhalation — no pasture, the whole country being laid down in corn, which is just ri23e for cutting, with large tracts of vineyards. As there are no stakes to allovv^ the vines to run up, these do not present the relief of woods, but look like fields of enormous turnips planted in regular rows. No fences of stone or hedges mark the divisions anywhere. I did not see any single houses. The villages are generally large and important, almost like towns ; and each placed in a bottom. Handsome steeples adorn the churches : within they are universally magnificent. The altars fill up one end with their ornaments of gilding, paintings, and velvet ; in fact, whatever can look showy and gorgeous, heaped centre of an angle of the old town the river.' Jones, Joyrnal of Siet/es ■wall, which is there very lofty and iti Spain, vol. i. cli. viii. built on a perpendicular cliff over D 34 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. II. tog-etlier. The candlesticks, lustres, images, &c., which were formerly of gold and silver, are now only in imitation, of wood and tin, gilt and tinselled, the original having been all carried away three years ago by the French. Two villages which Marmont occupied under our noses near Salamanca were ransacked, like those in Portugal, without mercy ; but, with this excej)tion, nothing that we have seen shows any signs of the suffering or destruction incident to war. The produce of the country is so abundant, that the people have had plenty for themselves, as well as for the French and the Guerillas ; and, besides, could well afford the money-contributions imposed upon them, having no other taxes to pay. They profess to be heartily sick of the French, and rejoiced to see us. At every village through which we pass, the whole population meet us with acclamations of " Yiva Espagna ed Inghilterra," and bring out pitchers of water for our men. For some time, however, they appear to have made up their minds to sub- mission, for want of an adequate army or generals, and a government to direct them. Now our cause looks well, if the Russian War continues. ' The French have lately been much distressed for maga- zines of bread, but now they have the means of support at hand, the corn being all ripe. However, the Guerillas annoy them exceedingly.' It was about this time that Colonel Campbell, as senior officer, assumed the command of Pack's Brigade, the briga- dier himself being confined to his bed with fever and ague. From June 29 to July 2, when Marmont passed the Douro, the brigade was attached to the Light Division, and led with them the march of the army. The ope- rations of the latter day are thus noticed by Colonel Campbell : ' I think that on July 2, when the bulk of Marmont's army crossed the Douro, we might have closed upon their rearguard, and inflicted on them great loss. The main Chap, II. HAS COMMAND OF A BRIGADE. 35 bodj of tlieir cavalry got mixed up with tlie infantry, and were aj^parently in much confusion. The skirmishers of the cavalry being driven in on their reserves, ours were within fifty yards firing at them ; but Lord Wellington would not allow the advantage to be followed up, though the Light Division and our brigade were close at hand. What a flattering scene, I fancied for a moment, was opening upon me at the head of 2,300 men ! But, alas ! not one opportunity of fighting was offered during my command of the brigade, and now General Pack is so much better as to propose returning at once to his post. ' Lord Wellington, I should suppose, is confident that he can ultimately gain his object by teasing and wearing them out,^ and does not therefore wish to lose men, even while gaining some advantage by it, and inflicting greater loss on the enemy. For we might certainly have thrashed them at Salamanca, when they remained two and a half days before us ; they in a flat, we on a hill, and scarce a stone or tree to interrupt us.' Marmont did not continue his retreat beyond Tordesillas, and still occupied the bridge there across the Douro. Pack's Brigade thereupon drew back to Eueda, three miles to the south, from which latter place Colonel Camp- bell writes on July 7 : ' Marmont is still at Tordesillas, with most of his army about it. The bridge is fortified and very defensible ; but there is a ford at Polios close by. The enemy have only one double vidette, 500 yards on this side of the bridge. Ours again is but twenty yards distance from them. ; and the men are very quietly sitting on their horses, looking at each other ! '' Colonel Campbell liad so far that the contest is expensive, and read correctly the mind of Ms chief, atibrds no hope of success excepi; Despatch to Lord Liverpool, Sta. by tiring out the French.' Marinha, March 23, 1811 : 'I know D 2 36 MEMOIR OF SIE NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. 11. * We have 5,000 Spaniards of Don Carlos and Don Julian with us. The Gallician Ai-my under Santhouldes, 20,000 strong, is besieging Astorga ; but I understand that Lord Wellington has requested them to move on and communi- cate with us, leaving the French garrison at that place, as well as those of Zamora and Toro, the only ones which remain in rear of our left flank ; and General D'Urban with some Portuguese cavalry is hovering about the latter two places.' The two armies remaining thus face to face with each other, a general engagement could not long be delayed. On July 22 was fought the great battle of Salamanca. Marmont was considered the most accomplished tactician of all the French marshals ; and therefore Wellington's victory over him was proportionably enhanced in his own as well as in the world's estimation, following too, as it did, upon a long series of manoeuvres, by means of which his adversary had endeavoui'ed to circumvent and outwit him in every possible way. It was a proof of the peculiar pride felt by Wellington in this military achievement, that when the British Army was reviewed during the occupation of Paris in 1815, in honour of the Allied Sovereigns, the movements performed under his own im- mediate command wore those of the battle of Salamanca. A letter wiutten by Colonel Campbell to one of his sisters, the day after the battle, runs as follows : * To make up for my long silence, I hope to find favour in your sight by acquamting you that I am safe, after a most brilliant victory obtained by our glorious Chief over Marmont. Every one entertains feelings peculiar to himself in connection with his own profession and habits, which persons of other pursuits cannot enter into so easily. Now, I feel as if I had never lived as a soldier before this great day, and the recent interesting opera- tions preceding it. Lord Wellington's dispositions were so grand and so sudden, that they presented to my imagi- Chap. H. BATTLE OF SALAMANCA. 37 nation the idea of a lion turning round against a troop of tigers, from whom he had received snaps and insults while following his own majestic course. ' The enemy have lost 15 or 16 pieces of cannon, 3,000 or 4,000 killed and wounded, and from 6,000 to 8,000 prisoners. We have about 3,000 or 4,000 killed and wounded, as we formed under their tremendous cannonade. The battle was fought in front of Salamanca, which we covered, facing to the south. Marmont is said to have lost an arm. General Le Marchant of ours is killed, and among the wounded are Sir S. Cotton, Marshal Beresford, and Gene- rals Cole and Leith. It could not be ascertained until this morning what road the enemy had followed, after recrossing the Tormes in different places. It now appears they are pursuing that from Alba de Tormes to Peuaraudain perfect disorder and consternation. If our provisions can be forwarded, or any obtained by the way, we shall make more prisoners. An army like ours, supplied by a commissariat upon system and payment, is in a very different position from one which plunders without mercy, and has therefore less chance in the pursuit of fugitives after the first day. Our policy, how- ever, renders any imitation of the French impossible. They strip houses and fields, as they pass along, of everj^ single article, and leave nothing behind for the poor inhabitants, tearing up the potatoes, peas, and corn (which last they grind in small hand-miUs, which are carried on mules), and driving all the cattle before them. The road is strewed with dead French and quadrupeds, arms and drums, books, papers, &c. This defeat will damp their spirits, and strengthen ours, as well as revive the Spaniards ; and a great portion of the enemy will likewise be so disorganised as to be incapable of acting for some time. If the GaUician Army, now between Valladolid and Burgos, as weU as the Guerillas, are at all active, and if Drouet and Suchet do not speedily unite their forces with Marmont to back him, 38 MExMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAjMPBELL. Chap. II. it is not improbable that we may reach Madrid, or at any rate the passes of the Guadarama. An army (unless, indeed, it gives itself up to the vile abandoned habit of unjust contributions and general pillage, like the French), must be regulated in its movements by its supplies; and these are not easy to be obtained for a large force, w^here magazines have not been previously established. The inhabitants, too, require a little time to return from their hiding-pla.ces off the roads.' Colonel Campbell narrowly escaped being wounded in the action, his military cloak, which was strapped in front of his saddle, having been completely riddled by a musket ball, which dropped at his feet while he was in the act of getting off his horse at the close of the day. A more detailed account of the action, as given by him in another letter, while yet the whole scene was fresh and vivid in his mind, seems also worth relating : * After the fall of the Convent at Salamanca, the enemy fell back towards Yalladolid, and we followed, from June 29 to July 2, as far as Eueda. On the 15th we began to collect again from our different cantonments, in conse- quence of the enemy having drawn together every man within reach, excepting the garrisons of Valladolid, Zamora, and Toro. We manoeuvred, gradually falling back upon our former position, in order to cover Salamanca, having that city in our rear, and the river Tormes on our right. From the 15th to the 21st we had constant skirmishing, and several times offered battle ; but the enemy always manoeuvred to our right, so that we were obliged to do the same, or else hazard our supplies and the city of Salamanca. On the 2l8t their army crossed the Tormes, between Alba de Tormes and Salamanca. "We followed suit at other fords with nearly the whole of our army. On the 22nd we had some skirmishing in front of our left, our brigade being principally engaged ; but this was merely a feint to attract our notice, while Marmont drew his troops principally Chap. II. BATTLE OF SALAMANCA. 39 beyond our right, in rear of some heights, and took pos- session of a very steep rugged hillock. At one time Wel- lington ordered this to be taken by our brigade, but the enemy having reinforced it considerably, and seeming dis- posed for battle, the order was countermanded. They drew back their columns again, excepting from this height, and for some hours continued to move further beyond our right, occupying one hill after another with artillery and cavalry, and driving our cavahy before them. "VVe felt furious at having our right menaced and manoeuvi'ed against in this way for seven days, and even expressions of surprise at Lord Wellington's seeming disposition for retreat beyond Salamanca were universal in the army. But this wonderful man had laid his plan for leading on his vaunting enemy to a distance, and to such a situation as would prevent him from escaping, except with great loss, and with a river to repass in his rear. ' However, during Marmont's successful manoeuvres (as they then appeared) to our right, our columns were brought up to near the field of battle, and then, as if by magic, almost before we were aware of it, and to our surprise and joy, the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th divisions and the cavalry proceeded to the points directed for each, with more precision, regularity, and speed than in any of our sham-fights at Swinly Camp. In twenty minutes the whole appeared in order of battle, ranged in various lines, only two pieces of cannon and some skirmishers covering our front, while the enemy kept up a roar of great guns from the opposite heights for two miles in length, sent out clouds of skirmishers to some points, and began to form close bodies of infantry also. Meantime we remained on our first ground, rather retired and elevated, so that we could see the formations of the whole. There was not a tree to obstruct the view. The Light and 1st Divisions were in reserve behind us, to the left. ' About half an hour after the line advanced, our brigade 40 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMRBELL. Chap. II. under General Pack ^ were ordered to attack the ver}^ strong height before mentioned. We got up close to the very summit, but the topmost cliffs were inaccessible, and the oj)enings between them so warmly defended that we could not carry them. Our men turned, and suffered considerably in going back. How I wished at that moment for a British regiment ! Although the Portuguese troops are wonder- fully improved, their nature and previous corrupted habits will prevent their ever equalling our own fine fellows. It is the inferior material to be wielded, which makes the Portuguese service so laborious to the officers. However, at last we conquered all difficulties, and carried every height in succession, night alone preventing us from destroying the enemy's whole army.' » While part of the British forces went in pursuit of the beaten French across the Douro, the left division of the army marched to Madrid, and took possession of that city on August 12, King Joseph having abandoned his capital and fled southwards towards Toledo and Aranjuez. ' It is impossible,' says Wellington in his despatch an- nouncing his entry, 'to describe the joy manifested by the inhabitants on our arrival.' In a similar strain writes Colonel Campbell from thence, August 15, 1812 : ' We carry on this campaign nobly. Since my last I have been at Yalladolid and Segovia, and arrived here two days ago. This is the third night of illuminations, pro- cessions, Te Deums, proclamations, &c. The people exhibit ^ Napier, History of W'CESS OF OEAXGE — ETEXEXG TISIT TO PEIXCESS LOTJISE OF PEUSSIA — HEADQTJAETEES OF ALLIED SOVEEEIGNS AT FEIBOTJEG — EEJOrN'S "WITTGEXSTEIN, AXD CEOSSESTHE EHIXE — BATTLE OF BEIEXXE, ETC. — PEIXIED PEOCLAMATIOX OF LOEIS XYIII. AT XOGEXI-STJE- SEIXE — WOUXDED AT FERE CHAIIPEXOISE — AREIVES IN PAEIS — AP- POINTED BEITISH COMMISSIONER TO ELBA — KNIGHTED, "WITH PATEXT OF ATIGMENXATIOX TO AEMS. The armistice expired ou August 10, and tlie Austrian declaration of war was expected to appear at Prague on the following day, wlien tlie Emperor of Pussia and tlie King of Prussia proceeded from Reiclienbacli towards Bohemia with, a portion of the army, in order to meet their new ally of Austria. Colonel Campbell writes from Reichenbach, August 11, 1813 : ' I have been now for three weeks expecting my instruc- tions to proceed to Dantzic, in order to harmonise the Duke of Wurtemburg, Admiral Gregg [the Russian Ad- miral], who remains on shore with him, Captain Acklom commanding the British squadron, and Major Macdonald with his guns. ' I shall regret not seeing the Austrians, as well as miss the variety attending the movements of so large an army as this ; and if the siege of Dantzic becomes a tedious operation, I shall hope to be allowed to rejoin headquar- ters without waiting for the issue.' Receiving his orders on the following day. Colonel Campbell left Reichenbach on August 13. The journey 88 MEAIOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. V. to Dantzic occupied four days, travelling as he did night and day, in order to reach his destination with all s^jeed. The siege of that place was proceeding slowly enough, the operations being carried on under the supreme command of H.E.H. the Duke of Wiu-temburg, uncle of the Em- peror of Russia, by 30,000 Russian and Prussian troops, chiefly militia, and a flotilla of Russian gun-boats, assisted by a small British force, naval and military. In the first instance, Colonel Campbell took up his resi- dence at the Duke's headquarters, as the best j)oint for facilitating communication among the parties engaged. The duties assigned to him were somewhat varied and complicated. He was the medium of intercourse between His Royal Highness and the British officers. Captain Acklom and Major Macdonald, commanding respectively detachments of the navy and artillery ; and he had to combine at the same time the operations of the latter with those of the Russian and Prussian besieffuig: force under Admiral Gregg. He was likemse charged to super- intend the disembarkation of immense stores of guns, am- munition, rockets, &c., which were being despatched from England, as weU as to report all along to Lord Cathcart, the general progress of events. In announcing his arrival at Dantzic he writes : ' I have found the Duke of Wiu'temburg kind beyond description ; his table is always open to me. I have quarters in his house ; a sentry and an orderly ; and his horses are at my command.' A few days afterwards, the Duke being then unfortu- nately confined to bed by illness, and his headquarters being likewise situated at a j)oint too far distant from the sea-board, where the operations were for the moment most important, and the officers of the British Navy and Artillery were posted. Colonel Campbell proceeded to Olu, a village on the coast, and took up his abode at the house of a merchant, who was shut up in Dantzic, the other Chap.V. siege of DANTZIC. 89 tenants of the mansion being a Colonel of Cossacks who was sick, and a Major of Russian Infantry wounded. ' This is an elegant chateau, with all the accompani- ments of luxury. There are a number of similar ones all round, with fine gardens, shrubberies, promenades, statues, jets d'eau, &c., and woods and lawns sloping down towards the shore. The Duke furnishes me with dras'oon horses in addition to my own ; and the two Cossacks with me, acting as orderlies, have their own horses.' Throughout the month of September there were re- peated combats, occasioned by attacks on the one side and sorties on the other, and resulting in various success. Colonel Campbell gives particulars of some of these. ' Off Dantzic, September 3, 1813. *I am now on board H.I.M.'s Frigate " Amphitrite," Admiral Gregg, after being up all night in the suburb of Langfuhr, in consequence of an attack which com- menced there at 4 p.m. yesterday. The whole was very soon carried by the Russians, with the exception of two houses which were fortified. The resistance occasioned by these, and the reinforcements sent to them by the gar- rison, kept up constant fighting and burning of houses throughout the night. ' I came on board here about 8 this morning, expect- ing that in the course of the day we shall attack some batteries upon an island at the mouth of the Vistula ; also some works upon the mainland, which are separated by a branch of the river about twenty yards broad. Admiral Gregg has eighty gun-boats, each mounting three guns. Captain Acklom gives the use of our twenty transports, which took on board yesterday 1,400 Russian troops and pioneers, and the boats of the transports will debark them. The works on the mainland are to be attacked at the samo time by Russian and Prussian troops, under the orders of Admiral Gregg.' 90 ]MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. V. From a subsequent letter we find that tliis plan of action did not succeed. ' Our attack by sea was not suffi- ciently impressive to enable us to land tlie troops, and the wind has since been too violent for another effort to be made. The siege is going on, but I do not expect rapid progress.' On October 10 there is a record of another mishap : * Last night we made an attack. Uuliappily, we lost eight or nine hundred men, and failed after all ! I got a musket-shot through my coat, just below the shoulder, but luckily my side was presented, otherwise it might have been an ugly thump ; for the French were only about twenty yards off, firing from behind a bank.' A third time we hear incidentally of his being warmly engaged, but now with happier result. * In consequence of a particular act in going forward with the rockets, and pushing the Russian light troops into the outer defences of the town, when he was slightly wounded, H.R.H. the Duke of "Wui'temburg recommended Colonel Campbell for the distinction of the golden sword, or sabre of honour. This is a small badge of that weapon, worn like a military decoration at the breast. As, how- ever, there was no precedent for a foreigner, not holding a commission in the Russian Army, receiving this decora- tion, the Emperor conferred ujDon him in its place the 4th Class of the Order of St. George. This is by far the most honourable of all the Imperial Orders, being purely mili- tary, and one which is most sparingly bestowed. The Emperor himself only wears the 4th Class of it ; no one but Kutusoff had the 1st. It is a small white cross, with an image of the Saint, suspended at the left breast by a ribbon of orange and black strijpes.' Colonel Campbell was likewise made, at this period, a Knight of the Imperial Order of St. Anne, second class ; * the badge of which is worn round the neck, suspended by a red ribbon with yellow edges. It is supposed to be in Chap. V. CAPITULATION OF DANTZIC. 91 diamonds and precious stones, which, however, are only imitation ; and there is a cross in the centre, set in gold.' These orders he received permission from his own govern- ment to ' accept and wear.' The siege drew its weary length along, and Colonel Campbell was soon longing for more active service. ' The Duke of Wurtemburg is very kind, but it is too far from the grand theatre. Nor do I find that there is anything to be learnt here. Eapp and his officers are so comfortable in Dantzic compared to what they would be as prisoners, that they have every personal inducement to a vigorous defence ; they have bread for some weeks, and horse-flesh has no longer any prejudice with them. The Danes, too, have promised to throw in a sup- ply of provisions. Sixteen of their vessels are now at Bornholm. The besieging army is stated to be 40,000, but I do not think 25,000 are efifective ; such are the abuses of a Russian army ! Of these 20,000 are militia.' However, when applied to, the Duke refused to part with Colonel Campbell, until after the capitulation of the town, which took place on November 29. At a subsequent period he received the following letter of thanks, signed by ten of the principal inhabitants of Dantzic, who had been shut up as jprisoners in their own city during the time the French held it in possession : ' Sir, — It was with extreme regret that we, and many of our most respectable fellow-citizens, felt ourselves de- prived, by your early departure, X)f the satisfaction we anticipated, by presenting to you personally the grateful acknowledgments due to your generous endeavours to les- sen the devastations of a siege ; but we have the pleasure now to convey these in our and their name. And we doubt not it will be deemed to enhance in some degree the honourable distinction with which your services to- wards reducing this city have been marked, that they 92 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. V. were united with exertions liigUy beneficial to the interests of the suiFering inhabitants. ' We believe ourselves also to be i^artly indebted to you, for Captain Green having continued the blockade at so late a season beyond the period intended, which no doubt contributed to forward the capitulation ; and we beg the favour of your conveying to Captain Green our thanks for this material service. ' &c. &c.' Colonel Campbell's next letter is addressed from Frank- fort-on-the-Maine, December 18, 1818: ' I left Dantzic on the 4th, and arrived here this morn- ing. From hence I shall proceed towards Switzerland, to receive Lord Cathcart's further instructions. ' The siege of Dantzic was shockingly mismanaged. I am told that the capitulation, or rather convention en- tered into there, has not been ratified. Do not think I had any part in it, for my sentiments were openly against it. I long foresaw the embarrassments which would arise from a prosecution of the siege at such a season, and with such troops ; and I proposed not to open the first parallel after the battle of Leipsic, but merely to continue the blockade till the provisions of the enemy were exhausted.' From Dantzic to Frankfort, his route lay through the centre of Germany, passing by Berlin, Leipsic, Weimar, and Fulda. ' Berlin is the prettiest town (not excepting Edinburgh) that I have ever seen — very regular, and yet varied with fine buildings, squares, and spacious streets. The only want is pavement for foot-passengers. In England there are two great defects, which are generally supplied on the Continent, viz. the fine avenues of trees which form the promenades in and about the various cities, and are a peculiar feature ; as well as the handsome gateways, which span the entran'^^s to the principal streets, and pro- Chap. V. SOCIETY AT BERLIN. 93 duce a very fine effect. During- my stay at Berlin I dined with tlie Princess of Orange, mother of the present Stadt- holder. The evening after I spent at the Princess Louise's, sister of the King of Prussia, who is married to the Polish Prince Eadzivill. There were three other gentle- men besides myself, the Princess of Orange and her daughter, widow of the Duke of Brunswick Oels (the elder brother of the Princess of Wales), and three other ladies. We sat round a large table and had tea, which was made by one of the ladies of the household, and handed about by one of the servants, just in the same family style as in England. After this a large dish of omelette was placed before the same lady, and a plate of it with a spoon was delivered to each. Then a dish with j)udding was served out in the same way. No cloth was laid, and each held the plate, like a cup of tea, in the hand. The conversation went on with great spirit, for the Princess Louise is uncommonly clever and lively. The ladies were employed in picking lint^ from old linen for the wounded. This is a constant occupation in all families, and generally a requisition for a certain quantity, according to the number in family, is made by the magis- trates.' Prom Frankfort Colonel Campbell proceeded to Fri- bourg in Switzerland, where the Emperors of Pussia and Austria and the King of Prussia, with the various diplo- matic and military chiefs, were then holding their head- quarters. On reporting himself to Lord Cathcart there, he was at once sent to rejoin Count Wittgenstein, commanding one of the great corps of the Russian Army at Padstadt ; and, in attendance on that ofl&cer, crossed the Rhine near the ^ February 3, 1814. ' Lady were pleased to call lint for the Castlereagh, Lady Clancarty, "with soldiers, but which I hope was myself and a few others, sat round never used for that purpose.' Re- a table with the Princesses, who miniscences of a Septuagenttrian, employed us in making what they p. 44, 45. c)4 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. V. latter place, upon January 1, 1814. From tlie Eliine, the Russian corps advanced by Hagenau, Luneville, Nancy, and Toul. On January 29 lie was present at tlie battle of Brienne^ — the first fought on French soil — being on that occasion attached to Marshal Blucher's Staff. In the course of the subsequent months of February and March, he took part in a succession of combats, such as Nogent-sur-Seine, Mormant, Bar-sur-Aube, Troyes, Nangis, Vandoeuvre, Arcis-sur-Aube, &c. ; ' in fact, in every affair w^here any considerable part of Count Witt- genstein's corps, or of his advanced guard, under that brave and intelligent officer. Count Pahlen, came in contact with the French.' Colonel Campbell relates a curious and interesting inci- dent as having occurred on one of these occasions : ' Upon Feburary 11, 1814, at Nogent-sur- Seine, when it was first attacked by the Allies, I was with General Pahlen, who commanded there. I then, for the first time, saw, in the possession of Marshal Wrede, a copy, in French, of H.M. Louis XYIII.'s Proclamation, dated from Hartwell, January 1, 1814. I wrote out another copy of it, while in a deserted house under fire, and prevailed upon General Dovray, chief of Wittgenstein's Staff, and the Count himself, to get 2,000 copies printed at Provins, and these were subsequently circulated. Soon afterwards, upon February 17, when retreating from Mormant, with the skirmishers of the rearguard under fire, I alighted from my horse, and fixed a packet of these papers upon the meat-hooks of a butcher's shop. They were the first ever published near Paris.' Upon March 25, Colonel Campbell was severely wounded, near Fere Champenoise, by a lance -thrust through the "^ The great array struggled on which might easily have been done.' in France ; political difficulties pre- T^e Early Years of the Pri/ue Con- venting its going after the battle sort, Appendix A, p. 384. lieminis- of Brienne, on February 2, to Paris, ccnces of Kiny Leopold. Chap. V. WOUNDED AT FflRE CHAMPENOISE. 95 back, and a sabre-cut across the bead. It was sui^iDOsed, on subsequent inquiry, tbat in consequence of his wear- ing a blue surtout and red sash, added to their over- hearing him call out to the enemy in their own language, the Cossacks, who inflicted the wounds, had mistaken him for a Erench officer, and in consequence rode him down from behind. It was in vain that, while in the act of fall- ing from his horse, he had the presence of mind to throw open his coat and display his Russian decorations. The particulars of this affair are best quoted from his own journal : 'The Emperor of Eussia and King of Prussia entered Vitry-sur-Marne in Champagne, upon March 24, 1814. A council of war was held, at which Prince Schwartzenberg (whose army had approached that place, marching from Arcis-sur-Aube), Lord Cathcart, Sir Charles Stewart, and the Russian Minister ISTesselrode, assisted. Prince Blucher with his army was known to be in the direction of Epernay and Laon, but was not in direct communication. Napo- leon and his army had passed a little above Vitry two days before, moving in the direction of St. Dizier. An inter- cepted letter from him to the Empress Marie Louise (which was taken upon March 23), explaining the object of the intended operations, was discussed at this council; and it was determined that Prince Schwartzenberg's army should advance upon the following day to Paris by the direct great road. In course of the march, upon March 25, towards Eere Champenoise, several detachments of French troops, in advance of the corps commanded by Marshals Marmont and Mortier, who supposed them- selves upon a free line of communication with the rear of the French Emperor's army, were forced to retrace their ste^^s, being, to their astonishment, attacked by the advanced parties of an army moving in front from Vitry, and upon the left flank from Epernay. One of these con- sisted of 5,000 infantry and artillery, escorting a great 96 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. V. convoy of ammunition, and 80,000 rations of bread from Paris, under tlie command of General Pacthoud. Fol- lowed bj increasing swarms of Cossacks during tbe whole day, they were obliged to abandon tbeir waggons ; and near sunset, reinforcements of cavalry and artillery hav- ing come uj), and being supported by approaching masses, they were forced, after a very brave resistance against the charges of several squadrons, to halt in a mass, as if dis- posed to surrender. In the confusion which ensued, some of the Russian cavalry cutting down the enemy, and they selling their lives in desperation, I called out to the latter *' to cease firing, or they would all be massacred." Some squadrons of Russian cavalry arriving to support those with whom I had executed the first charge, and seeing me in the melee, as if giving orders to the French, considered me to be one of their opponents. One of the hussars of the front rank, who are armed with lances, struck his weapon through my back ; and when I was upon the ground, another cut me with his sabre across the head, although I cried out lustilj'", " Anglisky Polkovnick " (Eng- lish Colonel). A Russian officer succeeded, by the use of better language, in preventing the infliction of a third wound. This may give some idea of the exasperated feel- ings which even the common soldiers bore towards each other ; so different, I am happy to say, from those which existed between the British and French troops opposed to each other in the Pyrenees and the adjacent frontier of France. * A very melancholy occurrence was passing at the mo- ment upon the opposite side of this same mass of French infantry. Colonel RapateU, Aide-de-camp of the lamented General Moreau, had accompanied him in his exile to America, and returned with him to Europe. After the death of his chief before Dresden, he continued with the Emperor Alexander, who, looking upon this attack at the distance of a quarter of a mile, sent Colonel Raj)atell to Chap. V. WOUNDED AT FERE CHAMPENOISE. 97 the spot. This officer, actuated by the same motives of humanity which influenced myself, approached the French square, waving- his handkerchief; and about the time that I received my wounds, he likewise was struck by a musket shot, which killed him on the spot. His brother was at the very moment among the mass of French, serv- ing as a Captain of Light Artillery, and had greatly dis- tino'uished himself in the course of the dav.' The Emperor of Russia, who was close by (as just men- tioned), testified the deepest personal concern at the un- fortunate mischance through which Colonel Campbell had been wounded, and treated him with the most marked kindness and consideration, placing him under the charge of Dr. Crichton, one of his own medical attendants, and Dr. Gessling, Physician-in-Chief to the Imperial Guards, who dressed his wounds on the field of battle, and after- wards accompanied him to the village of Fere Champenoise, where he passed the night. There also Dr. Wylie, the head of the Emperor's medi- cal staff, and, like Dr. Crichton, a countryman of his own, visited him by command of Alexander. The following anecdote is related on the authority of the former : ' Sir Neil Campbell, you may remember, was severely wounded by a party of Cossacks, owing to a mistake on their part, from hearing him speak French. Now it so happened there was a regiment of these wild sons of the desert with which that officer was constantly present, and which corj^s invariably furnished him with escorts and orderlies when required. Indeed, a sergeant of the regiment was ever with him, as his own particular hench- man ! By an odd coincidence, this man's name was Camblofi"; and it was unfortunate that, at the moment Sir IST. Campbell was wounded, he had been sent to the rear with a message from him to one of the Russian comman- ders, which detained him for some time. When, on his H 98 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. V. return lie found liis beloved chief bleeding and senseless, his wrath, and that of the whole regiment to which he be- longed, rose to such a height, that it was not without diffi- culty the Muscovite authorities could prevent them coming to blows with the corps the men belonged to, through whose ignorance the disaster had been occasioned.' Lord Burghersh,^ in his ' Memoir of the Operations of the Allied Armies,'* refers to the incident in the following terms : * Colonel Campbell, who was particularly distinguished on this occasion, was severely wounded by a Cossack, who, taking him for a French officer, forced his pike through his back.' As likewise in his Lordshij)'s public despatch to the Secretary of State, Earl Bathurst : * It is with the greatest regret I have to amiounce to your lordship that Colonel Campbell was yesterday most severely wounded by a Cossack. Colonel Campbell, continuing that gallant and distinguished course which has ever marked his military career, had charged with the first cavalry which penetrated the French masses. The Cossacks, who came to support the cavalry, mistook him for a French officer, and struck him to the ground. From the appearance this morning, however, 1 am in consider- able hoj)e of his recovery.' Sir Charles Stewart's despatch,'"' on the same occasion, also mentions the circumstance : ' Your lordship will, I am sure, regret to learn, that that very deserving officer. Colonel Neil Campbell, was unfortu- nately wounded by a Cossack, in the melee of the cavalry.' He had also to lament the loss of all his baggage (con- taining, besides personal effects, many important papers and memoranda), which had been, as well as himself, with ' Aftei-wards eleventh Earl of ^ Aftenvards third IMarquis of "Westmoreland. Londonderry. 4 Tart viii. p. 233. Chap. V. IMPRESSIONS OF RUSSIAN ARMY. 99 tlie advance-guard of tlie Russians, and could never after- wards be recovered. The following precis, dating apparently from this period, when he was laid up from active service, and was able to review, from the quietude of a sick-bed, ^he circum- stances of the preceding campaign, will perhaps be read with interest in the light of more modern events : ' The description given of the immense quantity of car- riages and followers of the Russian Army, resembling a horde of Asiatics, is perfectly correct. This is the ruin of that army, for by those encumbrances the resources of the country are exhausted, while the army is impeded, and becomes unmanageable from the difficulty of collecting it. It cannot act with force and promptitude against the enemy, and is itself exposed to sudden attacks along its own extensive, weakened, and disorderly front. The superintendence of the general and field-officers over each other and over the subordinates is lost. The former are scattered over the whole country, with all sorts of car- riages and an unlimited number of servants, in order to place themselves within the best quarters they can find, at a distance from the bivouacs of their respective regiments. The men composing the latter are consequently inattentive to their position and duties, and become themselves scat- tered, so as to obtain as much shelter and plunder as they can. Individual bravery is rendered unavailing, while so loose a system prevails ; and it was to this that Napoleon owed his success, in 1818 and 1814, against armies so supe- rior in numbers and far superior in physical force to the raw levies of the French Army. ' After the battle of Lutzen the Russian officers openly expressed their sentiments as to there being no national object for them whereon to waste their lives in fighting the battles of the Germans. The Austrians sent nearly the whole of their force to the Army of Italy and that near Lyons. The smaller German Powers, such as Bavaria H 2 100 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. Y. and Wurtemburg, eacli of wliicli acted generally as sepa- rate corps, altliougli under tlie orders of Prince Scliwart- zenberg, considered themselves too weak to stand tlie brunt of tlie contest against tlie French, and sought every opportunity to avoid it. But the Prussians under Blucher always looked out for occasions to close with the enemy, every individual being enthusiastically hostile against the French ; and they alone served with feelings similar to those of the British Army. The French generally killed five to one of the Eussians ; yet the army of Bonaparte was so inferior to that commanded by Soult in Spain, that the detachments of the latter, brought from thence first to Germany and then to Chamj)agne, were considered the elite, quite equal to the Old Guard. 'Any rapid reform in the Russian Army can only be superficial, e.g. in matters of parade, or of dress, so long as it is constituted as at present. The radical improve- ments must keep pace with the general civilisation of the whole population. The officers who possess education are so few in proportion to the whole number in the army, that they are only to be found in the Guards, on the Staff, and in a few of the favourite regiments of cavalry. The staff- officers are generally ten times as numerous as those attached to the generals of other nations ; and the whole of them, excepting the chief, spend their days for the most part in eating and drinking, gambling and sleeping — ■ all these operations too being performed in the same room, and by the parties relieving each other ! ' When any regiment of infantry is about to be engaged, the general places at its head one of the many officers attached to him, at the very moment perhaps that the enemy are marching forward. This favourite is aftei'wards sent, with a flaming report of his prowess, to the Emperor, who, in the fulness of his joy, confers upon him a decora- tion or a step of rank — perhaps both. This career of military service will be sufficient to show what sort of in- struction the best Russian officers receive, and what may Chap. V. BIPEESSIOXS OF RUSSIAN ARMY. 101 be expected of tlieui when tliejrise to the chief commands. The other officers, who are uneducated, and speak no lan- guage except their mother-tongue, have verj little prospect of ever advancing. They only look to the comfort of the moment, by plundering, and evading in every possible way the hardships of the field. The privates derive no advan- tage from the zeal, intelligence, foresight, and combinations of their superiors. Their strong physical powers alone sup- port them in the exercise of their duties. It may readily be conceived, that the improvement of any army composed of such materials must be very slow, and that the exertions of the sovereign, the imitation of more civilised nations, and the introduction of foreign officers can only effect superficial reforms. The rest must be a work of time, and cannot 'precede the general civilisation of the whole empire by its gradual improvement in arts and sciences.' ^ Being delayed at Tere Champenoise by his wounds, which at first bore a dangerous asj)ect, and caused great difficulty in breathing. Colonel Campbell did not reach Paris till April 9, nine days after its capture by the Allied Armies. The issue of the then existing crisis was still uncertain ; the fate of Napoleon yet trembled on the ® Lord Londonderry's War in 'The general tone prevalent Germany, ch. iii, pp. 32, 33 : * The throughout the military ofRcers of numerous baggage waggons of all the Russian Army was of a despond- descriptions, &c., exceed belief ; and ing nature : they thought they had no general officer has less than done enough, especially as Austria eighteen or twenty orderlies, ca- had not declared itself, and Saxony valry and infantry, which always continued to oppose them. The follow him. In fact, I am persuaded tide of their success seemed to them the men out of the ranks, and the arrested, and they eagerly looked to followers and military attendants their own frontier, in a Russian Army, amount to at ' The soldiers of the Prussian least one-fifth of the total number. Army had, at this crisis, a higher * "With regard to the officers, they and more animated feeling : they are certainly brave men, and some were fighting for their existence, of superior abilities ; but the and every mUe, if in retreat, raised generality of them did not at this a murmur of discontent. Their period possess those talents and state of discipline was good, and resources found among their oppo- their superior officers most efficient ; uents, so long initiated in the school their cavalry fine, and artillery ex- of Bonaparte. cellent. 102 MEMOIE OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. V, balance. For althougli on April 4 lie liad drawn up and signed an act declaring: his readiness to descend from the throne, should it be necessary for the welfare of France and the peace of Europe, it was with this reserve — that the rio'hts of his son should be maintained, and the Empress appointed Eegent in the meantime. To this partial sun-euder, however, of his power the Allies had refused to agree ; and it was not till April 11, when he found that all his marshals were deserting him one by one, and that further resistance was hopeless, that he was prevailed upon to sign his final act of abdication, and to accept the sovereignty of Elba — as suggested in the first instance by the Emperor Alexander.^ On the completion of the ' Treaty of Fontainebleau,' the Four Allied Powers at once proceeded to nominate com- missioners, who were to accompany the ex-Emperor to the place of embarkation. For this appointment Colonel Campbell was selected by Lord Castlereagh on the part of the British Government. It was somewhat against the opinion of Dr. Crichton (who continued his attendance in Paris) that he undertook so anxious and difficult an office • — as testified by the following medical certificate : *" It is but my duty to add that this jouiiiey, undertaken before the complete cure of his wounds, and while labouring under the symptoms just mentioned, is accompanied with very considerable danger ; and that nothing but the idea that Colonel Campbell is going to a wanner climate, and his extreme anxiety to obey the orders he had received, could have justified his setting out before the complete cicatrisation of his wounds.' 7 Viscount Castlereagh to Earl quality of security, on which he Bathurst. insisted, seemed disposable, to ' Paris, April 13, 1814. which equal objections did not occur, and I did not feel that I ' I should have wished to substi- could encourage the alternative tute another position in lieu of which M. de Caulaincourt a-ssured Elba for the seat of Napoleon's re- me Bonaparte repeatedly mentioned, tirement ; but none having the — namely, an asylum in England.' Chap. V. AUGMENTATION TO ARMS. 103 In tlie well-known picture of tlie elder Vernet, entitled ' Les Adieux de Fontainebleau,' the figure of Colonel Campbell is represented in his wounded condition, with head bound, and his arm supported in a sling. The circumstances of the mission to Elba will be here- after detailed in his own words. During his residence there he received a patent, conferring upon him knight- hood, and an honourable augmentation to his arms ; and he was likewise made a Companion of the Bath, and re- ceived a pension for wounds of 300Z. a year.® 8 ' His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Ma- jesty, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to con- fer the honour of Knighthood upon Neil Campbell, Esq., Colonel in the Army, and Knight of the Imperial Russian Orders of St. Anne of the Second Class, and of St. George of the Fourth Class. ' And the Prince Regent, being desirous of conferring upon the said Sir Neil Campbell such a furtlier mark of His Majesty's royal favour as may, in an especial sense, evince the sense he entertains of the highly distinguished services performed by that officer at the con- quest of the important colonies of Martinique, Guadaloupe, and their dependencies ; at the assault and capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, and at the brilliant engagement on the plains of Salamanca ; as also the great zeal and ability manifested by him while attached to the Russian Army in the glorious and ever-memorable campaigns, which have recently terminated in the restoration of peace in Europe, and more espe- cially the signal intrepidity dis- played by him in the action fought at Fere Champenoise in France, on the 25th day of March last : His Royal Highness has been pleased to grant mito the said Sir Neil Campbell, His Majesty's royal li- cence and authority, that, to the ancient armorial ensigns of his family, he and his descendants may bear the following honourable aug- mentations, that is to say : ' " 0)1 a chief a lion passant (juar- dant, gras]}ing in the dexter /;«?{; a sword; and 0)1 a canton poident from a )'ihhon, a representation of the badge of the I))ipe)-ial ltussia)i Military order of St. Geo)-ge" conferred upon the said Sir Neil Campbell by His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, in testimony of the sense entertained by that Sovereign of his great merits ; and the following crest of honoui-able augmentation, that is to say : ' " Out of a mural croio)i, a demy- lio)i guardant gntte de sang, grasping a sword as i)i the ar)ns, a)id go)-ged with a ribbon ; pe)ident ihe)'efro))i a represe)itatio)i of the gold medal co)i- f erred wpo)i him for his services at the afo)'esaid capture of Ciudad liodric/o and Battle of >Sala»ia)ica ; and in an escrol above, this motto, Fere Champeijoise." ' 104 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VI. CHAPTEE VI. [1814—1816.] RETURN' FEOM ELBA — rNTERVIEW "WITH PRENCE REGENT — DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT RESPECTING NAPOLEON's ESCAPE — RETROSPECT OF EVENTS AT ELBA DURING SIR N. CAilPBELL's MISSION — PROCEEDS TO BRUSSELS — LETTER OF INTRODtrCTIOK FROM LORD OASTLEREAGH — DINES "WITH THE DUKE OF "WELLINGTON ON JUNE 15 — "WITNESSES THE BATTLES OF QUATRE BRAS AND "WATERLOO — JOINS SIR CHARLES COLVILLE's DIVISION — ASSAULT OF CAMBRAY — MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES — SIR CHARLES NAPIER A VOLUNTEER — COMBAT AT AUBERVILLIERS — CONTROVERSY BET"WEEN SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND GENERAL VON GROLLMANN — CAPTURE OF PARIS — APPOINTED TO COMMAND OF HANSEATIC LEGION — RECEIVES THE THANKS OF SENATE OF BREMEN — LEGION BROKEN UP — RETURN TO ENGLAND — COMPANION OF THE BATH, AND KNIGHT OF ST "WLADIMIR — INVALIDED AND GOES UPON HALF- PAY. Released from the position of Britisli Kesident at Elba by no less an event than the startling escape of Napoleon from that island on February 26, 1815, Sir Neil Campbell reached England on April 1. On his arrival he "was summoned to a private inter vie"w "with the Prince Eegent at Carlton House, "when His Royal Highness was pleased to express in unqualified terms his entu'e approval of Sir Neil's conduct during the time he had been employed by the Foreign Office, as well as upon all previous occasions, when that officer had been brought under the notice of His Royal Highness, assuring him that in no way could he, as English Commissioner, be considered responsible for the unfortunate evasion of Napoleon from Elba, greatly as such a circumstance was to be deplored by the world at large. The Earl of Liverpool in the House of Lords, and Viscount Castlereagh in the House of Commons, during the public Chap. VI. DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT. 105 debates of April 7, eacli declared, with equal emphasis, that no shadow of blame attached to Sir Neil Campbell, whose mission on the part of the British Government had merely been to conduct the ex-Emperor in safety to his own dominions, with permission to remain there so long- as Napoleon himself should desire the protection of his presence. Lord Liverpool observed : ' As to the respectable officer to whom allusion had been frequently made in public, he felt it his duty to observe, that had he been in the island at the time, it would have made no difference, when all the power and police of the island, such as it was, were in the hands of the person whose designs he was expected to counteract. If he had suspected him, and betrayed those suspicions, what was there to prevent his being- put under arrest ? ' And Lord Castlereagh : ' With respect to the residence and situation of this personage at Elba, whatever may be my own individual opinion upon the subject of the arrange- ment which gave to him that jurisdiction — whatever objections I may have had to this settlement from the beginning, and the opportunities its locality afforded for the realisation of what has unhappily since occurred — there can, I trust, exist but one feeling among liberal minds, and that is, that when this island was given to Bonaparte for his residence, that residence should comprise the portion of fair and free liberty which was then due to a person in his situation. When the island was secured to him by treaty, it was of course done with as much exercise of personal liberty as became the compact ; it was never in the con- templation of the parties that he should be a prisoner within that settlement, that he should be the compulsory inmate of any tower, fortress, or citadel ; they never meant that he should be so placed, or that he should be deprived of sea excursions in the vicinity of the island for the fair purposes of recreation. 106 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VI. ' The Allied Powers wlio conciuTed in the Treaty of Fon- tainebleau never undertook to conduct a system of espion- age, either within or without the residence which they had ceded to him ; it was never in their contemplation to establish a naval police to hem in, or prevent this man's committing himself, as he has done, to his fortunes. In fact, if they were so inclined, they were without the means of enforcing such a system ; for the best authorities in our Government were of opinion, that it was absolutely and physically impossible to draw a line of circumvallation around Elba ; and for this very conclusive reason — that, considering the variation of weather, and a variety of other circumstances, which could not be controlled, the whole British Navy would be inadequate for such a purpose.' And then presently, with particular reference to the British Commissioner, the Noble Lord, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, added : * I repeat that our Government never undertook a police establishment at Elba. Colonel Camj)bell was certainly there, for the purpose of occasionally communicating with our Government upon such matters as might pass under his observation both there and in Italy, where at that time we had no accredited agents : he was there at fii-st merely as one of the conductors, according to the treaty ; and I afterwards suffered him to remain between that island and Leghorn for the purpose I have mentioned ; but nothing more was ever contemplated. It would have been out of Colonel Campbell's power to have attempted anything further — he could not have done it ; for the fact was that, although at first treated with familiarity by Bonaparte, his visits were subsequently disapproved of: latterly he found the greatest difficulty in obtaining an interview with him, so completely did the latter surround himself with imperial etiquette.' It will at once be seen, by those who read the Journal of Chap. VI. RETKOSPECT OF EVENTS IN ELBA. 107 Sir Neil Campbell, liow anxious and harassing had been the latter period of his mission, when, with his mind full of suspicions that Napoleon onlj awaited a pretext for breaking faith with the Allies, he was jet unable, with all his efforts, to arrive at any certain information, and felt himself utterly powerless to fathom the deeply-laid schemes. His position towards the ex-Emperor had com- pletely changed since the early months of his residence in Elba, when, as the former had once said, they were together en solclat. For, ' suspicious of latent danger in the extraordinary reverse of his fortunes, as well as appre- hensive of open attack from some of the piratical states of Barbary,' Napoleon had been at first most anxious that the British Commissioner should prolong his stay in the island. His earnest request to that effect was complied with, and Sir Neil Campbell had instructions to remain beside him. From this period, until the assembling of the Congress at Vienna, Bonaparte evinced the greatest predilection for the constant ]personal presence and society of Sir Neil Campbell ; but the discussions of the Allied Powers touching his future situation, and the arrangement of the Italian States, seemed to awake his slumbering passions, and to create an extraordinary rancour in his mind. Henceforth he gradually alienated himself from the habits of intimacy he had before cultivated with the British Resident. Instead of the daily intercourse that had existed during the earlier portion of Sir Neil Campbell's mission, when Napoleon had made a point of being attended by that of&cer in all his rides and excursions round the island, and had insisted on his being a regular guest at his table, the ex-Emperor now began to surround himself more and more with the courtly forms of etiquette. Becoming thus estranged — though by slow degrees, and in a manner which it was impossible to notice except silently — the British 108 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VL Commissioner found that it would be necessary, for tlie purpose of keeping up any sort of communication for tlie future, formally to request interviews on all such op- portunities as presented themselves, more particularly on his return from periodical visits to the continent of Italy. Napoleon would then receive him with his usual courtesy, entering into conversation with equal eagerness, and sustaining it with the same unflagging interest as on pre- vious occasions. But it was evident that the reports which continued to reach him from Vienna, and especially a rumour in circulation that it was proposed to remove him to St. Helena, filled his mind more and more with anxiety and sus^jicion. Hence the doubts he constantly expressed as to whether it was ever intended to fulfil with honom* the articles of the Treaty of Fontainebleau ; and his Avhole demeanour showed but too plainly how each day he was becoming more restless and dissatisfied with his situation. At this juncture Napoleon's youngest sister, Pauline — the greatest intriguante of her day — appeared on the scene. And from that period there was a constant influx of mysterious persons from both France and Italy, oc- casioning great disquiet to Sir Neil Campbell, Avho repre- sented the perilous state of affairs, as well to his own Government and the Austrian authorities on the Conti- nent, as to M. Hyde de Neuville,^ an agent of the French King. This gentleman, on account of his distinguished zeal and ability in the Bourbon cause, had been sent to Italy, by Louis XVIII. 's confidential friends, to collect reports respecting Napoleon's position and conduct at Elba. His mission conveyed in itself an evident proof of the apprehensions they entertained, that the internal state of France and Bonaparte's situation were incompatible with the tranquillity of that nation. It was in conse- ^ Afterwards Minister from France to the L^nitecl States. Chap. VI. RETROSPECT OF EVENTS IN ELBA. 109 quence of the information tlins acquired that two French frigates were sent shortly afterwards to cruise round Elba, although in the event, either through treachery or accident, this precaution proved quite useless, and the evil could not be averted by them. ' Can any sufficient reason ' — asks Sir Neil Campbell — be alleged for the conduct of the French Ministers, who knew these things, and many others of a like nature ? ' They were fully informed of the intrigues carrying on between Bonaparte and his adherents in France, for many months before he quitted Elba ; some of the persons em- ployed as active agents in those intrigues were seized upon their way to Elba, through the exertions of some of the King's household, by means distinct from the minis- ters or other official authorities ; written proofs were found upon them, which were confirmed by their own full confessions of guilt; but so inefficient was the Govern- ment, that, in spite of the most determined efforts on the part of some of the King's friends, these conspirators were permitted to escape trial.' In one of his despatches to Lord Castlereagh, Sir Neil Campbell had given it as his opinion, that if money were plentifully supplied to Napoleon, so as to enable him to amuse his mind by carrying out his various schemes and plans of improvement in the island, and to keep uj) the semblance of a Court, such as his vanity might consider suitable, he might be content to pass the remainder of his days in tranquillity. But, if this were not the case, the British Commissioner considered him capable of cross- ing over to Piombino with his troops, or of committing any other eccentricity. — [Despatch No. 34.] The crisis so much dreaded by Sir Neil Campbell was not long in coming. Madame Bertrand told him the situa- tion of the Emperor was 'frightful ' — that he had scarcely a franc, and not even a ring left to present to any one of his followers, so completely had he got rid of all personal valu- 110 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. YI. ables. England, indeed, was in no way responsible, more particularly as related to pecuniary matters, but still the state of things was faithfully represented by Sir Neil Campbell to his own superiors. No notice, however, was taken of his repeated warnings ; ^ and in the end, so un- prepared were the Allied Powers for the actual event, that the sovereigns and foreign ministers assembled at Vienna were still wrangling over the details of the Peace, at the very moment that Napoleon's flotilla had arrived in St. Juan's Bay ! Tired out by the long war — dating back, with but short intervals, to the French devolution — the Allies seem to have lulled themselves into a fatal dream of security, from which no watchman's voice could rouse them, until the news of Napoleon's escape fell upon their ears with the most startling shock. ' No means were at my disposal,' Sir Neil Campbell ox^enly and distinctly stated, 'for the security of the French, or any other nation, against an invasion by Napo- leon ; nor for restricting him in " the free possession and the peaceable enjoyment in fall sovereignty of the island of Elba " (the words of the protocol). This was the very letter and spirit of my instructions from Lord Castle- reagh, their only object and meaning, and the only duty which the British Government or their Commissioner were bound to perform. The hare necessity imposed by the treaty would have been fulfilled in landing Napoleon on the island of Elba, from on board the English frigate, upon May 4 ; but the liberal construction of that treaty, and of Lord Castlereagh's instructions (as well as my cordial feelings of respect and sympathy towards a man who, although an enemy, had fallen from the highest ele- 2 'The whole correspondence of situation, and desii-ed instructions Sir Neil with the British Ministers which do not appear to have been has been .«een by me, and it is but sent.' 3IS. Letter from Sir Walter justice to say, that he repeatedly Scott. Ediu. March 12, 1828. represented the difficulties of his Chap. VI. PROCEEDS TO BELGIUM. Ill vation of sovereign power, and from eminent glory in my own profession), prompted me for some time to strain every nerve in promoting his comfort, as far as lay in my power, witli as mucli alacrity and zeal as if he had for- merly been my own military chief. Without that aid from me, and without a personal residence near him for several months, he could not have been fully established in possession of Elba. At his positive request, expresssd by himself verbally, and by General Bertrand in a written note, my stay was prolonged, and subsequently approved of by His Royal Highness the Prince Eegent and his Ministers.' In the certain prospect of a renewal of hostilities, the eyes of Europe turned instinctively towards Belgium, as the battlefield on which the decisive struggle between Napoleon and the Allies was destined to take place. The 54th, Sir IST. Camj)beirs regiment, formed part of the Duke of Wellington's army there assembled, and he accordingly proceeded, to join that corps. Before leaving England, however, he received from Lord Castlereagh a copy of a letter of introduction, which, after being submitted to the Duke of York, the Commander-in-Chief, had been sent to the Duke of Wellington. It ran as follows : 'Foreign Office, May 27, 1815. ' My Lord,— Colonel Sir Neil Campbell being about to join his regiment in Flanders, it is with much satisfaction that I avail myself of this opportunity to address your Grace, for the purpose of assuring you that His Majesty's Government have had every reason to be satisfied with the activity and intelligence manifested by Sir Neil Campbell during the time he was serving under the direction of this department, as well at the siege of Dantzic, and in the campaigns of Germany and France of 1813 and 181 1, as more particularly during the very delicate and difiicult 112 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. YI. charge imposed upon him, while residing near the person of Napoleon Bonaparte in the island of Elba. 'The unfortunate evasion of that person from Elba, wholly unexpected as it was, and disastrous as the event must prove to the cause of humanity, cannot, in the judg- ment of His Majesty's Government, be attributed to any want of proper exertion and activity on the part of Sir Neil Campbell. It is not, however, judged advisable, at the present moment, to continue the services of Sir Neil Campbell as Eesident with any of the Allied Armies under the orders of this department ;^ and he has therefore, in the most honourable manner, decided to return to the per- formance of his military duties. ' As I can entertain no doubt that Sir Neil Campbell's conduct under voui' Grace's command will continue, as on former occasions, to receive your approbation, I have only to add, that every mark of confidence which, in the course of the ensuing campaign, your Grace shall have an opportunity of bestowing upon him, will be highly grati- fying to His Majesty's Ministers, and personally to me. 3 Memorandum by Sir N. Camp- mental duties with the British army, bell : after several years' absence from * So violent and general were those them, while employed upon the prejudices upon the Continent in Staff, I immediately assured Lord May 1815, upon my return to Great Castlereagh that I was ready, nay, Britain from Elba, that the Min- desirous of joining my regiment, isters considered it necessary so far then in Belgium with the army to yield to them, as for that reason under the command of Field Marshal not to give me an appointment as the Duke of Wellington, but that Military Correspondent at the head- I trusted such explanations in my quarters of any of the Allied Armies, favour would be given to his Royal then assembling for the invasion of Highness the Duke of York and to France. It was feared that my pre- his Grace, as would remove every sonce might excite irritating dis- shadow of doubt from their minds cussions with me upon this subject, in regard to my conduct while em- oven among our own Allies, the risk ployed upon the recent mission, of which it were better to avoid. Lord Castlereagh acquiesced in my Unwilling to embarrass Minis- request, by writing in my favour ters, whose opinions had been so to the latter, and sending a copy of unequivocally declared with the ut- the letter to his Royal Highness most publicity, and being desirous the Commander-in-Chief, as also a to enlarge my experience of regi- copy to myself.' CHAr. VI. BRUSSELS. 113 ' I have tlie honour to be, with great truth and respect, mj Lord, your Grace's most obedient humble servant, (Signed) ' Castlereagh. ' To Eield Marshal his Qrace the Duke of Wellington, &c., &c. Brussels.' On arriving at Brussels, Sir N. Campbell presented him- self at the Duke's headquarters. This was on June 15. The Duke was engaged at the moment, but sent a mes- sage through his Aide-de-camp, Lord CI. Lennox, inviting him to dinner on the same evening, and appointing an official interview for the following day. That dinner has become famous in history — second in romantic interest only to the Duchess of Richmond's ball, which followed it. ' At dinner ' (so Sir N. Campbell dots down among some hurried memoranda) ' the Prince of Orange and Marshal Blucher's Aide-de-camp called, and gave information of the attack at Charleroi. All in movement.' The Duke was certainly so far ' surprised,' as that he had promised Sir N. Campbell an interview for the fol- lowing day (June 16) ; but of course, as the troops marched out of Brussels towards the front during the night and early morning, his hopes of obtaining a staff appointment were for the moment disappointed. ' My friends,' he writes, ' Sir Colin Campbell, Sir Edward Barnes, and his Aide-de-camp Colonel Hamilton — the two latter I knew in the West Indies — have recommended me to remain at Brussels, or near headquarters, for a few days, when no doubt I should hear from the Duke, and they would attend to my interests, if any opportunity of reminding him of me should offer.' With the desire of acting upon the latter portion of this advice, Sir IST. Campbell at once set about providing himself with the necessary equipment ; but there was so much confusion in the town, and such difficulty in even a-ettin1815. ' 1^4 novembrej 'Monsieur — C'est avec bien de satisfaction que je m'ac- quitte aujourd'hui du soin que m'a commis Monsieur le Marechal Comte Barclay de Tolly, de vous annoncer, Mon- sieur, que sa Majeste I'Empereur, mon auguste maitre, rendant justice a la bravoure que vous avez deployee a differentes occasions dans la guerre si glorieusement ter- minee, a desire vous en donner un temoignage j^ublique, en vous nommant chevaher de son ordre de St. Wladimir de la 3™® classe. Des que cette decoration me sera parvenue, de St. Petersbourg, je m'empresserai de vous la transmettre, et je vous prie de recevoir en attendant les assurances de la consideration tres-distinguee avec laquellej'ail'honneur d'etre. Monsieur, votre tres humble et tres obeissant ser- viteur, (Signe) * Lieven.' The wound which he had received from the lance of a Cossack at Fere Champenoise having penetrated, as be- fore mentioned, through the back to the lungs, in the course of the following year, the symptoms of inflamma- tion returned, accompanied by a difficulty of breathing, and thereupon Sir Neil Campbell was, by his own request, invalided. Up to this period, after an active service of nine- 124 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VL teen years, from 1797 to 1816, and with very brief intervals of leave, lie liad never before been on lialf-j)ay. The following record, drawn up by Sir Neil Campbell himself, will fitly close the more eventful portion of his military career : BATTLES, SIEGES, ETC. Medal 1809, Jan. 30 Feb. 24 April 14 „ 17 Medah 1810, Jan. Feb. 6 . 1811, May . July . Sept. . Medal. 1812, Jan. 8 . „ 19 . March 25 April 6 Medal July 21 Sept. 1813, May 2 . „ 20, 21 Aug. to Dec 1814, Jan. 28 . Feb. & March March 24 . . 1815, June 18 . . Medal „ 24 . . {Landing in Martinique. Siege of Fort Royal begun. The Capitulation. Landing at the Saintes. The Capitulation signed by Colonel Madier and Neil Campbell. Landing in Guadaloupe. The Capitulation signed. {Battle of Fuentes d'Onore. Blowing up of Almeida, etc. f Blowing up of Almeida by English, and \ Marches to Campo Mayor. / Relief of Ciudad Rodrigo by Marmont, and L Operations at El Bodon, etc. Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo begun. The Assault and Capture. Siege of Badajos begun. The Assault and Capture. Battle of Salamanca. r Assault and Capture of Horn work at Burgos. I The Siege and Retreat to Ciudad Rodrigo. Battle of Lutzen. Battle of Bautzen. Siege of Dantzic. Battle of Brienne, 1st day. Affairs at Troyes, Mery, Nogent-sur-Seine, Mormant, Nangis, Vandeuvres, Arcis, etc. {At Fere Champenoise. Charge and Capture of General Pacthoud with 4000 men by the Advanced Guard. Battle of Waterloo [but not engaged]. Escalade of Cambray. Chap. VII. VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 125 CHAPTEE VTI. [1816-1827.] VAEIOIJS VISITS TO THE CONTIJTEXT — FRAIfCE, SPAIN, ETC. — SPANISH POLITICS — CORONATION OF CHARLES X. — MADE A MAJOPv-GENERAL — APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF SIERRA LEONE, AND COLONEL OF ROYAL AFRICAN CORPS— NOTICES OF THE COLONY— ILLNESS AND DEATH. The life of a soldier retired for tlie time from active service cannot be expected to supply much matter for record. The minute details of foreign residence, although full of novelty then — the gossip of Parisian salons, varied by occasional visits to England — anecdotes picked up at military clubs — can scarcely at this date be even amusing, much less instructive to an ordinary reader. There is no longer the same interest that attached to Sir Neil Camp- bell's diary and letters, as while he was writing from the scene of public and stirring events, which have become matters of history, and notices of which are interweaved with this Memoir. Our quotations therefore, for the next few years, and indeed up to the close of his career, will be comparatively brief. However that during this period of professional ease and idleness Sir Neil Campbell's mind was still actively directed towards subjects of a military and political na- ture is evident from various memoranda in his hand- writing. Among other points, more or less ' suitable for these times,' he advocates the principle of ' Arbitration ' in the case of all national disputes, as thus : ' There is no Utopian imagination in this, for it seems 126 MEMOm OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VIL to be an imderstood Law of Nations since tlie Congress of Vienna ; and it lias been partly acted on already : wliereas no sucli principle was ever hinted at before the last general peace. * The instances which, it is hoped, may become precedents for such a general and happy principle, are as follows : ' 1st, The amicable reference which, in the year 1818, settled the difference between Prussia and France respect- ing the claims for debts against the latter. * 2nd, The removal of the Army of Occupation from France, effected by amicable discussion among the parties, consisting of Four United Powers on one side and One Power on the other. But the interests of several other Powers were confided entirely to the decision of those Four Powers. * 3rd, The reference by Spain and Portugal respecting Olivenza and Monte Video. *4th. The interests of all the Powers of Germany referred to a Diet at Frankfort, and left entirely to it. ' 5th, The difference between Bavaria and Baden re- specting an indemnity of territory, which is left to the other Powers for decision.' At the close of the war, and in the prospect of a long peace, there was a general rush from England to the Continent, which had been so long sealed up to travellers. And accordingly, following the fashion of the times, Sir Neil Campbell, accompanied by his brother-in-law ' and two of his sisters, crossed over to Normandy in the year 1817. They were attracted to that part of France, in the first instance, by the hospitable invitation of two Royalist families — Marquis de Canisy and Baron de Balzac — who having been reinstated in their ancient domains were desirous of repaying the attention they had received from their British friends during the long period which had ' ACtcrwards Lieut. -General Archibald Madachlau. Chap. VII. SOCIETY IN PAEIS.. 127 elapsed between their exile at the Revolution and the battle of Waterloo. They at any rate did not share in the opinion expressed by some fanatical friends of the Bour- bons, to the effect that Sir Neil Campbell had been bribed by the Bonapartist party to wink at the escaj)e of Napoleon from Elba ! The Marquis de Canisy, of Chateau Fontaine-le-Henri, near Caen, was also possessor of an hotel in the Faubourg- St. Germain at Paris, and there too Sir Neil Campbell and the other members of his family were frequent and welcome guests, and enjoyed opportunities of mixing in Parisian society ; in this instance, it must be added, of a very decided Royalist and parti-pretre colour. On the other hand, at the house of their relative Mr. Drummond, the Commissioner for British Claims, they were in the habit of meeting, as upon common ground, persons of more varied opinions and general European reputation. Hum- boldt, Klaproth, Denon, Cuvier, Washington Irving, &c. are among the distinguished names which occur in Sir Neil Campbell's correspondence during his various visits to Paris between 1818 and 1825. On the 12th of November, 1820, we jBnd Sir Neil Camp- bell writing from Barcelona to his friend and relative Major Maxwell, of Aros, in the Isle of Midi: ' Leaving England in July last, I visited part of the Pyrenees with reference to the Duke of Wellington's last campaign, and then joined my brother at Madrid. ' We attended the proceedings of the Cortes, and ob- served with great satisfaction the unanimity, moderation, and wisdom with which they were conducted. They have now just closed the session, and considering the quantity of abuses, royal, aristocratic, and ecclesiastical, which pressed for immediate reform, in addition to casual cir- cumstances to occux^y their deliberation, it is surprising- how much they have effected, particularly with a king who does everything ' against the grain,' as we say 123 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. in Scotland, and a people who have been accustomed to consider the grossest absurdities of superstitious forms as religion. The convents have all been taken possession of without any disgust being shown on the part of the peasan- try. The clergy have been subjected to the laws by which the rest of the people are bound. All aristocratic and ecclesiastical privileges and immunities have been done away with. The Militia (who are the same as our Volun- teers) are well organised in every town and village. The army is considerably reduced in numbers, and is now regularly paid. All the interior distinctions between pro- vinces are removed, and are now only continued on the frontier of the kingdom. ' There is still a great deal to do ; but I am sanguine in their gradual prosperity, although it may be slow from the ignorance and habits of the people. The Cortes do not again meet till the 1st of March, unless some extraordi- nary event should compel them ; but there are a number of committees upon the leading points connected with political economy, which will continue their labours. A general committee also remains to represent the Cortes, although they have not the power of legislating ; and as the Cortes and the Executive Government have proceeded with perfect accord, there is nothing to fear during the vacation. ' This part of Europe affords a most interesting field for observation and conjecture. Portugal, Naples, and the Roman States will sooner or later follow the example of Spain ; and although the Austrians may keep down the North of Italy for a longer time with military force, this compression cannot last always. If I do not return to England for the coronation next year, I shall probably spend most of it in the Mediterranean, and make a sort of maritime tour to Gibraltar, and some parts of Africa. This is a charming city, with fine views, both towards the sea and the interior, good society, good and cheap living. Chap. VII. SPANISH POLITICS. 129 and a most equable mild climate, without extreme lieat, even in summer.' Soon after this period, and for the next two or three years, the position of Spain became the engrossing topic of political discussion throughout Europe. This was a subject in which Sir Neil Campbell appears to have felt peculiar interest, as well from having himself served iu that country, as from his only surviving brother^ just men- tioned having been directly affected by the revolutionary transactions of the Peninsula. In April, 1821, while in command of a Spanish regiment at Barcelona, and acting brigadier, this officer, through the intrigues of the re- actionary party, was seized in the dead of the night by a body of militia, headed by the King's lieutenant, who stated that he was acting under orders from the Captain- General of the province. It was in vain that Colonel Patrick Campbell remonstrated against such an arbitrary act, and demanded his passports for France ; adding that, unless compelled by force, and taken in the character of a prisoner, he would not go to Majorca, which was men- tioned as his proposed destination. The following day, in company with Baron De Eroles, General Sarsfield, and some others, he was conveyed on board a bark bound for that island, by the town-adjutant and an armed party. ^ Afterwards General P. Camp- message, it was not until his liorse bell, R. A. He had previously served had been killed under him in the as Aide-de-camp to General Casta- hazardous service. At the battle fiosat the battle of Medellin, March of Castalla, April 15, 1813, he had 28, and at the battle of Talavera, command of a Spanish light infantry July 23, 1809, on which latter occa- regiment, and was mentioned iu sion he was specially mentioned in despatches ; and he was subse- the despatch of General Cuesta, the quently engaged at the siege of Spanish commander-in-chief. Upon Tai'ragona and in the various opera- the refusal of all the officers com- tions of the c aubined army on the posing the staff of the latter to carry eastern coast of Spain. It was for an important order between the these services he was raised to the Spanish and English lines on ac- rank of brigadier-general by the count oftheheavyfire,he had volun- Spanish Government, and had the teered to be the bearer, and although orders of Charles III. and St. Fer- he succeeded iu delivering the dinaud conferred upon him. 130 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. General Castanos, 'tlie hero of Bajlen,' who then held command of the gan-ison of Barcelona, vehemently pro- tested ag-ainst this deed of violence, and publicly declared that his British friend and comrade was the victim of despotism and private malice ! But he was himself deposed soon afterwards. At this period Mr. Wiseman (father of the late Cardinal) was British consul at Madrid, and on his representation an order was transmitted from the chief government for the release of Colonel Patrick Campbell. On being set at liberty, he at once sent in his resignation of the commission he had held as brigadier in the Sjjanish service, and although pressed by the Prime Minister, in the name of King Ferdinand, to withdraw it, immediately returned to England. In February, 1823, we find Su- Neil Campbell writing from Paris : ' Since the beginning of the French Revolu- tion there never was a period in which the situation of the whole world hereafter depends so much as now upon the present conduct of Great Britain in regard to Spain. The four despotic Powers (for France must now be included among them, although she has the name of a constitution) were so incensed at our dissent from their Laybach pro- clamation and Yerona projects against the liberties of the world, that they resolved to act against ours through Spain and Portugal. They looked upon us as the root of all their difficulties, and considered that although we might see through their schemes, the dislike of John Bull to taxation and want of unanimity would prevent any opposition on his part, until they had truly Bonaparte-like occupied Spain, and turned its resources against Portugal, and ultimately against Jacobin Great Britain. Now the ungrateful Bourbons are defeated by the talent and spmt of our Ministers, and of all pai-ties in Parliament, supported as they are by the universal feeling of the nation. They must now go on and run the risk of defeat in Spain, as well as conspiracy at home, with Great Britain openly Chap. VII. REVIEW OF FRENCH GUARDS. 131 against tliem ; or retract. Never was I so proud of being an Englisliman. I am still a Tory in England, but on the Continent a decided Liberal, nay a Carbonaro and Desca- mozado ! * TKe Duchesse de Berry almost turned lier back upon our Ambassador lately ; but Monsieur tried to make up for it. Mrs. Fitzlierbert, wlio lives here, told the Due de Mouchy, that England had saved the Royal Family be- fore, and it is she who will save them again ! ' I saw the Guards reviewed yesterday by Monsieur and his son at the Tuileries. There was not a single cheer from the soldiers, nor from the spectators, except that while they were passing through the Arc de Triomphe to the Place Carouse], a few persons, who had evidently been ad- mitted by the police within the sentries, raised a cry, but none joined in it. I stood close to the gateway while the infantry were filing into the Tuileries, and every face bespoke melancholy, in place of the gaiety which French troops usuall}" display. Captain Napier thinks of going from this to Auxerre in his iron steamboat in a few days, and perhaps I shall go with him, returning in a week or less. This will be the first steamboat which over went above Paris.' Later in the year Sir Neil Campbell crossed over to England. His younger brother was to sail in the autumn for Columbia, on a sj)ecial mission from the Foreign Office. A letter of October 28 speaks of his witnessing the em- barkation of the latter at Portsmouth. This officer has already been referred to as a brigadier-general in the Spanish army. On his return from Spain, he had been brought under the notice of Mr. Canning, through the favour of his warm friend Mr. Hookham Frere, formerly Minister to that country, whose militaiy correspondent he had been in 1810 ; and within a year of Mr. Canning's succession K 2 132 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. CnAr. YII. to the seals of the Foreign Office, lie was ap23oiiited one of the three commissioners to the newlj-formed Republic of Columbia. On April 18, 1825, he signed, in conjunc- tion with Colonel J. P. Hamilton, the treaty with General Bolivar the President. Colonel Patrick Campbell subseqtientlj became Charge d'Affaires at Bogota, in connection with which mission the following anecdote, as related by himself, may prove of interest. 'H. E., the Vice-President of the Republic, having presented me with an embroidered castle which formed one of the quarters in the arms on the banner with which Pizarro entered Peru in 1533, 1 forwarded the same to Mr. Canning, under the powerful feeling thab this memento of the subjugation of that j)art of the New World could nowhere be in such proper keeping as in the hands of the great statesman to whose liberal and enlightened policy South America stands indebted for the blessings and dignity of political independence.' ^ On Christmas -day 1824, we find Sir Neil Campbell again in Paris, celebrating that anniversary in company with his sister and a party of Scotch friends, under the hospitable roof of Lord and Lady Strathallan. Since his last visit to the French capital a new reign had commenced, Charles X. having succeeded his royal brother Louis XVIII. in the previous September. Sir Neil Campbell was presented to his Majesty on January 18, 1825, by Lord Granville, the English ambassador. In a letter dated March 5, the name of his old friend, Sir C. Napier, occurs in connection with an interestino- episode. 'I wrote you that Colonel Naj)ier, who was wounded and taken prisoner at Corunna, and afterwards allowed to go to England without exchange, had sent me 3 ' It will gratify you to hear castle of the old flag of Pizarro put (wrote Mr. Bandinel, the under- into a very handsome frame, and secretary to Colonel P. Campbell) hung up in his dining-room.' that Mr. Canning has had the Chap. VII. MARSHAL SOULT. 133 a Turkish, sabre, and a very handsome letter to deliver to Marshal Soult."* I have received an invitation from him and Madame la Marechale to a ball on the 10th instant, which. I enclose. It is to be given the day after the mar- riage of their only son.' During- the summer of 1825, Paris was more than usually gay, and full of strangers, on occasion of the sacre, or coronation, of Charles X. The Duke of Northumber- land ^ liad come over as special envoy from England, Yiscount Granville being the ordinary ambassador. ' I believe (writes Sir Neil Campbell, May 12) that in my last I gave you an account of the commencement of Lady Granville's entertainments. Her ladyship receives every Tuesday from two to five, in the house and garden, when people walk about, or sit, and partake of luncheon. Last Tuesday the Duke of Northumberland was there, and a band of music. There are invitations out for balls on Friday and "Wednesday. The Drummonds and myself have ours for Wednesday. The Duke and Duchess will probably be at both. Their Graces go to-day to the Tuile- ries, to be presented, with all the other grand ceremonies. I must finish this to walk out, in hopes of seeing the cortege.' * It was Ney, however, and not sbal also obtained for the drummer Soult, who permitted the actual (who ha,d saved him from being release. See Napier's History of murdered by a French soldier) the the Peninsular War, vol. i. p. 496. decoration of the Legion of Honour. Maj or Napier ' was returned among The events of the war obliged the killed. The morning after the Soult to depart in a few days from battle, the Duke of Dalmatia being Coruuna, but he recommended apprised of Major Napier's situa- Major Napier to the attention of tion, had him conveyed to good Marshal Ney.' quarters, and with a kindness very '" The magnificent Sevres Vase, uncommon wrote to Napoleon, valued at 10,000/., which was pre- desiring that his prisoner might not sented on this occasion by the be seut to France, Avhich (from the French King to Hugh third Duke, system of refusing exchanges) is reported to have narrowly escaped would have been destruction to his destruction during the recent fire at professional prospects. The Mar- Northumberland House. 134 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. TII. Sir Neil Campbell appears to have been greatly struck by tlie little loyalty or emotion which the event of the coro- nation had excited among the French themselves, although it had been so long in expectation. The temper of the people was rather shown in the numberless 'jeuxd'esprit,' of which it was made the occasion. He gives one as ' a good specimen : ' Tu vas avoir rOint du Seigneui*, Pour remplir les esperances. Puisses-tu poiu" notre bonlieur Etre bientot rOint (loin) de la France ! There is another letter, dated June 5. ' To-morrow I go to St. Cloud, to be presented to Madame Gontaut^ and the Due de Bordeaux. On Thursday the 26th I dined with the Duke of Northumberland ; we were twenty at dinner, although Sir John Malcolm, another gentleman, and myself were the only strangers. Everything was very splendid, and the Duke and Duchess most amiable. There are all sorts of reports flying about here, as to the Duke being offended and going away without giving any balls. I believe they are quite untrue. He expected, indeed, to have given a ball to the King ; but this is contrary to usage here, and it would also have obliged all the other Ambas- sadors to have followed his example and the King to attend. His Majesty will be invested with the Garter on the 7th. ' The Duke did not go to Rheims, because it was the only opportunity of leisure he could hope to enjoy, in order to see the sights of Paris. Besides, he required a little rest before the commencement of the fetes. On his first pre- sentation to the King, the Duke made his speech in English. After proceeding veiy well for some time, he came to a dead pause ; but it was near the end of a sen- tence. After the pause he resumed, but soon became ^ Gouvernante des enfans de France. Chap. VII. CORONATION OF CHARLES X. 135 embarrassed again ; on whicli tlie King relieved liim by giving bis reply. Tbis you may rely on, as Sir George Drummond and I had it from your Mend Count de Noe/ wbo was present. Everytbing went off well at Ebeims (except as regards tbe affair of tbe carriage-borses being frigbtened), and even surpassed expectations; so at least tbe Due de Luxembourg and Count de Noe tell me. But I bave not yet seen any Englisbman wbo was present. Sir Jobn Malcolm and I fixed to go down together, but I abandoned tbe intention on account of tbe probable difficulty of getting back. On tbe lltb I dine at tbe Embassy, and on tbe 18tb bave a royal invitation to tbe Tuileries. I enclose a ticket for a fete given by tbe Duke of Bourdeaux at St. Cloud, wbicb I did not make use of. Tbere was a promenade, illuminations in tbe gardens, and dancing witbin. ' After tbe coronation festivities are over, I sball cross to England, and if my rbeumatism returns in tbe winter, I sball probably run out to Colonel Napier ^ in tbe Ionian Islands. Wben tbe shooting season commences, I am engaged to spend a fortnight with Lord Chandos at Wotton.' Having been made a Major-General on tbe 29tb of May, 1825, and bis health being in a measure restored, Sir Neil Campbell became once more desirous of active employ- ment after so long a period of enforced leisure. ' I bave ■^ Hereditary Peer of France, and hospitality sliowu to himself in the one of the Gentilshommes de la days of exile. I well remember the Chamhre. During the emigi-ation Count — a most finished gentleman he had held a commission in one of — as a frequent visitor at my father's the foreig-n regiments of the British apartments in the Rue Caumartin, army. The well-known caricaturist, Paris, during the winter of 1829-30, ' Cham,' is the elder son of the when he was always ready with a Count. His cartoons show, I fear, ticket of admission to some sight or that he is less well-aiFected towards court entertainment. England than was his father, to ^ At this period Colonel, after- whom his old British friends were wards Sir Charles Napier, was constantly indebted for acts of Military Resident at Cephalonia. courtesy and attention, in return for 136 MEMOm OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. seen the Duke of York (writes Lord Cliandos^) ; lie -was very kind, and expressed himself in particularly friendly terms about you ; said you were a very deserving officer, and that your name was on the list for India.' And he himself rejjorts from London, July 20, 1825 : * I am noted for the Staff, and have an official letter to that effect. In my personal interview with the Duke of York, I asked for the East Indies (where I have never served), and His Royal Highness said he would bear it in mind. I have another letter of his, promising to name me to Lord Bathurst as a candidate for a foreign government ; and Mr. Wilmot Horton, in a personal in- terview, gave me to consider myself an early candidate. Lord Bathurst has also written a private letter to m}'^ friend Lord Chandos to the same effect. I am also promised the K.C.B. as vacancies occur, as well as a regiment in my turn.' In the following year a foreign governorship fell vacant, and was accordingly offered to Sir Neil Campbell. It was Sierra Leone and its dependencies, to which was subse- quently added, by the Horse Guards, the Colonelcy of the Royal African Corps. General Turner had died of fever after holding the appointment in succession to Sir Charles Macarthy, who had been killed by the Ashantees in January, 1824. The colony was universally known as the ' white man's grave.' Still Sir Neil did not hesitate for a moment. On the contrary, in s^^ite of the earnest entreaties of loving relatives, and the warm remon- strances of all his friends, he cheerfully accepted the post, and rejoiced at the prospect of a return to active work. As for the climate, he had served three several times in the West Indies, and he persuaded himself that his constitution was impervious to the noxious effects of even a worse latitude. But at any rate, however that might be, the call of duty was with him paramount to all ^ Afterwards second Duke of Buckingham aud Chandos. Ch^p. yil. APrOIXTMEXT TO SIERRA LEONE. 137 other considerations. So lie at once set about making his arrangements for leaving England and taking up Ms residence (for many years as he fondly imagined) in that most pestilential of British colonies. His letters at this period show the sort of spirit with which he again buckled on his harness. Thus to his brother-in-law (Colonel Mac- lachlan) he writes : 'I assure you the more I learn con- cerning the appointment the better I like it, and would on no account exchange it for any of the minor governor- ships in the West Indies. The prejudice against the climate will be renewed by the deaths of two of the ex- I)lorers — Pearce and Morrison;^ but recollect they pene- trated into the interior, and had to live the life of the natives, exposed to sun, night-air, scanty subsistence, &c. I am dreadfully occupied, but well and in high spirits, not- withstanding all your alarms on the subject of my new appointment.' And to one of his sisters : ' I daresay you will view the place with the same dread which prevails generally among the public. General Turner brought on his own death (humanly speaking) by over-zeal. He went on an expedition with 150 men (I believe as far as 100 miles up the river) to destroy a Negro town, and was for two days and nights in an open canoe after the vessel grounded. It is as fine a climate as the West Indies, and although there has been a great mortality there among the troops, this is not the case among the civilians if they do not live intemperately, or expose themselves to dews or night-air. Macarthy and his predecessor Maxwell were there in excellent health for many years. There are two colonial vessels for the use of the governor, besides a steamboat lately sent out, quite independent of the navy. I was offered a passage in the " North Star " frigate, which leaves the river on the 29th, but I could not get ready in 1 Captain Pearce died at Eng-w^a Jannali. See Clapperton's Joe<;-wfl7 o/ on Tuesday, December 27, 1825, a Second Expeditioti into the Interior and Dr. Morrison the same day at of Africa, eh. i. pp. 18, 19. 138 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. time, as I have a good deal to do in preparing my equip- ment, personal as well as for my house. Besides, I have to get instructions as to my functions, which are not only the usual ones, civil and military, but include another which is very complicated, that, viz. of impeding the slave- trade as caiTied on by foreigners, and establishing a system of colonisation for the captured slaves.' Sir Neil Campbell embarked from Plymouth on July 21, in H.M. frigate ' Lively,' accompanied by his Staff, which consisted of two aides-de-camj), and a military and a private secretary. On August 4 he writes from Madeira : ' We landed here on the 1st in full uniform and with due ceremony, and at once marched up to the governor's to pay our respects. With the captain of the " Lively " and my four Staff, besides Lumley the lieutenant-colonel of my regiment, we looked very formidable ! The captain (Elliott) was employed in various services the year be- fore last in the Tagus, and he and aU his officers have Portuguese orders. I and Colonel Lumley likewise wore our Portuguese medals. By a strange coincidence, the regiment stationed here is the one with which the latter served in the Peninsula ! * During our stay, I and my Staff have lived in the house belongrino- to Duff, Gordon & Co., and have been enter- tained with grand feasts daily, consisting of turtle, all sorts of wine and fruits, besides the usual dainties, so that this seems to us quite a paradise ! * To-morrow we proceed to Teneriffe, and from thence to the Cape de Yerde Islands, as these are all in the way, and we may there obtain some information as to the slave- trade.' For this latter purpose the ' Lively ' likewise ran into St. Mary's, at the mouth of the river Gambia, on August 14, and remained for two days. After a passage of thirty-three days, the ' Lively ' an- chored in the harbour of Freetown on the afternoon of Chap. VII. GOLD COAST, 139 Tuesday, August 22, 1826. On tlie following morning Sir Neil Campbell landed under the usual salutes, and at once proceeded to Government House, where lie took the oaths as ' Captain- General and Governor-in-Chief of Sierra Leone and its dependencies.' On September 9, however, he was abruptly called away to the Gold Coast, by the report of some fighting having occurred between the Ashantees and the native tribes. He arrived there on the 18th, and writes from ' Cape Coast Castle : September 21, 1826. ' Everything here is perfectly quiet, and likely to con- tinue so, for a victory was gained over the Ashantees by the native kings and chiefs. There were a few guns, and sixty men of the Eoyal African Corps present. The King of Ashantee was supposed to be wounded. Sir Charles Macarthy's head^ and a marquee formerly presented to him were found in his camp. Colonel Purdon sent home the head by a merchant-vessel before my arrival here. I hope there will be no further trouble in the mediation, and that the country will be permanently tranquillised. ' The country about Sierra Leone is the most picturesque possible, like beautiful parts of Switzerland. While there I rode six miles to see one of the African villages, and back after breakfast, without any inconvenience. ' I do not expect to leave this for six weeks more.' On October 10, Sir Neil Campbell paid a visit to both the Dutch and Danish settlements at Accra, on the Guinea coast, returning on the 18th. His letters, even after a few months' experience of the colony, continue as sanguine and hopeful as ever. 2 'On January 21, 1824, tlie totally defeated August 27, 1826, Ashantees defeated about 1,000 by Colonel Purdon.' Haydn's Dic- Britisb under Sir Charles Macarthy tionary of Dates, 12th edit., Art. at Accra, and brought away his skull ' Ashantees.' with others as trophies. They wci'e 140 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VH. ' Cape Coast Castle, November 12, 1826. ' You will be glad to hear tliat T have enjoyed excellent health ever since my arrival in Africa ; and my firm con- viction is, that the climate is fully as good as in the West Indies. On my coming here, I found that the Ashantees had returned to their own country after the victory gained over them. It was grossly exaggerated in every way, and, after the first day, no one followed them ; nor since then has any one ventured to enter their territory. I hope that in future our settlements may remain neutral, and that I may be able to stay in the northern part of my government, between Sierra Leone and the Gambia. There the steam- boat wiU be very advantageous to me, but not here. There is such a surf along the whole of this part of Africa, that a vessel at anchor rolls most uncomfortably, and only the canoes of the place can attempt a landing, except on very rare occasions. 'I hope to leave this in a week at latest, and to be about ten days on my voyage to Sierra Leone. This climate, I am convinced, is not so bad as people think, and certainly equal to the West Indies. Officers, when they come out, are full of apprehension. Some live hard in order to drown care ; while others lose the only time for active exercise, which is early morning, and lay the seeds of fever by remaining in bed to a late hour. Those who survive exacfsrerate the dano-ers, in order to enhance the value of their claim for promotion. ' This is a beautiful place. A fort close to the sea in front, a town of mud-houses thatched, with a few better ones occupied by the merchants ; then three towers perched on different heights ; and beyond, again, hills covered with wood. On one side of the town, and about three-quarters of a mile distant from it is a lake, separated only from the sea by a beach about a stone's throw across. The lake is about a mile and a quarter in length, and half a mile broad, surrounded by low heights Chap. VIT. SC^ENEEY AT GOLU COAST. 141 covered with wood, and patches of corn land. In any other part of the world the scenery would be very much admired. The misfortune is that there is no cultivation to be perceived. The people live almost entirely upon corn, which they pound between two large stones, until by adding a little water it becomes very adhesive like pud- ding. In this state they boil it, and add salt. They never cultivate the same spot longer than one year, at the end of which time they go some miles further into the woods, and erect some huts, fifteen or twenty in number, in a valley. They cut down the bushes and trees, set fire to them, and a week afterwards scatter about their corn. Each stalk grows from five to six feet in height, when reaped a few months afterwards. No trees or bushes are rooted out, so that, by the following year, they grow up again, and no vestige of cultivation is perceived. ' Slavery is still universal, although there is no expor- tation from the vicinity of our settlements. All the head- men have their slaves, now called servants. They work three days alternately for their master and for themselves, and carry their corn, with a few fowls and fruit, into the town. ' 1 have sent home to you (by my A.D.C., McMurdo wlio is invalided upon medical certificate), some gold rings of a very rough kind, belonging to the King of Ashantee's wives, which were found upon the field of battle.' Sir Neil Campbell was unsuccessful in arranging terms between the native chiefs and their great enemy, the King of Ashantee. The ' Freetown Eoyal Gazette ' states : ' We under- stand that his Excellency the Governor, immediately on his arrival at Cape Coast, assembled most of the Con- federates, and proposed to give the King of Ashantee an opi)ortunity of opening a communication, and of asking for jpeace ; in which case his Excellency informed them, that he would mediate a general pacification, in which the Governors of the Dutch and Danish settlements very 142 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. cordially and frankly united. But such, was the inveteracy of these chiefs against the Ashantees, that they would neither unite in any attempt to afford this opportunity to that nation, nor permit any person from his Excellency to pass through the cordon formed by them.' During his residence at the Gold Coast, Sir Neil Camp- bell devoted himself with characteristic zeal and assiduity to the novel duties imposed upon him, such as inspecting the accounts of the civil and military establishments (for which the disbursements were out of all proportion, and in which great reductions were accordingly effected), and generally endeavouring to render the forts what they were intended for, a ' protection for our trade and for the gradual advancement of the civilisation of the natives.' With the same object in view,' ' the schools for educating the rising generation received their due share of support and en- couragement.' Another important point to which he applied himself most vigorously, was the general want of roads, and the repair of those abeady existing. ' There are very few roads,' he notes, ' excepting through some of the valleys close to the town, and two only extend for six or seven miles, but in so neglected a state, and so overgrown with bushes, as to be almost imj)assable. The mode of taking exercise is in a low phaeton drawn by four bipeds. Two drag the pole, and two a rope, and with a gentle descent, or along a flat, run very fast.' From one of bis letters at this period, we catch a glimpse of some of the earlier explorers of interior Africa, a ground trodden of late years by still more distinguished travellers. * There are only two very small horses here, like Shet- land ponies, only slighter. They came from Katimga, or Eyeo, where Captain Clapx^erton was in March last, and where the gentleman who brought down these horses left him, about 400 miles from the coast. No further accounts Chap. VII. EETURN TO SIERRA LEONE. 143 have been received from or of Captain Clapperton, but there was every prospect of liis joining his old friends. I much fear from an account received in May last, that Dr. Dickson and his servant were killed soon after they left Dahomey.' Sir Neil Campbell left Cape Coast Castle on November 15, and arrived at Sierra Leone on the 23rd. A notice, dated two days' after, gives a key to the vehement com- plaints which were soon being directed against him from various quarters, both in the colony and at home, and were continued without stint or remorse even after his death. ' Secretary's Office, Freetown, Sierra Leone, ' November 25, 1826. * All persons holding situations under the government of this colony, from which they derive fees of office, are hereby desired to immediately transmit schedules of the same (under cover to this office), for the information of his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief.' He who never spared himself was not likely to allow of any malpractices, or neglect of duty, on the part of others, while too his own line of conduct lay XDlain and straight before him, viz. to endeavour, by every possible means, and at the risk of any personal unpopularity, to reduce the heavy load of expenditure which was weighing down the infant colony.^ His activity never slackened, so long as health was spared to him ; but there seems to have been little time left either for letters or diary. One scanty note records, ' 1826 Dec"" 9 to Wellington,'^ and back DeC 11. Dec"" 13 to Loceo, and back Dec'" 16.' ^ ' A cliarter was granted in 1802 sions of tlie late African Company to the Sierra Leone colony ; it was on the Gold Coast were annexed to subsequently revised, and (with Sierra Leone.' Montgomery Mar- some alterations) confirmed, first in tin, History of the British Colonies, 1808, when the settlement was * Sierra Leone.' transferred to the Crown, and finally ^ 'On Sir Neil Campbell's as- in 1821, when the forts and posses- suming the government of the 144 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. On December 20 he was seized with fever; and al- though, on that day month, the official announcement was made of ' the recovery of H. E. the Governor from his late alarming illness,' more than one dangerous relapse followed. He writes from 'Kissey, near Freetown, March 3, 1827 : * T have to ask your forgiveness for so long a silence, but I have had three different illnesses, and could scarcely write till now. ' On my return from the Gold Coast, I had a great many roads and buildings to expedite, and rode a very hot English horse daily from four till six. On one occasion I returned in a violent perspiration when dinner was on the table, and put on an entire change of linen, just taken out of a trunk. The same thing, in the heat of summer, would have pro- duced a fever in any country. On December 20 I was laid on my back. After being convalescent, and being able to go out in my phaeton, and to walk a few yards at a time with the help of a stick, I was seized with ague, which threw me back to as bad a state as before. Then ag-ain a third attack reduced me more than either of the former ones, accompanied by such violent salivation and sore throat, that for four days I was almost suffocated. Still I am convinced that climate had nothing to do with my illnesses, and no bad effects remain from these beyond debility, which compels me to lie on a sofa a great part of the day, while I dictate my despatches. ' I have anticipated every wish of the Government in my arrangements on the Gold Coast ; and in this colony, too, I colony, he formed the villages of manee country. 2. The Central, the liberated Africans into three or Mountain, District comprises divisions: 1. Eastern, or River, Leicester, Gloucester, Regent (Wil- District comprises Kissey, Welling- berforce), Bathurst (Leopold), ton, Allen Town, Hastings, Water- Charlotte, and Grassfield. 3. The loo, and Calmont ; these villages Western, or Sea, District comprises lie to the S.E. of Freetown, along York, Kent, and the Bananas.' the eastern border of the colony on Gazetteer of the World, vol. vi. the Bimnee river and in the Tim- xVrt. 'Sierra Leone.' Chap. VII. ' BATHURST TOWN. 145 have every assui'ance of fall approbation from Earl Bath- urst for all my views and measures. I feel very sanguine that the results at the end of a year will be such as to remove from the minds of Ministers and Parliament (not the West India Planters !) much of the prejudice against this noble colony which has existed, and with justice, from the gross mismanagement and expense. 'A friend in London engaged me at his house to dine there at the end of three years, but I doubt whether I shall wish to go so soon. ' This is a magnificent government. Two fine rivers from the interior unite near this, with the flow of the tide for sixty miles ! The scenery is not inferior to the finest in Switzerland, for thii'ty or forty miles from Freetown ; and a great part of this, which was only a horse-road, will in a few weeks be fit for a carriage. The climate is fully as healthy as the average of the West Indies. * I have sent a medical man to make a report on the town at the Gambia, the site of which, I fear, has been badly chosen.' On March 20, Sir Neil Campbell proceeded to inspect Sherboro', an island forty miles lower down the coast, with the view apparently of its being used as a sanatorium ; returning to Freetown on April 5, and being again on the move upon the 17th, when he set out for Bathurst, which is 500 miles to the north. He wi'ites from ' Bathurst Town, on the Gambia,' April 30, 1827: 'I arrived here three days ago in the steam- vessel from Sierra Leone, which we left on the 17th. With the voyage I find my strength quite returned, and no illness whatever. ' In a few days I leave this again for Macarthy's Island, 350 miles up the river, in the steam- vessel ; and, if the water is not too shallow, shall go higher. The steam- L 146 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. CgAP, VII. vessel will afford me comforts whicL. Patrick did not enjoy in ascending the Magdalena ! ' ^ From a short memorandum in his handwriting, it ap- pears that his purpose was carried out, and that he must have ascended the Eiver Gambia for several hundred miles. ' May, 1827, 4th, left Bathurst ; 6th, Macai-thy's Island ; 14th, Fatatendi ; 17th, left it, and arrived at Bathurst, 31st.' At Bathurst he remained till June 16, when he set off on his return to the seat of government. The above was the last letter ever received by any of his relatives at home. In the autumn of the same year, after having waited anxiously for further tidings during several months, they first learned through the public prints the news of his death, which had occurred on August 14. The medical report ran as follows : * After a febrile indisposition of several days, against which he endeavoured to contend, H.E. Major-General Sir Neil Campbell reluctantly submitted ^ to medical treatment ^ The reference is here to the the King's messenger (Krauss), and following letter fi-om Sir Neil with only my cloak, my carpet-bag, Campbell's brother : — ' On arriving and my despatch -box in a small at Carthagena from England, on the canoe (hollowed out of a tree) 2nd of Februar}^ [1825], in order to without cover, and exposed for ten negotiate the treaty with Colum- successive days and nights to the bia, I found that as the Congress effects of a tropical sun and tropical then sitting at Bogota would close rains. The messenger suffered so before the end of the month, and much from the hardships and perils that every treaty required by law of this voyage (for we were more the ratification of that body, such than once in danger of being lost ratification could not take place on some small rapids) that he waa until the meeting of Congress in obliged to return. I anived at the ensuing year, unless I should Bogota in time to conclude the ai-rive at Bogota very speedily. I treaty, and to obtain its ratifica- therefore resolved to leave the large tion, and it was despatched to Eng- and comfortable vessel — in w^hich land before the end of April.' ■were Mr. Wood, Consul to Guaya- ^ ' Sir Neil Campbell, an officer quil, Mr. Wall, Attache to the Le- of high reputation, said to the co- gation, as also my servants and lonial surgeon, '' Doctor, there are baggage — and I proceeded up the two things I wish you to do : tell River Magdalena, a distance of me when I am really in danger, nearly 500 ujiles, accompanied by but give me no calomel whatever." Chap. VII. LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 147 on Monday tlie 5tli inst., after which period he laboured tinder the usual symptoms of intermittent fever. On the morning of the 9th a remission took place, when H. E., contrary to the repeated and urgent solicitations of his medical attendants, entered deeply into public business of rather an agitating nature. On the same evening the complaint returned, and was followed by an alarming loss of mental power, which continued, and was accompanied by gradual sinking of the bodily powers until the morning of the 14th, when H.E. expired at nine o'clock.' *0f course,' writes a naval officer upon the station, ' you have ere this received an account of the death of the Governor, Sir Neil Campbell ; he seems to be univer- sally lamented. Oh, this horrible climate ! ' He had never, however, allowed himself to think ill of it, nor could he be persuaded to take the precautions which were absolutely requisite. 'Whatever his hand found to do, he did it with all his might, '^ and even over- taxed his strength, both of mind and body. An old and official friend, in a letter to Sir Neil Camp- bell's brother in Columbia, thus wrote with characteristic warmth and freedom : * You may believe that I 'sympathise with you sincerely on the loss of your amiable brother, and my long and much-esteemed friend and i^layfellow of former days, whom I had for so many years been accustomed to regard with affection. His own anxious, zealous — I may add, fidgety — disposition has deprived his family and relatives A few months after assuming offif^e the fatal plum-tree. Beside him he was attaclied with fever. Tlie lie three other Governors, the tra- surgeon immediately gave him veller Denham, Colonel lumley, twenty grains of calomel (disguised), and Major Temple. — Alexander's and told his honour to keep the Colonies of West Africa, vol. i. house. Next day the surgeon saw p. 112. him dressed, and out walking. But '' ' Agite pro viribus ' was his the same night he was laid on his family motto, bed, and was quickly transferred to L 2 148 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. of a name they were proud of, and his country of a vahiable public servant. I assure you that that country, to whose service he had been so long and honourably devoted, very cordially and sincerely mourns his loss. He laboured and fagged himself to death in the thankless endeavour to cleanse that Augean stable. The gentleman who brought home the account of his death tells me that " lie took almost every department into his own hands. The situation of clerks was a sinecure, and from sunrise to sunset the pen was in his hands. Even at his meals he was writing.' * Soiae Sierra Leone merchants had waited on Mr. Hus- kisson^ as Colonial Secretary, to complain of some of Neil's measures, and accusing him of harshness. Mr. H. said he was personally acquainted with Su' Neil, and that he knew him to be mild and most gentlemanlike. K the complaint was well-founded, the climate must have sadly altered a very amiable disposition. ' Some of the rascals, whose peculation and plunder of the public purse he had restrained, have attacked his public conduct in the newspaper ; but they have met with severe handling, even in the papers that published their attacks on him. If you can get the " Times " of the 16th and 18th you will see his memory done justice to.' The former of the two leading articles here mentioned concludes thus : ' We began this article by lamenting the sacrifice of Sir Neil Campbell to the horrible service which had been inflicted on him. It gives us but slender consolation to add — what is due, nevertheless, to our own personal feel- lings, to the friends of that meritorious officer, and to his own miblemished fame — that the British Army did not boast a soldier more intrepid or more devoted to honour ® The Right Hon. William IIus- from August 8, 1827, to Jauuary, kisson was Minister for the Colonies 1828. in Lord Goderich's Goverumeut; Chap. VII. NOTICES IN THE 'TIMES.' 149 and to duty ; nor did society contain a gentleman wliose heart was more generous, affectionate, and true.' A letter signed 'Africanus,' commenting unfavourably on this article, while yet admitting that Sir Neil Campbell was ' a brave soldier in the field and a perfect gentleman in the drawingroom,' drew forth the following rejoinder from the ' Times : ' * We have fulfilled our promise to a correspondent sign- ing himself Africanus, by publishing his letter on the sub- ject of Sir ISTeil Campbell and of Sierra Leone. ' In noticing the death of the late Governor of that pes- tilential colony, we felt it a duty to truth, and to the deceased, to state what we knew of our own knowledge respecting him : 1st. That he was a most intrepid and zealous of&cer ; 2nd. That he was a gentleman of kind and excellent heart. ' That the anger of this correspondent Africanus has been moved in no small degree by the article wherein we declared our sentiments of Sir Neil Campbell, as a soldier and a gentleman, is sufficiently obvious, without our taking the trouble to point it out. He begins his address to us by observing, that our " panegyric upon the character of Sir Neil Campbell affords a striking proof of the little de- pendence that can be placed on newspaper authority in such cases." * And how does this writer bring out his proof of the fallacy with which he charges us ? He talks of Sir Neil Campbell — whether truly or falsely we are indeed quite ignorant — as " being violent and arbitrary in his conduct ever since he entered on his official duties at SieiTa Leone." Now, as we had not said or hinted a single word about the public conduct of the late Governor, but merely praised his private and professional qualities, — how, we should like to ask, does the writer justify the unmannerly sen- tences with which he has commenced his letter ? Has he ventured to say that Sir Neil Campbell was not brave, or 150 MEMOIR OF SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Chap. VII. not warm-liearted and honest ? — that he was not formidable to his enemies, and dear to his friends ? — for these were the onlj points of his character which we had touched upon.' With these brief extracts from Articles written by a genial and kindly though impartial pen, we close our Memoir, — adding only for ourselves, that the remembrance of the tall figure and pleasant presence of him, who has been its subject, and whose unselfish and generous nature endeared him to all, still lives on, fresh and green as ever, in the hearts of his surviving relatives, and has made this record of his ' Life and Services ' a very ' labour of love.' A monument in Kilmartin Church, Argyleshire, records as follows : TO THE MEMORY OF HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOK-GENEEAL SIR NEIL CAMPBELL, C.B., COLOJfEL OF THE KOTAL AFRICAN CORPS ; GOVER::fOR AND COMMANDER-I^r-CHIEF OF SIERRA LEONE AND ITS DEPENDENCIES; SON OF NEIL CAMPBELL, ESQ., OF DrNTROON AND OIB ; BORN MAY 1, 1776; WHO, AFTER ARDUOUS AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICES IN THE WEST INDIES, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS, AND FRANCE, AT LENGTH PELL A SACRIFICE TO THE BANEFUL CLIMATE OF AFRICA, ON AUGUST 14, 1827; BELOVED, ADMIRED, AND LAMENTED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM : THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY HIS SOLE SURVIVING BROTHER, PATRICK CAMPBELL, LIEUT.-COL. ROYAL ARTILLERY, HIS majesty's CONSUL-GENERAL IN EGYPT, AS THE LAST TESTIMONY OF AFFECTION AND REGRET. ' Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him : but weep sore for him tliat goeth away : for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.' (Jer. xxii. 10.) JOURNAL OP SIR NEIL CAMPBELL. Fkom April 9, 1814, to April 1, 1815. CHAPTEE I. AKEIVAL rsr PAEIS — APPOINTED BEITISH COMMISSIONER — IN-STBTrC- TIONS FROM LOED CASTLEREAGH — GOES TO FONTAHSTEBLEAU — FIRST INTERVIEW WITH NAPOLEON — TREATY OF FONTAINEBLEAU — VA- KIOUS ANECDOTES. Having received two wounds upon the afternoon of March. 25, 1814, at Fere Champenoise, near Yitry, I was pre- vented from accompanying the Allied Armies on their march to Paris, and did not arrive in the French capital until April 9. Even then, being still unable to undertake any duty, or to mix in society, I had no knowledge of the important arrangements in progress regarding the future destiny of Napoleon, except through the channel of the daily newspapers. I was therefore quite unprepared for a message from Lord Castlereagh, which I received on the 14th, making me the offer to accompany, in a day or two, the ci-devant Emperor from Fontainebleau to the island of Elba, an offer which I willingly accepted. For, although still very unfit for travelling, and that it was entirely optional with myself either to accept or to decline this duty, it yet presented so many points of interest, that I resolved at all risks to undertake it. Upon the 15th, I received a second message to wait on Lord Castlereagh the folTowing morning at nine o'clock, provided with my own means of conveyance, as it was intended that my instructions should then be commu- nicated to me, and that I should proceed direct from 154 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. I. liis Lordship's house to FontaineMeau, in company witli his secretary, Mr. Planta. These arrangements were put into execution. Lord Castlereagh delivered to me a paper of written instruc- tions, and informed me that an Austrian, Eussian, and Prussian officer,^ ah-eady at Eontainebleau, would proceed with me to fulfil the duty explained in that paper ; that the period of my stay at Elba would depend on Bonaparte's wishes and my own management ; that the mission would afford me many interesting and useful opportunities for the observation of his character and proceedings, feelings and position in his new residence. His lordship's formal letter ran as follows : 'Paris, April 16, 18U. * Sir, — I have to acquaint you that you have been se- lected, on the part of the British Government, to attend the late Chief of the French Government to the island of Elba. * You will be accompanied by an Austrian, a Prussian, and Eussian officer of rank ; you will act in entire concert with them in the execution of this mission, and conduct yourself, as far as circumstances will permit, with every proper respect and attention to Napoleon, to whose secure asylum in that island it is the wish of his Eoyal Highness the Prince Eegent to afford every facility and protection. ' Should you experience any interruption, either during your progress, or after your arrival, from any of His Majesty's officers by sea or land, you will explam to them the nature of the service with which you are entrusted, and that you are authorised by me to signify to them the Prince Eegent's commands, that they do resj)ect and conform to such orders as you may have occasion to issue in fatherance of this service. * You will acquaint Napoleon, in suitable terms of atten- ' The Prussian Commissioner, on tlie morning of April 17. — however, did not arrive until early Ed. Chap. I. ARRIVAL AT FONTAINEBLEAU. 155 tion, that yon are directed to reside in the island till further orders, if he should consider that the presence of a British officer can be of use in protecting the island and his person agamst insult or attack. * You will correspond with me in the execution of this service, and you will address yourself for assistance^ so far as circumstances may require it, to any of His Majesty's servants, civil or military, in the Mediterranean. * You will exercise your own discretion as to the mode of communicating with His Majesty's Government. *I have the honour to be. Sir, your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) ' Castlereagh. 'Col. Campbell, &c. &c.' Mr. Planta and myself arrived at Fontainebleau after dark on the evening of the 16th, crossing some picquets of the French Guards in bivouac, and drove up to the iron railings in front of the palace. An officer, who was called by the sentinel, immediately came out from the guard, and led us into the palace. After a short inter- view with General Count Bertrand, le Grand Marechal de la Cour, he offered us apartments in the palace, statinof that General KoUer and Count Truchess-Wald- bourg, the Austrian and Prussian Commissoners, had already accepted a similar offer; but that the Russian Commissioner, General Schuwalloff, had preferred to take up his residence in the town. Upon our expressing acceptance of this proposal, an under-chamberlain and servants with lights attended us to the suite of rooms prepared, and in about an hour after- wards presented us with a very good supper, informing us, at the same time, that the Commissioners would be ex- pected to breakfast next morning, in company with Count Bertrand and a few of the principal officers of the Emperor's staff and household. We were further told that the usual 156 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOUEXAL. Chap. L hours at tlie palace were 10 a.m. for dejeuner a la fourchette, and 6 p.m. for dinner. In the short conversation held by Mr. Planta and myself, on our first arrival, with Count Bertrand (who was very civil, but wore at the same tune an appearance of great dejection), he expressed himself in most melancholy terms respecting the island of Elba ; that it was very small, very barren, part of it extremely unwholesome from the exhala- tions of the salt-i)onds, and that there was very little wood or good water to be had ; that ' the Emperor ' (which title appeared to be repeated with studied formality) was very anxious to quit Eontainebleau upon his journey, and to travel as much incognito as possible, but wished to change the place of embarkation from St. Tropez to Piombino, as being the nearest point of Tuscany to Elba. The reasons alleged for the anxiety to substitute Piombino for St. Tropez appeared very puerile when connected with changes of such vast importance as those of Napoleon's ti'ansfer from the Empire of France to the petty sovereignty of Elba ! These reasons were that the French officer who commanded in Elba might refuse to receive us, and that while waiting off the island, until that difficulty should be removed, the vessel might be driven off by a tempest, &c. He further expressed a hope that I would go to the island of Elba, and even remain there until affairs were settled, for fear of a landing by pirates. He appeared greatly soothed when I told him that the instructions of Lord Castlereagh pre- scribed to me to prolong my stay, if considered necessary by Napoleon for his security. On the following morning (April 17), the other Com- missioners and myself assembled at breakfast, in company with Generals Bertrand, Drouot, Lefebvre-Desnouettes, and Flahault, three or four other Generals of the Guards, and some junior Aides-de-Camp. As soon as the meal was finished. Count Flahault informed us individually, that the Emperor was then in the chapel, attending Mass, and Chap. I. INTERVIEW WITH NAPOLEON, 157 that immediately afterwards lie wished to have separate interviews with each of us. General Koller passed out of the gallery, and saw him at his devotions. He described him as appearing in the most perturbed and distressed state of mind — sometimes rubbing his forehead with his hands, then stuffing part of his fingers into his mouth, and gnawing the ends of them in the most agitated and excited manner. We were presently conducted to an antechamber, and called into Napoleon's room by an aide-de-camp, succes- sively, in the following order : First, the Russian Commissioner, who remained for about five minutes, and had some ordinary question put to him respecting the Emperor Alexander. Next the Austrian Commissioner, whose interview was of the same nature and duration. Thirdly, myself, who had the honour of remaining for a quarter of an hour. Fourthly, the Prussian Commissioner, whom Napoleon only detained for about one minute, putting to him some very indifferent question, and then dismissing him with a cold bow of conge. It was a strange feeling that came over me, when the aide-de-camj), after announcing my name, retired shutting the door, and I found myself suddenly closeted with that extraordinary man, whose name had been for so many years the touchstone of my professional and national feel- ings, and whose appearance had been presented to my imagination in every form that exaggeration and caricature could render impressive. I saw before me a short active- looking man, who was rapidly pacing the length of his apartment, like some wild animal in his cell. He was dressed in an old green uniform with gold epaulets, blue pantaloons, and red topboots, un&haven, uncombed, with the fallen particles of snuff scattered profusely upon his upper lip and breast. 158 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. I. Ui^on liis becoming aware of my presence, lie turned quickly towards me, and saluted me with a courteous smile, evidently endeavouring to conceal his anxiety and agitation by an assumed placidity of manner. He first asked me several questions about my wounds — which were plainly observable from the bandages upon my head, and my arm being carried in a sling — the circumstances under which they were received, the period and occasions of my service in the army, the particulars of my Russian orders and British military decorations, upon what claims and to what rank they had been accorded, what part of Great Britain I was from. On my replying, from Scotland, he inquired whether I, like himself, was an admirer of Ossian's poems, adding here, ' Je les aime beaucoup, car il y a quel- que chose tres-guerriere.' ' Oui, Sire,' I answered, ' on a dit en Angleterre que Yotre Majeste les aimait beaucoup.' "^ While speaking of my professional occupations, he was led to remark upon the war in the Peninsula, and to con- trast the characters of the Sxjanish and Portuguese people, saying of the former, ' C'est un peuple de beaucoup de caractere. Vous avez bien tire votre parti la.' ' He referred to the defences of Ciudad Eodrigo, Badajoz, and St. Sebastian, to the campaign in Egypt also, inquiring whether I was personally acquainted with Lord Hutchin- son.'* He spoke of the attack upon Bergen-op-zoom as an affair which did honour to the General (Sir Thomas Graham) who directed it, as well as to the British troops ; but that we were quite misled as to the strength of the French garrison, and that they were prepared for the assault, having been made aware of our intentions. ' ' I like them mucli, for there is to the command of the British army somethinfr very martial about them.' in Egypt, upon the death of Sir 'Yes, Sire; it has been said in Ralph Abercromby at the battle England that your Majestj^ ad- of Alexandria, March 21, 1801, and mired them greatly.' was raised to the peerage .as Baron ^ 'They are a people of strong Hutchinson. In August 1825 he character. You have acted your became second Earl of Donough- part well there.' more. — Ed. * General Ilutchinpon succeeded CHAr. I. INTERVIEW WITH NAPOLEON. 159 He asked whether the great road which he had begun from Bordeaux to Bayoiine was finished, and then went on to inquire anxiously as to the reports of an aifair ^ which had occurred since the occupation of Paris between the armies of Lord Wellington and Marshal Soult. He passed high encomiums upon the former, inquired as to his age, habits, &c. When I described his Lordship's great activity, he observed, ' C'est un homme de vigueur dans la guerre. Pour bien faire la guerre, il faut en avoir comme cela.' ^ His conversation turned almost entirely upon military subjects, and events connected with the British army, on which he seemed to reflect with the deepest interest ; but he did not once touch upon the operations of the other allied armies. He paid many compliments to the British nation for their union and national feelings, in which, he considered, they so much excelled the French. ' Votre nation,' he said, ' est la plus grande de toutes. Elle est plus estimee par moi que toutes les autres. J'ai ete votre plus grand en- nemi, franchement tel, mais je ne le suis plus. J'ai voulu aussi elever la nation fran9aise, mais mes plans n'ont j)as reussi. C'est le destin.' ^ Here he stopped short, seeming greatly affected, and the tears were in his eyes. After a pause, he asked whether Lord Castlereagh in- tended to remain long in Paris, as he supposed it would be necessary for him to return soon to England to meet the Parliament, and then proceeded to inquire as to the powers vested in me by his Lordship's instructions. He expressed satisfaction at hearing that I was to accompany * The battle of Toulouse, fought any other, I have been your April 10, 1814. — Ed. greatest enemy — frankly such ; but ® ' He is a man of energy in war. I am so no longer. 1 have wished To carry on war successfully, one likewise to raise the French nation, must possess the like quality.' but my plans have not succeeded. '' ' Yours is the greatest of all It is all destinj^' nations. I esteem it more than IGO SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. I. him to Elba, if he so desired, and to remain in the island so long as my services might be required. He was anxious, he said, that a British man-of-war might convoy, as a protection against Algerine pirates, the corvette ordered by the French Government for his use ; and inquii-ed particularly what powers I would exert towards procuring such an escort, or in obtaining a passage for him, should he j)refer embarking in a British man-of-war, or in case the French vessel might not be ready at the place ap- pointed. * N'avez-vous pas le pouvoir de me procurer un batiment de guerre anglais pour accompagner la corvette. ? Car j e ne sais pas quand elle arrivera, et meme je voudrais peut-etre en preference embarquer dans un batiment anglais.' ^ I stated the outline of my official instructions with regard to affording him facilities and protection after his arrival in the island of Elba ; but as these did not provide precisely for the contingencies in question, he himself, and afterwards the Duke of Yicenza^, requested me to solicit from Lord Castlereagh exact directions, conveyed in such terms as would secure their being complied with by any British admiral or captains of His Majesty's navy, should it be found necessary to apply for their assistance. He concluded by saying, ' Eh bien, je suis a votre dis- position ! Je suis votre sujet. Je depends entierement sur vous.' ^ And then, having been with him fully a quarter of an hour, he made me a bow of conge, free from any assump- tion of hauteur ; and my first interview with Napoleon was ended ! I wrote in the afternoon of the same day to Lord ^ 'Have you not tlie power of vessel.' obtaining for me an English man- ^ Caulaincourt. of- war, to accompany the corvette ? ^ ' Very well, I am at your dis- For I do not know when the latter posal. I am your subject. I de- will arrive, and perhaps I may even pend entirely upon you.' prefer to embarlc in an English Chap. I. LETTER FROM LORD CASTLEREAGH. 161 Castlereagh for further instructions, and received in due course the following reply : 'Paris: April 18, 1814. * Sir, —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter. My instructions furnish you with authority to call upon His Majesty's officers, by sea and land, to give all due facility and assistance to the execution of the service with which you are entrusted. ' I cannot foresee that any enemy can molest the French corvette, on board of which it is proposed that Napoleon should proceed to his destination. ' If, however, he should continue to desire it, you are authorised to call upon any of His Majesty's cruisers, (so far as the public service may not be thereby prejudiced,) to see him safe to the island of Elba. You will not, however, suffer this aiTangement to be made a cause of delay. ' There can be no objection (if the accommodation on board of the English ship-of-war is preferable) to Napo- leon being received and conducted to his destination. ' I have the honour to be. Sir, your obedient humble servant, (Signed) ' Castlereagh. ' To Col. Campbell, &c. &c., Fontainebleau.' Immediately on receipt of the above, I made known its contents verbally to General Count Bertrand. Soon afterwards, we, the Allied Commissioners, as- sembled together, and agreed to communicate frankly to each other any circumstance worth knowing, of which we might individually become apprised. It was then that I was first made aware of the exact particulars of the treaty between Napoleon and the Allied Powers, signed at Paris upon April 11, of which each of the other Com- missioners possessed a co^Dy. The reason of my ignorance appeared to be, that the treaty had not as yet been signed by Lord Castlereagh on M 162 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOUENAL. Chap. I. the part of England, on account of certain objections ; ^ and I tlierefore, as British Commissioner, had received no official intimation of its existence. This treaty, composed of twenty-one Articles, had been signed by Prince Metternich and Count Stadion on the part of Austria ; Count Rasomouffsky and Count Nessel- rode on the part of Russia ; Baron Hardenberg on the part of Prussia ; and Marshal Ney and Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza, on the j)art of Napoleon. ^ Viscount Castlereagli to Earl Batliurst. ' 1 the niglit of my arrival [April 10, 1814], the four Ministers had a conference with the Prince of Benevento on the suhject of the proposed convention, to which I stated ni}- objections, desiring, at the same time, to be understood as not m-ofino: them then, at the hazard of the internal tranquillity of France, nor the impeachment of what was due, in good faith to the assurance given, under the exigency of the mo- ment, by Russia. ' The Prince of Benevento admit- ted the weight of many of the ob- jections, but declared that he did consider it on the part of the Pro- visional Govei'nment as an object of the first importance to avoid any- thing that might assume the cha- racter of a civil war, even for the shortest time. That he also found 6ome such measure essential to make the army pass over in a temper to be made use of. Upon these declarations, and the Count de Nessekode's, that the Emperor his master had felt it necessary, in the absence of the Allies, to act for the best in their name as well as his own, I withdrew my further opposition to the principle of the measure, suggesting only some alterations in the details. I de.'rired, however, to decline, on the part of my Government, being more than an acceding party to the treaty, and declared that the act of accession on the part of Great Britain should not go beyond the territorial ar- rangements proposed in the treaty. My objections to our being unneces- sarily mixed up in its forms, espe- cially in the recognition of Napo- leon's title under present circum- stances, were considered as perfectly reasonable, and I now enclose the Protocol and Note, which will ex- plain the extent to which I have talien upon me to give assurances on the part of my court. ' At my suggestion, the recogni- tion of the Imperial titles in the fa- mily were limited to their respective lives, for which there was a prece- dent in the case of the King of Poland, when he became Elector of Saxony. [Enclosure —Protocol.] ' Lord Castlereagh, Minister of His Britannic Majesty, declared that England could not become a party to the treaty, but engaged to notify, as soon as possible, the accession of his court to so much of that treaty as concerns the free possession and the peaceable enjoyment, in full sovereignty, of the island of Elba, and of the Duchies of Parma, Pla- centia, and Guastalla.' — Ed. CnAr. I. TREATY OF FOKTAINEBLEAU. 163 ' Articles du Traite entre les Puissances Alliees et 8a Majeste VEimpereur Napoleon.^ 'Art. 1. — S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon renoiice pour lui, ses successeurs et descendants, ainsi que tous les membres de safamille, a tout droit de souverainete et de domination, tant sur I'empire francais que sur le royaume d'ltalie et tout autre pays. 'Art. 2. — LL. MM. I'Empereur Napoleon et Marie- Louise conserveront leurs titres et rang pour en jouir pendant leur vie. La mere, les freres, soeurs, neveux et nieces de I'Empereur conserveront aussi, en quelque lieu qu'ils resident, les titres de sa famille. ' Art. 3. — L'ile d'Elbe, que I'Empereur Napoleon a clioisie pour le lieu de sa residence, formera pendant sa vie une principaute separee qu'il possedera en toute sou- verainete et pro]3riete. II sera en outre accorde, en toute propriete, a I'Empereur Napoleon un revenu annuel de deux millions de francs, qui sera porte comme rente sur le grand livre de France, de laquelle somme un million sera reversible a I'lmperatrice. 'Art. 4. — Les duclies de Parme, de Plaisance et de Guastalla seront donnes en toute propriete et souverainete 3 'Articles of the Treat;/ hctwcen retain, wherever they may reside, the Allied Poivers and Bis Majesty the titles of princes of his family. the Emperor Napoleon. 'Akt. 3.— The island of Elba, adopted by His Majesty the Emperor 'Art. 1. — His Majesty the Em- Napoleon as the place of his resi- peror Napoleon renounces for him- dence, shall form during his life a self, his successors, and descendants, separate principality, which shall as well as for all the members of be possessed by him in full sove- his family, all right of sovereignty reignty and property ; there shall and dominion, as well to the French be besides granted in full property, Empire, and the kingdom of Italy, to the Emperor Napoleon, an annual as over every other country. revenue of 2,000,000 francs, in reut- *Akt. 2. — Their Majesties the charge, in the great book of France, Emperor Napoleon and Maria Lou- of which 1,000,000 shall be iu re- isa shall retain their titles and rank," version to the Empress, to be enjoyed during their lives. The ' Aet. 4. — The duchies of Parma, mother, brothers, sisters, nephews, Placentia, and Guastalla shall be and nieces of the Emperor shall also granted in full property and sove- M 2 164 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. I. a S. M. rimperatrice Marie-Louise. lis passeront a son fils et a ses descendants en ligne directe. Le prince son ills prendra, a I'avenir, le titre de prince de Parme, de Plaisance et de Guastalla. ' Art. 5. — Toutes les Puissances s'engagent a emj)loyer leurs bons offices aupres des Etats barbaresques pour faire respecter le pavilion de I'ile d'Elbe et a cet effet les rela- tions avec ces Etats seront assimilees a celles de la Prance. ' Aet. 6. — II sera reserve dans les territoires auxquels il est, par le present, renonce a S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon, pour lui et sa famille, des domaines ou des rentes sur le grand livre de France, produisant un revenu, libre de toute charge ou deduction, de deux millions cinq cent mille francs. Ces domaines ou rentes appartiendront en toute propriete aux princes et princesses de sa famille, qui pour- ront en disposer comme ils jugeront a propos. Us seront partages entre eux de maniere a ce que cliacun d'eux ait les revenus suivants : Francs. Madame Mere 300,000 Le roi Josepli et sa femme . . . 500,000 Le roi Louis ...... 200,000 [Le roi Louis a rejete les avantages de cet article.] reignty to Her Majesty the Empress leon for himself and his family, Maria Louisa. They shall pass to domains or rent-charges in the her son, and to the descendants in great book of France, producing a the right line. The prince, her son, revenue, clear of all deductions and shall from henceforth take the title charges, of 2,500,000 francs. These of Prince of Parma, Placentia, and domains and rents shall helonff, in Guastalla. full property, and to be disposed of ' Art. 5.— All the Powers engage as they shall think fit, to the to employ their good offices to cause princes and princesses of his famih^, to be respected by the Barbary and shall be divided among them Powers the flag and territory of the in such a manner that the revenue island of Elba, for which purpose of each shall be in the following the relations with the Barbary proportion j viz. : — Powers shall be assimilated to those Francs. of Erance '^^ Madame Mere . , . 300,000 ' Art. 6.— There shall be reserved ^° ^^''3 J«J*^1* ^"'^ ^^^^ Q^^^™ fOO,000 . , ., . , 1, 1 The Ivmg Louis . . . 200,000 m the territories hereby renounced to His Majesty the Emperor Napo- ^^"'^ ^°"'^ ^^^^"^^ '^^ vor^i<^xi.^ CnAP. I. TREATY OF FONTAINEBLEAU. 165 Francs. La reine Hoi'tense et son enfant . . 400,000 Le roi Jerome et sa fenime . . . 500,000 La princesse Elise (Bacchiocbi) . . 300,000 La princesse Pauline (Borgliese) . . 300,000 * Les princes et princesses de la maison de I'Empereur Napoleon retiendront en outre leur propriete mobiliere et immobiliere, de quelque nature que ce soit, qu'ils possede- ront par droit public et individuel, et les rentes dont ils jouiront comme individus. ' Art. 7. — La pension de I'Imperatrice Josephine sera reduite a un million en domaines on en inscriptions sur le grand livre de France. EUe continuera de jouir en toute propriete de ses proprietes personnelles, mobilieres ou im- mobilieres, avec faculte d'en disposer conformement aux lois de Trance. 'Art. 8. — II sera forme un etablissement convenable hors de France au prince Eugene, vice-roi d'ltalie. * Art. 9. — Les proprietes que I'Empereur JSTapoleon pos- sede en France, soit comme domaines extraordinaires, soit comme domaines particuliers attaches a la couronne, les fonds places par I'Empereur, soit sur le grand livre de Francs, tlie Empress Josephine sliall he re- The Queen Hortense and her ^^^^^^^^ ^^ j ,000,000 francs in domains child .... 400,000 . . ■,■■.-, ^i T c The King Jerome and his or in mscnptions m the great book of Queen .... 500,000 France ; she shall continue to enjoy The Princess Eliza (Bac- in full her property moveable and chiochi) .... 300,000 immoveable, with power to dispose The Princess Paulina (Bor- ^^ ^^ conformable to the French ghese) .... 300,000 ^^^^_ ' The princes and princesses of the < Art. 8.— There shall be granted house of the Emperor !Napoleon to Prince Eugene, Viceroy of Italy, shall besides retain their property, a suitable establishment out of moveable and immoveable, of what- France. ever nature it may be, which they ' Art. 9. — The property which shall possess by individual and the Emperor Napoleon possesses in public right, and the rents of which France, either as extraordinary they shall enjoy (also as indivi- domains or as private domains, duals). attached to the crown, the funds ' Art. 7. — The annual pension of placed by the Emperor, either in the 166 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. I France, soit a la Banque de France, en actions des Forets, ou de toute autre maniere, et que S. M. abandonne a la couronne, seront reservees comme un capital, qui n'exce- dera pas deux millions, pour etre employes en gratifica- tions aux personnes dont les noms seront portes sur uue liste signee par I'Empereur Nai:)oleon et qui sera transmise au gouvernement fran9ais. 'Art. 10. — Tons les diamants de la couronne resteront en France. 'Art. 11. — S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon remettra au Tresor public et autres caisses toutes les sommes qui en auront ete prises par ses ordres, a I'exception de ce qui a ete approprie a la liste civile. • 'Art. 12. — Les dettes de la maison de S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon, telles qu'elles existaient le jour de la signature du present traite, seront payees sur I'arriere du par le Tresor public a la liste civile d'apres I'etat qui sera signe par une commission nommee a cet effet. 'Art. 13. — Les obligations du Mont Napoleon de Milan (Mont de Piete) envers les creanciers fran9ais ou etran- gers seront acquittees, a moins qu'il n'en soit autrement convenu par la suite. great book of France, in the Bank orders, with tlie exception of wliat of France, in the actions des Forets, has been appropriated from the or in any other maimer, and which civil list. His Majesty abandons to the crown, 'Art. 12. — The debts of the shall be received as a capital, which household of His Majesty the Em- shall not exceed two millions, to be peror Napoleon, such as they were expended in gratifications, in favour on the day of the signature of the of such persons whose names shall present treaty, shall be imme- be contained in a list to be signed diately discharged out of the arrears by the Emperor Napoleon, and due by the public Treasury to the which shall be transmitted to the civil list, according to a list which French Government. shall be signed by a commissioner 'Art. 10. — All the crown dia- for that purpose, monds shall remain in France. 'Art. 13. — The obligations of the 'Art. 11. — Ills Majesty the Em- Mount Napoleon of Milan towards peror Napoleon shall return to the all the creditors, whether French- Treasury, and to the other public men or foreigners, shall be exactly chests, all the sums and effects that fulfilled, unless there shall be any shall have befln taken out by his change made in this respect. Chap. I. TEEATY OF FONTAINEBLEAU. 167 'Aet. 14. — Tons les passeports necessaires seront de- livres pour laisser passer librement S. M. I'Empereur Na- poleon, riniperatrice, les princes, les princesses et toutes les personnes de leur suite qui voudraient les accom- pagner ou s'etablir hors de France, ainsi que pour leurs equipages, chevaux et effets. En consequence, les Puis- sances Alliees foui'niront des officiers et des troupes pour I'escorter. 'Art. 15. — La Garde imperiale fran9aise fournira un detacliement de douze a quinze cents hommes de toutes armes pour servir d'escorte a I'Empereur Napoleon jusqu'a St. Tropez, lieu de son embarquement. * Aet. 16. — n sera fourni une corvette et les batiments necessaires pour transporter S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon et sa maison ; et la corvette ai^partiendra en toute propriete a S. M. I'Empereur. 'Aet. 17. — L'Empereur Napoleon pourra prendre avec lui, et retenir comme sa garde, quatre cents hommes, ofii- ciers, sous-officiers et soldats volontaires. 'Aet. 18. — Aucuns Eran9ais, qui auraient suivi I'Empe- reur Napoleon et sa famille, ne seront censes avoir perdu leurs droits de Fran9ais en ne retournant pas dans le cours 'Art. 14. — There shall be given 'Aet, 16. — There shall be fur- all the necessary passports for the nished a corvette and the necessary- free passage of His Majesty the Em- transport-vessels to convey to the peror Napoleon, or of the Empress, place of his destination His Majesty the princes and princesses, and all the Emperor Napoleon and his the persons of their suites who T\-ish household; and the corvette shall to accompany them, or to establish belong in full property to His Ma- themselves out of France, as well as jesty the Emperor. for the passage of all the equipages, * Art. 17. — The Emperor Napo- horses, and effects belonging to leon shall be allowed to take with them. The Allied Powers shall in him, and retain as his guard, 400 consequence furnish officers and men, volunteers, as well officers as men for escorts. sub-officers and soldiers. 'Art. 15. — The French Imperial 'Art. 18. — No Frenchmen who Guards shall furnish a detachment shall have followed the Emperor of from 1,200 to ^ ,500 men of all Napoleon or his family shall be held arms to serve as an escort to the to have forfeited their rights as such Emperor Napoleon to St. Tropez, by not returning to France within the place of his embarkation. three years ; at least, they shall not 168 SIR XEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. L de trois ans ; au moins ils ne seront pas compris dans les exceptions que le gouvernement francais se reserve de faire apres rexj)iration de ce terme. ' Art. 19. — Les troupes polonaises de toutes armes auront la liberte de retoumer en Pologne, en gardant leurs armes et bagages, conime un temoignage de leurs services hono- rables. Les officiers et soldats couserveront les decorations qu'ils out obtenues et les pensions qui j sont attacbees. 'Art. 20. — Les Hautes Puissances Alliees garantissent I'execution du present Traite, et s'engagent a obtenir qu'il soit accepte et garanti par la France. 'Art. 21. — Le present acte sera ratifie, et les ratifica- tions ecbangees a Paris dans deux jours.' It appeared tbat all tbe arrangements in regard to Napoleon's journey to, and future residence in, Elba bad been made between General Koller and Count Bertrand at Pontainebleau, and tbat tbe former carried on a corres- pondence witb Prince Metternicb, tbe Austrian Minister, tben at Paris, in reference to tbe necessary details. During^ our meeting^, Count Bertrand was announced. He was tbe bearer of a protest from Najjoleon against tbe be comprised in the exceptions be ratified, and tbe ratifications ex- wbicb tbe French Govemnient re- changed at Paris "svitbin two days, serves to itself to gi-ant after the or sooner if possible, expiration of tbat term. ' Done at Paris, April 11, 1814. ' Art. 19.— The Polish troops of (L.S.) The Pezn-ce de Met- all arms, in tbe service of France, terxich. shall be at Hberty to return home, J. F. Comte de Sta- and shall retain their arms and bag- Dioif . gage, as a testimony of their ho- A>'Dr£ Comte de Ra- nourable services. The officers and soxJMorFESKY. soldiers shall retain their decorations Charles Robert which have been granted to them, Comte de Nessel- and tbe pensions annexed to those rode. decorations. Charles Are. Baron 'Art. 20. — Tbe High Allied de Haedexberg. Powers guarantee tbe execution of Marshal Net, all tbe articles of the present treaty, CArLAixcouRT.' and engage to obtain tbat it shall be [Both tbe English and the French adopted and guaranteed by France, copies are transcribed verbatim from ' Art. 21.— The present act shall Sir N. C.'s papers.— Ed.] Chap. I. ORDERS FROM COUNT DUPOXT. 169 removal of the guns and stores from the island of Elba, as directed by the Minister of War in the following orders, copies of which had arrived from Paris : 'Paris, le 18' avi-il 18U. ' Je vons adresse, M. le Commandant, un ordre d'apres lequel vous remettrez a Napoleon Bonaparte, ci-devant Empereur des Eran9ais, File d'Elbe, an moment on il debarqnera dans cette ile. Cette disposition est conforme aux intentions des Puissances Alliees, et rien ne peut s'opposer a son execution. Les trou^Des qui se trouvent dans rile d'Elbe, et tons les effets appartenant a la Prance, devront etre evacues, et il doit se dresser un acte qui con- statera la remise de I'ile a Napoleon. ' J'ai I'honneur, etc. etc., ' Le Commissionnaire au Dex3artement de la Guerre, 'Le Geneeal Comte Dupont.^ ' A Monsieur ' Le Commandant Superieur de Tile d'Elbe.' * 'Paris, le 18« avril 1814. ' Monsieur, frere du Roi, Lieutenant- General du Roy- aume, ordonne que File d'Elbe sera remise a Napoleon Bonaparte, ci-devant Empereur des Pran9ais, a son arrivee dans cette ile. * ' If they [the French Cabinet] island of Elba, from the moment had been gifted with far greater when he disembarks in that island, practical sagacity and acquaintance This arrangement is in accordance with men than they possessed, they with the wishes of the Allied would have been shattered by the Powers, and nothing must oppose unpopularity of General Dupont as its execution. The troops which ]\[inister of War ; an appointment are in the island, and all the stores the most unfortunate that could belonging to France, must be re- have been made, for it continually moved, and a formal act must be reminded the army of the disaster drawn up declaring the transfer of of Baylen.' — Alison, History of the island to Napoleon. Europe, vol. x. ch. Ixxvii. — Ed. 'I have the honour. Sec, &c., 5 ' Paris : AprU 18, 1814. (Signed) ' Commissioner of the ' I address to you an order, in * War Department, conformity with which you will 'General Comte Dtjpont. make over to Napoleon Bonaparte, , ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ Commandant of the island oi late Emperor of the French, the Elba.' 170 Sm NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. L ' Par ordre de Monsieur, Lieutenant- General du Eoy- aunie, etc. etc. ' Le Commissionnaire au Departement de la Guerre, 'Le General Comte Dupont."^ In addition to the formal note of objection, General Bertrand made several verbal observations on the part of Napoleon, stating tbat the Emperor would not voluntarily quit Fontainebleau, unless the demand contained in the above note was complied with ; that he placed reliance upon the Emperor Alexander and the other potentates for grant- ing his request, as the honourable execution of the treaty made with him depended upon them, and not upon the Minister of War or the Provisional Government ; that the Commissioners of the Allied Sovereigns were the only persons who ought to be empowered to decide upon all tlie points which regarded his settlement in the island. This communication was at once transmitted to the Al- lied Sovereigns and their ministers at Paris by the Commis- sioners. General KoUer, upon whom the responsibility of the travelling arrangements chiefly rested, complained that fresh difficulties seemed continually suggesting themselves to the mind of Napoleon regarding his journey, and that every possible excuse was urged that could delay his de- parture, which it was considered so important should not be postponed beyond the 20th, the day on which he had faitlifully promised to set off. With the exception of this last obstacle, all seemed to have been surmounted. The line of route originally planned by Prince Metternich, via Auxerre, and on which the allied troops destined for the escort of Napoleon had been 6 ' Paris : April 18, 1814. ' By Order of " Monsieur," Lieii- * "Monsieur," brother of theKing, tenant-General of the Kingdom, Lieuteuant-General of the Kingdom, &c., &c. orders that the island of Elba shall (Signed) ' Commissioner of the be o-iven over to Napoleon Bona- * War Department, parte, late Emperor of the French, ' General Comte Dtjpoxt.' on his arrival in that island. Chap. I. NArOLEON AT FONTAINEBLEAU. 171 already" stationed, had been just changed, at his request, for the road by Briare and MouKns. The requisite authority from the French Government to the post-masters of the various stations along the route, to have relays of horses in readiness, had arrived, and an inspector had been ap- pointed to precede us with orders. But this new objection raised by Napoleon seemed to render the projected start upon the 20th again uncertain. However, General Roller assured Count Bertrand that the Emperor's request would without doubt be complied with by the authorities in Paris, and that even if the answer had not arrived by the 20th, he hoped Napoleon would not alter his intention of leaving Eontainebleau that day. Count Bertrand promised to make this representation, and we anxiously awaited the result. During my stay at Fontainebleau, Napoleon did not leave the palace. He was constantly occupied in seeing officers who came from the army, from Paris, and from Ranibouillet, where the Empress was then staying, and in making ar- rangements for his departure. He sent off a number of waggons with baggage, besides the regular convoy that had previously been despatched with the escort ; but the chest containing the treasure of the army, amounting to four millions of livres (200,000Z.), he kept with himself. He gave away books, manuscripts, swords, pistols, decorations, coins, &c., to different officers present at Fontainebleau, and directed others to be transmitted to various favourites. He was in the habit of receiving regularly the ' Moniteur ' all the daily journals, and hearing everything that went on at Paris ; and he felt very bitterly the sarcasms that continually appeared in the newspapers about himself. He seemed very jealous of the great influence that the Emperor Alexander had, by his unvarying courtesy, ob- tained over the minds of the Parisians. After hearing of the visit of the Czar to the Emjpress Josephine, he observed to a person in his room : — 173 SIR NEIL CA3JPBELL"S JOURNAL. Chap. L * L'Empereur Alexandre a fait une visite a ma premiere femme. Poll ! II a premierement dejeune avec Nej, et apres cela il I'a visitee a Malmaison. Qu'est-ce qu'il peut tirer de cela ? II a aussi donne I'ordre de St. Andre a La Harpe, ce Jacobin. II fait I'amitie an Roi. II flatte les Parisiens et les Jacobins.' ^ He spoke also of the Emperor Alexander's visit to Marie-Louise at Rambouillet, and said it was insulting these women in their sorrow to appear before them as a conqueror. * C'est du Grec' ^ Josephine has always been a great favourite with the Parisians. La Harpe, a Swiss by birth, was formerly tutor to Alexander, and a great leader amongst the Jaco- bins. After the formation of the Provisional Government, a person was asked by Napoleon what he thought of his situation, and whether he considered there were any additional measures to be taken. When he replied in the negative, Napoleon inquired what he would do in a simi- lar situation. ' Blow my own brains out,' was the reply. Napoleon reflected for a moment. ' Oui, je peux faire cela ; mais ceux qui me veuillent du bien, ils ne peuvent en profiter, et ceux qui me veuillent du mal, cela les ren- dra du plaisir.' ^ In a conversation with General Koller at Fontaine - bleau. Napoleon remarked that he had need of more courao"e to live than to die ; that he knew the world ex- pected him to make away with himself; that he had put himself in the way of losing his life often enough, '' ' The Emperor Alexander has He flatters both the Parisians and paid a visit to my former wife. Poh I the Jacobins.' He lirst breakfasted with Xey, and ^ ' It is Greek -like.' after that, visited her at Malmaison. ^ * Yes, I can do that ; but those What can he hope to gain from who wish me well would not be this ? He has also given the order of benefited, aiad it would give plea- St. Andrew to La Harpe, that Ja- sure to those who \rish me ill.' cobiu. He pays court to the king. Chap. I. NAPOLEON AT FONTAINEBLEAU. 173 particularly at Arcis,' wliere lie had four horses killed or wounded under him. This, however, does not agree with another statement I lieard ; for the gTOom, who used to follow him with led horses, told me that he only had one horse wounded there. During the negotiations for his asylum, Napoleon de- sired the Duke of Vicenza to announce to the Allied Sovereigns, that if proper arrangements were not made for his security, he should wish to go to England. And afterwards, with reference to this point, he said to one of Ms staff: ' C'est une grande nation. Je suis sur que je serais en surete, et traite avec generosite ; ' adding how- ever, presently, in his usual quick and abrupt manner, ' Mais dans mon ile je serai comme dans une rue de Lon- dres.' ^ One day, while we were at dinner, the subject of punishment by impaling, as practised in the East, was mentioned. A French of&cer, present at table, said that he would not like to inhabit such a country. General Drouot observed : ' Ma foi ! Je ne compte pas de ne ja mais le voir, et Alger aussi peut-etre ; ' ^ alluding, I sup- pose, to the party being possibly captured by Algerine pirates ! M. Fourreau, physician to Napoleon, (under whose medi- cal charge I had passed for my wounds, now that I was out of reach of Drs. Wylie and Orichton,) told me that Caulain- court, Ney, and Macdonald^ were sent from Fontaine- ^ The battle of Avcis-sur-Aube, ' But iu my island I shall be as if between Napoleon and the Allies, in a street of London.' continued for two days, March 20 ^ ' Faith ! I am not so sure of and 21, 1814. Sir Neil Campbell never seeing it, and Algiers also, had himself been engaged in the may be ! ' action, serving with the corps of the Russian General, Count Pahlen, * Viscount Castlereagh to Earl — Ed. Bathurst. '^ ' It is a great nation. I am 'Paris: April i3, isu. sure that I should be in security, ..... and treated with generosity. ' Your Lordship has been already 174 Sm NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. L bleau to negotiate -witli Alexander and the Provisional Government ; tliat during the first interviews (of v^liicli they had five in one day), Alexander told them that the Allies would not make any peace with Bonaparte himself, but they might do what they could in regard to his son, or any other member of his family. After the fifth inter- •view, Alexander changed his language, and said that Napoleon and his army were not in a situation to oppose the Allies if he refused any such terms as they chose to insist on. He then informed them of the capitulation en- tered into with Marmont. They were obliged to confess that they were not upon such an equality as they had supposed. In coming out, they met Marmont. Macdonald took him by the arm, and said : ' Miserable ! Cest vous qui avez empeche que la dynastie de Napoleon regne.' ^ Marmont asked him, ' How so ? That he had acted for the best for his country.' Macdonald then told him that Alexander would have granted everything they asked for the Empress and her son, had he not deserted from the army. That alone prevented them from obtaining the terms they wished. Marmont's answer was (with a sudden outburst of remorse) that he would not for one of his members that he had taken these steps. ' Tin de vos membres ! ' said Macdonald. ' Tout votre sang a present ne pent le changer.' ^ And then he went on to reproach Mar- informed, by Lord Cathcart, of the the part of the Allies, with respect Act of Abdication which was passed to the proposed arrangement. These by Bonaparte on the 4tli inst , and persons were also authorised to of the assurance given him by the agree to an armistice, and to settle Emperor of Russia and the Provi- such a line of demarcation as might sional Government of a pecuniary be satisfactory to the Allies, and in provision of six millions, with a safe the mean time prevent an unneces- asylum in the island of Elba. The sary eflusion of blood.' — Ed. Act in question was deposited in the ^ 'Miserable man! It is you hands of jMonsieur de Caulaincourt who have prevented the Napoleon and the Marshals Ney and Mac- dynasty from reigning.' donald, to be given up upon the ^ 'One of your members! All due execution of engagements on your blood cannot change it now.' CHAr. I. EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA AND MARIE-LOUISE. 175 mont for liis desertion — lie who owed everythiiig to Napoleon ! Macdonald related this before all the officers in the waiting-room at Fontainebleau, upon his retui-n from Paris. The aide-de-camp of General Koller, the Austrian Com- missioner, told me that he had accompanied the Em- peror of Austria and Prince Metternich from Paris to Eambouillet, when they first went there to visit Marie- Louise J The former never called her ' Empress ' in speaking of her, but always ' Ma fiUe,' or ' La Princesse.' The aide-de-camp had been sent to Paris from Fontaine- bleau as the bearer of Napoleon's proposition that he should not proceed to St. Tropez, but go by way of Italy to Piombino. He was directed to accompany the Emperor and Metternich to Eambouillet, with the understanding that he should receive the answer after their interview with Marie-Louise. Upon their arrival there, the Emperor was received by an antiquated, stiff, full-dressed lady, who came out from the Empress's apartment through two others, and saluted him with gTeat etiquette. She was proceeding with a speech, when the Emperor brushed ' Viscount Castlereagli to Earl nual revenue of two millions for Bathiu-st. herself and heirs, to be paid out of ' Paris : April 13, 1814. the funds placed by the Emperor either in the great book, in the Bank ' To the arrangements in favour of France, in the actions cJcs Forets of the Empress, I felt not only no or in any other manner, all which objection, but considered it due to funds His Majesty gives up to the the distinguished sacrifice of domes- crovs^n, the Plenipotentiaries of the tic feelings which the Emperor of Allied Courts declared, that as the Austria was making in the cause of Provisional Government of France Europe. had refused taking, of itself, a de- [Enciosure-Protocoi.] termination to this effect, their ' The Plenipotentiaries of His courts had engaged to employ their Majesty the Emperor Napoleon good offices with the new sovereign having demanded that Her Majesty of France, to grant to Her Majesty the Empress Maria Louisa should the Empress Maria Louisa such be allowed, in full property, an an- allowance.' — Ed. 176 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. I. past lier, saying in German, ' Wlio the d 1 are you ? Let me see my daughter.' Marie-Louise met him at the door. She kissed his hand, and screamed. He threw his arms round her neck, and then led her to the couch ; on which the door was shut. In about half an hour, the Emperor inquired for the aide-de-camp, and told him to inform General KoUer that Napoleon's proposition for going by land to Piombino could not be granted, and that if any change as to the arrangements should take j)lace, a courier would be despatched that same night to Fontainebleau. In visiting the apartments of the palace at Fontaine- bleau, we were shown a room where Josephine had begged Napoleon to spare the life of the Due d'Enghien. After several ineffectual entreaties, she threw herself at his feet, and, clasping his leg, declared that she would not quit her hold until he had granted her request. He tore from her, exclaiming, ' Le diable ! Allez, madame, a vos af- faires ; ne vous melez pas des miennes.' ^ We saw also the suite occupied by the Pope, consisting of several large apartments in the upper story. The concierge who conducted us had been with Napo- leon in Egypt as a storekeeper. I asked him whether it was true that the Mameluke always lay at Napoleon's door. He said, * Yes, on a mattrass, and armed with a poniard.' Napoleon experienced much heartlessness and ingrati- tude during his short stay at Fontainebleau. Among other instances was that of his favourite Roustan, the Mame- luke just mentioned. This man, upon whom benefits of all sorts had been showered by his indulgent master, had arranged to accompany him to Elba, with the pro- mise of receiving 8,000 francs a year as wages, with lodging, lights, and firing. Napoleon gave him leave to go up to Paris, in order that he might make arrangements for his * ' Go, madam, to your own afl'aira ; do not meddle witli mine.' Chap. I. DUKE OF BASSANO. 177 "wife and children to accompany him, and he then received 25,000 francs, by way of aiTears. He never returned, but merely sent word that he had determined to remain in Paris. The same night Napoleon's owii valet de chambre ^ went off, without any notice, taking with him 5,000 francs. Savary, the Minister of Police, had received the sum of 70,000 francs out of Napoleon's private purse, when he was last in Paris, for the purposes of bribery and espion- age in the case of any extraordinary tumult. After his abdication, Napoleon sent to desire his presence, in order that he might return the money. Savary not only ifefused to obey the summons, but protested that, so far from having in his hands any funds, public or private, he was, on the contrary, rather in arrear. On the 18th, the Duke of Bassano ^ called to see Napo- leon about the time of his dinner, and was invited to partake. ' Eh bien, Bassano,' said Napoleon, ' on dit a Paris que c'est entierement ma faute qu'on n'a pas fait la paix ; que je ne la ferais jamais, que je voudrais une guerre ex- terminatrice, Des autres vous blament que vous m'avez soutemi dans cet avis, que vous n'avez pas voulu me dormer du conseil sage. Ah ! comment done arranger cela entre nous ? Eh ! n'est-ce pas ma faute moi-meme? '^ The Duke of Bassano bowed, as if to acquiesce in that which seemed to please him, that he always acted for himself, without any advice. ' Oui, oui, c'est cela, c'est moi-meme ! '^ Napoleon added quickly. ^ Constant. He afterwards pub- for a war to the death. Others lished his Memoirs, wherein he bhxme you, that you upheld me in unblushingly related some of his this detei-mination, that you were own rogueries. — Ed. not walling to give me sound advice. 1 Maret. Ah ! How shall we settle it be- 2 ' Well, Bassano, they say in tween us ? Eh ! Is it not my own Paris that it is entirely my fault fault ? ' that peace was not made ; that I ^ ' Yes, yes, it is so, it is I my- would never make it, that I wished self ! ' N 178 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. 11. CHAPTER 11. MORXIXG OF DEPARTURE — COXYERSATIOX WITH XAPOLEOX — PARTING ADDRESS TO THE OLD GUARD — LEAVES FOXTAIXEBLEAU — IKTERTIEW TVITH NAPOLEOX AT BRIARE — IXCIDEXTS OF JOURNEY — MARSHAL AUGEREAU — ARRIVAL AT FREJUS. The eventful morning of April 20tli dawned, and at an early hour all were astir in the palace. Although every- thing was in readiness for the journey, we felt quite uncertain as to whether Napoleon would really start. The courier had not yet arrived from Paris with the answer respecting the guns and stores at Elba. It was therefore a relief when at nine o'clock General Bertrand announced formally to the Commissioners that the Emperor would set off in the course of the forenoon. After interviews with the Duke of Bassano and other officers, Napoleon sent for the Commissioners. General Koller, the Austrian, was first called forward, and remained in close conversation for more than half an hour. Napoleon spoke warmly of his separation from the Em- press Marie-Louise and the King of Eome, who he felt sure were desirous themselves of joining him, and also com- plained bitterly of the order from the French Minister of War to the Commandant at Elba, for withdrawing the guns and stores from the island, thus proposing to leave him without means of security or defence. He said he did not wish for a kingdom ; he had not asked for Corsica for that reason. He wanted no power beyond that of se- curing his own person against the States of Barbary, and against pirates. If he had this assurance, ' Je vivrai la Chap. II. GENERAL KULLEll. 179 comme juge de paix.' ' But lie would not remain, unless the island were properly protected. He liad nothing to do, he said, with the Provisional Government. His treaty was with the Allied Sovereigns, and to them he looked for its fulfilment. He was not even now destitute of means of continuing the war ^, but it was not his wish to do so with certain ruin to France, and in view of the many factions among the people. His troops were as much attached to him as ever, and they would be convinced that every effort which was possible without dishonour had been made. They were not nu- merous, but they would support him for a considerable time. General KoUer endeavoured to persuade him that the treaty would be fulfilled with honour. 'Well,' replied Napoleon, ' but there is no answer yet ; and Avhat could be said if I refused to depart ? ' ' Your Majesty alone,' General KoUer said, ' can decide on that point ; but I hope you will follow your former intentions, and the expecta- tions of your departure entertained at Paris. The answer will no doubt overtake us on the road, and I am persuaded it will be favourable.' If, continued Napoleon, this treatment did not change, and if an asylum were not aflbrded him in the manner ^ 'I shall live there like a justice sion of this act were the inconve- of the peace.' nience, if not danger, of Napoleon's remaining at Fontainebleau, siir- 2 Viscount Castlereagh to Earl rounded by troops who still, in a Bathui-st. considerable degree, remained faith- ■ Paris : April 13, 1814. ful to him, the apprehension of in- trigues in the array and in the 'A convention had been dis- capital, and the importance attached cussed, and would have, in fact, by a considerable portion of the been signed in the course of the day officers to some arrangements fa- by the Russian Minister, had not vourable to their chiefs, in satisfac- the approach of the Allied Ministers tion of their personal honour, before been announced. The motives for they left him.'— Ed. accelerating the immediate conclu- N 3 180 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. CnAr. II. agreed upon, and understood bj tlie treaty, he would seek refage in England. ' Eli, pensez-vous qu'on me re9oive ? ' ' Oui, Sire,' replied tlie Austrian ; ' car comme vous n'avez jamais fait la guerre dans ce pays, la recon- ciliation pourrait etre plus facile.'^ During tkis conversation, a knock was heard at the door. Kapoleon. — ' Qui est la ? ' A.D.C. — 'Aide-de-camp de sei'vice.' Napoleon. — ' Entrez ! Que voulez-vous ? ' A.D.C. — ' Sire, le Grand Marechal m'a desire d'annoncer a Yotre Majeste que c'est deja onze heures.' Napoleon. — ' Bah ! Voila de nouveau ! Depuis quand est-ce que j'ai ete subordonne a la montre du Grand Mare- chal? Pent- etre que je ne partirai jamais.'^ He felt himself Emperor and military chief to the last with all those about him, and he also appeared more and more averse to depart as the time approached. After this Napoleon still pursued the conversation. He spoke with regard of the Emperor of Austria, and with esteem of England, but with bitterness of the Em- peror of Russia, particularly in reference to his visit to the Empress Josephine, and for taking with him the King of Prussia. He alluded to his own projects, and the various unsuc- cessful negotiations for peace. General KoUer, wishing to explain that the Allies had on their side made every effort to come to terms, pointed out the very favour-able oppor- tunity at Prague. Napoleon answered, ' J'ai eu tort peut- 3 ' Ell, do you tbink thev will desired me to announce to vour receive me r" ' ' Yes, Sire ; for as Majesty that it is already eleven you have never made war in tliat o'clock.' country, reconciliation will become ' Bah ! This is something new ! the more easy.' Since when have I become subordi- * ' Who is there ? ' nate to the watch of the Grand < The aide-de-camp in waiting.' Marshal ? May be I shall not leave ' Come in ! What do you want? ' at all.' * Sire, the Grand Marshal has Chap. 11. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 181 etre dans mes plans. J'ai fait du mal dans la guerre. Mais c'est tout comme un reve.'^ In this, as in previous interviews which. Napoleon had held with General Koller, he expatiated largely on the danger in which Austria was placed by the enormous power of the Czar, and the false politics of Metternich, in assisting to lower the influence of France, which should be the natural a;lly of Austria, and act as a counterpoise to the increasing weight of Russia. General Koller replied, that 'present evils were more to be considered than distant apj)rehensions.' Napoleon appeared much struck by the frankness of the answer, and said, ' Je vous estime pour la franchise de vos remarques. Si vous parlez et agissez vers votre souverain avec avitant, vous etes un sujet inappreciable. Je n'ai pas ete si heureux.' '' He again referred to the separation from his wife and child, and the tears actually ran down his cheeks. The conduct pursued in regard to them, he insisted, was cruel and faithless. The British Minister disapproved of it, &c. He continued to talk in this wild and excited style, being at times greatly affected. After General Koller had withdrawn, Napoleon called me forward, and was as courteous as on my previous interview with him, alluding likewise to much the same subjects as before — my wounds, the military operations in which I had been engaged, &c. He praised the discipline and administration of the British army, as being superior to those of the French ; remarked on our system of fighting in two ranks ; said that corporal punishment was necessary, but should be applied as seldom as possible. ^ ' I have been wrong, may be, and act in respect of your sovereign in my plans. I have done barm with as much, you are a subject in war. But it is all like a dream.' above price. I have not been so ^ ' I esteem you for tbe frank- fortunate.' ness of your remarks. If you speak 182 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. II. Then lie went on, ' J'ai ete tres-grand ennemi de votre nation. J'ai ete francliement tel, mais je ne le suis plus. Je vous estime plus que toutes les autres nations. On me separe de I'lmperatrice, afin de me laisser a I'ile d'Elbe sans defense. Si on agit avec chicane vers moi, je deman- derai un asile en Angleterre. Croyez-vous qu'on me re- coive ? ' 'Sire,' I replied, 'je presume que le souverain et la nation agiront toujours avec fidelite dans leurs engage- ments, et avec generosite.' ' Oui,' said Napoleon, 'je suis sur qu'on ne me refusera pas.' ^ After pacing up and down the room for some time, he at length added, 'Ehbien, nous allons partir aujoui'd'hui.'* Durinof a short conversation with the Russian Commis- sioner (although he paid very little attention either to him or to the Prussian, scarcely speaking to either of them, and being very cold and distant in his manner), Napoleon asked if he had yet received a reply to the question, as to whether he should proceed as far as Elba ; and being answered in the negative, said, 'Ce n'est pas de consequence, pourvu que I'Anglais m'accompagne.'^ The Russian and Prussian officers had, so far, instruc- tions only to proceed to the place of embarkation, but had written for further orders. The Duke of Bassano, four or five generals, his aide-de- camps, and fifteen or twenty other officers, were in the '' * I have been a very great ene- sume that the sovereign and the mv to your nation. I have been nation will ever act in the case of frankly such, but I am so no longer, their engagements with fidelity and I esteem you more than all the with generosity.' ' Yes, I feel sure other nations. They separate me they will not refuse me.' from the Empress in order to leave ^ ' ^'ery well, we are going to me in the island of Elba without leave to-day.' defence. If they act with trickery ^ ' It is of no importance, pro- towards me, I will ask for an asylum vided that the Englishman accom- in England. Do you think they panics me.' will receive me ? ' ' Sire, I pre- Chap. II. ADDRESS TO THE OLD GUARD. 183 antecliamber. Upon coming out to tlie first room, there were onlj Generals Belliard and Ornano ; when he arrived there, the aide-de-camp suddenly shut the door, so that I presume Napoleon was taking a particular leave of them. The door then opened. The aide-de-camp called out, ' L'Empereur ! ' He passed us all with a salute and a smile to the head of the stairs, descended into the court, and proceeded towards his carriage, which was drawn up be- tween two ranks of his Old Guards, then assembled the officers and non-commissioned ofiicers, and sending for us to be present, he addressed them in the following speech (as nearly as I could recollect the words, in conjunction with the other Commissioners) : — ■ * Officiers, sous-officiers et soldats de la Vieille Garde ! ^ ' Je vous fais mes adieux. Depuis vingt ans je vous ai trouves toujours braves et fideles, marchant dans le che- minde la gloire. Toute I'Europe etait reunie contre nous. L'ennemi, en me derobant trois marches, etait entre dans Paris. Je marchais pour Ten chasser. II n'y serait pas reste trois jours. Je vous remercie du noble elan que vous montrates a cette meme place dans ces circonstances. Mais une partie de I'armee, ne partageant pas vos sentiments, m'abandonna et passa dans le camp de l'ennemi. Des ce moment la prompte delivrance de la capitale devenait impossible. Je pouvais avec les trois quarts de I'armee, qui nie restaient fideles, et aide de I'assentiment et des efforts de la tres-grande majorite de la poj)ulation, me ^ ' Officers, non-commissioned tliank you for the noble spirit you officers, and soldiers of the Old have evinced in that same place .Guard! under these circumstances. But a ' I bid you farewell. For twenty portion of the army, not sharing years I have found you ever brave your sentiments, abandoned me and and faithful, marching in the path passed over to the camp of the of glory. All Europe was united enemy. From that moment the against us. The enemy, by stealing prompt deliverance of the capital three marches upon me, had entered became impossible. I could with Paris. I was advancing in order to the three parts of the army which drive them out. They would not remained faithful, and aided by the have remained there three days. I .sympathy and the efforts of the 184 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. II. porter sur la Loire, on sur mes places fortes, et nourrir la guerre pendant plusieurs annees. Mais la guerre etrangere et civile eut dechire le territoire de notre belle patrie, et pour prix de tons ces sacrifices et tous ces ravages, pourrions-nous esperer de vaincre I'Europe reunie, appuyee de I'influence qu'exer9a la ville de Paris, qu'une faction etait parvenue a dominer ? ' Dans ces circonstances je n'ai considere que les interets de la patrie et le repos de la Trance. J'ai fait le sacrifice de tous mes droits, pret a faire celui de ma personne, car le but de toute ma vie a ete le bonheur et la gloire de la France. ' Quant a vous, soldats, soyez toujours fideles dans le chemin du devoir et de I'honneur. Servez avec fidelite votre nouveau souverain. La plus douce occupation de ma vie sera desormais de faire counaitre a la posterite tout ce que vous avez fait de grand, et ma seule consolation sera d'apprendre tout ce que la France fera pour la gloire de son nom. * Vous etes tous mes enfants. Je ne peux vous em- brasser tous, mais je vous embrasserai tous dans la per- sonne de votre General.' great majority of the population, have fallen back upon the Loire, or upon my strongholds, and have sus- tained the war during several years. But a foreign and civil war had torn the soil of our beautiful country, and at the cost of all these sacri- fices and all these ravages, could we hope to vanquish united Europe, supported by the influence which the city of Paris exercised, and which a faction had succeeded in mastenng ^ ' Under these circumstances I have only considered the interests of the country and the repose of France. I have made the sacrifice of all my rights, and am ready to make that of my person, for the aim of all my life has been the happi- ness and the glory of France. * As for you, soldiers, be always faithful in the path of duty and honour. Serve with fidelity your new sovereign. The sweetest oc- cupation of my life will henceforth be to make known to posterity all that you have done great, and my only consolation will be to learn all that France will do for the glory of her name. * You are all my children. I can- not embrace you all, but I will do so in the person of your General.' i -?5: Chap. II. DEPARTURE FROM FONTAINEBLEAU. 185 (Here he embraced General Petit, and kissed him on either cheek.) ' J'embrasserai ces aigles, qui nous ont servis comme guides en tant de perils et de journees glorieuses.' ^ (Here General Petit presented to him the standard, which he embraced for half a minute.) On quitting his hold, he lifted up his left hand, and added, ' Adieu ! Conservez-moi dans votre souvenir ! ' ^ He then turned round, entered his carriage which had been drawn up close by, and was carried off at a gallop. Some of the officers and men wept, some remained silent with grief, while others called out ' Vive I'Empereur ! ' The order of march was as follows : — One dozen of cavalry. Carriage with General Drouot and superior officers. „ with Napoleon and General Bertrand. Fifty or sixty cavalry, followed by the four car- riages of the Commissioners, and by eight of Napoleon's carriages, which were occupied by officers of his staff and household, and by ser- vants. The cavalry was of the Guard, and relieved every two post-stations. The horses (sixty) for the carriages were ready, outside the town or village where the station happened to be. We arrived at Briare, twenty-three leagues from Fon- tainebleau, in the evening of the same day, and rested there for the night in a large hotel (where all was duly prepared for us), in order that some changes might take place in the arrangement of the baggage. Napoleon supped with General Bertrand ; while General Drouot and * 'I will embrace these eagles, days.' wliicli have served us as guides in so ^ 'Farewell! Preserve me in many perils and on so many glorious your remembrance ! ' 186 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. CnAr. II. Lefebvre Desnouettes, and all tlie officers who liad tra- velled with us, joined our company. On the morning of the 21st, two hoiu-s previous to our departure from Briare, Napoleon sent for me. He kept me in conversation, on indifferent subjects, until the ser- vant had prepared the table, when he told him to lay another cover, saying to me, with a polite smile of invita- tion, 'Yous resterez dejeuner avec nioi? ' ^ There was also a place reserved for General Bertrand. He aslred me who commanded in the Mediterranean. I replied that I did not know, but that I believed Sir Sidney Smith was one of the admirals. He seemed to be moved by this, but quickly laughed it off; and when General Bertrand sat down, he said to him, smiling, ' Que pensez-vous ? Sid- ney Smith est amiral dans la Mediterranee.' ^ He then related that while on the coast of Syria, Sir Sidney Smith threw several thousand shots from his ships to the shore, without killing a single man. It was. Napoleon said, his great resource, for he paid so much to every man for col- lecting and bringing to him the spent balls. 'H m'a envoye des parlementaires, comme un second Marlbro' ; mais je les ai renvoyes. J'ai place dans mou ordre du jour que le commandant de vaisseau anglais etait fou.' ^ Here he laughed heartily. ' H a voulu me traiter tout a fait comme egal.' ^ After breakfast, an officer named Laplace, son of a senator, was introduced from Eambouillet. He proceeded to comment on the means that were still at Napoleon's disposal — the attachment of the army, the excesses of the Allies, &c. As to the latter, he did not believe that they * ' You vdll remain to breakfast back again. I put in my order of with me ? ' tlie day that the Euglish uaval ^ ' What do you think? Sidney commander was mad.' Smith is admiral in the Mediter- '' ' lie wanted to treat me alto- rauean.' gether as an equal.' ^ ' He sent me challenges, like a second jNIarlbro' ; but I sent them Chap. II. VISIT OF M. LAPLACE. 187 had any idea of quitting France, in spite of all their pro- fessions. He then endeavoured to excuse the Senate ; for, situated as they were, what could they do ? But Naj)0- leon interrupted him hastily, and inveighed bitterly against them. They were dishonoured ; there was not the like act recorded in history. They were not obliged to assemble, because there were 200,000 bayonets over them. They could no longer act. Their sitting was illegal. What had they to expect, too, looking only to their own inte- rests ? Ten of those very men had actually voted the death of Louis XVI. As to the military resources he had left, even after the enemy had possession of Paris, what could have opposed them ? He knew the cautious operations of Prince Schwartzenberg would never have allowed him to re- main between Paris and the French army, but he would have retired to Montmartre. He (Napoleon) would have at- tacked the Allies, and although the action would not be a victory, yet he would destroy so many of his enemy, as to prevent them from remaining so advanced. He knew well what the Russians and Austrians were capable of, notwithstanding their superiority of numbers. He would amuse them for two hours, and then advance Avith his thirty battalions of guards and eighty pieces of cannon upon one point, himself at the head, and he knew nothing could oppose them. After this he would increase his force by means of the population of the country, marching either upon the Loire or the fortresses. All this he could easily have done ; but, he added, plaintively, it was not his wish to ruin his beloved France by a civil war. Although ' Napoleon said tliat Sir Sidney grave, but that in the meantime was a madman, and, if his story be any one of his grenadiers would true. Sir Sidney challenged him to willingly give the challenger such sinole combat ; to which he made satisfaction as he was entitled to answer, '' that he would not come demand." ' — Lockhart's Lij^e of forth to a duel miless the English Napoleon, vol. i. p. 150. — Ed. could fetch Marlborough from his 188 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOUENAL. Chap. II. it was but a faction -wliicL. declared against liim, he pre- ferred the steps he had taken, to continuing a contest for his rights, with certain misery to his country, when his yielding could afford comparative tranquillity. I remained during all this time, as when I was preparing to leave the room, he told me to stop. At length he said, ' Nous allons partir ! ' It appeared to me he had no great opinion of M. Laplace's sincerity. The night of the 21st we slept at Nevers. In coming into the town, I heard a non-commissioned officer call out to the other soldiers, ' Criez vive I'Empereur ! ' Having met at Nevers with Lieutenant-Colonel Pelley, who had been prisoner at Moulins, and was proceeding to Paris, I availed myself of the opportunity to send a des- patch to Lord Castlereagh, with the particulars of our journey. An escort of French cavalry, relieved at short distances, had accompanied us hitherto. The inhabitants sakited Napoleon with the usual acclamations of ' Yive I'Empe- reur ! ' mixed with cries of ' Vive la Mort ! ' In some j)laces they allowed him to pass without any compliment, although incited thereto by the soldiers of the guard, who are can- toned upon this route. I am. told that they prevent the inhabitants from wearing the white cockade, and from other demonstrations of the satisfaction they feel at the change of sovereignty. About 7 o'clock, on the morning of the 22nd, we pro- ceeded towards Lyons till we reached Roanne, a distance of forty leagues, where we determined to rest. Our three last stages had been performed without any escort, but from thence we were to be attended by Austrian detachments. In the course of this day Napoleon hinted to me his wish that I should proceed in advance, in order to arrange for a British man-of-war to convey him to Elba, and also begged that I would wi-ite immediately to Admiral Eme- rian at Toulon, to expedite the French corvette. He Chap. ir. MARSHAL AUGEREAU. 189 then sejit off express to Auxerre, to order his heavy baggage with the escort of 600 guards and horses to go by land to Piombino, in order to diminish the distance of the sea voyage, or, if that was not feasible, to proceed at once to Lyons and drop down the Rhone. At night the Austrian oflicer who had been sent to Paris with the note containing Napoleon's protest against the removal of the guns and stores from the island of Elba, overtook us with the decision of the Allied Sove- reigns, acquiescing in his demand. Madame Mere and Cardinal Fesch were in the neigh- boui'hood of Poanne, at a chateau belonging to the latter, about a mile off the road, but we could not learn that they had any communication with Napoleon. At the moment of quitting Poanne, on the morning of the 23rd, Napoleon (as I expected from his hint on the previous day) requested me to proceed, if possible, with- out a halt to Aix, and from thence to transmit through Marshal Massena an application to the admiral command- ing off Toulon for a British ship-of-war. The reason alleged for preferring this to a French vessel was, to avoid any unpleasant observations which might be made by the crew of the latter. It was my wish to obtain this demand in writing, but as Napoleon immediately stepped into his carriage, I had no o]3portunity of doing so. In the course of this journey, while in advance of the cortege, at a short distance from Valence, I met Augereau, and told him that Napoleon was coming on. He appeared to be disconcerted, thinking that Napoleon was to pursue the other road by Grenoble. He abused Napoleon's ambi- tion and waste of blood for personal vanity. He did not show himself at last, as he ought to have done, and as many expected. ' C'est un lache ! Je I'ai cru toujours tel. II aurait du marcher sur une batterie, et se faire tuer.' ^ ^ ' He 13 a coward ! I always liave marched full upon a battery, thought him such. He ought to and put an end to himself.' 190 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IL Augereau showed me tliat he had taken off all his orders, and simply wore the red ribbon of the Legion of Honour. He said that if Napoleon gave him an opportunity, he would tell him his mind. Hearing at Aix that a British ship was at Marseilles, I XJroceeded there, arriving on the 25th, and found H. M. frigate ' Undaunted,' commanded by Captain Usher, who immediately complied with my application that he should proceed to Frejus Bay, either to convoy or to carry Napoleon to Elba. On his way (as I afterwards heard) he fell in with Admiral Sir R. King, who approved of the step he had taken, and gave him a written order to execute the service. I then returned to Aix, and from thence went on to Erejus, which I reached at 7 a.m. on the 27th. At 10 a.m. Na^Doleon and his suite arrived. They had rested for some hours at the residence of the Princess Pauline, which was near the town. She had been there for some weeks past, and proposed soon to follow her brother to the island of Elba. After I parted from them at Poanne, the Commissioners informed me they had met Augereau. It was on the road between Lyons and "Valence. When his carriage ap- proached, Napoleon and he both stopped, alighted, and embraced. Napoleon pulled off his hat, but Augereau only touched the forage-cap which he wore, and scarcely re- turned the embrace. They walked aside, and conversed for about ten minutes. The dialogue seemed to become more earnest as it drew to a conclusion. Napoleon embraced and saluted before parting, but Augereau retm-ned the com- pliment in a cold and formal manner. The enmity of the inhabitants against Napoleon in- creased in violence as he travelled southwards. This feelino- was not confined to the lower orders only. All classes and ages, and both sexes, united in cries of hatred and insult. Chap. IL INCIDENTS OF JOURNEY. 191 At Orang-e the women and boys climbed upon the car- riage, and it was with difficulty that the Commissioners and attendants forced them off, there being at that point of the journey no escort. They called out the most opprobrious epithets, and with shouts of derision and excited gestures exclaimed, ' Nous ne ferons pas de mal au monstre, mais nous voulons seulement lui montrer combien nous I'ai- mons.'^ Meanwhile Napoleon sat within the carriage with General Bertrand, apparently very much fi-ightened, with- out attempting to stir from the corner. Several large stones were thrown at the carriage, but happily without effect. As soon as the carriages were able to force their way through the crowd of assailants, the post-bo3'"S set off at full speed, and when they had got to a safe distance from the town, Napoleon quitted his carriage, mounted one of the horses, and, dressed in a plain great coat, wearing too a Russian cloak and a common round hat with a white cockade, rode on in advance of the carriages, accompanied only by a courier. He related that when he arrived at the first post-house in his disguise, he held a conversation with the landlady, who enquired of him when Napoleon would pass, and abused him. When the rest of the party came up, and found Napoleon already there. General Bertrand requested that no sort of compliments might be paid which could possibly lead to the Emperor's being recognised at the inn. The Commissioners remarked that he threw the wine out of his glass, and that he neither swallowed his soup nor ate any meat. During the re- mainder of the journey he changed caps and coats with the Commissioners, assumed alternately the names of Colonel Campbell and Lord Burghersh, mixed with the members of his household in going in and out of the room, and his carriage did not, as heretofore, occupy the place of honour in the procession. ^ 'We -will do no harm to the monster, Lut we ouly want to sliow him how much we love him.' 192 SIR NEIL CAMPBELLS JOURNAL. Chap. IL Upon every occasion he evinced, bj tlie finesse to wliich he had recourse, much anxietj to save his life, whenever he considered it to be in danger.' At Avignon some carriages vt'hich preceded with officers of the household were stopped, and the eagles de- faced. One of the servants was threatened with instant death if he did not call out ' Vive le Roi ! ' It was Sunday. The people had a fete to celebrate the accession of Louis XVIII. ; and as many of them were intoxicated, had Napoleon himself been there, he would certainly have been killed. He however passed quietly the following day, by going round the town, and changing horses outside. At Orgon an effigy was prepared in uniform, repre- senting NajJoleon, smeared all over with blood, and pla- carded with the words, ' Voila done I'odieux tyran ! Tot ou tard le crime est puni.' ^ The place of embarkation had been changed from St. Tropez to Trejus, in consequence of the latter being easier to approach by land ; and as they were both situated in the same bay, this deviation was considered admissible by the Commissioners. Soon after Napoleon's arrival at Frejus, the following paper was put into my hands : — ' Note pour le Colonel Camphell, Commissaire de 8. M. hritannique, adressee par le Comte Bertrand.^ ' L'Empereur Napoleon desirerait connaitre quel est le pavilion de I'ile d'Elbe, pour le faire arborer dans I'ile. 1 ' Bonaparte was still at Fon- bouists, he actually rode as courier taiuebleau when we came to Paris, ahead of his own carriage, with a and Lord Castlereagh had daily round liverj' hat and white cockade reports from Sir Neil Campbell on his head.' — Reminiscences of a (the English officer appointed to Scptuagenariim, p. 71). — Ed. attend him to Elba) of his conduct "^ ' There, then, is the hateful while there, and on his journey to tyrant! Sooner or later crime is Cannes. All his courage and nerve punished.' seemed to have forsaken him ; so ^ * The Emperor Napoleon would much so that in one part, whore he Avishtoknow which is theproperflag believed the inhabitants were Bour- of the island of Elba, in order that Chap. II. NOTE FROM COUiNT BERTRAND. 193 II en serait dresse proces-verbal par le Colonel Campbell et MM. les Commissaires. Cela serait envoye a la croi- siere ang-laise a Livomnie, et la on il serait necessaire. ' La Princesse Pauline, soenr de I'Empereur, desire venir a I'ile d'Elbe, mais comme elle est ineommodee, elle ne pent partir de Frejus que dans cinq ou six jours. S. M. desirerait qu'une fregate anglaise vint la prendre et la conduire dans I'ile. ' Les equipages de I'Empereur et le bataillon d'escorte doivent arriver le 30® a Lyon. II serait a desirer qu'on le dirigeat par le Mont Cenis sur Savone, ou on les embar- querait. Si I'amiral anglais veut pousser la complaisance jusqu'a cliarger une fregate de ce transport, on enverrait des ordres a Lyon pour que les equipages se dirigeass'ent en consequence. lis arriveraient le 19 mai a Savone. On joint ici I'etat des personnes, clievaux et voitures a em- barquer. ' Si la fregate pouvait se faire rallier de quelque aviso ou brick, cela serait une chose agreable. ' L'Empereur desirerait, quand nous sommes a la hauteur de Livourne, expedier quelqu'un de sa maison pour faire quelques emplettes et porter une lettre au Eoi it may be hoisted in the island, desirable that they should be di- lu testimony thereof, a proces-verbal reeled by Mount Cenis upon Savoua, shall be drawn up by Colonel Camp- where they will be embarked. If bell and the other Commissioners, the EngHsli Admiral would be so It shall be sent to the English far obliging- as to charge a frigate cruisino--"'round at Leghorn, and with their transport, orders sball wherever else may be necessary. be sent to Eyons, in order that the ' The Princess Paulina, sister of equipages n)ay arrange their route the Emperor, is anxious to come to accordingly. They will arrive at . the island of Elba, but as she is in- Savona on the 19th of May. There disposed she cannot leave Frejus for is attached hereto a return of per- five or six days. II. M. would wish sons, horses, and carriages to be eni- for an English frigate to come and barked. fetch her, and convey her to the ' If the frigate could attach to island. itself some despatch-boat or brig, ' The equipages of the Emperor it would be a convenience, and the battalion of escort ought to ' The Emperor would wish, when arrive at Lyons on the 30th. It is we are off" Leghorn, to despatch some O ]94 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. 11. de Naples. Cette recommandation sera tres-j)ressee, vu que rEmpereur n'a rien de ce qui pourrait lui etre com- mode a rile d'Elbe, et que le Eoi de Naples pourrait lui envoyer beaucoup de choses. Le General KoUer pour- rait charger un officier aiitricliien d'accompagner la per- sonne que I'Empereur enverrait. ' L'Empereur desirerait faire partir le General Drouot, avec le Colonel Clam * et un officier anglais, pour prendre possession de I'ile d'Elbe. II faudrait pour cela un aviso, afin qu'ils puissent arriver vingt-quatre heures avant nous, de maniere que TEmperem- debarquerait dans I'ile lorsqu'il en aurait deja pris possession en son nom. ' La Garde de I'Empereur ne devant arriver que dans quelque temps a File d'Elbe, il serait possible que I'Em- pereur eut besoin dans les premiers jours d'une centaine de marins anglais pour la garder. L'Empereur desirerait savoir, si au besoin il pent compter sur cela. (Signe) ' Le Comte Berteand. 'Fr^jus: le 27" avril 18] 4.' ' Etat des troupes, cbevaux et voitures composant la one of his household to make some For that there will be required a purchases, and be the bearer of a despatch-boat, in order that they letter to the King of Naples. This may arrive twenty-four hours before latter request is of a very pressing us, so that the Emperor will be able character, seeing that the Emperor to disembark subsequently to the has nothing of any sort which can island having been taken possession be suitable for his use in the island of in his name, of Elba, and that the King of Naples 'The Guard of the Emperor not will be able to send him many ar- being expected to arrive for some tides. General KoUer can, if he so time in the island of Elba, it is pleases, commission an Austrian possible that the Emperor may re- officer to accompany the person who quire, in the early period of his may be sent by the Emperor. residence there, a body of one hun- *The Emperor would wish to dred English marines for its pro- expedite the departure of General tection. The Emperor wishes to Drouot, in company with Count know whether in case of necessity Clam and an English officer, to take he can depend upon that, possession of the island of Elba. (Signed) ' Le Comte Berteand.' * Aide-de-camp du Prince Schwartzenberg, qui accompagnait le coni- missnire autrichien. Chap. II. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO ELBA. 195 colonne du General Cambronne, et destines a etre em- barques a Savone pour se rendre a I'ile d'Elbe: — Hommes Foiirgons Yoitures ClieTaux de selle Chevaux de voiture Mulcts Gens de la maison Cavalerie Infanterie Total . Chevaux. 18 24 5 Voitures. 8 8 35 80 600 715 80 127 16 In consequence of Napoleon's request, as above stated, tbe otber Commissioners and myself lield a meeting, and drew up tlie two following documents : the one being a letter addressed to tbe commandant at Elba, enclosing Count Dupont's order witb reference to the guns and stores ; the other accrediting Count Clam as the bearer of our despatch, and authorising him to proceed with it immediately to the island. At first I felt some reluctance in affixing my signature to these documents, inasmuch as they were founded upon a treaty which had never been formally exhibited to me, and as to which I had received no instructions from Lord Castlereagh.^ But as my refusal would have prevented 5 As a fact, it was not till this to the person and family of Napo- very day, April 27, that Lord leon Bonaparte, the possession in Castlereagh gave a qualified ac- sovereignty of the island of Elba cession to certain portions of the and the duchies of Parma, Placentia, Treaty of Fontainebleau. and Guastalla, for other purposes, [Enclosure.] which treaty has been commuui- * Whereas their Imperial and cated to the Prince Regent of the Royal Majesties, the Emperor of L^nited Kingdom of Great Britain Austria, King of Hungary and Bo- and Ireland, by the Ministers of bemia, the Emperor of all the their Imperial and Royal Majesties Russias, and the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Austria, King of have entered into a treaty, con- Hungary and Bohemia, the Em- cluded at Paris on the 11th of April peror of all the Russias, and the of the present year, for the purpose of King of Prussia, who, in the name granting, for such respective periods of their respective sovereigns have as in the said treaty are mentioned, jointly invited the Prince Regent o 2 196 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. 11. tlie embarkation of Napoleon, and put a stop to tlie wliole of the proceedings connected with it, I considered it my duty not to offer any further objection. This course ap- peared to me consistent with the spirit of my instructions, and there was likewise no possibility of evading the diffi- culty by delay. '(I.) ' Nous soussignes, Commissaires des Hautes Puissances Alliees, charges d'accompagner Sa Majeste I'Empereur Napoleon dans son voyage, autorisons par la presente Monsieur le Comte de Clam, Chambellan de S. M. I'Em- pereur d'Autriche, Major et Aide-de-camp du Marechal Prince de Schwai-tzenberg, Chevalier de I'Ordre Imperial de Russie de Ste. Anne de la seconde classe et de I'Ordre Militaire de Baviere de Max-Joseph, de se rendre de suite a la dite ile d'Elbe, de remettre au Commandant Superieur de rile I'ordre du Ministre de la Guerre, en consequence duquel la dite ile doit etre remise a S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon en toute souverainete et propriete, ainsi que le materiel d'artillerie et les munitions de guerre qui s'y trouvent, d'assister a la remise de cette ile entre les mains de Monsieur le General de Division Comte Drouot, nomme de la part de S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon, en qualite de Commissaire a cet effet, et d'en dresser proces- verbal. 'Fait a Frejus, le 27» avril 1814. to accede to the same, in the name sidered, by tliis act of accession, to and on the behalf of His Majesty : have become a party, in the name '■ His Royal Highness the Prince of Plis Majesty, to any of the other Regent, having full knowledge of provisions and stipulations contained the contents of the said treaty, therein. accedes to the same in the name ' Given under my hand and seal, and on the behalf of His Majesty, at Paris, this 27th day of April, iu as far as respects the stipulations the year of our Lord 1814. relative to the possession in sove- 'Bycommandof His Roj-al High- reignty of the island of Elba and ness the Prince Regent, acting in also of the duchies of Parma, Pla- the name and on the behalf of His centia, and Guastalla. But His Majesty. Royal Highness is not to be con- (Signed) ' Castlereagh.' — Ed. Chap. II. COMMISSIONERS OF ALLIED POWERS 197 '(11.) * Les Commissaires des Hautes Puissances Alliees sous- signes ont rhonneur d'envoyer a Monsieur le General Fran9ois, Commandant de I'ile d'Elbe, les ordres du Ministre de la Guerre pour que la dite ile, tout le mate- riel d'artillerie et toutes les munitions de gueiTe, qui j existent actuellement, soieut remis a la personne cliargee par S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon d'en prendre possession, et qu'en consequence Monsieur le General Commandant de rile n'en fasse evacuer aucun effet d'ai'tillerie, le tout conclu en execution du traite entre les Puissances sus- dites, la France et TEmpereur Napoleon, dans lequel il est stipule que la souverainete de File d'Elbe formera, sa vie durant, une principaute separee, qui sera possedee par lui en toute propriete, et que son pavilion, qui j sera arbore, sera respecte, et jouira des prerogatives qui j sont attacbees. ' Monsieur le General de Division Comte Drouot, Com- missaire de S. M. I'Empereur Napoleon, se rendant a File d'Elbe pour en prendre possession au nom de S. M., les Commissaires des Puissances Alliees soussignes ont de- signes M. le Major le Comte Clam, Chambellan de S. M. I'Empereur d'Autricbe, et M. Thomas Hastings, Lieute- nant de Marine de S. M. britannique, de la fregate " Undaunted," pour assister a la prise de possession de File d'Elbe, faire arborer le pavilion de cette ile et en dresser proces -verbal. ' Fait a Yt^jxis, le 27' avril 1814. ' Le Baron de Roller, Lieutenant-General autri- cbien et Aide-de-camp des Armees. ' Le Comte de Schuwalloff, Aide-de-camp-General de S. M. I'Empereur de toutes les Russies. ' Le Comte de Walbourg-Truchess, Colonel-Ge- neral de S. M. le Roi de Prusse. ' Neil Campbell, Colonel au service de S. M. bri- tannique.' 198 SIR NEIL CAMrBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IIL CHAPTEE III. KAPOLEON EMBAEKS OJf BOAPvD H.M.S. ' TJKDATJNTED ' — IKCIDEXTS OF VOYAGE — NOTES OF COJrVEKSATIOKS — AREIVAL AT ELBA — EX- CURSIONS IN THE ISLAND WITH NAPOLEON — VARIorS CONVERSA- TIONS — GENERAL EOLLER LEAVES PORTO FEREAJO — NAPOLEON HOLDS A DRAWING-ROOM — STATISTICS RELATING TO ELBA. The * Undaunted ' anchored oif Frejus at midday on tlie 27th. Captain Usher came on shore to be presented to Napoleon, and the baggage was sent off at once for em- barkation. Soon afterwards the French frigate^' Dryade,' in company with a corvette and a transport, arrived in the bay. The officer commanding stated that his orders were to embark the Emperor in the corvette, the frigate forming the escort. This displeased Napoleon extremely, as he considered it should have been optional with him to choose in which of the vessels he should make his voyage, and he was by this incident confirmed in his resolve to embark on board the English frigate. Such a plan of course greatly offended the French officers, who tried, though in vain, to persuade him to decide in favour of the corvette. In contrast with the treatment he had received from the Provisional Government of France, he spoke in grate- ful terms of the liberal disposition evinced towards him by the Ministers of H. E. H. the Prince Eegent, although he had always been the avowed enemy of the British na- tion. At sunset, on April 28, Napoleon and his suite left the inn at frejus in carriages, which conveyed them to the beach, distant about an English mile. Here a small wharf had been prepared, at the extremity of which was the barge of the ' Undaunted.' He embarked with Captain Chap. III. EMBARKATION AT FREJUS. 199 Usher and General Bertrand, and on his arrival on board the frigate was received with a rojal salute of twenty- one guns. Some little difficulty had arisen with regard to this salute, as instead of Napoleon proceeding on board in the forenoon, as had been intended, he was prevented by a temporary indisposition from leaving the inn until much later. It was represented to him that it was not customary to salute after sunset, in the hope that he would dispense with the compliment; but this he decidedly objected to, and desired General Drouot to say to me he would postpone the embarkation till the following morning, as, on account of the impression it would make' on the inhabitants, he particularly wished to be received with a royal salute. As iff was very important that there should be no unneces- sary delay in Napoleon's reaching his new sovereignty, I urged Captain Usher strongly to waive on this occasion the usual etiquette ; and in consequence Napoleon was persuaded to embark on the day originally fixed, and was, as related above, received with the honours he so much valued. The Russian and Prussian Commissioners accompanied the rest of the parfy on board the ' Undaunted,' but they took leave of Napoleon, and quitted the ship before she weighed anchor, as their instructions did not allow of their proceeding farther. Napoleon had the whole of the after- cabin to himself, and his two generals slept in the half of the captain's, which was screened off. In the other half he breakfasted at ten, and dined at six, in company with General KoUer, Count Clam, Generals Bertrand and Druot, Captain Usher, and myself. Throughout the voyage Napoleon conducted himself with the greatest condescension and cordiality towards us all. He remarked himself that he had never felt in better health, and of&cers of his suite observed that they had never seen him appear more at his ease. It 200 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap, III. seemed to me that one great source of his hax^piness and satisfaction arose from the security of his person ; for it was evident, during his stay at Fontainebleau and the fol- lowing journey, that he entertained great apprehensions of attacks upon his life, and he certainly exhibited more timidity than one would have expected from a man of his calibre. Although at Fontainebleau he expressed his desire to pass the remainder of his life in retirement at Elba, study- ing the arts and sciences, he inadvertently gave fre- quent proofs in his subsequent conversations on board the * Undaunted ' of the active restlessness of his disposition, and indicated his expectation of oj)portunities arising, which would once again afford scope for the exercise of his ambition. * He evidently persuaded himself that the greatest portion of the j)opulation in France remained favourable to him, although this feeling did not extend to the coast. He explained this by observing, that France in former times had always made treaties of commerce with Great Britain, which were extremely discouraging to her internal industry, though beneficial to Marseilles, Bordeaux, Nantes, &c., whose chief interest lay in peace with that nation. But as his system went to encourage the manufactures of France, Lyons, Tarare (a manufacturing town between Lyons and Koanne), and all others similarly situated, were attached to him, and had given proofs to that effect on his journey. Such demonstrations, however, had not been perceived by the Commissioners ! General Bertrand has likewise told me that he considers a great part of France still for Napoleon ; that Augereau's troops were so, and the Marshal's life was in danger for the part he took against his old master ; that Naj^oleon had often been told Augereau would betray him ; that, near Lyons and other towns, many inhabitants informed them as they passed along, it was for fear of the Austrians they Chap. III. NOTES OF CONVERSATIONS. 201 carried the wliite cockade. At Valence the French soldiers held up the tri-coloured cockade clandestinely in their hands, shaking their heads at the same time, and even shedding- tears. Addressing himself jDarticularly to me one morning at breakfast, General KoUer, Comit Clam, Captain Usher, and General Bertrand being likewise present, Napoleon said : That England had, ever since the time of Cromwell, set up her extraordinary pretensions of domination on the sea. (I here remarked that, since the French Revolution, she had found it necessary, in order to j)reserve her very- existence.) That her finance was now on such a footing, that she could not exist excepting by having sale without limits for all her manufactures. That, if she had not this extraordinary commerce with all the world, she would still be a respectable nation, in power and riches, from her ordinary means, j)oj)ulation, and institutions, but she would be greatly diminished. That, after the Peace of Amiens, Lord Sidmouth' wished to renew the former treaty of commerce, which had been made by Yergennes ^ after the American War ; but he [NajDoleon] was anxious to encourage the interior industry of France, and therefore expressed his readiness to make a treaty, though not like the former (which was known by the portfolios of Versailles to be injurious to France), but upon terms of reciprocity. Thus, if France receives so many millions of English imports, England must take away an equal quantity of French productions. Lord 1 Prime Minister, as Mr. Adding- to Febrnary 1787, when lie died, ton, from Marcli 1801 to May 180-1. The Peace between France and Created Viscount Sidmouth, Jan- Great Britain, called the Peace of tiary 180o. The Peace of Amiens Versailles, was signed February 20, only lasted from March 1802 to 1783. In consequence of the cen- April 1803. — Ed. sure passed upon it, the Shelburne 2 He was Prime Minister imder Tilinistry was dissolved on Februarj^ Louis XVI., from November 1781 26, 1783.— Ed. 202 SIK NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. III. Sidmoutla said, I cannot make a treaty on these terms ; this is totally new. Very well, replies Napoleon, I cannot force you to a treaty of commerce any more than you can force me ; but we must remain as we are. Then, says Lord Sidmouth, there will be war ; for, unless the people of England have the advantages of their commerce upon the terms they have been accustomed to, they will force me to declare war. As you please, rejoins NaxDoleon. It is my duty to study the just interests of France, and I shall not form a treaty of commerce on other principles than those I have stated. England under Mr, Fox (1806) was certainly not j)repared for the steps which he took m retaliation for her blockading an entire line of coast from the Elbe to Brest.^ It was that which forced him to the continental system. Then England made pretences about Malta, but all the world knew that was not the cause of quarrel. He was sincere in the desire for peace ; as a proof of which he sent his expedition to St. Domingo. I told him our Ministers thought him not sincere, both from his refusing the treaty of commerce, and likewise sending consuls to Ireland in company with engineers, for the purpose of examining the harbours.^ He laughed at my remark, and said, ' Oh ! that was not necessary, for every harbour in Eng- land and Ireland was known.' General Bertrand added, that every ambassador or minister to another country was a spy. ^ ' The British, who^ by Mr. Fox's gentlemen endeavoured to execute order, declared the coast from the their commission with all possible Elbe to Brest in blockade.' — Ali- privacy, butthe discovery of their oc- son, Jlistorij of Europe, vol. x. ch. cupation was soon made ; they were Lxxvi. — Ei). sent back to France without cere- ■^ ' Under pretence of establishing mony, and this treacherous measure French consuls for the protection of of their Government was openly de- commerce, he [Napoleon] sent per- nounced as a violation of eveiyrule sons, chiefly of the military profes- of international law, and a plain sion, who carried orders to make symptom of warlike preparation.' — exact plans of all the liarbours and Lockhart's Life of Napoleou, vol. i. coasts of the United Kingdom. These pp. 204-5. — Ed. Chap. m. NOTES OF CONVERSATIONS. 203 Napoleon observed that Spain was tlie natural friend of France and the enemy of Great Britain ; that it was for their mutual interest to ally themselves in support of their commerce and foreign possessions, which were equally offensive to England ; that it was a shame to Spain to allow us to hold Gibraltar : it needed only to bombard it from the land night and day during a year, and it must be worn out. (Here he asked, whether we still held Ceuta.) He did not invade Spain in order to put one of his own family on the throne, but to revolutionise her ; to make her a kingdom en regie ; to abolish the Inquisition, feudal rights, and the inordinate privileges of certain classes. He spoke also of our attacking Spain without a declara- tion of war, and without cause. I told him we knew for a certainty that the Spanish Government intended to make common cause with him, as soon as the treasure amassed in America for a long time should arrive. He replied that he did not want it : all he needed was five millions a month to Frenchify it (' pour la francifier : ' he used this term repeatedly). The Treaty of Utrecht, he said, directs that the board- ing of vessels shall be done out of gunshot. America behaved with spirit in the matter of search. I asked here whether America showed hostility to Great Britain upon principles of right, or whether the President engaged in war in order to force the people to form a navy and army, so that the protection of his trade was a mere excuse. To this question he made no direct reply, but only laughed while saying, ' Ah ! vous traitez les Ame- ricains toujours comnie s'ils etaient encore vos sujets.' ^ He thought their state correspondence with us was very well written, and contained much sound reason- ing. I told him I was not sufficiently master of the general question to judge of that ; but as to the original ^ ' All ! you always treat tlie Americans as if they were still your subjects.' 204 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. III. ground of quarrel — tlie boarding tlieir men-of-war — that was onlj tlie aggression of a single oJBficer, which was disavowed bj our Government, and for which they offered to make any proper atonement.^ As to tlieir style of writing, we found in it great imperfection. Whe- ther it was a State-paper, a naval or military despatch, although the words themselves were the same, the lan- guage apjDcared totally different in meaning from our own. Napoleon went on to say, that the Americans acknow- ledged the justice of his jjrinciples of commerce. Formerly they had brought some millions of cotton and tobacco, and taken away the payment in specie from France. Then went light to England, and from thence conveyed British manufactures. But afterwards he would not admit their tobacco and cotton, unless they took away an equal value of French productions. They yielded to his system as being just. But now England has no j)Ower which can oppose her system, and she may pursue it without limits. She may impose upon France any treaty she pleases. ' Les Bourbons, pauvres diables ! ' Here he seemed to check himself, but j)resently added : ' lis ^ sont de grands seigneurs, qui sont contents d'avoir leurs terres et leurs chateaux. Mais si le peuple de France devient mecontent ^ ' The " Chesapeake," American proclamation, ordering all British frigate, was cruising off Virginia ships-of-war to leave the harbours of (June 23rd, 1807), and was known the United States ; but the English to have some English deserters on Government disavowed the act, re- board, when she was hailed by called Captain Humphries, and the " Leopard " of 74 guns, Captain offered to make reparation, as the Humphries, who made a formal re- right of search, when, applied to quisition for the men. The American vessels of war, extended only to a captain denied he had them, and re- requisition, but could not be carried fused to admit the right of search, into effect by actual force.' — Alison, npon which Captain Humphries History of Europe, vol. x. ch. Ixxvi. fired a broadside, which killed and — Ed, wounded several on board the " Che- '' ' Tliey are like great nobles, sapeake," whereupon she struck, and content as long as they enjoy their the deserters were found on board, estates and their mansions. But if taken to Halifax, and one executed, the people of France become dis- The President, upon this, issued a ssitisfied with that, and find that Chap. III. STATE OF AFFAIRS IN CORSICA. 205 de cela, et trouve qu'il n'j a pas I'eucouragement pour ses manufactures dans I'mterieur qu'il devrait avoir, ils en seront chasses en six mois ! ' Here he again checked himself, as if seeming aware of his own indiscretion, and soon afterwards rose from table, breakfast being finished. He evidently possesses no com- mand over himself while in conversation. Upon April 29 we communicated with H. M. brig 'Merope,' Captain Roberts, which remained in company all day. This officer came on board and dined with Napoleon ; and I took the opportunity of writing by him to Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, then at Genoa, enclosing likewise a letter for Lord William Bentinck, and sending to each copies of Lord Castlereagh's instructions with re- gard to my present mission. At table one day Napoleon showed us his snuffbox, on which is a portrait of the Empress, with a date set in diamonds. This led him to produce another, on which was the figure of a naked infant, representing the King of Rome. He did not seem at all affected in referring to the Empress, but of the other he spoke with some feeling, and mentioned that the child did not wish to quit Paris when the family were going to Orleans ; that he held by his hands on to the table, and they were obliged to tear him away by force. Napoleon called him ' Le pauvre diable ! ' When off Calvi in Corsica, May 1, we passed H.M.S. ' Berwick,' having on board Commodore Brisbane and General Montresor, in command of a force destined for that island, the frigates ' Aigle ' and ' Alcmene,' with six sail of transports bound for Ajaccio. The captains of the two frigates. Sir I. Louis and Captain Coghlan, came on board, and dined with Napoleon. He was extremely anxious to know the state of affairs in Corsica, whether there were any armed parties in the interior, whether the they have not such encouragement rior as they ought to have, they for their manufactures in the inte- will be driven out in six months.' 206 Sm NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL, Chap. HI. Deputation sent to Genoa, requesting tlie presence of a naval and military force, came only from Bastia, or also from tlie whole island. Napoleon was informed that General Count Berthier commanded at Ajaccio ; that British ti'oops and colo^^rs were at St. Florenzo, Calvi, and other places, in compliance with the wish of the inhabitants ; that this occupation had taken place previously to the arrival of the officer from Paris, with the news of Louis XVIII. having been declared by the Provisional Government ; and that General Berthier and his troops had taken the oath of allegiance. General Bertrand requested that I would ask one of the English officers to take charge of an open letter to General Berthier at Ajaccio, and another addressed to an individual in Corsica, adding the assurance that the Emperor refrained from all interference in public affairs, and that these letters were merely of a private nature. I told him that the letters should be delivered to General Montresor and Commodore Brisbane, who would no doubt take care that they reached their destination. The abdication of Napoleon appeared to be unknown to these officers ; I therefore acquainted them with the exact state of affairs ; and as one of the frigates was returning to Genoa, I again wrote to the Admii-al and to Lord Wil- liam Bentinck, to inform them of several fi'esh demands which had been made to me by General Bertrand on the part of Napoleon, enclosing at the same time a letter to Lord Castlereagh, in which I begged for further instruc- tions. General Bertrand had constantly impressed upon me, that as the island of Elba does not afford the supplies necessary for Napoleon's table, and as he has only with him the baggage which accompanied him in the campaign, he was in want of many things, which would oblige him to have recourse to the Continent. Although Napoleon could himself have ordered them, yet, in order to show his Chap. III. PLAN FOR NAVAL CONSCRIPTS. 207 confidence in the Commissioners, lie liad directed liis inten- tions to be fully detailed in a note ; it was to the same pur- port as that before given, and sent to Lord Castlereagh. Napoleon is perfectly conversant with all the details of naval affairs,^ such as the cost and daily expense of a ship- of-war, the number of rounds for service on board, the dif- ference between French and British line-of-battle-ships, the ropes in the case of the former being worked upon the upper-deck, so that more men were exposed. He is extremely inquisitive as to all points respecting our navy, its establishment, discipline, &c., and General Bertrand daily puts similar questions to Captain Usher and myself, which are doubtless desired by Napoleon ; for on other occasions it has been evident that the General himself has no curiosity or interest in anything connected with naval affairs. One morning Napoleon described to Captain Usher, by my interpretation, the system for his marine conscripts, which he was persuaded would succeed. It was immate- rial to him whether the youth was from a seaport or from the interior. He went into the navy at fourteen. For a certain number of years he remained in harbour, in order to practise getting under weigh, and anchoring, which were considered the most difficult parts of a seaman's duty, then to run out on a voyage of four or five months, 8 ' There are hundreds of letters one totally unacquainted with the from Napoleon on naval matters, sea to speak so authoritatively, and many of which relate to his pro- the frequent reverses which his jected invasion of England. In fleets suffered go far to corroborate these he not only gives the minutest this first impression. At any rate, directions respecting the flotilla at one would naturally take for grant- Boulogne, but he issues the most ed that he spoke, if not by the ad- positive orders to his fleets in all vice, at least with the concurrence, parts of the world, as to the conduct of his Minister of Marine. There to be pursued under every possible are, however, undeniable proofs that circumstance. We confess ourselves this was not the case.' — Edinburgh incompetent to criticise his plans Eeview, No. 258, October 1867, of naval warfare ; but on the very Ai-t. I., ' The Napoleon Correspon- face of the thing it certainly argues dence,' pp. 836-7. — Ed. great presumption on the part of 208 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURXAL. Chap. IIL and home agaiu. This was every preparation necessary for manning a fleet, which wonkl next proceed out in squadrons to manoeuvi'e and fight the enemy. In this way he would have had, within three or four years, a fleet of 300 sail of the line. It was this system which made it requisite for him to possess himself of Holland, the Zuy- der Zee being useful to his great plan for forming seamen. Not that he wanted the Dutch ships, which were only fit to carry horses. He found it necessary to send them artists of aU kinds for construction. He spoke of the bad behaviour of several of his frigates, particularly the ' Clormde,' near Madagascar.^ ' J'ai fait tout ce que je pouvais pour couper la tete au capitaine ; mais on I'a seulement condamne a prison pendant trois annees.' ' He praised Admiral Villeneuve's dispositions at Tra- falsrar, but said that the Admirals on the two flanks did not follow his signals, so as to close in rear of Nelson, when he pushed to the centre.^ He thought the j)olicy of England was mistaken in making the attack on Copenhagen, for, in consequence of it, Denmark, from being a sincere friend to us, had become a decided enemy. I alluded to the secret article in the Treaty of Tilsit. He said, that although Denmark might be forced to declare war against England, she would not carry it on sincerely, and a few ships more or less could be no object to England. ^ The action between the ' Clo- ^ ' I did all I could to get the rinde,' of 44 guns, and the'Eurota?,' captain's head cut offj but they under Capt. Phillimore, of the same oulj condemned him to prison for force, commenced February 2o, three years.' 1814. The next day, when they ^ The only other French Admiral were again nearing each other, two was Rear- Admiral Dumanoir. Ad- more British vessels, the * Dryad ' miral Gravina commanded the and the ' Achilles,' appeared, and Spanish fleet, and was mortally the ' Clorinde ' then struck. Out of wounded, returning to Cadiz to a c:ew of o60 men, she had 120 die. — Ed. killed and wounded. — Ed. Chap. III. NOTES OF CONVERSATIONS. 209 Tlie expedition against Antwerp,^ under Lord Chatham, was on too great a scale to be rapid. It must be car- ried by a coup de main of 10,000 men with artillery, who would land at Williamstad, execute their object, and be off again before a large force could be assembled to op- pose them. He wrote from Vienna to warn the authori- ties in France of that expedition being destined against Antwerp. England could not hold Walcheren without 14,000 men, and half of these would be lost by disease annually. Even if she had got possession of Antwerp, he had such re- sources in its neighbourhood as to be able to attack it suddenly with great superiority of numbers, and then it must fall. France would be nothing without Antwerp, for while Brest, Toulon, and other ports were blockaded, a fleet could be equipped there with wood brought from Poland. He never would consent to give it up, having sworn at his coronation not to diminish France. He told me that the smugglers carried on an unceasing espionage, bringing him immediate information of any expedition being pre- pared, copies of our newspapers, and quantities of guineas. They took back the productions of the Continent. They were admitted only to Gravelines, and assembled under certain regulations. His system of espionage in England cost him five millions of livres (250,000/.). Besides what he had mentioned, the smugglers, Napo- leon said, had offered to be of service to him in various ways. One of them, for instance, proposed to carry off General Sarrazin,'* but he did not want him, ' C'est un fou, un homme qui ne valait la peine, et dont je n'avais pas 3 The ' Walclieren expedition,' cuated December 23, 1809.— Ed. •which proved so disastrous a failure, * He had escaped from Boulogne sailed from England July 28, 1809, to England in 1810, in a small and was composed of 40,000 troops boat, leaving behind him his wife, with 35 ships of the line and 200 who was an Englishwoman. Where- smaller vessels, principally ti-ans- upon she wrote a letter, which was ports. The island was finally eva- published by order of Napoleon, 210 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. III. besoin.' ^ As mucli as to saj, that such means would al- ways be resoi-ted to, if there was an object to serve of sufficient interest. He had the Elbe sounded carefully by engineers, and found it was as favourable as the Scheldt for the erection of great naval establishments near Hamburgh. It sur- prised him this was not known before. He would have built ships of the line there with wood from Poland. He described to us, on a plan of Cherbourg, a basin cut out of the solid rock, with docks for twenty-five ships of the line, as executed under his orders. He drew with a pencil a line of fortifications erected for its protection against any expedition from England, which he always expected. The Empress Marie-Louise visited Cherbourg last year, when he was at Dresden, upon the completion of the work. Had we landed there, he would have destroyed the mouth of the basin by which we entered by means of mines, so that not a man could have escaped after they had once got in with their fine ships. He intended to form establishments for shipbuilding at Bouc, so that materials might come there directly by the Rhone. A canal was already cut to join the two. Toulon, in that case, would only be used as a shelter for his fleets. He had found great inconvenience in being obliged to complete the provisions and stores of his men-of-war after they went out of the inner harbours, as it gave informa- tion of his intentions to the British cruisers. They were giving out tliat her husband had hand, observing a vessel cruising at been deranged for seven years, some distance, enquired what it Sarrazin replied by a series of letters was, and was told it was English, addressed to the Times, proclaiming Seeing five others in the harbour, his own sanity and violently abusing she asked why they did not go out Napoleon. ' General Sairazin (an and take it. Snatching the glass anecdote relates) was on duty when out of her hand, Napoleon said, Napoleon and his newly-man-ied ' Because the wind is not fair !' wife arrived at Boulogne. After — Ed. viewing the fortifications, they went * 'He is a madman, a man who upon the heights overlooking the was not worth the trouble, of whom sea. The Empress, telescope in I had no need.' Chap. III. OPERATIONS AT TOULON. 211 then on the watcli, and either blockaded or cut them out. To avoid a similar difficulty, he contrived so as to send the ' Rivoli ' ^ out in a few hours from her original station at Venice towards Corfu, where, however, she was taken. He fixed chameaux (camels) on either side, which prevented her from sinking in the water in proportion as her weight increased. With these she was floated out. They were then cut away, sail was made, and the voyage pursued. He referred to a map of Toulon harbour, and went over the whole of the operations against Lord Hood and General O'Hara. At this time he commanded the artil- lery there with the rank of Major. All the other French officers were for a regular siege. He gave in a memoir for the purpose of showing how to drive off the fleet from the opposite side, and that the English would not hazard the total loss of their garrison. The event justified his belief. He related an anecdote of one of the Eepresentatives of the People, who ordered his battery to fire, which un- masked it too soon. The only time he was ever wounded was by an English gunner at Toulon, who ran a pike into his thigh. He was endeavouring to enter a battery by the embrasure. His people got round by the rear, and entered at the same moment. It was at this period also that, while Junot was in the act of writing, a cannon-ball struck and spattered the ground all about his party ; on which he remarked that it was sand for the letter. Captain Usher here asked him, whether it was true that he had charged at the head of a column across the bridge of Lodi. He said it was. With reference to caricatures, I told Napoleon that no one in England was exempt from them, neither our Sove- ^ The ' Rivoli,' an eigbty-four- seventy-four, Captain John Talbot, gun ship, had been built at Venice, on March 21, 1812, ofi" the point of and was captured, after a severe Grao in Istria. — Ed. engagement, by the * Victorious,' p2 212 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. III. reign nor tlie Ministers. Napoleon remarked that there were plenty of him, at any rate in England, and that no doubt his present voyage would form a fertile subject for them. Captain Usher said it would immortalise the ' Un- daunted.' General Bertrand observed, that it was most unaccountable to him how ' The Spirit of the Book ' — a libel on the Princess of Wales — could have been published by the bookseller of the Prince, as expressly stated on the title-page. Napoleon asked Captain Usher and myself whether we belonged to the Opposition. Captain Usher said, he did. I told him that I did not approve of all that Ministers had done in former times, but that latterly my opinion of their policy had become much more favourable. He inquired of me in what estimation Sir Francis Burdett was held. I replied that, in his private character, he was considered very amiable, but his influence over the minds of the people had been much diminished since he escaped clan- destinely from the Tower. Captain Usher told Napoleon that the Duchess of Bed- ford, who had been presented to him at Paris as Lady Georgiana Gordon, was now in the Mediterranean. He said he recollected her ; she was a great dancer, and often danced with the Viceroy of Italy. Her mother was a large woman. ^ On the 2nd May we were becalmed off St. Florenzo. Napoleon seemed very anxious to learn the news of the island, and frequently proposed to send on shore. Seeing a fishing-boat, he said jocularly, 'Allons, faites venir ici ce pecheur ! ' ® Captain Usher said to me that he was sur- ■^ a knew Jane Duchess of Gor- body.'"— Rogers' Table TaUc,^. 143. don intimately, and many pleasant Her fifth and youngest daughter, hours have I passed in her society. Georgiana, married John sixth Duke She used to say, " I have been ac- of Bedford, on June 23, 1803.— quainted with David Hume and Ed. William Pitt, and therefore I am » « • a • . 500,000 . 24,000 . 25,000 • • • • • . 30,000 alth .... . 15,000 . 50,000 Total revenue . . 644,000 256 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. HI. To be deducted for Public Charges : Francs. Salary of Intendant-General ..... 4,000 „ President, Procureur, &c. .... 10,000 Free battalion (without men) : Francs. Chief 2,000 5 Captains at 1,200 francs . . 6,000 5 Lieutenants at 1,000 „ . . . 5,000 6 Sous-Lieutenants at 900 „ . . . 4^00 17,500 Total expenses . . 31,500 If the battalion is increased to 1,000 men : Double the pay of officers 17,500 Pay of 1,500 men, (in round numbers, including the Guards,) with rations, but without clothing . . 1,095,000 Total .... 1,144,000 The pay of the Guards is 30 sous, or 1-^ franc a day, and, with bread, say in all, 2 francs. In the preceding estimate, the pay of three Generals, and all the oflBcers of the Guards, the chamberlains of the household, &c., are not included. Chap. IV. VISIT TO FLORENCE. 257 CHAPTER IV. PLORENCE— COUNT STAHREMBERG — ROME — INTERVIEWS WITH THE POPE — RETURNS TO LEGHORN — DISCOVERY OF NAPOLEON'S SECRET AGENTS — ESCORTS MADAME MERE AND SUITE TO ELBA. June 30. — Florence. Having- obtained an opportunity of evading the quarantine, I tliouglit it advisable to come to Leghorn, and then to this place, in order to establish an acquaintance with Mr. Grant, the late British Vice-consul, and Mr. Felton acting pro tempore, for the security at once of my correspondence and for information. I have likewise made a short detour to the baths of Lucca, on account of increasing deafness and general de- rangement of health, caused by the wounds in my head and back. Of late I have had an immensity of correspond- ence in a public way, keeping my journal to assist my memory, writing my despatches, and taking copies of them, obtaining information from a variety of parties in Italy. I have no one to assist me, and when I write long, there is a wearisome feeling which becomes very unpleasant, from the muscles in my back not having yet acquired their tone. This tour to Florence and Eome will relieve my mind, and prove a very acceptable release from the sultry confinement of Elba, besides assisting me in my public duties, which luckily do not require my banishing myself entirely in that island. After establishing Napoleon there, according to Lord Castlereagh's instructions, I have still considered it my duty to prolong my stay, in order to judge of his inten- tions, and not to quit Elba until directed by His Majesty's Ministers. Besides, my remaining is in compliance with S 258 SIR NEIL CAMPBELLS JOURNAL. Chap. IV. Napoleon's own request, communicated to me both verbally and by means of a formal note from Count Bertrand. Various constructions, I find, have been attached by the agents of the different Governments in Italy to my con- tinuing at Elba after the other Commissioners. The evi- dent restlessness of Napoleon's disposition, his plans for sending out officers to various parts of Italy in order to recruit soldiers clandestinely, there being no British Minister in Italy, and indeed scarcely a public and recog- nised agent between Vienna and Sicily, — all this made me anxious to compare my suspicions with what information I could obtain on the Continent. My visit here has gained me important advantages, more particularly with respect to General Count Stahrem- berg, of the Austrian service, who commands all the mili- tary force of Tuscany, Lucca, Piombino, &c., and who is also civil governor of all the country except Tuscany. I have found him extremely frank and perfectly unreserved. He showed me the reports which are regularly transmitted to liim from Elba, so that my absence is of less consequence. He has also promised to write me if there is any particular occun'ence within his command, connected with Napoleon, after my return to Elba. The Princess Eliza and her husband General Bacchiochi, in evacuating their possessions, carried off most of the plate and furniture from several of the palaces. These were already on the road to Bologna, whither the entire family had fled, when Count Stahremberg, on his first arrival, ordered the whole to be transported back to this place, in order that the articles might be examined, ve- rified, and restored to the several palaces, as might bo found most just, to await the coming of the Grand Duke Ferdinand. After several letters had been written by the Prmcess Eliza, she likewise called to her aid the weU- known Marquis Lucchesini,' formerly Minister of the King ' 'l{ i.s said tliat the first idea the breast of Napoleon on wit- of the Legion of llouuur arose iu nessiug one day, from a window at Chap. IV. PRINCESS ELIZA. 259 of Prussia, but finding all of no av^ail, slie set off from Bologna to Vienna in order to see tlie Emperor of Austria. When within three posts she was prevented from proceed- ing on her journey, and it is said she is gone to Gratz in Styria to visit her brother. Marshal Bellegarde was much surprised and displeased when he was informed by the Austrian General commanding at Bologna that he had permitted her to go towards Vienna. His excuse was a letter from the Empress Marie-Louise to the Princess Eliza, inviting her, which the latter showed. The discarded favourites of the Bacchiochi family, who are scattered over Italy, triumphed over the other party, and gave out that the princess had been sent for by the Emperor of Austria to treat for an indemnification. At the head of the Bac- chiochi party is the Marquis Lucchesini, who returned to Lucca, the place of his nativity, after quitting Prussia several years ago, and attached himself upon the most intimate terms to the household of that family. His son, a favourite of the Princess Eliza, accompanied her to Bologna. Napoleon carries on a constant correspondence with his sister Eliza, as well as with Naples. Count Meyer, the Austrian Minister at Naples, lately sent to Count Stahrem- berg a letter from the Queen of Naples, and one from her sister the Princess Pauline, addressed to Napoleon, which they had requested him to forward. They were opened by the Count, and then sent on to their destination. They contained nothing worthy of remark, but the Count is convinced they were sent merely to blind their other corre- spondence, carried on through more direct and clandes- tine channels. Two couriers have for some time past been stationed by Napoleon at Piombino. They receive the Tuileries, the admiration with sador of Prussia, as he descended Avhich the crowd before the Palace from his carriage.' — Lockhart's lAfe regarded the stars and crosses worn of Napoleon, vol. i. ch. xvii. — Ed. by the Marquis Lucchesini, ambas- s 2 2G0 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Cn.vr. IV. his letter-bag sej)aratelj from the other sent over in the packet-boat from Elba. These couriers carry his letters to Leghorn, where his agent transmits them to their various destinations. The Count has ordered that in future Napoleon's letters shall be received by the postmaster at Piombino only, and by him transmitted to the postmaster at Leghorn, where no doubt they will receive that inspection which is made no secret of here ! The reports from Elba since my departure state that Napoleon continues the same sort of life as before, engaged in perpetual exercise, and busy Avith projects of building, which, however, are not put into execution. Many artists liave been flattered by expectations of employment, and have gone over from Italy to Elba, but are now starving in quarantine. It is said Napoleon wishes to change the name of Porto Ferrajo to Cosmopoli, City of the World; an equivocal use of the ancient name Cosimopoli, so called after Cosimo, one of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Count Stahremberg informed me that Murat keeps up the most active military preparations, and that he has certainly increased his army by more than 15,000 men since his return to Naples. He has several persons em- ployed to induce the Austrians to desert, but although the fact is cei'tain, the proof is not yet sufficient to detect these agents, A non-commissioned officer and fifteen privates, Austrians, lately deserted to him from Eome. Officers non-commissioned, and soldiers from France, Pied- mont, and Italy, as well as other adventurers, are con- stantly passing through this place to join his army. The public spirit in this part of Italy is not tranq^^il ; for, notwithstanding there was an universal and violent dislike to the government of Bonai)arte, the people view it now, when past, with less horror. In these States there was always an exemption from conscription j and besides, in consequence of ecclesiastical power having re- turned with the new order of things, many other impedi- Chap. IV. STATE OF ITALY. 261 ments to tlie equal exercise of talent and privilege liave been raised up. The civil governor of Tuscany is Prince Eospigliosi, a man of respectable talents and excellent private character, who was formerly chamberlain to the Grand Duke Ferdinand, but without experience in govern- ment and a bigot, a slave to religious ceremonies, and surrounded by priests. His system is to establish every regulation and institution which existed in the time of the Grand Duke, upsetting at the same time all changes which were introduced by the Queen of Etruria as well as by the Princess Eliza.^ No provision is made for those who are removed from their situations. The Museum of Natural History, which was a private collection in the time of Ferdinand, received under the Queen of Etruria four professors to give lectures and instruction. These have received their dismissal, and no successors are to be appointed. Priests and ecclesiastics of all descriptions have flocked here to resume their ancient customs, and claim their property. There are religious processions, ch^irch festivals and illuminations, three or four times a week, during which no labour is performed. One church contained 7,000 wax- candles of eighteen inches each in length. All orders and ages are mixed together in the crowds which throng the streets, the greater part of whom, however, attend for pur- poses of curiosity and intrigue. The works of Machia- velli and of several other writers, which were formerly considered impro2)er for circulation, are again subjected to the same restrictions, and forbidden to be sold. Masonic ^ The kingdom of Etruria was Don Louis having died in the mean- carved by Napoleon, after the time, the Queen of Etruria and her Treaty of Luneville, February 1801, son were expelled by order of Niipo- out of the Grand Duchy of Tus- leon, and the restored Grand Duchy cany, and bestowed upon Don of Tuscany was given by him to Louis, eldest son of the Duhe of his eldest sister, the Princess Eliza, Parma, who had married the In- wife of General Bacchiochi, in ad- fanta Maria Louisa, daughter of dition to those of Lucca and Piom- Charles IV. of Spain. In 1807, biuo.— Ed. 262 SIU NEIL CAMrBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IV. meetings are prohibited. The masters of tlie different eatinjj-houses are directed to regfister tlie names of all such inhabitants as eat articles of food forbidden on certain days by the Roman Catholic religion. All this is criticised and disliked by the greater part of the people, who remark at the same time that the imposts are not diminished, notwithstanding the peace and the general expectations thereby excited. The Austrians do not appear to be well liked by the Italians, and reports are constantly set afloat with regard to the neighbouring kingdom of Naples, as well as other parts of the country, which tend to prevent confidence and tranquillity. Thus it is said, that ISTapoleon is to possess Sardinia as a sovereignty ; that the Allied Sovereigns have agreed to restore to the Princess Eliza and the Bacchiochi family all their palaces and places of residence at Lucca ; that large bodies of Austrian troops are marching in this du'ection from the northward, supposed to be directed against Murat ; that the British and the Sicilians are im- mediately to unite with them in an attack upon Naples. I propose to mention these matters in my next despatch to Lord Castlereagh, for although they are foreign to my mission, yet as there is no person accredited by His Ma- jesty's Government in this part of Europe, I think it my duty to state to his lordship all information connected with public affairs which comes within my own kiiow- ledge. To obtain this, with the opjportunity also of es- caping from quarantine, was one of my motives for absent- ing myself for a short time from Elba, and will, 1 trust, api^ear justifiable in his lordship's eyes. The period of quarantine to be j)erformed by vessels from Elba to Leg- horn is now reduced to fifteen days. I am also in daily hopes of receiving instructions from Lord Castlereagh, containing his pleasure as to my re- maining at Elba agreeably to Napoleon's wish. July 1. — To-day I met, at the Countess of Albany's, Chap. IV. MARQUIS LUCCIIESINI. 263 witli Luccliesini, formerly friend of Frederick the Great of Prussia, and afterwards minister to the present King-. He retired to Lucca after the campaign of Jena, whether of his own accord, or driven away by the King for in- sincerity, I know not. He then became the chief director of the household of the Princess Eliza. The Swedish Consul proposed to introduce him to me, but I declined. Countess Albany is the widow of the Pretender, and resides here entirely. She is a charming, clever old lady, and receives the best company for conversation every evening. July 2-10. — Again met, at Countess Albany's, Marquis Lucchesini and his wife. He placed himself close to me, and then entered into conversation about Napoleon. He did not express any kindness towards him ; observed that he was great in a battle, and, wherever he went with his troops, that point would be earned, but that in other ways there were many men more capable. He related to me the circumstances respecting the exile of General Grouchy from Paris. One day at court he re- presented to the Duke de Berri the hardship of depriving himself and the other colonels of the different arms of their appointments. The Duke told him, that although the titles of colonel were given to himself and the other Princes of the Blood, yet he (Grouchy) and the other in- S]3ectors-general would be the executive j)ersons, and enjoy all the patronage and direction. During this conversation Marshal Marmont hap^Denedto approach, and joined in the remarks made by the Duke de Berri. General Grouchy told him pointedly, that he did not address himself to him. Marmont, however, continued in the same strain ; on which General Grouchy repeated his observations, adding, ' Je vous ai deja dit, ce n'est pas a vous que je m'adresse — voiis qui avez le mepris de toute I'armee ! '^ An officer was there- ^ ' I have told you already, it is — ?/rw that have the conteuipt of the not to you I am addressing myself whole army.' 264 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IV. Tipon sent from the King to inform General Grouchy, that he must know that, after the conversation which had passed, it was impossible for him to appear again at court, and therefore that he ought to quit Paris. He told the officer that this was not necessary in order to prevent a meeting between himself and Marmont : ' Car ce n'est pas avec lui, avec tel que le Marechal Marmont, qu'on se rencontre.' * Lucchesini appears about fifty, a thin man, about fivo feet nine inches in height, with a remarkably keen eye and acute physiognomy. His wife, a Prussian, is a very majestic, fine-looking woman, apparently striving to show her dignity from fear that circumstances may have dimi- nished it. Lucchesini told a friend of mine that it gave him great pleasure to hear that the conduct of the Prus- sian army was so extolled by me. Count Stahremberg had a parade of the troops, with a Te Deum. After the parade they were formed into a square, and he desired one of the Hungarian officers to address them with regard to their services and conduct. On the conclusion of this harangue, he gave out a cheer for the Emperor of Austria, and then, by way of com- pliment, one for England. In the evening there was a ball, in the course of which Count Stahremberg received a despatch by courier from Vienna, acquainting him that the Emperor had ordered away the Princess Eliza when close to that city, and that she was gone to Gratz in Styria. The Swedish Consul here told me that he had seen a letter written by Prince Metternich from Paris to the Princess Eliza in the strongest terms of kindness, and assuring her of the Emperor of Austria's protection. The contents were studiously propagated by her friends. General Boulaschoff, of the Russian service, has arrived here from Naples on his way to Milan. Count Stahrem- * ' It is not witli him, with such as tlie Marshal Marmont, that one can have a meeting.' Chap. IV. NAPOLEON GENEALOGY. 265 berg told me lie was going there in hopes to obtain from Marshal Bellegarde certain information, where a despatch would reach the Emperor Alexander. He was with Murat during the last campaign, and was directed to sign the treaty on the part of the Emperor of Eussia, as soon as he should be convinced of his sincerity. He had hitherto evaded it, not being satisfied with the part which Murat had acted; and being now pressed by Murat's Ministers, he had found therein an additional reason for quitting Naples. He has left a General Tully to see what goes on. General Stahremberg himself is convinced of Mui-at's treachery ; for, as soon as the Allies were unsuc- cessful in February last, he would not advance, and fre- quently sent officers privately to the Viceroy. Prince Corsini has been sent for by the Grand Duke, and is ordered to proceed to Vienna immediately. He is a man much looked up to by his countrymen for his talents, and was formerly Conseiller d'Etat at Paris. Prince Molliterno Pignatelli, who accompanied the Queen of Sicily when she left that island, arrived here some days ago, and has since gone to Pome. I met a gentleman in society here, who told me he was secretary to the Mayor of (I could not catch the name), a small town near Florence, from whence the family of Bonaparte originated. Some years ago he occupied himself in forming a genealogical tree of them. He found that they were sprung from an ancient and noble family, but which was afterwards subdivided into several branches, and became much reduced in circum- stances. One of Napoleon's ancestors transferred himself to Corsica. This gentleman had reference made to the registers there, in order to complete the tree, and he found Napoleon's name inserted as Nicholas-Charles-Baptiste Napoleon. He presented this tree to the Princess Eliza, but received no remuneration. Two of Captain Usher's officers came here, and called 2GG SIR NEIL CAMFBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IV. upon tlie Commandant, desiring to know where tlie Empress Marie-Louise was. Tliey stated that the ' Un- daimted' had arrived at Leghorn for the purpose of conveying her from the coast to Elba. The same in- formation was conveyed by the officers on board to Count Stahremberg, who wrote to me to express his surprise, as he knew nothing of it, and at the same time his chagrin, that such reports should be thereby propagated through Italy. I questioned the Admiral, who was at this time at Florence, about the matter. He appeared to have given permission to Captain Usher to receive the Empress on board if she came, but he was himself without any orders or information on the subject. After their return to Leg- horn, Captain Coghlan wrote to me that the 'Alcmene' would, he believed, be appointed to that duty, as Captain Usher was going home ; and he requested me to notify this to Count Bertrand. July 11. — Arrived at Rome. Pursuing my intentions of seeing the different persons employed by His Majesty's Government in the vicinity of Elba, for the purpose of establishing secure and confidential communication with them, I came here to meet Mr. Fagan, who is employed by Loi'd William Bentinck. Previously to this I was afraid of entertaining unfair suspicions, and of ascribing more importance to ISTaj^oleon's restless activity than it might deserve. As his schemes begin to connect themselves so openly with the neighbouring continent, and my informa- tion from Elba is so very detailed and correct, I think the spirit of my duties will for the present be better fulfilled by not shutting myself up in quarantine. Lord Exmouth, the Admiral commanding in the Mediterranean, has, for the purposes of my mission, been pleased to attach to the Elba station His Majesty's brig ' Swallow,' which enables me to communicate with all parts, and I propose to proceed to Sicily for a few days, to give Lord William Bentinck all the information in my power, and to benefit by his coimsel as to my future proceedings. Chap. IY. ROME. 267 Lucien Bonaparte, the brotlier of Napoleon, resides in this city, and Cardinal Fesch is now at his palace in company with his sister, Madame Mere. The latter, I understand, is not out of favour, hut performs all his ecclesiastical functions. Cardinal Mauri was refused an audience of the Pope, notwithstanding repeated applications ; and then, after re- maining here a short time, went off without leave or any kind of notification to His Holiness. July 12. — Found here General Montresor, who had ar- rived some days before. He was brought from Corsica to Civita Yecchia by Captain Tower, of H.M.S. 'Cura9oa,' having touched at Elba and remained there one day. Captain Tower carried despatches from ISTapoleon to Ma- dame Letitia, with a request that she should go in the ' Cura9oa ' to Elba. He then proceeded by land to Naples, where he rejoined his ship, which had gone round from Civita Yecchia. Captain Tower visited the court of Murat, and was at an evening party. He is expected daily at Rome, in order to accompany Madame Letitia to Civita Yecchia, and from thence convey her in his frigate to Elba. July 13. — Went to Civita Yecchia, forty-nine miles dis- tant from Rome, for the purpose of seeing Captain James, of His Majesty's brig ' Swallow.' July 14. — Returned to Rome at 5 p.m. Captain James informs me that the sergeant-major of Napoleon's Guards had deserted from Elba to the Con- tinent, carrying with him 3,000 francs, the chest of the corps ; that M. Fayade had gone to sea lately, in the direction of Pia Nosa, when a firing was heard near that, and it was said that he had been taken by the Algerines ; that, soon after the French troops arrived from Toulon in Corsica, a party of them carried off two vessels by stealth, and deserted to Elba. Upon one occasion of Captain James's return to Elba from the Continent, General Bertrand asked for ' Colonel Campbell.' When told that I was travelling in Italy, but 2G8 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. CnAr. IV. would be back soon, lie immediately began to inform Cap- tain James that he had had a great disx^ute ihataille) with the Emperor, and shut the door, but he was interrupted. July 15. — Went to the palace of the Quirinal in com- pany with Mr. Eagan. We were first led into a waiting- room, where were collected a few ecclesiastics. The door of the adjoining room was opened, upon which two of these gentlemen desired us to walk in, and accompanied us. The Pope^ rose from his chair. We approached bowing, and he too advanced ; then held out his hand, but with great modesty, while we bent down as if to kiss it. He has a very placid kindly countenance, but is ap- parently very feeble. He was dressed in a long white dress, like a robe de chamhre, tied round the waist. He expressed (in Italian) great pleasure at seeing us, and then, after a few questions as to where we were from, and where we were going, went on to express great uneasiness at Bonaparte being so near Italy. We took our leave bowing low, and he escorted us a few paces. July 16. — The King, Charles lY., and Queen of Spain, the Queen of Etruria, and the Prince of Peace, are in this city, where they have resided for some time. I sent my card to the Grand Chamberlain. July 17 and 18. — The variety of interests in Italy, the weakness of the Government in the Roman States, the unsettled condition of the kingdom of Naples, the vicinity of Elba to the Continent, which forms the residence of several members of Bonaparte's family — all these various circumstances keep up a ferment, and occasion a concourse of Bonaparte's jjartisans and other adventurers to this part of the world. This increases every day, and all possible means are taken to disseminate the idea of Bona- parte's future return to influence and power, so that the * Detained a prisoner at Fon- but it was not until after Napoleon's tainebleaii ever since 1809, 1'ius VII. abdication that he was actiiiilly re- Lad been released in January 1813, stored to his own dominions. — Ed. Cnxv. IV. VISIT TO CARDIXAL FESCII. 269 impression becomes only too general. Yarions parties of recruits have been sent over to Elba from Italy, and a whole family have been arrested in Leghorn, who had in their possession two lists of men ready to serve Napoleon, to the number of 300 on each. Having received much confidential and useful informa- tion from Count Stahremberg, I have, with a reciprocal view, given him the names of the Italian officers who have passed over to Elba. Mr. Fagan informs me that the Neapolitan troops still occupy the marches of Ancona, notwithstanding various representations for their removal have been made by the Pope, and commit the greatest possible excesses. They lately marched from 15,000 to 20,000 men to another point of the frontier of the Eoman States, but suddenly halted without transgressing the line. July 19. — Visited Cardinal Fesch, and told him that, as I was returning to Elba, I should be happy to convey to Napoleon any letters from himself or Madame Mere. He told me that his sister had arranged her journey by land to the coast of Italy at a point nearest Elba, when Cap- tain Tower arrived, and of himself offered to carry herself, her suite, and all her baggage, adding that he would give her two days' notice. The Cardinal said he had recom- mended her to accept the offer. I told him I was persuaded Captain Tower had acted with good intentions, but with- out reflection ; for there were regulations in the Navy, that no foreigners could be conveyed in His Majesty's ships without regular applications and permission from those of superior authority. Besides, the brig attached to the Elba station had left orders for him to proceed imme- diately to join the Admiral, and then proceed to England. July 20. — Waited upon the Pope, for the purpose of presenting Captain James of His Majesty's ship ' Swal- low.' He received us in bed, sitting up with a pillow behind his back, although he had sent to all the Ministers 270 . SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IV. to notify that liis indisposition would prevent him from seeing anyone. He spoke with uneasiness of Bonaparte being so near the coast of Italy, but expressed great ad- miration of England for the steady and consistent policy she had pursued. Notwithstanding his apprehensions of Napoleon and Murat, he placed all his confidence in our Go- vernment. He asked whether I had heard any news from Paris respecting Talleyrand. When 1 replied in the nega- tive, he said he was disgraced, and that he was very sorry to hear it. I found afterwards that he had received a desjDatch from Cardinal Consalvi at Paris in seven days. Two days ago a courier passed through here on his way from Paris to Murat. He called himself secretary of the Queen. June 21. — There have arrived here the Duke of Filan- gieri, going to Paris on a mission from Murat, and the Duke of , who gives out that he is deputed to attend the Congress at Vienna. The former belongs to the household, and is a general of brigade. The latter is a general of division, who was out of favour with Joseph on account of his attachment to Ferdinand, but afterwards entered into Murat's service, and went to Eussia, where he lost several of his toes and fingers by frost. Lucien Bonaparte has applied to the Pope for the title of Prince of Canino. He pays evening visits, and leaves cards simply as ' Luciano Bonaparte.' Louis Bonaparte is expected here about August 10, and intends likewise to settle at Eome. July 22. — Went from Eome to Civita Vecchia. July 23. — Sailed in His Majesty's brig ' Swallow.' July 25. — Touched at Elba, and saw General Bertrand, who asked me to remain for twenty-four hours ; but I could not land on account of the quarantine. A j)erson called Ludovico Ennis showed me a passport from Lord William Bentinck, to enable him to go to Genoa. In the body of the passport he is called Vice- Chap. IV. MADAME MEUE. 271 consul at tlie island of Elba. He liad announced himself as such at Porto Ferrajo. I recommended him to proceed to his destination, unless he had powers to show in addi- tion to his passport ! A Polish officer stated to M. Eicci at Longono, some days ago, that, after he was released from prison in Aus- tria, he went to see the Empress Marie-Louise, having a secret rendezvous with her. He then received letters from her, the Empress of Austria, and the young King of Eome for Napoleon, and also a nut from the Archduke Charles containing a ribbon. Couriers were sent after him to Milan, where he was apprehended and searched, but he had hidden the letters in his boot, and the nut was covered like a ball of silk. He says he is to be sent away from Elba soon with despatches. The Pole must vaunt these falsehoods to give himself consequence. The Em- press of Austria and Marie-Louise, as is well known, are not on terms, and therefore could not be together. About two weeks ago the curates in the diJBPerent churches notified that the contributions which were de- manded some time ago ought to be paid before the first of August. This created great disturbances, even in the churches, and a great number of persons have in conse? quence been apprehended. The Grand Vicaire is a near relation of Napoleon's. July 26-28. — Landed at Leghorn, and remained there to await the expected arrival of Madame Mere. July 29. — Ai'rived Madame Mere and suite in two car- riages, with six horses to each. She came from Rome, and travelled under the name of Madame Dupont, accom- panied by M. Colonna, lately Prefet at Naples, which office, however, as a Frenchman, he was obliged to resign when that Government declared war against France. July 80. — Keceived a visit fromM. Colonna and M. Bar- tolucci, an Italian, resident in Leghorn, and formerly member of the Municipality under the French. They 272 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IV. requested a passage for Madame in a man-of-war. Among the reasons alleged for this appeal were, the disappoint- ment of a passage in another of His Majesty's ships, Napoleon's corvette being absent at Genoa, and these seas being infested with Algerine pirates. I promised to speak to the captain of the corvette attached to my mission, who accordingly acquiesced. M. Colonna paid me a complimentary call to thank me on the part of Madame, and to say that a visit would be very acceptable. Promised to attend in the evening. July 31. — Visited Madame, in company with Captain Battersby, of H.M.S. ' Grasshopper.' She got up, as if with difficulty, some seconds after our approach, and made us sit down upon chairs close to her. M. Colonna, her agent M. Bartolucci, and two ladies, entered and sat down soon afterwards. I addressed her as ' Madame ' and ' Altesse.' She was very pleasant and unaffected. The old lady is very handsome, of middle size, with a good figure and fresh colour. She spoke much of the Empress Marie-Louise, of her being at the baths of Aix, and of her bad health, with many sighs and expressions of great regard, as if her se- paration from Napoleon was not voluntary on her part. Madame Bartolucci, she said, had received a letter from the Austrian General who commands at Parma, saying that Marie-Louise had advised him of her intention to be there early in September. I mentioned to Madame, in the course of conversation, that the papers stated that the Duchess of Montebello had returned to France. She said it was so ; and that there was now only one of all her French attendants who remained with her. After remaining for half an hour, we bowed and went off. Madame will sail to-morrow or next day, and I intend to accompany her. The quarantine is from to-day taken off the island of Elba, and unlimited intercourse is now open, as no in- Chap. IV. DESPATCH FROM LORD CASTLEREAGH. 273 fectioii has been communicated by the vessels from Malta, which had been captured and carried into Porto Ferrajo in April last. I have this day received the following despatch from Lord Castlereagh : — 'London : Foreign Office, July 15, 1814. * Sir, — Your despatches to No. 21 inclusive, of the 13th ult., have been received, and laid before the Prince Ee- g-ent. ' I am to desire that you will continue to consider your- self as British resident in Elba, without assuming any farther of&cial character than that in which you are al- ready received, and that you would pursue the same line of conduct and communication with this department, which, I am happy to acquaint you, have already received His Royal Highness's approbation. I am, &c., (Signed) ' Castlereagh. ' Colonel Campbell, &c. &c.' August 1. — ^Visited by the Commandant of the place, who gave me the whole history of the persons appre- hended for enrolling recruits for Napoleon. An officer of the late Regiment d'Etrangers of Elba, a native of Lucca, called Quedlicci, employed a Corsican of the name of Imbricco, resident in Leghorn, to enrol Tus- can non-commissioned officers and privates for a battalion to be formed in Elba. The lists were found, and the sol- diers engaged deposed to the facts. Letters have also been intercepted from Guasco, chef de bataillon at Longono, entering into details as to the application of money for this object, and mentioning that only seven recruits had arrived from Tuscany. A Captain Dumont, a Piedmontese, arrived from Elba, stating that he was going home, and had quitted Napo- leon's service. Having burnt a quantity of papers in the •lazaretto he was detained, with his papers and baggage, T 274 Sm NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IV. after coming out of quarantine. Thereupon lie claimed his liberty as an officer of Napoleon's armj. Nothing more criminal could be proved against him, but it is evi- dent he was going to Piedmont on a like service, as he wished to dissemble it at first, and to pretend that he had quitted Napoleon's service. It is known that there are other agents on the same service at Florence, and dispersed through the different parts of Italy. These are watched, until sufficient j)roofs can be obtamed of their employment. Received from General Count Stahremberg, commanding in Tuscany and Lucca, the following letter : ^ 'Lucques: 30« de juillet 1814. 'Cher Colonel, — J'ai re9u vos lettres de Eome et de Livourne avec le plus sensible plaisu\ Je ne poun-ais assez vous remercier des nouvelles interessantes que vous avez bien voulu me communiquer. Je vous aurais repoii- du a Rome, si vous ne m'aviez instruit de votre prompte depart de cette ville. Comme mes affaires m'empechent de venir pour le moment a Livourne, pour avoir le plaisir de vous voir, et pour causer sur des affaires de haute im- portance, je dois le faire par ecrit. Yous saurez qu'un certain Imbricco et Capitaine Dumont ont ete arretes a Livourne, convaincus comme enroleurs pour I'ile d'Elbe. lis avaient deja engage plusieurs sujets toscans, en leur donnant 100 francs d'engagements. J'ai decouvert qu'il y 6 Translation hxj Sir Neil Campbell. As business prevents my coming at 'Lnccca: July 30, 1814. present to Legliorn, to have the ' Dear Colonel, — I have received pleasure of conversing with you your letter from Rome and from upon allairs of high importance, I Leghorn with the most lively plea- must now do it by writing. You sure. I cannot sufficiently tluink must know that a certain Imbricco you for the interesting news which and Captain Dumont have been you have had the goodness to com- arrested at Leghorn, convicted of municate to me. I should have ha%'ing enrolled for the island of answered your letter to Rome if Elba. They had already engaged you had not informed me of your many Tu.scan subjects, by giving immediate departure fi-om thence, them 100 francs for enlistment. I* Chap. W. LETTER FEOM COUNT ST.lHPtEMBERG. 275 avait une bande de ces coquins le long des cotes, et meme jusqu'en Piemont, pour debaucher les sujets pour le service de Napoleon. Je me donne toutes les peines possibles pour decouvrir toute cette canaille. On en arretera aus- si trois a Massa et Carrara convaincus d'enrolement, et j'ai nomme une commission militaire a Livourne pour juger ces individus avec la plus grande severite. J'ai cru devoir faire sur cet objet de haute importance un rapport tres- fort a son Excellence le Marechal Comte Bellegarde, en lui demontrant que Napoleon prouve par tons ses manoevres qu'il ne restera jamais tranquille, et que sa presence a rile d'Elbe, vu ses connexions avec Naples, et avec tons ces aventuriers (qui, comme vous dites tres-bien, le ser- vent dans I'esperance qu'il retournera encore a son ancienne grandeui'), sera toujours tres-dangereuse pour le repos d'Ttalie. II faut employer tons les moyens pour rester toujours au fait de ce qui se passe a I'ile, et vous m'obli- gerez infiniment en communiquant ce que vous en savez. Yous me dites que vous avez ete en discussion avec les capi- taines de marine concernant le voyage de Madame Letitia a rile d'Elbe. Je viens de recevoir le rapport qu'elle a have discovered that there was a his presence in the island of Elba whole band of these rascals all along (from his coimection with Naples, the coast, even as far as Piedmont, and with all these adveutm-ers, who, to corrupt the subjects for the ser- as you veryjustly remark, "serve him vice of Napoleon. I take all pos- in the hope that he will yet recover sible trouble to discover all this rab- his former greatness " ) will always ble. There have also been three be very dangerous for the tranquil- an-ested at Massa and Can-ara, con- lity of Italy. Every possible means victed of having enlisted, and I must be employed in order to be have named a military commission constantly well informed of all that at Leghorn to try these individuals goes on in the island of Elba, and with the greatest severity. I have you will exceedingly oblige me by thouo-ht it my duty to make a very communicating to me whatever you strong representation to His Excel- know. You inform me that you leucy Marshal Count Bellegarde have had discussions with the upon a subject of such high impor- captains of the Navy respecting the tance, showing him that all these voyage of Madame Letitia to the manoeuvres of Napoleon prove that island of Elba. I have just received he will never remain quiet, and that notice that yesterday, at seven in the '27G Sm NEIL CAMrBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. IV. passe liier, a sept lieures du soir, Pise, pour se rendre a Livourne. Onlui a donne a Pise une escorte de quatre hns- sards, ce que j'ai tres-desapprouve. Je vous prie, clier Campbell, de me faire savoir si c'est avec votre autorisa- tion, ou celle de Lebzethern qu'elle vient a Livourne, et si vous la ferez passer de la a I'lle, pour que je puisse prendre mes mesures. II me serait impossible de la souffrir longtemps, surtout avec sa suite, a Livourne. C'est beau- coup trop pret et trop dangereux. Je re9ois dereclief des reclamations reiterees des cotes, de Piombino jusque vers Livourne, sur les inquietudes qu'eprouvent les ha- bitants, vu I'apparition d'une flotille barbaresque. Je crois que c'est egalement un manege de Napoleon pour inquieter ces pays. Je vous prie de vouloir engager les capitaines des batiments anglais comme allies, de proteger autant que possible ces cotes. S'il est possible, je viendrai vous voir — peut-etre mardi, avant mon retour a Florence. * Agreez en attendant I'assurance des sentiments de la plus haute consideration, et de I'attachement le plus sincere. (Signe) ' Le Comte de Staheemberg.' evening, sbe passed through Pisa Piombino to Leghorn, of the iin- on her way to Leghorn. At Pisa easiness which the inhabitants ex- an escort of four hussars was given perience by the appearance of the to her, of which I disapproved very Barbary pirates. I do believe that much. I request of you, dear Camp- it is equally a trick of Napoleon to bell, to acquaint me whether it is disturb this country. I beg of you by your authority, or by that of to be so good as to engage the Lebzethern,* that she has come to captains of the British men-of-war Leghorn, and whether you will as our allies-to protect these coasts convej' her to Elba, in order that I to their utmost. If it is possible, I may adopt my measures. It is not will come and see you — perhaps on possible that I can permit her to Tuesday, before my return to Flo- remain It^ng, above all with her rence. suite. It is much too near and too 'Accept my assurances of the ut- daugerous. most consideration, and of the most ' I receive endless pressing repre- sincere attachment, sentations from the coast, from * Count Stahkemberg.' The Austrian Minister at Rome. Chap. IV. MADAME MERE EMBARKS FOR ELBA. 277 August 2. — Embarked in His Majesty's brig 'Grass- hopper,' Captain Battersby, with Madame Letitia, M. Colonua, and two dames d'honneur, and landed at Elba tbe same evening. In leaving tke inn at Leghorn to walk to tlie boat, M. Colonna took tlie arm of Madame with bis bat off all the way. Captain Battersby and myself took the arms of tlie two ladies with our hats on. Crowds followed ns, and, on quitting the shore, a number of persons hooted, and whis- tled, and hissed. Captain Battersby and two of his of&cers, M. Saveira a passenger, and myself, all dined with Madame upon deck. A couch was arranged for her, from which she never sth'red during the whole voyage, except once to look out for Napoleon's house, when she mounted upon the top of a gun with great activity. She told me that Napoleon was first intended for the navy, and studied for it at Brienne with a certain propor- tion of the other pupils. She went to see him there, and found that they all slept in hammocks ; upon which she prevented his pursuing that line, and said all she could to dissuade him from it. ' Mon enfant, dans la marine vous avez a combattre le feu et I'eau ! ' ^ He was then fourteen or fifteen years of age. She had had a great desire, she said, to visit England for many years. She had formed a particular friendship with one English family at Montpellier, whose address she had kept, but now lost, and forgotten the name. She had opportunities likewise of seeing several others, and parti- cularly Mrs. Cosing (?), the wife of a painter. Her son Lucien spoke very favourably of England. At first he was ' ' My son, in the navy you have to the Royal Militaiy School at to contend with tire and water.' Paris, occur these words : ' Would In a report, 1783, from the make an excellent sea-officer.' See masters of the school at Brienne, Lockhart's Life of Napoleon, vol. i. recommending 'M. de Bonaparte p. 6, note. — Ed. [Napoleon], born August 15, 17G9,' 278 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. W. treated with susj)icion, and laid under restrictions, whicli was unpleasant ; but afterwards lie found liimself quite happy, and formed very agreeable friendships. He has written a poem respecting the ' Saracens in Corsica,' and another entitled ' Charlemagne.' Louis seems to be a great favourite of hers. His pic- ture is on her snuff-box. She said he had written several romances, which she admired, and was sure would be generally esteemed, such as would be fit for young ladies to read. Spoke of his fortune as being small, although he did not spend money either on play or women — ' ni jeu ni femmes ! ' Her eldest son she called ' le roi Joseph.' She mentioned that she had been very ill-treated by the Minister of the Interior in France, who wished to take her house in Paris for 600,000 in the place of 800,000 francs. She only wished for what it had cost her. The Minister told her agent, that if she would not take that sum, she would repent of it. She wrote him, 'that she would never give up her rights and property, nor bend to the caprice of an individual.' If the Minister took it by force, she would enter a protestation formally, and then take her chance of justice. She hinted at the treaty, and the guarantee of aU the Allied Powers. M. Colonna said her agent should give in a representation to the English Am- bassador, On anchoring in the harbour, a valet of Napoleon, the master of the port, and others came off. They said that Napoleon had been exj)ecting his mother the whole of the preceding day, and had that morning early gone to a mountain at some distance. The ship's boat being manned, and no one coming off to say where Madame would be received, I proposed to M. Colonna to send a boat with a message to General Bertrand, or Drouot, to announce her an-ival. When he asked her approbation to that, she seemed greatly agitated and mortified at no one coming to her on their part, and gave her assent with Chap. IV. LANDING AT ELBA. 279 great violence, turning round quite pale and liuffed. At length Generals Bertrand and Drouot arrived. The Cap- tain and mjself disembarked vrith her. All the officers of the Imperial Guard, the Mayor, &c., received her at the wharf, and from that to Napoleon's house the streets were lined. She went up in a carriage, with her dames ; we in another, with six horses to each. The contributions were to be paid bj August 1, or en- forced bj military execution. This was notified by criers in every village ten days before, and subsequently to that a similar announcement was made in the churches. Very few persons, however, have paid, and great disturbances have been created. Napoleon has purchased a considerable tract of land in the richest valley, in the name of Monsieur Lapis ; that is, he values the spots belonging to many small proprie- tors, and orders the act to be drawn out. They have re- presented the impossibility of removing their families, cattle, goats, &c., to other situations ; since which Napo- leon has told them they may remain. A priest of the island went to M. Ricei, and asked whether England would not interfere to prevent the exac- tions of Napoleon, and whether the inhabitants might not send him a memorial to that effect, to be given to me ! 280 SIE NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V CHAPTER V. ixrEKyrEw tvith napoleon in company with captain bat- TF.RSBY — GOES TO LEGHORN TO MEET ADMIPvAL HALLOWELL — AR- REST OF EMISSARIES — LETTER FROM C0I7NT STAHREMBERG— DESPATCH FROM LORD CASTLEREAGH — DECLARATION OF WAR BY DEY OF AL- GIERS — INTERVIEW AVITH GENERAL AND MADAME BERTRAND CONVERSATION, ON SEPTEMBER 16, OF THREE HOrRS WITH NAPO- LEON — ARRIVAL OF POLISH LADY AND CHILD AT ELBA — HABITS OF NAPOLEON — GOES TO FLORENCE, AND IS PRESENTED TO THE GRAND DtTKE. August 3. — This moming General Bertrand informed me that at 9 p.m. the Emperor would receive Captain Battersby, M. Saveira, and myself. On arriving at the palace, the sentry stopped us until the officer on duty with the guard came out. On telling him we were there by appointment, he showed us into an antechamber, and called the aide-de-camp on duty, who said he could not announce us at that moment, as the Emperor was playing at a game with his mother and the Grand Marechal. He requested us to sit down ; but when I repeated that we came by appointment — that it was of no consequence, but he could inform the Grand Marechal we had been there — he became very uneasy for fear of my going away — begged me to have the goodness to stay one moment — said that the Emperor would see us directly — how much regard he had for me ! how much he esteemed the British nation ! &c. &c. We remained about ten minutes more, and then I said I would go to call on General Drouot, whose house was very near, and would return again. Just as we were going out — which ap- Chap. V. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 281 peared to cause them the utmost anxiety — another officer came running out to the door to say the Emperor wished to see us. We were accordingly ushered into a room, when Napoleon immediately appeared from an adjoining one. He bowed to us, and came up tripping and smiling. Asked me how I did ? — said I had got fatter. Was I quite well ? Where had I been. ' Quelles nouvelles ? Vous venez done pourrester quelques jours avec nous?' ^ I told him I had made a short tour in Italy, and had been at the baths of Lucca. *Avez-vous eu le deluge (shower-bath) ? ' ' No ; I had appHed the water in a stream through a pipe.' Had I been at Rome ? Had I seen the Pope ? He was a good man. Bon moine, old and feeble. Had he been sick ? I said he had a swelling in his legs, and that the last time I saw him he was sitting up in bed. He laughed, and made a joke about the cause of the Pope's indisposition. Then he went on : ' Hs sont tres-mal- heui'eux dans ces Etats. C'est I'interet de I'Angleterre de former un royaume d'ltalie. N'est-ce pas ? Cela doit etre. Eh ? ' ^ I told him that whatever might be the interest of England, any interference of us Protestants with the head of the Roman Catholic Church would be peculiarly ob- noxious : ' Ah ! vous pouvez faire comme vous voudrez. N'avez-vous pas quelques nouvelles ? ' ^ I told him Sicily was given up entirely to the King, and that all the Minis- ters had been changed immediately. He asked where the Queen was ? Whether she had returned ? Where Lord William Bentinck was ? Whether he had gone home, or was to remain at Genoa? Who was to succeed him as Minister at the Court of Palermo ? Whether it was in- tended to withdraw the whole of the British troops ? 'La ^ ' What news ? You are come, England to form a kingdom of Italy, then, to stay some days with us ? ' Is it not so ? That ought to be.' ^ ' They are very miserable in ^ (■ p^ \ yQ^ g^^jj (Jq ^s you like, those States. It ia the interest of Have you not any news ? ' 282 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V. possession de ce pajs ne vous conviendrait pas. Les petites iles sent mieux pour I'Angleterre.' *^ He remarked that the English were not popular in Sicily. Our religion was always in our way with respect to these Catholics. I felt inclined to ask him if he had found it so in the case of Spain and Portugal, but in re- gard to Sicily I admitted that our measures there had not been received with that popularity, or met with that success, which had been expected : ' Rien de nouveau d'Angleterre ? Le mariage de la jeune pvincesse n'aui-a pas lieu done ? Ah ! A ce qu'il me semble, vous avez le pro- spect d'une belle reine.' ^ He seemed to exult, and said, * Le Regent a voulu la gronder par rapport au mariage.' ° * Je n'ai pas entendu dire cela, Sire,' '^ I rexDlied. ' Oui, c'est dans mes journaux que j'ai re9us de Genes. Elle se jeta dans un fiacre. Elle a une tete et un temperament chauds. II faut trouver un mari pour elle.' ^ I said. Yes ; but I did not think the union wiuh the Prince of Orange was a matter of importance either to England or Holland. We must find another husband for her. He asked, ' Why does she not marry one of her cousins ? Has the Duke of York no sons ? I told him, JSTo. Her only cousin among our own Princes was the Duke of Gloucester, and it was said she never liked him. If she did not marry, I hoped she would "* ' The possession of tliat country which I have received from Genoa, would not suit you. The small She threw herself into a hackney- islands are better for England.' coach. She is hot-headed and of a ^ ' Is there nothing new from warm temperament. They must England ? The marriage of the find a husband for her.' young Princess will not take place, July 13, 1814. ' All London then ? Ah ! So far as appears to were startled by hearing that the me, you have the prospect of a fine Princess Charlotte had, on the pre- Queen.' vious evening, left Warwick House ** 'The Regent was inclined to unobserved, and gone off in a hack - scold her with respect to her mar- ney-coach to the Princess of Wales, riage.' in Conuaught Place.' — Reminis- ' ' I have not heard that stated, cences of a Septtiagenarian, pp. 112, Sire.' 113.— Ed. ^ ' Yes, it is in my newspapers Chap. V. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 283 prove a second Catherine of Eussia. He said lie did not believe the Prince of Orange had ever liked her ; that some time ago he intercepted several of his letters to his father, wherein he expressed himself that ' il n'a pas voulu etre mari d'une reine sans etre roi.'^ I said that I did not believe any objections to the marriage had arisen on his part. He asked me to get some English papers for him. I rex3lied that I would order him one weekly from Leghorn. He told me he saw, by extracts from them, the Regent's approval of my wearing my Eussian orders. On presenting Captain Battersby, I added that he was very happy to have had the honour of conveying Madame. Napoleon thanked him, and spoke of the very pleasant passage she had had. I remarked I was particularly glad to hear that, as she had experienced so much delay from the expectations Captain Tower had held out to her ; but that there were orders in search of him during three weeks to go home, and that it was necessary for him to return immediately. He spoke of the disappointment and inconvenience she experienced at present from the want of her eflPects, which had been detained at the mouth of the Tiber by a corsair preventing the vessel from sailing. I told him that the Tuscan and Eoman Governments, and all the people along the coast, were alarmed on account of these corsairs, but that they often fancied other vessels tacking in towards the shore belonged to them. He asked Captain Battersby whether he had seen any. He said ' No ; but there certainly were some about.' Seeing the conversation flagging, I told Napoleon that I had lately received despatches in reply to mine, in- forming Government that he had requested me to remam after the departure of the other Commissioners, and that I was hapi^y to say H. E. H. the Prince Eegent approved of 9 ' He was not willing to be the husband of a queen without being king.' 284 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V. my continuing at the island of Elba. He only nodded and said, ' Ah, all ! ' On parting he nodded, and, smiling, said to me, ' Au plaisir de vous revoir ! ' then turned round and went to the adjoining room. In talking to the officer of the guard, while waiting for the interview with Napoleon, I asked him whether the officers and men enjoyed good health, or whether they suf- fered from the air of the salt-ponds? He said. No, for that they were all acclimatised. They had campaigned in such a variety of countries — in Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Italy, and Russia, — 'dans tous les pays excepte le votre.' ^ I said, ' Aye, but I should think the cold of Russia was a bad preparation for the heat of Italy.' ' Ah ! c'est vi-ai, ce sont les extremites.' ^ I had him there, I thought, but it did not excite any awkwardness, for he followed it up with compliments to myself and the British nation. In going out this evening after dinner, on our way to Napoleon's house, we saw a small display of fireworks in the streets, distributed probably by him to celebrate the arrival of his mother. There is a theatre of very small size here, and there were in it to-night about fifty or sixty persons. August 4. — As the man-of-war was to return to-day to Leghorn, where Admiral Hallowell was expected, I deter- mined to go over to see him. Besides that, I understood that the discontent excited among the inhabitants against the contributions was very great, and I considered it better to absent myself for a time. A priest had pro- posed to give me a representation to be transmitted to the British Government, praying for their interference. Very few of the inhabitants have yet paid, notwithstanding the threats of military execution which are held out. ' ' 111 all countries except yours.' ^ ' Ah ! tliat is true ; those are the extremities.' Chap. V. COUNT GUICCIIAEDI. 285 August 5. — Disembarked at Leghorn. August 6. — Admiral Hallowell has not arrived, but is daily expected. August 7-12. — There is a Count Guicchardi here. I met him first at dinner at the Governor's, and afterwards fre- quently in society. He was French minister of police at Milan, and one of the deputies who went to Paris to pro- pose that the kingdom of Italy should be governed by the Duke of Modena, the cousin of the Emperor of Austria, as an independent sovereign, or by some other Prince con- nected with the Allies. This proposition, however, was not made until after Bonaparte's abdication, when of course the Italians could not help themselves. Count Guicchardi has probably come here until the popular fury at Milan asrainst the former Prench authorities has subsided. He wishes, I can see, to flatter me greatly, and asks whether England will not do something for the Italians, by re- storing to them a kingdom, and rescuing them from the intolerable oppression of the Austrians. I told him they had been too late with their propositions, which ought to have been made hefore the Allies entered Paris. He and other Italians say that many wished to rid themselves of Bonaparte, and the connection with the Prench last year, and particularly after Murat declared himself, it was pro- posed to act in concert with him ; but there was no proper head, nor sufiicient energy. Everyone sjjoke and thought the same, but they did not act. The Consul of the late kingdom of Italy, who was resident at Leghorn, is still here, and speaks the same sentiments. He is a Venetian named Alberti, a clever man, but violent against the Austrians and the partition of Venice made under the Treaty of Campo Formio. The Marquis Prie, belonging to one of the first families at Turin, tells me that until after Eugene's return from the Eussian campaign he was adored by the people. After that period he showed a want of confidence in the Italians ; 286 SIR NEIL CAMrBELL'S JOURNAL. Cn.vr. V. their troops were not trusted in the garrisons. French officers were placed in all the chief commands. This created disunion, and there were daily quarrels between the French and Italian officers, and at length the Viceroy came to be considered no longer as their sovereign, but as a French general placed over them forcibly to preserve their connection with France. The Italians speak universally against the Austrians, and complain of their rough manners ; the hardships of a people who are polished and descendants of the ancient Romans being under Germans. The people of Tuscany and Lucca again declaim against the excessive contri- butions, and the unfairness of being obliged to support these Austrians, when they can take care of themselves. But I cannot hear, on good authority at least, of any mal- versation on the part of the latter. I know the Austrian military and interior arrangements to be very precise, and I observe the utmost regularity and quiet among both officers and men in the streets. The officers are certainly never admitted into society, and complain, I am told, of the incivilit}^ of the inhabitants. The fact is, such dif- ferent materials as the Italians and the Austrians, with reciprocal prejudices, cannot easily associate ; the one de- voted wholly to pleasure, the other to military duties. It is said that the secretary of General Count Stah- remberg, M. Rosetti, a Piedmontese, is extremely venal ; but if the case be so, I do not think it is known to the General. A proclamation apj)eared lately, ordering all plate belonging to palaces or public establishments, which had been carried away, to be restored. A few days before this — so the story runs — he came in a carriage by night from Lucca to Leghorn with a box, which was carried into his room. A Jew came to him for a private conference, and carried away the chest, but one of the waiters in the room had taken up a position which enabled him to sj)y the contents of the box and overhear the bargain ! Chap. V. M. COLOMBINI. 287 August 12-18. — Upon tlie night of August 12, a Satur- day, a company of Austrian infantry was under arms all night, and a few hussars patrolled about the streets. It seems that a captain of the Hungarian infantry heard a peasant in the streets talking of a revolt ; and although the commanding officer, to whom he reported this with great earnestness and signs of fear, reprobated his con- duct, as certainly arising from a misunderstanding and false impression on his part, and put him under arrest, yet it was thought prudent to keep a force under arms. M. Marescalci, governor of Parma, has written to say that the Archduchess Marie-Louise will be there about the 1st of September. He with others is to resign his situation, on account of the number of persons whom she wishes to put into their places. It is reported that Murat counts much upon the support of the Austrians through the mterest which his Queen has with Metternich, whose chere amie she formerly was ! August 19. — A M. Colombini has arrived here from Florence. He is the person who assisted the French guard in scaling the window of the Pope. He comes of a good family and has property. On the Pope's return to Rome he was thrown into prison, but has now received per- mission to go where he pleases. He relates all sorts of stories as to the discontent existing against the Pope's government and his foolish proceedings. M. Alberti, for- merly Consul of the kingdom of Italy, introduced him at the theatre the night before. The Commandant has given me the names of the follow- ing persons as having gone over to the island of Elba, and being much suspected — Locatelli and Dr. Guidotti. The wife of the latter remains here, and is under surveillance. A person came to me to be engaged as a servant, call- ing himself fii'st a nephew, and afterwards only a relation of M. Eicci. He told me he was going to Pisa, in case I 288 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V. did not hire liim, on account of a wound in tlie head, re- ceived while serving in the Trench army. He said he had been a soldier for many years, and had a passport signed by the Mayor of Porto Ferrajo. I think he has been sent to me as a spy ! Prince Borghese has arrived at Florence. The King of Spain refuses to restore to him his house at Rome, and the Pope will not interfere. A small vessel has arrived from Bastia in Corsica. I am informed that when she came awav, there was a tumult between the citizens and the military, in consequence of the latter wishing to prevent a religious procession. August 20. — Arrived Admiral Hallowell in the ' Malta,' from Genoa. August 21. — The Admiral disapproves most strongly of several instances of voluntary court and unnecessary visits paid by naval officers at Porto Ferrajo, and I am j)er- suaded nothing of the kind will recur in future. He con- tinues the arrangements of Lord Exmouth in placing a man-of-war upon this station, in case of any extraordinary event to communicate. August 22. — Admiral Hallowell sailed for Palermo. August 23. — A few days ago Napoleon went on board his corvette, and remained for two hours. Fifty of his Guards were embarked at the same time. It is given out that they are sent to receive the Empress Marie-Louise ; but it is more probable that this measure has arisen fi'om fear of the Algerines, although Napoleon would hardly wish to raise an alarm among the inhabitants on account of so trifling a foe ! Since then the corvette has been sent over to Genoa for fireworks, clothing, and household stores. Porto Ferrajo continues to be the resort of a number of officers from Italy, who dislike the service both of the King of Sardinia and of the Emperor of Austria : in the former case, on account of the harsh expressions made CnAr. V, OPEN LETTERS. 289 use of to those who had been wounded, or obtained dis- tinction under the French; in the latter, on account of the system of corporal punishment and the difference of language. Their expectations of employment are kept up by constant reports propagated purposely to produce that effect. Still many have returned to their homes, sorely disappointed in their prospects, and displeased at the rece]3tion they met with from Napoleon, whose man- ner is very seldom conciliatory. August 24. — A letter from General Drouot, governor of Elba, to General Spannochi, governor of Leghorn, requests of him to send under an escort to Piombino an officer who had been arrested, and assures him that if the man has committed any crime, he shall be tried by a military com- mission and punished. The reply from General Spannochi re- fers him to General Stahremberg, commanding in Tuscany. August 2 5. -^Arrived from Palermo the Prince of Villa Franca, lately Minister of Foreign Affairs while the island was under British dominion, with Lord William Bentinck as governor, the Duke of Ventimiglia, and two other Sicilian noblemen, who found it prudent to withdraw upon the assumption of the government by the King. August 26. — Eeceived a despatch from Count Stahrem- berg, with a packet of letters from the Princess Pauline and from various members of the Court of Naples to Napoleon, forwarded by Count Meyer, the Austrian Minis- ter there. They had been left open, he states, and he had accordingly read them ; but they contained nothing but felicitations on Napoleon's fete-day ! ' Ce sont,' he adds, ' des finesses cousues de fil blanc. On nous envoie des lettres ouvertes pour les expedier a I'ile, pendant que I'on a de frequentes occasions d'en envoyer d'importance directe- nient de Naples a I'ile.' ^ 3 ' Tliese are artifices easily seen they have frequent opportunities of through. They send us letters open sending others of importance direct to be forwarded to the island, while from Naples to the island.' U 200 SIR NEIL CAMrBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V. lie also tells me, tliat although General Drouot had wi'itten twice to General Spannochi on the subject of the persons arrested for recruiting at Leghorn, he had sent no reply ; nor should he do so, until the proces was more advanced, and something more was known of their pro- ceedings. They were being tried by a military commis- sion, and the details would be forwarded to Vienna. At the same time he promises to inform me of the issue of this affair. Prince Esterhazy has arrived at Florence, on his way to Rome, upon an extraordinary mission. The Pope has issued a bull, directing the re-establishment of the Jesuits throughout Europe. Dr. Milner, a Roman Catholic bishop, and a deputa- tion from England, were at Rome in the beginning of last month. August 27. — Went towards Elba in H.M.S. 'Grass- hopper,' but returned, as I did not wish to be present at the formal celebration of Napoleon's birthday. This was first ordered for the 15th, but was afterwards postponed to the 27th instant, which is the anniversary of the birth- day of the Empress Marie-Louise. It is stated that twenty of the Guards have deserted since the quarantine was taken off, and that all are tired of the place. Some sixty men of the Bataillon Etranger and thirty-five of the Line remained in the service of Napoleon. They have been augmented to 350, Italians and Corsicans, but principally the latter. Of these re- cruits, however, sixty have deserted at various times. The last order for payment of the contributions fixes the 24th of this month, under pain of military execu- tion. August 28. — The Commandant showed me a despatch from General Stahremberg, stating that Jerome Bonaparte had left Gratz, and was at Padua on the 22nd. Search was being made, and there were orders to apprehend him. Chap. V. DESPATCH FROM LORD CASTLEREAGH. 291 August 29. — Esceived a despatch from Lord Castlereagli as follows : ' Foreign Office : August 6, 1814. * Sir, — I have the honour to acquaint you that I have received the commands of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to set out shortly for the Continent, to assist, as His Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, at the approaching Congress of Vienna. *It is His Royal Highness's j)leasure that you still continue, as on the former occasion, to address your despatches to me at the Foreign Office, sending duplicates of such as you may be of opinion ought to be made known to me without delay at Vienna. * You will transmit your correspondence to me at Vienna by the most favourable opportunities which may offer ; but you will avoid any unnecessary expense by sending mes- sengers on occasions which do not appear to you to require immediate despatch. ' I am, with great truth and regard, &c. &c., (Signed) ' Castlereagh. ' To Colonel Campbell, &c. &c.' August 30. — Went to-day from Leghorn to Florence, in expectation of the arrival there of the Grand Duke. Informed that a courier had been arrested at Bologna, with despatches from Joseph Bonaparte to Napoleon. They were taken from him, being supposed to be of importance. August Sl.-Sept. 8. — Florence and baths of Lucca. While at Florence, General Stahremberg showed me a letter from Prince Esterhazy, written from Rome, applying for escorts for Charles IV., late King of Spain, the Queen, the Prince of Peace, and their suites. They propose to come to Florence as private individuals, and they have named Schneider's Hotel for their residence. u 2 292 SIR NEIL CAMrBELL'S JOURNAL. Chip. V. Sept. 9. — Returned to Leghorn. I am informed, that on the celebration of Murat's birth- day, August 20, at N^-ples, the troops were reviewed by him. While a feu de joie was being fired, a musket-ball from one of the men's pieces hit an aide-de-camp, and wounded him mortally. Murat turned pale, but soon recovering himself said gaily, ' Ce n'etait pas bien ajuste.' Examina- tions were made, and several soldiers arrested in conse- quence of balls being found in their pieces. Sept. 10. — Received copy of a letter from Admiral Hallo well, stating that the Algeriues have declared war against Naples, Genoa, and Elba. It is addressed to Mr. Felton, the British Consul at Leghorn, and runs as follows : 'Palermo Bay: August 31, 1814. ' Sir, I lone no time in acquainting you that I have received a letter from M. Oglander, the British Consul at Tunis, informing me of the Dey's determination not to respect either the British flag, or passports which may be granted to the subjects of Genoa and other Italian States, and that he was fitting out several corsairs for the express purpose of cruising against the vessels of these Powers. ' In the same letter he informs me that cruisers from Algiers and Tripoli are at sea with similar orders, and that he had been informed by the Bey of Tunis that some Genoese vessels, having Mr. Fitzgerald's pass, had been captured by the Algerine cruisers. I have therefore to request, that you will warn any vessel belonging to the subjects of Genoa and other States (lying at Leghorn), who may be furnished with such passports, of the danger to which they will be exposed, by navigating any longer under the faith of such protection. ' I ha.ve received a letter from Mr. MacDonnell, the British Consul at Algiers, wherein he informs me that the Chap. V. ENROLMENT OF RECRUITS. 293 Dej has instructed his cruisers to seize all ISTeapolitan vessels, and those sailing under the flag of Elba, wher- ever they may be met with, and the person of the Sovereign of that island also, should any opportunity happily offer of getting hold of him. ' I have the honour to be, &c. &c., (Signed) ' Ben. Hallowell.' N.B.^ — The last part, marked in italics, was not sent by me to General Bertrand, as being personally ofi'ensive against Napoleon. Sept. 11, 12. — One of the persons arrested for enrolling recruits in Tuscany for Nai3oleon has made an acknow- ledgment of the circumstances. His name is Qued- licci. He deposes that he was originally commissioned to purchase clothing for the troops ; and that when at- tending at the Governor's residence, for the purpose of receiving his final instructions — at the very moment when the necessary papers were being signed — some one opened the door of the room in which he was, and Napoleon himself appeared ; that after looking at him attentively, he inquired whether he was one of the officers charged to enrol recruits ; that on his replying that such was not his immediate commission, but that, nevertheless, he had instructions to that effect, Napoleon bid him apprise his comrades that he wished for men, healthy, robust, and capable of executing a coup de main of some sort. He also gave him a commission to procure fifteen or sixteen men as musicians to make up a band. Quedlicci has further given up the names of eight other officers, destined for recruiting in these various localities : Eome, Naples, Bastia and Ajaccio in Corsica, Piedmont, Massa, Carrara, Genoa. I shall acquaint Colonel Sir John Dalrymple, who com- mands at Genoa, for the information of the Government •J'.H SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. CnAP. V, of that State, with the name of the officer employed there by Napoleon. A decree has been issued at Naples, signed by the Duke of Laurenzana, Minister of Police. It states that the Government there have heard with surprise, by means of letters from Civita Vecchia and Leghorn, that severat persons, calling themselves officers in the service of the King of Naples, and decorated with his Eoyal Order, have presented themselves at those ports, professing to be sent from the Court of Naj)les to the island of Elba. And although no one could be deceived by so miserable a stratagem, yet the said Minister of Police thinks it neces- sary to declare that such intriguers do not belong to the kingdom of Naples, that they are not even known, and that they are still less charged with any mission to the island of Elba. All local authorities are invited to cause the arrest of any such individual. Sept. 13. — Sailed from Leghorn. Sept. 14. — Landed at Porto Ferrajo, and had an inter- view with General Bertrand, to whom I presented a letter notifying the declaration of war by the Algerines. Some persons were present in the room. General Bertrand went out for some time, and on his return seemed much ao-itated. When we found ourselves alone, he told me he would send the letter to th« Emperor at Longono. I asked whether Napoleon had no communication with the Government of France respecting the treaty with the Algerines. He laughed ironically, and said, ' No. The matter rests with the Allied Powers, if they mean to act in good faith.' I reminded him of the reply of Admiral Sir Edward Pellew some time before, to the effect that he could not interfere, and that the question did not rest with H. B. Majesty's Government. At the same time, if Napoleon wished to make any representation, I would forward it to Lord Castlereagh. To this General Bertrand made no particular answer. Chap. V. INTERVIEW WITH MADAME BERTRAND. 295 Madame Bertrand, wliom I saw on this occasion, told me in the course of conversation, that Napoleon asked Caulaincourt to accompany him to Elba, bnt he declined. She is persuaded that he had no connection whatever with the apprehension or death of the Duke d'Enghien. The Emperor Alexander was so certain of this, that he asked Louis XVIII. to send him as ambassador to St. Peters- burg ; and, when that was refused, he offered him the place of Grand Ecuyer with himself. Savary ordered a lantern to be tied to the Duke d'Enghien's breast, in consequence of his requesting that the soldiers would not fail in their shots. Napoleon had been very unwell for some days before, and advantage was taken of it by Murat and others about him to hasten on the death of the Duke. In another hour it wo^^ld have been countermanded. This is probably said in reliance upon the success of Josephine's application ; but I was told at Fontainebleau that Napoleon kicked her from his knees. Before Madame Bertrand left Paris she asked Berthier if he would not come to Elba. He told her, ' Yes, he would come to see the Emperor very soon, and that he would pass three months with him every year ; that he would have goue with him in the first instance but for his. wife and children.' Sept. 15. — Napoleon came over for a few hours from Longono, in order to press on the repairs of his house, but returned in the afternoon. I did not see him. 8ej)t. 16. — Had an audience of Napoleon for the first time since my last visit to Leghorn and the baths of Lucca, which are prescribed for my wounds. It was courted by himself, in sending to inform me that one of his carriages was at my disposal to convey me from Porto Peiarajo to Longono, where he has been for the last two weeks. This audience lasted for three hours by the watch, during which time there was no interruption. He constantly walked from one extremity of the room to the m; siH xi':iL campj^.ell's jouuxal. cqap. v. other, asked questions without number, and descanted upon a great variety of subjects, generally with temper and goodnature, except when the matter bore upon the absence of his wife and child, or the defection of Marshal Marmont. He began by questions as to Genoa. Understood Lord William Bentinck was to return there very soon. Was there not a British regiment at Nice ? Spoke of the state of Piedmont, Lombardy, Venice, and Tuscany ; said that the rude manners and different language of the Austrians rendered it impossible for them to become popular with the Italians, who had previously been flattered by the for- mation of the kingdom of Italy ; that it should be the policy of Great Britain to retain this kingdom, as an ally against France and Austria; that it should be equally her object to keep Naples separate from Sicily. The latter, as an island, would be entirely under the influence of England. He inquired where the Queen of Sicily was ? Whether I knew the intentions of the Allies towards Murat ? Whether the late King of Spain was to remain at Eome ? When I told him it was reported that Ferdinand VII. had invited his father and mother to return to Spain, provided the Prince of Peace did not accompany them, he inveighed against the latter, and said that his own countenance and support given to him had been very prejudicial to his cause in Spain. He presumed that England would keep Corfu, and said he had done a great deal there for us. I observed that the proclamation of the British General, on taking possession of the island as commissioner, stated it was ' on behalf of His Britannic Majesty and his Allies,' and that it was generally supposed Austria and Eussia would also have claims. He derided this idea, and said that Russia j)arti- cularly could have no just pretensions. He then asked whether I had lately received any com- munication from Lord Castlereagh. I told him not since Chap. V. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 297 tliat which conveyed the Prince Regent's approbation to my prolonging my residence. He next adverted to the threats of the Algerines, but cursorily, and did not seem apprehensive ; said that if it was intended to adhere to the treaty entered into with him at Foutainebleau, he would not be molested by them. I re- minded him of the application upon this subject some time before, which I had transmitted to Lord Exmouth, who re- plied that he could not interfere, and that even according to the treaty quoted by himself, it rested with the Court of France. I also pointed out to him, that while the British troops occupied Sicily and Portugal, and were in the most intimate relations with their Governments, the latter made theu' own treaties and arrangements with the Barbary Powers without any interference. Besides, I referred to the fate of the Genoese vessels, which had hoisted the British flag, and received licences from the English Consul at Genoa. He expressed his belief that the Algerines were well inclined towards him, and related with good humour that they had ridiculed the crews of two vessels belong- ing to Louis XYIII. near Elba, calling to them with re- proaches, ' Vous avez deserte votre Empereur ! ' He added that all the subjects of the Grand Seignior were well inclined towards him as the enemy of Russia, and consi- dered him the destroyer of Moscow. He asked me if I knew what was intended by the Austrians respecting his wife and son, animadverting with warmth, and in strong language, upon the interdiction to their joining him, which he stated to exist, and said that it excited universal indignation even at Vienna ; that no such instance of barbarity and injustice, unconnected with any state policy, could be pointed out in modern times ; that he was persuaded England was too just and liberal to approve of it. The Empress had written to him, and he knew her wishes. She was now absolutely a prisoner, for there was an Austrian officer (whom he named and 208 SIR NEIL CAMPBELLS JOURNAL. Cn.u>. V described) who accompanied her, in order to prevent her from escaping to Elba. Before she left Orleans it was promised to her that she should receive passports to enable her to follow him : ' L'Empereur d'Autriche est mene par Metternich, mais il est mene lui-meme ; car quoiqu'il ait des talents, il est d'un esprit leger.' ■* He then asked me to write to Lord Castlereagh, to inquire whether it was intended to prevent his wife and child, or either of them, from joining him. I told him I had no correspondence with his lordship but what was official. He replied, ' Mais vous pouvez toucher sur cela legerement, ou ecrire a quelqu'un pres de lui.' ^ I bowed, and told him that I should be happy to do anything that was agreeable to him, and at the same time consistent with my duty. He seemed to receive this as an assent to his wishes. ' Oui, vous le ferez ; vons pouvez faire cela tres-bien.' ^ After giving vent to his feelings upon this subject, he next mentioned how very inimical and personal the con- duct of General Stahi-emberg, who commanded in Tuscany, had been towards him. These observations afforded me an opportunity of noticing the apprehensions which were entertained by the General in consequence of persons en- rolling and entering in his name some subjects of Tuscany. He admitted the fact, but treated it with ridicule ; said he had only 500 or 600 of his Old Guard, who were not suffi- ciently numerous to guard all the villages and fortifications ; that the situation of the island did not admit of his re- cruiting upon it his battalion of Chasseurs, and therefore the Corsica.n officers, who remained at Elba, instead of going to France with the rest of the garrison, endeavoured to obtain recruits in Italy and Corsica. Could General Stahremberg * ' The Emperor of Austria is led matter lightly, or write to some one by Metternicli, but he is led himself ; about him.' for although he has some talent, he ^ ' Yes, you will do it ; you can is of a frivolous disposition.' do that quite well.' * ' But you can touch upon that Chap. V. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 209 be so weak as to be alarmed at this ? He was very happy that I remained on, ' pour rompre la chimere. Je ne pense a rien dehors de ma petite ile. Je pouvais avoir soutenu la guerre pendant vingt annees si j 'avals voulu cela. Je n'existe plus pour le monde. Je suis un homme mort. Je ne m'occupe que de ma famille et de ma retraite, ma maison, mes vaches et mes mulets.' ^ He expressed regret at some difficulties which a few English travellers had experienced some days before from the Commandant and the police at Porto Ferrajo. He reprobated the conduct of the latter, and paid many com- pliments to the British nation. It was his wish, he said, that every traveller should meet with attention and facility. The mistake arose from advices being received that a per- son of another nation had come to Elba as an assassin. [It is probably on account of this information that Napoleon has resided for the last two weeks at Longono within the fortress, and orders are given there that ho stranger may be admitted without a written permission from the Commandant. However, he makes frequent ex- cursions in his carriage.] After continuing to expatiate on the British character, and remarking that, notwithstanding all the abuse directed against it hi his name, his sentiments were well known by those near his person, he requested me to obtain for him an English Grammar the first time I went to the Con- tinent. Conversing with respect to the affairs of America, he repeated his conjectures made some time ago, that the ex- pedition from England was destined for Louisiana, in order to limit definitively the United States to the southward. ■^ ' To dispel tlie illusion. I think world. I am a dead man. I only of nothing outside my little island, occupy myself with my family I could have kept up the war dur- and my retreat, my cows and my ing twenty years if I had wanted mules.' that, I exist no longer for the 300 SIR NEIL CAMPl'.ELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V He inquired witli great eagerness as to the real state of France. I told liim that private letters, English travellers, and every source of information, concurred in ascribing great wisdom and moderation to the Sovereign and Govern- ment, but that there were many, such as those who had lost good appointments, the prisoners who had returned from abroad, and a portion of the army, who were attached to him. He appeared to admit the stability of the Sovereign, sup- j)orted as his Government is by all the Marshals, Berthier being captain of the Guards ; but said that the attempt to copy Great Britain with respect to the Constitution was absurd — a mere caricature ! It was impossible to imitate the Houses of Parliament, for ancient and respectable families, like those composing the aristocracy in England, did not now exist in France. After continuing in this strain for a long time, with comparisons highly complimentary to England, he sj)oke with some warmth of the cessions made by France since his abdication ; said it was not wise, on the part of the Allies, to require so much, particularly as regarded Lux- emburg and the Netherlands; that she had no defence wdiatever on that frontier. While Prussia, Holland, Aus- tria, and Russia were aggrandised beyond all proportion on the Continent, and England in the East and West Indies, France had lost all, even to the pitiful island of St. Lucia. He spoke as a spectator, without any future hopes or present interest, for he had neither, again in- sisting on his own nonentity ; but it showed utter igno- rance of the French character and temper of the present ^ime. Their chief failings were'pride and the love of glory, and it was impossible for them to look forward with satis- faction and feelings of tranquillity, as was stated to be the sincere wish of all the Allies, under such sacrifices. They were conquered only by a great superiority of num- bers but not humiliated. The population of France had not suffered to the extent that might be supposed, for he Chap. V, CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 301 ahvays spared tlieir lives, and exposed tlie Italians and other foreigners.* These observations gradually led him to speak of his own feats in war and the last campaign. He entered into the details of many operations, in which he had re- pulsed the enemy and gained advantages vdth numbers inferior beyond comparison, and then went on to abuse Marshal Marmont, to whose defection alone he ascribed his being obliged to give up the contest. He alleges that the gratitude which the Royal Family of France feel towards England is viewed with jealousy and contempt by the people of France, as producing a sacri- fice of their interests. The King is called * le Vice-roi d'Angleterre ! ' In talking of St. Domingo, I remarked that the super- fluous portion of discontented military could be em- ployed there. He said it would be bad policy to attempt to re-establish that colony. Better to blockade it, and force the negroes to transport the whole of their produce to France only. This would have been his own plan in case of a peace. He asked whether I had heard that Parma, &c., were not to be given up to Marie-Louise, but to the Queen of Etruria, and that an indemnity in Germany was to be offered to the former. I admitted that this was one among other reports prevalent in Italy. He expressed his own desire and expectation of being on a good footing with the Grand Duke of Tuscany ; pre- sumed that if I returned to the baths of Lucca, I should pay my respects to His Imperial Highness ; in which case I should be able to ascertain his sentiments towards him- self, and if they were favourable, as he expected (in con- sequence of favours received from him formerly, when the Grand Duke was on bad terms with his brother the ^ The advice of the old Greek traordinary danger with the Carian, proverb was to confront any ex- and not the native-born. — Ed. 302 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V. Emperor of Aiistria), lie would send over an officer to com- pliment him upon his arrival in Tuscany. He inquired about the Countess of Albany, and asked whether she still received a pension from England. He abused M. Mariotti, the French Consul at Leghorn. [This man was chief of Bacchiochi's staff, and got his l^lace through the interest of Madame Brignolli, who is now with Marie-Louise. Napoleon called him a Corsican adventurer. I suspect, however, that he is useful in for- warding communications, and that this abuse was pur- posely to deceive me !] In the course of conversation Napoleon told me that the Archbishop of Malines,'' who had been his own chax^lain, was extremely addicted to descanting on military subjects, whjch is very disgusting to military men. He was the person whom he sent for at Warsaw, on his retreat from Eussia. Lately, at the table of Talleyrand, this man cast many reflections upon him ; said he was no general ; was a fool, &c. At length a Frenchman present remarked in a very moderate tone : ' Mais I'Empereur Napoleon a eu quelque succes dans ses campagnes d'ltalie ! ' ^ Lord Wellington had remained silent during the Avhole of this conversation, but when the same gentleman referred to him for his opinion, he replied that the success" which the Emperor had obtained in the last campaign, between the Seine and the Marne, was equally great. Napoleon aj)peared to be highly flattered by the praise thus accorded to him by the Duke of Wellington, and asked me whether he was not generally reserved in con- versation. I replied that he certainly was not talkative ! Enlarging for some time uj)on the influence which he possessed over the minds of French soldiers in the field, he said that under him they performed what no other * Better known as tlie Abbi5 lias liad some success in his cam- de Pradt. — Ed. paigns in Italy.' ^ * But the Emperor Napoleon Chap. V. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 308 chief could obtain from them. This he ascribed to his manner of talking to them on particular occasions. With soldiers it is not so much the speech itself as the mode of delivering it. Here he raised himself on his toes, looked up to the ceiling, and, lifting one of his hands to its ut- most extent, called out, ' Deployez les aigles ! Deployez les aigles ! ' ^ He then related to me, that when the battle of Marengo was almost lost, he redeemed it by calling out to the men, who were then in perfect rout. He had then with himself only about forty horsemen ; but by putting himself at the head of the retiring troops, and speaking to them in a certain tone and manner, they rallied imme- diately, crying out, ' Aliens done, en avant ! ' It is like music, which either speaks to the soul, or, on the contrary, gives out sounds without harmony. It strikes me there was something wild in his air throughout this last visit, and in many of his observations, the above among others. 8ept. 17. — Madame Letitia, upon her first arrival, pro- posed to remain only one month, but she has now taken up her permanent residence in the island, and has sent for the rest of her baggage. Part of the effects belonging to the Princess Pauline have arrived, and vessels have been sent to Naples for the remainder. This looks as if Murat was averse to any public communication with Elba. The Princess herself is expected to arrive from Naples in two or three weeks. 8e2)t. 18. — About three weeks ago, a lady with a child, apparently five or six years of age, arrived here from Leghorn. She was received by Napoleon with great attention, but a certain degree of concealment, and ac- companied him immediately to a very retired small house in the most remote part of the island. After remaining two days she re-embarked, and is said to have gone to * ' Unfurl the eagles ! ' 304 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. ' Chap. V. Naples. Everyone in Elba believes that tliis individual is Marie-Louise with her son. It is even said that a servant of Napoleon's was put in confinement for propagating the report, as if it was a circumstance intended to be con- cealed. The Mayor of Marchiana, on her passing through that village on her way to the mountain retreat, ordered preparations for illuminating to be made. For this he was rebuked by Napoleon, and the order was countermanded. The same idea is very generally credited on the opposite coast, but my information leads me to believe that it is a Polish lady from Warsaw, who bore a child to Napoleon a few years ago. It is probable that the concealment used, and her sj)eedy departure to the Continent, proceed from delicacy towards Marie-Louise, and the fear of this con- nection becoming known to her. Sei^t. 19. — The Intendant tells me that Napoleon's revenue, even with the impositions, does not exceed 300,000 francs ; whereas his expenses, including troops, marine, and household, have been at the rate of 1,000,000. A great part of the ten months' provisions, which were left in store here by the French troops, have been nearly all sold by Napoleon, and are supposed to have produced about 500,000 francs. This sum, with the specie brought with him from France (the amount of which, however, is unknown) enables him to continue his extraordinary ex- penses. The salt has failed this season, and the iron ore does not meet with sale, in consequence of the quantity of guns and old iron sold at Genoa by the British, and at Leghorn by the Neapolitans. The inhabitants of Capolini have not paid any con- tributions, nor any of the poorest of the i)opulation gene- rally ; but the threats of military execution have not been carried out, and the tax will not be levied from them at present. The Mayor of Marchiana is released. Napoleon is never now saluted with cries of ' Vive I'Em- pcrcur ! ' Chap. V. NAPOLEON'S RESTLESSNESS. 305 There are still many discontented officers from tlie army of Italy here, and it is said that they are to form a Garde de Corps. Four officers from France have en- tered the Imperial Guard as private soldiers. A General Lebelle and his family have lately arrived here from France, but he is not employed. Sept. 20. — Napoleon seems to have lost all habits of study and sedentary application. He has four places of residence in different parts of the island, and the im- provements and changes of these form his sole occupation. But as they lose their interest to his unsettled mind, and the novelty wears off, he occasionally falls into a state of inactivity never known before, and has of late retired to his bedroom for repose during several hours of the day. If he takes exercise, it is in a carriage, and not on horse- back as before. His health, however, is excellent, and his spirits appear not at all depressed. I begin to think he is quite resigned to his retreat, and that he is tolerably happy, excepting when the recollections of his former power are freshened by sentiments of vanity or revenge, or his passions become influenced by want of money, and his wife and child being kept from him. To-day he went to Pia Nosa, accompanied by several ladies and others belonging to his household. He was to have proceeded there some days ago, but on receiving my information, with respect to the Algerines having declared war ao^aiust Elba, he sent his corvette there to reconnoitre. She returned yesterday. This island, as I have before said, is situated a few miles south of Elba, and is about three miles long and one broad. Being very capable of yielding grain, the acquisition of it is desirable to Napoleon ; and it is probable that he has no other view in sending [there a detachment of soldiers and some inhabitants. But at the same time it affords him opportunities of receiving persons from the Continent, X 306 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V. and particularly Naples and Corsica, witliout any possible means of detecting it. I have therefore thought it my duty to draw Lord Castlereagh's attention to the circum- stance. Sept. 21. — Embarked for Leghorn. Sept. 22. — Landed from the ' Grasshopper ' this morning, and arrived at Florence the same evening. Sept. 23. — Had an interview with M. Fossombroni, the Prime Minister of Tuscany, and was informed by him that fifty-five Polish Lancers of Napoleon's Guard, who had been at Parma, will arrive at Leghorn by a march-route on October 2, to embark for the island of Elba. There were no explanations about the transports to convey them. General Stahremberg had received this communication from Marshal Bellegarde, and General Stafinini, com- manding at Parma, was ordered to communicate with General Bertrand. Sept. 24. — Florence. Sept. 25. — Presented to the Grand Duke of Tuscany in the forenoon, and afterwards went by invitation to his box, to see the horse-racing. Li the evening attended the drawing-room, and played cards with the two Grand Duchesses. Li the course of my audience, the Grand Duke asked some questions of curiosity about Napoleon ; and when I took occasion to speak of the favourable sentiments he had expressed towards His Imperial Highness, he said he had never done him any pointed violence ; adding, however, his want of confidence in him, and taking no more direct notice of Napoleon's proposal to send an officer to comj^li- ment him. I made the Grand Duke, as well as his Minister, per- fectly aware that I did not charge myself with any mission from Napoleon ; but, as circumstances had led me there, and there was no British Minister at that Court, I thouirht Chap. V. LETTER TO GENERAL BERTRAND. 307 it right to mention the proposal, as I should, in like manner, to Napoleon the substance of his reply. Sept. 26-28. — I have written to General Bertrand in such terms as may induce both him and Napoleon to believe that there was no encouragement on the part of the Grand Duke to any person being sent to compliment him. X 2 308 SIE NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. CHAPTEE VI. AKEIVAX OF POLISH LAXCEES — TrXISIAN COESAIR — EDICT OF NAPO- LEON — HLNTS THEOWN On BY GENEEAL BEETEAND — CONVEESATION "WITH NAPOLEON, OCTOBEE 31 — AEEIVAL OF PAULINE — PECTJNIAET EMBAEEASSMENTS OF NAPOLEON — AVEITES TO LOED CASTLEEEAGH ON SUBJECT — EESISTANCE TO CONTEIBUTIONS — TISIT TO PLOEENCE INTEETIE-W -WITH M. HYDE DE NETJTILLE — OLD GUNS SENT FEOII POETO FEEEAJO — CONVEESATION WITH NAPOLEON, DECE3IBEE 4, OF THEEE HOrES AND A HALF — PEESENTS CAPTAIN ADYE — LIST OP napoleon's VESSELS — EEPOET OF CONVEESATION BETWEEN NAPO- LEON AND M. LITTA — INTEEVIEW "WITH NAPOLEON, DECEMBEE 21 — DISCHAEGE OF SOLDLEES — GEADUAL ESTEANGEilENT OF NAPOLEON. October. — Upon the 2nd ult., a detachment of fifty or sixty Polish Lancers, mounted, arrived at Leghorn from Parma with their horses, and were sent over here on the 5th, at the expense of the Commandant of Leghorn. A person came with them, who presented an account of the sum paid for hire of transports. This it was promised to repay ; but on settling the account with Napoleon's treasurer, he only paid one-half, without assigning any reason for withholding the rest. I have been assured, from good authority, that his present funds are nearly exhausted ; in consequence of which there is a gTeat diminution in the expenses, but not in the extent, of his household and establishment. It may be necessary to explain, that the Polish Lancers just mentioned formed part of the volunteers from France ; but when the others were embarked for Elba at Savona, in the month of May last, they were sent to Parma by order of Napoleon, to act as a cavalry-guard to Marie- Louise. It is reported that upon the 29'th ult., a boat coming to this island from Corsica, with two officers and fourteen soldiers for Napoleon's levy, was overtaken by another Chap. VI. LETTER FROM SIR JOHN DALRYMPLE. 309 despatcli from tke governor and carried back. Those wlio have already arrived here are extremely dissatisfied, and would all return to Corsica if they could escape. The checks placed upon his recruiting men from Corsica, by the activity of the new governor, Brulart, have annoyed him extremely. The troops here are constantly exercised with mortars and guns, throwing shells and firing red-hot shot. This practice increases the surprise of the inhabitants on the opposite coast, and augments the many rej)orts which are in circulation. Colonel Lebelle (whom I before described as General) is now employed by Napoleon. There is no other Frenchman above the rank of captain who has joined Napoleon since his first arrival. Sir John Dalrymple writes me from Genoa, that, upon the 4th inst., a French general of the name of Bourigny, or Persigny, arrived there, stating that he had left Paris ten days before, and intended to travel in Italy. It was discovered that he had hired a vessel to convey him to Elba. Upon being prevented in that design, he went to Milan. He had no passport excepting one from Lord Castlereagh, by means of which he had formerly gone to Corfu as commissioner, to surrender that island to the Allies. I cannot learn that he has yet arrived here. I have written to General Campbell at Corfu, to inform him of the circumstance. It is stated that a detachment of French troops, from Corsica, lately disembarked at the island of Capraja (which lies to the northward of Corsica, and north-west of Elba), took on board all the military stores, and then returned. It is conjectured that this measure arises from the intention of restoring it to Genoa, to which republic it belonged pre- viously to the year 1792. Oct. 22. — Na^poleon's corvette is stiU absent at Civita Vecchia, or at l^aples, either to receive on board the Prin- cess Pauline, or to accompany the ship which wiU convey 310 SIR NEIL CA3IPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VL her. Many of her effects tave arrived here lately. It has been supposed in Naples and Sicily that they belonged to Murat, and that they were embarked clandestinely in ease of his losing his present crown. Murat's squadron is frequently to the southward of this island, cruising between it and the Bay of Naples, in order to protect their trade against the Barbary Powers, but I do not learn that they hold any communication with this place. The fleet consists in all of two sail of the line, three frigates, and some small vessels. Oct. 23. — T have heard nothing more on the subject of an officer being sent by Napoleon to compliment the Grand Duke of Tuscany, excepting that M. Colonna went from this to Leghorn and Florence a few days ago, and it is surmised that such is the object of his journey. He accompanied Napoleon's mother from Eome to Elba, and has remained with her ever since. It has been re23orted in Tuscany for some time past, and generally believed, that medals and coins have been struck off here by Napoleon's order. Persons lately ar- rived from Paris have asserted that they have seen them there, describing them to bear the same motto as was reported in Italy — viz., Vhicunque felix. I do not believe that any were ever made in this island, and I presume that these must have had their origin in Paris. Oct. 24-28. — A small ship, a corsair belonging to Tunis, anchored here on the 24th, and saluted with five guns, which were returned. This State has not declared war against the flag of Napoleon. It is only the Algerines who have done so. Two Genoese vessels carrying English colours anchored here subsequently, in consequence of contrary winds, and put to sea on the morning of the 2 7th. The corsair wished to pursue them, but was prevented by order from Napoleon, who directed her to be kept at anchor until the others were out of reach. • Chap. VI. DECREE, 311 Napoleon's corvette is stated to be at Baise, near Naples, ancliored at some distance from the shore, and prevented from landing any of her crew. Oct. 29. — A few days ago some fifty of the Guards sent separate petitions to Naj)oleon to quit his service. No answer has been yet given, but the inhabitant who was employed by them to write them out has been sent away from the island. From the following decree, affixed in various parts of the island, it may be inferred that Napoleon foresees the probability of the officers of the Guard likewise leaving him, and therefore wishes to prepare some of the young men of the island for filling their situations. [Traduction de I'ltalien.] ' S. M. I'Empereur, par sa decision de ce jour, a decrete les dispositions suivantes : — ' Porto-Ferrajo, le 13« oct. 1818. ' Art. 1. Dix eleves militaires seront admis a la com- pagnie d'Artillerie de la Garde. lis seront instruits dans les manoeuvres d'artillerie et d'infanterie. Un officier des Grenadiers de la Garde est charge de les instruire en tout ce qui concerne les manoeuvres d'infanterie, la discipline et les reglements militaires. *Aet. 2. Les eleves d'artillerie seront instruits dans les elements de mathematique, de fortification et de dessin par un officier qui sera digne de cette charge. ' Art. 3. Les eleves d'artillerie porteront le chapeau noir avec bordure rouge, pantalons bleus, bottes a I'ecuyere, epee, et ceinturon blanc, les epaulettes de sous-lieutenant, lis seront loges a I'etoile et feront ordinaire entr' eux. * Art. 4. Les eleves d'artillerie seront choisis parmi les jeunes gens qui auront re9u la meilleure education, et ils devront recevoir de leurs families une solde de 360 francs par an. lis recevront en outre par le gouvernement une solde de 180 francs par an et les rations accordees au soldat. 312 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VL ' Art. 5. Les depenses d'etablissement seront faites par la famille des eleves d'artillerie. * Le Gouvemeur de I'ile d'Elbe, (Signe) ' Le Comte Drouot.' Oct. 30. — For the last two months I have perceived that, upon my return from the Continent to Elba, hints •were thrown out by General Bertrand as if my visits to the island were expected to be only of short duration. But I cannot say whether this was in order to ascertain the footing upon which my stay was prolonged, or merely in the way of accidental observation from my making frequent excursions to the mainland, without any other meaning. As my reception was always marked with attention and kindness, although I saw less of Napoleon, and as in my interview at Longono he expressed his satisfaction at my being there, as he said, ' pour rompre la chimere,' I did not feel myself called upon to enter into explanations further than to state (in accordance with Lord Castlereagh's directions) that my residence would continue until after the affairs of Europe were settled by the Con- gress. After that, I presumed that His Majesty's Govern- ment would enable me to exhibit the powers of a perma- nent and ostensible appointment. To-day General Drouot told me that Napoleon asked why I did not go to visit him, as he had not seen me since my return ; and he requested me to come to him for an in- terview the following day, at an hour which he appointed. Oct. 31. — His reception was as kind as usual, and after polite questions as to my health, he continued for an hour to make his remarks upon the politics of Europe, occa- sionally questioning me as to what I had observed in Italy, or heard from other quarters. In the course of his remarks as to the discontent of the Italians, I observed to him that the situation of Italy would be greatly tranquiUised if Murat's position was assured. Chap. VL CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON, 313 and adverted to a report of the question being decided favourably for bim. He did not seem to derive any satis- faction from this report, and by no means coincided in the idea of its having that effect throughout Italy. He traced the evils vrliich existed in Italy to the influence of the clergy, and attributed the discontent which was increasing daily, among other causes, more particularly to the national pride in losing the name of a kingdom. These evils were too extensive and radical to be influenced by Naples alone, or by Murat. He praised the Italians, and ridiculed the Germans. He would engage always to beat 30,000 Germans with 20,000 Italians. The former were stupid, slow, and without pride, contented with their pipes, cows, and farms, whereas the latter were quick and proud, and had now become military. He had quite changed their habits, and abolished much of their de- generacy. All the young men were attached to the French, from having served with them in the army, and their minds were bent upon the formation of Italy into a kingdom. The Government of France had only been nominal. That part of Italy which had been incorporated with French departments was only to have remained so until certain of his projects were fully realised, and the people knew this. They held their places, and felt them- selves as one people and one kingdom, from Piedmont to Naples. After this it was impossible for them to be reconciled to the changes which were now being made, through the Austrians, with different language and names, the disgusting measures of the King of Sardinia, and those of the Pope and his priestcraft. He inquired whether Lord William Bentinck had yet returned to Genoa, if our troops were still there, and whether the Republic was to be reinstated ? He asked as to the probable duration of the Congress of Vienna, adverted to the reports which are in circulation in Tuscany, of its lasting a considerable time, and that the 814 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. sovereigns would separate before it was closed. He had thought that all arrangements had been made and thoroughly understood before their arrival at Vienna, and that their confirmation only was wanting, which would have been affixed immediately. How could so many sove- reigns remain together for any length of time ? Their separation without a final settlement of Europe, and a publication of the terms, would have a dreadful effect, particularly in Poland, Italy, and France. He enlarged upon this at different times, as if he dreaded the conse- quences, and pretended even to express his wish that the Congress should conclude speedily and amicably. With regard to Poland, he said that if Eussia could attach the minds of the Poles to her as one people, she would be the first Power in Europe. But this was the difficulty. It was a problem yet to solve, and one which he thought not at aU likely to be solved. If the Emperor Alexander sent a viceroy, with all the appointments and the government in the hands of Eussians, the Poles would never become attached to them, nor contribute to the strength of Eussia. The nobles were numerous, high- spirited, well-educated, and not to be deceived, and there- fore would not be satisfied by a mere show of independence and with the name of a kingdom without the reality. The rest of the nation were in a manner slaves vnthout in- struction, but they would foUow their own nobles with con- fidence and with perseverance in any cause they espoused. Eut, on the other hand, if the Eussians succeeded in uniting the Poles heartily in a common interest, the whole of Europe ought to dread them. It would be impossible to foresee or to limit the consequences. Hordes of Cossacks and barbarians, who had once seen the riches of more civi- lised countries, would be eager to return. They would overrun Europe, and some great change would probably result from it, as had been the case in former times from the incm-sions of barbarians. His own opinion, however, Chap. VI. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 315 was, that tlie Poles and Eussians would never be united in one cause ; there were so many difficulties in the way. He afterwards changed the subject to the state of France, principally in respect of Belgium, and his favourite topic, Antwerp. He gradually became warmed, and was fre- quently much agitated. The state of humiliation to which France is now reduced by her cessions and the aggrandise- ment, so unequal, of the other leading Powers ! ' L'Angleterre avec toutes ses richesses, ses possessions etrangeres et sa puissance maritime ! L'Autriche avec toute ritalie. La Prusse avec Mayence, et jusqu'a Luxem- bourg ! Les Frangais a Dantzick n'etaient pas si extraordi- naires que les Prusses a Luxembourg. Quelle humiliation pour la France apres tant d'amiees de preponderance gagnee par sa gloire ! La Hollande avec la Belgique ! ' ^ It was a great object for England to have Antwerp in possession of her former ally Holland, and taken from France. But if this was to be effected, what prospect was there of a lengthened state of tranquillity in France ? He certainly thought none. He might be wrong, but time would show. There could not be quiet in Europe, if the French were humiliated, and reduced out of proportion with the other leading Powers. He was of opinion that the Mmisters of England were as much persuaded of this as himself, and considered the present frontiers of France were quite un- reasonable.; but it would be impossible for them to convince the people of England of that, and therefore he presumed they acted contrary to their own opinions. He was per- fectly ready to have made peace at Chatillon, if Antwerp had been left to France. It was England, therefore, that . prevented the peace. The whole of France knew that, and * ' England with all lier riches, 'The French at Dantzic were not her foreign possessions, and her so extraordinary^ as the Prussians at maritime strength! Austria T\dth Luxemburg. What a humiliation the wliole of Italy. Prussia with for France after so many years of Mayence, and as far as Luxem- superiority acquired by her glory ! burg ! Holland with Belgium ! ' 316 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VL approved of his determination never to cede it, but to stake everything upon it as he did. Metternich was bribed by England at that time. He knew the particulars of every sum that he received, and even the debts which he owed in Paris, and which were all paid for him. At present Holland and Prussia, and probably Russia also, would be the constant allies of England, and this would throw France and Austria together. He again descanted upon the feelings and qualities of the French people, pointing out that there would be a violent reaction of the whole nation before five years were over, similar to what took, place at the Revolution, in consequence of their humiliation and so great a diminu- tion of frontier. The Rhine was the natural boundary. Every man in France considered it so, and this opinion would never alter. There was no want of male popula- tion in France, and all martial beyond any other nation, by nature as well as in consequence of the Revolution and their ideas of glory. Louis XIV.'s memory, notwith- standing their sufferings under him, was still beloved by the French, because he had flattered these feelings. It was the battle of Rosbach ^ which produced the Revolution in France, more than any other of the causes to which it was ascribed. In many instances Louis XVIII. and his sup- porters showed good sense, in others a total ignorance of the French character. It was Peltier who wrote the newspapers in France ; and nothing could be more calcu- lated to disgust the mass of the population. Their spirit, if once roused, cannot be opposed ; it is like a torrent. Neither ministers nor marshals, nor anyone else, can either direct it differently or stem it. It is otherwise in England. The nation is directed by parties and by reason- ing. Perhaps the King of France might send a part of 2 In 1757, between 22,000 I'rus- The former had 500 killed and sians under Frederick the Great, wounded ; the latter, 2,800. — and 55,000 French and Imperialists Hozier's Seven Weeks' War, vol. i. under the Prince de Soubise, a fa- p. 34.2. — Ed. Aourite of Madame de Pompadour. Chap. VI. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 317 his army to St. Domingo, but tliat would be seen through. He himself had made a melancholy attempt to conquer that island with 30,000 men, which had proved the in- utility of such an expedition. The appointment of the Duke of Wellington as ambas- sador at Paris was an open insult and injury to the feelings of the French people. He, who had been one of the most successful instruments against them, could not be consi- dered in any other light. He knew, by persons from France, that there was a universal disgust there at their present humiliation, and that the Bourbons had very few partisans in the army, and among the bulk of the population. He was then at pains to show that he had no personal motives or expectations. ' Je suis un homme mort. Je suis ne soldat. J'ai monte le trone et j'ai descendu. Je suis pret a tout. On pent me deporter. On pent m'assassiner. J'etendrai ma poitrine pour recevoir le poi^-nard. Comme General Bonaparte, j'avais des biens que j'avais gagnes, mais on a pris tout.'^ He asked me whether I had lately received any letters from Lord Castlereagh, and whether I had written to his lordship, to report the sentiments he had expressed re- specting the detention of the Empress and his son? I said I had, but as yet had received no answer. Napoleon's sister Pauline arrived here to-day on board of his corvette, escorted as far as the channel of Piombino by a Neapolitan frigate, which then returned to Naples without any communication with Elba. Nov. 1-12. — I have ascertained from undoubted autho- rity, that M. Colonna has gone to Florence, charged with a letter from Napoleon to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. After the Tunisian corsair left this harbour, she gave chase to some coasting vessels near Piombino, and block- ^ ' I am a dead man. I was bom me. I would stretch, out my breast a soldier. I bave mounted the to receive the poignard. As Gene- throne, and I have descended. I ral Bonaparte, I had possessions that am ready for everything. They can I bad gained, but they bave taken transport me. They can assassinate all.' 318 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. • Chap. VI. aded them there. It appears certain that Napoleou has es- tablished himself on an amicable footing with this Power, or that he has bribed the captain of the ship with the ad- vantage of taking shelter in his ports, so as to be able perhaps to communicate with France. For it is said that she came direct from Toulon in four days. I shall pursue this investigation, as the circumstance appears remark- able. Memorandum of informition which it is desirable to obtain as soon as possible, or any other circumstances connected therewith. 1. 'Whether the amicable understanding between Elba and the Tunisian corsair is with herself only, or whether it extends to all vessels of the Bey of Tunis ? ' 2. ' The extent of these relations in detail ? ' 3. ' By what means and channel they have been ef- fected?' 4. ' Whether by way of Genoa or by way of Naples, and how far Murat or his Government has been concerned in establishing this communication ? ' 5. ' Whether the corsair came fi'om Toulon, or from whence, when she arrived at Porto Ferrajo upon October 24?' 6. ' Whether she has conveyed persons or letters to or fr'om Napoleon, by way of France or Corsica, Naples, or other parts of Italy ? ' 7. ' If not from Napoleon or to him, whether she has conveyed letters to or from other persons in Elba ? The nature and extent of this communication, as much in detail as possible.' Napoleon appears to be agitated by the want of money, and to be impressed with a fear that there is no intention of fulfilling the treaty made at Paris, in respect of the sums stipulated for himself and his family. In writing to Lord Castlereagh, I have set down the only expressions which Chap. VI. DESPATCH TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 319 have fallen from himself, but those about his person cannot dissemble their belief in the reports which are circulated in Italy, to the effect that it is intended to remove him to St. Helena or St. Lucia. The wife of General Bertrand lately said that he has scarcely a shilling, not even a ring to present to any one, and that his situation is frightful. I have expressed myself to Lord Castlereagh as follows : [Despatch No. 34.] * If pecuniary difficulties press upon him much longer, so as to prevent his vanity from being satisfied by the ridiculous establishment of a court which he has hitherto supported in Elba, and if his doubts are not removed, I think he is caj)able of crossing over to Piombino with his troops, or of any other eccentricity. But if his residence in Elba and his income are secured to him, I think he will pass the rest of his life there in tranquillity.' Nov. 13-18. — The last party of recruits who arrived from Corsica upon October 25 have been sent back, and it is given out that Napoleon does not wish to receive any more. It is difficult to say whether this is on account of the expense, the general discontent of these recruits, or that Napoleon's views and hopes are more extensive than they were upon his first arrival at Elba. Upon the 15th instant a party of gendarmes were sent to the village of Capolini to enforce the arrears of contri- butions, but the inhabitants resisted. In consequence, Poles and Corsicans, amounting to nearly 400, were sent there upon the 17th during the night, and are to re- main until the tax is paid, receiving each one pound of meat and an allowance of wine from the inhabitants of this small village, who do not probably exceed 400 or 500. Two priests and three others of the principal inhabitants were arrested at the same time, and conveyed to Porto Ferrajo. Nov. 19-30. — Florence. I have come to this place for 320 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. the purpose of comparing my intelligence respecting the Tunisian corsau' with that in possession of the Grand Duke's minister. I also requested Captain Adye, com- manding His Majesty's ship ' Partridge' on the Elba sta- tion, to assist me in these inquiries, in case of his falling in with the Tunisian in the course of any of his cruises. He returned to Leghorn on November 20, and as he could not obtain any information respecting the corsair, he is of opinion that she has returned to Tunis. Previously to my application to Captain Adye, the Tunisian had anchored a second time at Elba, but in the Port of Longono, where she remained from October 31 until November 10. She was in quarantine during the whole time, and I cannot ascertain that there was any underhand communication. The captain stated that he had sailed from Tunis for the express purpose of cruising on the Roman coast, but that the winds and bad weather had forced him to put into Toulon, where he had remained eighteen days in quarantine ; that the same causes had induced him to put into Elba, and that he had no orders to seize the vessels of that island. 1 have likemse been anxious to ascertain the result of the examination of a spy — one Ettori — who went from Elba to Leghorn, and was arrested there. The man is now here under the inspection of the police, but the infor- mation obtained respecting him has been far less impor- tant and conclusive than had been expected. In fact he appears to have been equally in the confidence of Marshal Bellegarde and Naj)oleon ! M. Ricci, who acts as vice-consul at Elba, and obtains private information for me there, has just transmitted to me a report respecting the embarkation of guns and shot. This is certainly a matter calculated to excite alarm, and deserves the utmost and most immediate attention. But I am persuaded it will prove to be old iron shipped for sale to the Continent, as a cargo of old guns, broken shells, &c., had been already sent by Napoleon to Civita Vecchia. CnAr. VI. DESPATCH FROM EARL BATIIURST. 321 There has been a further reduction of servants and other expenses of Napoleon's household for the sake of economy. This reduction is estimated at 35,000 francs per month. Four of the of&cers of Napoleon's corvette received deco- rations from Murat, but have been expressly forbidden to wear them. I do not yet know the grounds upon which this interdiction has been given. Having supplied all the information in my ]30wer to Lord Burghersh (who has arrived here as His Majesty's Minis- ter to the Court of Florence) with respect to my mission, and the objects connected therewith, I propose returning at once to Elba. I have received the following despatch in reference to his lordship's appointment : 'Foreign Office : Oct. 13, 1814. ' Sir, — His Eoyal Highness the Prince Regent, having been pleased to appoint Lord Burghersh to be His Ma- jesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and it being desirable that his lordship should be kept constantly informed of the state of afPairs at Elba, I have to signify to you His Royal Highness the Prince Regent's commands, that you send your official correspondence with this office under flying seal through Lord Burghersh at Florence. Ton will at the same time omit no opportunity of sending duplicates of your despatches by sea. I am, &c. &c., (Signed) ' Bathuest. ' Colonel Campbell, &c. &c.' While I was at Florence, M. Hyde de Neuville'' arrived there. From his distinguished zeal and ability in the * Memorandum respect'mc/ M. Hyde and the Barbary Powers, but in de Neuville, given to M. Planta, fact (as lie aftei'wards confessed to Secretary to Lord Viscount Castle- me, and as M. Fossombroni, the reayh. Minister of the Grand Duke of 'London: April;, 1815. Tuscany, told me) to see what 'This gentleman came to Italy Bonaparte was doing in Elba. This in November last, upon a pretext was previous to the arrival of Lord of arrangements between France Burghersh. 322 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. CnAr. VI. Bourbon cause, this geutleinan was sent to Italy by tlio King of France's confidential friends, to collect informa- tion respecting Napoleon's situation and conduct at Elba. The mission conveys in itself an evident proof of the appre- hensions they entertain, that the internal state of France and Bonaparte's situation were incompatible with the tran- quillity of the nation. The French Consul in Tuscany, Monsieur Mariotti, informed me of M. H. de Neuville's ar- rival. The real object of his mission was imparted to me by M. Mariotti, as well as by M. Fossombroni, the Minister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, although the ostensible object was said to be some arrangements respecting the Barbary Powers. The information of these gentlemen was sufficient to induce me to lay aside every reserve with M. H. de Neuville, although possessing no previous acquaintance with him, nor any other introduction. Perceiving that he ' Being assured, from undoubted sources, of his attachment to the Bourbons, of his intimacy with Sir Sidney Smith (with whom he had .served on the coast of France, and with whom he was then in corre- spondence), I gave him the fullest information respecting Bonaparte's conduct and situation, and even respecting my own situation in Elba, his restlessness, the emissaries he had sent abroad to recruit for men, the extraordinary circumstance of his harbour being frequented by a Tunisian ship, which ship had last come from Toulon, that it was im- possible to say what project might be masked under that connection. This vessel might pass in the Medi- terranean from one port to another with less suspicion than his own, and his appearance in France might only be known after he was in pos- session of Toulon and the tleet. 'I pxpress(!(l my great surprise that the King of France had not yet sent any confidential person to Italy, to remain there for the particular pur- pose of watching Bonaparte, who would discover his emissaries and plots among the various States of Italy, which would be done more effectually by one person employed for that object; also some ships to guard him. ' lie was very thankful for the in- formation, acquiesced in all my re- marks, and set off immediately for Paris to report upon these sub- jects; and, very soon thereafter, several ships of war belonging to Louis XVIII. came to cruise near Elba. But I did not hear more of M. Hyde de Neuville, or any other agent of France. ' M. Hyde de Neuville, known to be a firm adherent to the King, must of course have given all that information to his Ministers, point- ing out to them how very little check against any sudden aggres- sion of Bonaparte there was by my residence, and how neccssaiy it was to watch him.' Chap. VI. M. HYDE DE NEUVILLE. 32:i was greatly in error upon many points, I sliowed liim Lord Castlereag'li's instructions, and gave him every information connected with my own duties, Napoleon's situation, and his dispositions, desii'ing to call his attention to the un- limited freedom of person and communication with the Continent which Napoleon possessed. I then distinctly pronounced to him my opinion that Napoleon was not suffi- ciently watched ; that I had no means of preventing him from escaping ; that he was still of a most restless dispo- sition ; that discontented persons of an adventurous spirit, from France and Italy, frequented Elba ; that it was a very suspicious circumstance, the communication held with the Tunisian ship ; that I had traced her having come to Elba. I even supposed it possible to him, that a conspiracy might be formed in Napoleon's favour at Toulon ; he could be conveyed in that ship, and that the first intelligence might be his being in possession of that important place and the fleet. M. Hyde de Neuville took memoranda in writing, in my presence, of this information, and departed the following- day in post haste to Paris. ^ ^ Two French frigates were soon rappellez, Colonel, sout de la plus afterwards sent from Toulon to scrupuleuse exactitude. II est de cruise round the island of Elba ; fait, que me trouvant a Florence, par but the evil could not be averted suite d'une mission dont le Roi by them, and they were of no use mon maitre m'avait charge aupres whatever, as will be seen here- de plusieurs cours*d'Italie, et ayant after, eu I'avantage de vous y rencontrer, M. H. de Neuville was after- vous me temoignates ime extreme wards Minister to the United States satisfaction de pouvoir enfin parler of America. When referred to for a un sujet de S. M. Louis XVIII, minutes of the above conversation, qui toujours avait et^ iidele a sa he wrote as follows : cause. Vous me dites que vous 'Non seulementj'ai garde le sou- pourriez entin vous exprimer avec venir de notre conversation, mais il toute confiance, ce que vous fites me serait aise d'en donner les alors avec autant de loyaute que moindres details si j 'avals ici mes d'obligeance. II est certain, Colo- papiers, car cette interessante con- nel, que vous m'avouates que Bona- versation est consignee dans mon parte n'etait point assez surveille, journal. qne vous n'aviez aucun moyen de ' Les circonstances que vous prevenir son Evasion, et que vous y 2 524 SIR NEIL CAxMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI, Dccemher 1, 2. — Legliorn. Since my arrival liere, upon my way to Elba, I have ascei-tained that the guns, &c., w^hich were embarked there, were (as I supposed) old iron to be sent to the Continent for sale. So persuaded was I of this, that I would not have transmitted the report to Lord Castlereao-h, had I not been certain that it would reach Vienna through the Tuscan Government, and in more alarming terms. Bee. 3. — Porto Ferrajo, Elba. I am now able to report on the above subject from personal observation. About three months ago Napoleon directed the old guns and part of the military stores to be removed from Longono (which is a considerable fortification on the Italian side of Elba) to this place, and part of them were afterwards sold at Civita Vecchia as old iron. The brig ' Inconstant ' is now receiving an additional quantity for the same purpose. ii'etiez pas sans inqnietude, par suite de beaucoup de circoustances dont Tous me fites part. ' Ces renseignements et d'autres que je Tenais d'obtenir, me deter- minereut a accelerer mou retour a Paris.' * * Translation of the above by Sir Keil Camphell : — ' I have not forgotten any of the circumstances mentioned in it, and indeed I am of opinion that it would not be possible for any sovereign to find anyone more zealous in his cause than yourself. Not only do I Avell recollect our conversation, but, had I my papers with me at pre- sent, I could cite the most minute details of it, as that interesting conversation is preserved in my journal. * The circumstances which you call to my recollection, Colonel, are stated by your letter with most scrupulous correctness. It is a fact tliat, being at Florence upon a mis- sion with which the Iving my mas- ter had honoured me to several Courts in Italy, and having the good foi'tune to meet you there, you expressed to me the utmost satis- faction at having at length been able to communicate with one of the subjects of Louis X^'III., who had ever been faithful to his cause. You stated to me that at length you could speak without reserve, which you did with the gi-eatest frankness and kindness. You cer- tainly did avow to me, Colonel, that Bonaparte was not sufficiently watched, that you did not possess any means for preventing his eva- sion, and that you were not with- out uneasiness upon the subject, in consequence of many circumstances which you then disclosed to me. ' This communication, and others which were made to me, caused my return to Paris with gi-eater haste.' CnAP. VI. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON, 325 I have seen the correspondence which has passed between General Drouot and two merchants — one here and another at Naples — as to the terms of sale. The principal reasons alleged are the want of money, and the fact that, as the fortification is of no use to Napoleon, it only occasions an unnecessary expense. He therefore proposes to dismantle it entirely by degrees, in proportion as his means enable him to remove the stores. In order to raise money, he has, within the last few days, sold a large public building in this town, formerly occupied as a soldiers' barrack, for 1,500 francs. The agent sent to Florence, M. Colonna, was for the purpose of promoting a correspondence with Marie-Louise ; in the first instance openly, by an amicable intercourse with the Grand Duke of Tuscany, afterwards clandes- tinely ; but both of these have failed. Dec. 4. — Had a conversation with Napoleon, which lasted three hours and a half. After some general inquiries as to my health and last visit to the Continent, he said that Talleyrand was ' un scelerat, un pretre defroque, un homme des revolutions ; ' ^ in fact, everything that was bad. He knew that he was inimical to him long ago, and would betray him if an opportunity offered. He therefore told Cambaceres, who was charged to remain at Paris with the Empress Marie- Louise, and who accompanied her to Orleans, not to leave Talleyrand alone at Paris ; but he weakly yielded to Ids application to remain there, so pitifully supplicated for at the very moment of his quitting it. I asked him whether the letter which had appeared in some of the newspapers as if written by Talleyrand, dis- suading him from the war in Spain, was true. He said it was not — not one word of it; no such letter was ever written. It was Talleyrand who first proj)Osed to him the invasion of Spain. After being turned out of office by him, ^ ' A Yillain, a renegade priest, a revolutionist.' 326 Sin NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Ghap. VI. in consequence of representations from tlie Kings of Bavaria and Wurtemburg that he demanded sums of money for himself on several occasions, he nevertheless continued for a long time to frequent his evening parties along with Fouche, -who was in office at that time. It was in hopes of reviving his credit with him (Napoleon) that Talleyrand advised him to profit by the dissensions which existed in Spain, between Charles IV. and his son Ferdinand, and to put one of his own family upon the throne. He pre- sented to him a memoir written to that eflPect by a friend of his own in Spain, who was intimate with the Prince of Peace. In fact he declared that Talleyrand was a Jacobin of the vilest heart; that he very often urged on him to get rid of the Bourbons by assassinating them ; or, if he would not accede to that, to let them be carried off from England by a party of smugglers, who were in the con- stant habit of coming over. He always rejected the proposal, so long as they kept out of France. It was different with the Duke d'Enghien, who came to the fron- tier of France, even to the gates of Strasbourg, in order to foment conspiracies. But his death also was an act of Talleyrand's, it was proposed by him ; and but for him too the Duke's life would have been saved, even after he was arrested. It was told him (Napoleon) that the Duke d'Enghien requested to speak to him. ' Cela me touchait. J'ai voulu voir le jeune homme, mais c'etait deja trop tard. H avait pris les mesures pour I'empecher. C'etait lui, Tal- leyrand, qui en etait la cause.' ^ [In this relation Naj)oleon showed much enmity to- wards Talleyrand, but very little emotion or regret at the circumstance itself.] He asked me whether I had heard of the divorce which it was proposed to institute between himself and the Empress. ' * That touched nie. I wished measures to prevent it. It was Le, to see the j'oung man, but it was Tallejrand, wlio was the cause.' already too late. He had taken Chap. YI. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 327 I told, liim I had, but only througli tlie foreign papers, and there were so many untruths in the newspapers on the Continent, that I only read the English papers and the ' Gazette ' of Florence. He said the story had been inserted in the journals of Genoa and Milan. I told him I was persuaded, that although Genoa was occupied by British troops, the officer who commanded there did not interfere with nor influence the press, but confined himself to his military duties. I then mentioned an anecdote which had been related, that Marie-Louise had been greatly chagrined at mistaking the Princess of Wales' courier for one of Napoleon's ; and, when complimented by the Princess on her proficiency in music, she said she had studied it par- ticularly in order to please Napoleon, for that to her he always was and would be perfect ! ' Here he showed considerable emotion; sj)oke of the weakness and inhumanity of the Emperor of Austria, in keeping away his wife and child. She had promised to write to him every day upon her return from Switzerland to Vienna, but he had never since received one letter from her. His child was taken from him like the children taken by conquerors in ancient times to grace their triumphs. The Emperor ought to recollect how differently he had acted towards him when he was entirely at his mercy, and no ties of marriage existed. He had twice entered Vienna as a conqueror, but never exercised towards the Emperor such ungenerous conduct. It wasi. not he who solicited the marriage ; it was Metternich who proposed it to Nar- bonne. ' J'ai ete tres-heureux avec ma femme, mais pour moi le maria^e a ete tres-funeste. J'aurais mieux fait de marier une princesse de Eussie.' ^ His Council deliberated upon the proj)osition. Had it not been for the difference of relioion, he would have married a Russian Princess. A 'O' ^ ' I have been very bappy witb should have done better to marry a my Avife, but the marriage has Russian Princess.' proved very disasti'ous for me. I S28 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. YI. Greek cliapel would not liave answered in Paris. To have seen h.im going to one cliurch, and liis wife to a Greek cliapel, would not have looked well, and therefore this other marriage was decided upon. As to settlements, he told them to copy the contract of marriage between Louis XVI. and Marie-Antoinette : in half an hour it was signed by Schwartzenberg. He again spoke of the weakness and ingratitude of the Emperor of Austria, who had once come to his camp to supplicate for forbearance. So weak was he as to tell Marie-Louise lately that Metternich was Napoleon's friend, and had assured him that he would attend to Napoleon's interests. In answer to a question, I said that if he gave me a letter for the Empress, I would send it to Lord Burghersh, who had desired me to announce his arrival at Florence, and to offer his services in any way consistent with his duty. He said this might be prejudicial to Lord Burghersh and myself. I replied that I did not apprehend so. The letter would be forwarded to Lord Castlereagh, who would either openly deliver it, or return it honourably. He was j^repared, he said, for every act of j)ersonal hostility and oppression, even to the taking his life. Was it not evident that there was some such intention against him in the choice made of the governor of Corsica — Brulart — a man who was employed for many years by the Boiu'bons while in England in plots and conspiracies with Georges and others ? Brulart had even changed his residence from Ajaccio to Bastia, so as to be at the point nearest Elba. Since then he had never gone out to take exercise except with four armed soldiers to accompany him. BiTdart could not have been selected with any other view, for he had no connection whatever with Corsica; so far otherwise, that one of the regiments now there had been employed against him in La Vendee. They spoke of removing him to England, There he Chap. VI, CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 329 would have society, and enjoy an opportunity of explaining the circumstances of his life, and doing- away with many prejudices, such as was not possible in the island of Elba. In England he could even see and communicate with his partisans better than at Elba ; four-fifths of the French people were in his favour. He pointed out, as he had frequently done before, the impolicy of humiliating France; that the ferment there would break out one day or other, and the Sovereigns of Europe would then perhaps, for their own interest and repose, find it necessary to call him in to tranquillise the country. At present nothing could be wiser than the conduct of the King of France, but the Government acted differently. They openly ordered the restoration of jDroperty to the emigres and ancient families. Even he himself dared not do so. Whenever he brought them forward, he felt that ' les renes fremissaient dans mes mains ! ' ^ Much might be done for them in the way of restitution without proclaiming it to all France, and thus affecting the security of so much property. He had been abused in numerous publications; the epithets of Nero, Brutus, &c., had been applied to him. It had been said that he had received lessons for attitude from Talma, and similar circumstances were stated which had no foundation whatever, while others were exag- gerated or perverted. These things proved the adage, ' C'est la verite seule qui pent blesser,' ^ and therefore he had not been affected by them. The French knew what he had done for them; how many millions he had brought into the country, and ex- pended in works of public utility. Many of these, which were entirely executed by him, were now ascribed to his predecessors. Before him there was not a sewer in all the 9 ' The reins trembled in my ^ ' It is the truth alone that can hands.' womid.' .330 STR NEIL CAMPBELUS JOUPtNAL. Chap. YI. streets of Paris ; water was scarce. The quays were en- tirely formed by him. Posterity would do him justice. I told him he ought to fulfil the pledge given at Pon- tainebleau by writing his ' Memoirs ; ' that I had received letters from booksellers in London, totally unknown to me, expressing great anxiety on the subject. One in particular, who had j)ublished his brother Lucien's poem, of ' Charle- magne,' wished to propose terms. ' Yes,' he said ; ' I shall publish my " Memoirs," but they will not be very long.' The Bourbons ought to pursue towards him the same forl)earance he had shown with regard to them after he ascended the throne. He would not allow either j)raise or invective, either good or evil, to be published respecting them. He had been called ' IdcheV (coward). * I say nothing of my life as a soldier. Is it no proof of my courage to live here, shut up in this hicoque of a house, separated from the world, with no interesting occupation, no savants with me, nor any variety in my society, excepting when I have occasionally the pleasm*e of conversing with yourself — even without money ? ' Here he stated the sum he had brought with him from Prance. ' So small were his means,' he said, ' that he had been under the necessity of obtaining an addition, sent to him from Orleans by the Empress, before he could even leave Pontainebleau ! ' There had been abuse against him even in the expose of the Prench budget. It was a false statement, for there was no notice of four hundred millions of ' clomaines prives ' taken by the Royal Pamily. It was at one time his in- tention to have replied to this paper, but he afterwards thought it better not to do so. He inquired about the Congress. I told him the most perfect secrecy was preserved, but it was generally under- stood that the greatest harmony prevailed. It appeared extraordinary to him that Murat's fate was Chap. VI. CONYEESATION WITH NArOLEON. 331 not known. He had ordered a levy of 26,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry, wliicli betrayed a want of confidence on his part towards the Allies. Murat, however, I might depend npon it, did nothing but in concert with Austria. When his sister. Princess Pauline, left Naples, the Austrian Minister was king there ! He ridiculed the idea of Murat resisting any terms the Allies might choose to impose upon him. All he could do, was to seek his own death; to fall with arms in his hands, rather than yield to their demands. He was surprised at the bad policy of England in wish- ing to restore the family of Ferdinand to the throne of the Two Sicilies. How much more her interest to sepa- rate the island of Sicily ! With what hope could the sovereigns of Europe look forward to the enjoyment of tranquillity, with discontent boiling in France and Italy, countries which formed so great a portion of the Continent ? Even in Germany it appeared that many of the petty princes were not satisfied. Prince Flirstenberg and many others had presented an address to the Emperor of Austria, at which he had shed tears. Bavaria and Wurtemburg could not but view that with uneasiness. He ridiculed the nomination of the Sovereigns of Eussia and Prussia to be colonels of Austrian regiments, and their asking leave of absence as such from the Emperor of Austria. What childishness ! ' L'Empereur Alexandre est un acteur, et tres-faux ; tout a fait Grec' ^ Frederick the Great of Prussia having put on the uniform of the Austrian levies when he paid a visit to the Emperor of Austria was not a similar case. Nor did the meeting between Francis I. and Henry YIII. bear any resemblance to the meeting of the Allied Sovereigns. It might be very well to give the use of a regiment to that Ostrogoth the Grand Duke ^ 'The Emperor Alexander is an actor, and very false; a complete Greek.' 332 STR NEIL CAMrBELL'S JOURNAL. Cnxr. VL Constantine, wherewith to amuse himself. During the jDre- jjaration for the Peace of Amiens, Lord Cornwallis asked him for a regiment of cavalry, the exercise of which he constantly attended, but that was very different too. In talking of the entry of the Allies into Paris, and the operations at that period, he said that his Guards were only one march from Fontainebleau with the design of attacking them ; that, in that case, Schwartzenberg would have abandoned Paris, and taken a defensive position on the other side. General Koller had told him so, and Funti said the same. [Here he stoj)ped himself, and seemed embarrassed at having mentioned the name of the latter. He has always asked me, on my return from any of my late visits to the Continent, whether I had seen Funti, who was formerly a senator at Paris and now lives at Florence.] I told him he had a more favourable opportunity for attacking Schwartzenberg at Arcis, when Blucher's army was separated. He said that might be so — perhaps he was wrong ; but his views at that time were to have attacked the AlKes in detail from the rear ; and that had he not been disconcerted by Marmont's disobedience of orders (who did not push on to Chalons, as directed), he would have destroyed the one army, and then turned back upon Blucher. Here he related the view of afPairs which had induced him to abdicate. He could have supported the war in France for years, and perhaps have carried it out of the kingdom. But although the people would have flocked to his standard, and the army would have stood firm, this would have been the ruin of France. With the armies of Blucher and Schwartzenberg in Paris, Wellington press- ing forward from Toulouse, Augereau beaten at Lyons (for he did not then know that he was indisposed to exert himself at all), a faction in Paris against him, and the senate weak enough to assemble by the orders of their Chap. VI. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 333 enemy, he had no hesitation in descending from the throne, as it appeared to be the only way of saving France. But he would never have done so had not Mar- niont deserted him — except, indeed, on the regency of the Empress and her son being secured. In his own person he could not even consent to any peace except according to such a treaty as that proposed at Frankfort. France could not submit to any other line than that of the Rhine, and he had himself openly said that, if he made peace at Chatillon, he should not be able to keep it thi-ee months. The people generally might be tired of the wars into which his conquests had led them {entrames), but they would never be satisfied to remain at peace on the terms now im- posed. In France there are 800,000 men who have carried arms. He had now no regret in his abdication, nor yet in his refusal of the last propositions for peace. He would do the same over again. Lord Castlereagh prevented the peace at Frankfort. The other Allies were perfectly willing to consent to it, but England wished to diminish France. I reminded him that Lord Castlereagh did not arrive until after the Allies had crossed the Rhine. On his asking what were the observations of English travellers who had come lately from Paris, I told him that the people in France, particularly the military, did not show so much good-will towards the English as at first. Many of the French ofiicers, I believed, felt sore at having been put on board the prison -ships ; but this arose from many of them, of all ranks,^ breaking their paroles and deserting. He said we had done the same. I told him that no ofiicer who deserted would be received either by the Commander- in-chief or by his own corps. He said he had published 2 One of the most notable in- the following year, and escaped to stances was that of General Lefe- France, Napoleon at once rein- Ijvre Desnouettes, who had been stated him in the command of the taken prisoner at Benevente, while mounted Chasseurs of the Guard, pressing Sir John Moore's retreat, and ever afterwards treated him He broke his parole in England with marked favour. — Ed. 334 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. a list of them in tlie ' Moniteur.' I assured liim that these were civilians, some of "whom might be in the yeomanry or militia, but not in the regular army or navy. He said they w^ere, in his view, equally prisoners of war. As we, immediately on declaring war, had seized all French sub- jects and their property on the sea, although not belong- ing to the military service, he in like manner detained all British subjects whom he could lay hold of on the Continent. I related to him the anecdote of the Princess of Wales' wig and crown tumbling down at the feet of Lucien Bona- parte, adding that she was frequently at his house in Rome. But this did not produce any observation from him re- specting his brother, excepting that he supposed they had met in England. I told him, certainly not. He said England had not acted generously in prosecuting the war against America, but showed a spirit of inveterate revenge. It weakened her voice at present at the Con- gTess, so great a portion of her force being absent from Europe. She had not occupied Louisiana, nor acquired any great or permanent object. The Americans would gradually improve, and we should have to be satisfied to make peace without having gained any accession of strength or power. Our character, after standing lately so high in the eyes of all Europe, would diminish by the sort of warfare in which we indulged against private property, trading vessels, storehouses, &c. I told him the Americans had no right to expect generosity from us after their ungenerous provocation in forcing us into war when the whole of Europe was arrayed against us. The first excesses were practised by them in burning towns and villages in Upper Canada, even after threats of retaliation were held out to them. I asked him whether it was true that he had proposed to the British Government, during the Peace of Amiens, to unite in an expedition against the Bai'bary Powers. He Chap. YI. NAPOLEON'S OWN HISTORY. 335 said lie liad ; that the present state of things was a disgrace to all the civilised Powers ; but that it depends only on England to put an end to it; and as we had been the means of abolishing the slave trade, or nearly so, so we ought in like manner to make this a national object. I told him that societies had lately been formed with this view, and that they were daily increasing. He then related at great length his own history, from the beginning of the Revolution, and with more fire and precision than usual. In the commencement of the Revolution he marched with his company of artillery to Douai, where he witnessed some scenes of violence without taking any part in them. By chance the routine of service sent him to Toulon, where the operations had been very badly conducted under the Rejyresentants du Peujple. He had been conspicuous among his schoolfellows and comrades for his knowledge of mathe- matics, and had been selected by them to compile a Memoir, according to custom, against the Engineer department. From the character thus acquired, he was desired to draw up a Memou- with his plan of operations against Toulon. He did so, and was then allowed to take a detached work, which he had pointed out as the key of the place. On this he immediately received the command of the artillery, and the direction of the operations, according to his own plan, which proved successful. This gave him confidence in himself. He was appointed general of brigade, and came to Paris. There he was named to a command in La Vendee as a general of infantry, but not liking that war, nor to be employed out of his own line in a subor- dinate situation, he declined it, saying he was an ofiicer of artillery. Soon afterwards Menou, who commanded the Army of the Interior, was beaten by the Parisians, who likewise threatened the Convention. He himself was at the theatre, in perfect obscurity, and going out, by chance he heard the 336 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. boys bawling out a decree of tlie Convention, in wliich his own name was vociferated. He listened ; and as it could be no other but himself, he gave two sous for one of the papers, went to one side, and there read the decree of the Conven- tion, by which he was named General of the Interior. He proceeded towards the Committee of Public Safety, and in the course of his walk there again heard his name vocife- rated about the streets. On entering the Hall, he found the members despatching persons to find him out, if possible, in his obscure residence. ' Le General Bonaparte ! Le petit general d'artillerie ! ' ■* was resounded everjrwhere upon his being perceived. He was ushered into another room by some of the members, where he found Menou in arrest. ' Que voulez-vous de moi, citoyen ? ' ^ he demanded of one of the Convention. ' Citoyen, vous etes nomme au commande- ment de I'lnterieur!' '^ 'I said that, before I accepted the offer, I must ask some information of General Menou. Very weU. I asked the General where was his artillery ? At [I could not catch the word] . How many pieces ? Forty. Guarded by what force ? About forty or fifty cavalry. I immediately called Murat, who was standing by us in the uniform of a captain of cavalry. What number of cavalry have you at your immediate command? Two hundred. Mount instantly, and bring here all that artillery. Sabre all that oppose you. He executed my order. I placed the artillery so as to sweep the streets that day — it was the loth Vendemiaire — and secured certain other parts with barricades and pallisades — forced the Parisians to remain quiet, and restored the power of the Convention.' He remained in this command during three months, after which he was named general of artillery to the Army of Italy, and afterwards to the chief command. After his successful campaigns as General Bonaparte, ■^ 'General T3onapavto, the little citizen?' general of artillery.' ^ ' Citizen, you .ire nominated to ^ * What do yuu want with me, the command of the Interior.' Chap. VI. NAPOLEON'S OWN HISTORY. 337 commanding the Army of Italy, he returned to Paris, where he remained some time in a small house in perfect retire- ment, wearing only a,froque, or covering himself up in his cloak, in order to go to the Institute, of which he was a member. This was in consequence of the military calling out, ' Nous voulons avoir le General Bonaparte, notre petit general, pour notre chef.'^ Others said, ' II doit etre roi, il faut le faire roi.' * This gave him great uneasiness, for he was a Republican in opinion, and had no wish to avail himself of the desire of the army and Parisians. If he had not preserved the most cautious conduct, it would have led to his destruction, either by causing his assassination, or getting him put out of the way upon false charges. Notwithstanding his determination not to profit by the feeling in his favour, nor to give any pretext for suspi- cion, the Directory became jealous of him. Talleyrand was therefore sent with a proposal, that he should carry an army to Egypt. He was as much overjoyed, and entered as ardently into the project, as if it had originated with himself. He resolved to give his whole heart to the expe- dition, looking forward to it as his only object, in order that he might either march on to India, or to Constan- tinople, according as circumstances might arise in the course of time. By one of the arrivals from France, while in Egypt, he received a decree of the Directory, which was to be inserted as an ordre du jour, according to the practice at that time. This decree related to the electors, and it so disgusted him that, from that moment, he was no longer a Republican. He said to himself, ' Je ferai fondre tout cela.' ^ For a long time afterwards he received no intelligence from France, but one day Sir Sidney Smith (who was always eager to send flags of truce, and keep up communication with him ' 'We wish to have General ^ 'He ought to be king. We Bonaparte, our little general, for our must make him king.' chief.' ^ ' I '^ill piit an end to all that.' Z 338 Sm NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. V I. by these means) forwarded some newspapers of a recent date. In these he read of the reverses of Italy, the taking of Mantua, &c. Now is my time, he exclaimed to him- self, and immediately took his measures, and returned to France. * Tou will perceive,' he continued, ' that I have engaged hut little in the disorders of the Revolution. I was horn in an island, half Italian, half French, hut I am a French- man in soul {en dme). I left Corsica at an early age, was educated in France, and have passed my life there.' I told him that many persons in England asserted that, upon his quitting Egypt, it was his intention to have re- stored order for the Bourbons. He turned round quickly towards me, and looking with an air of agitation, replied, * Ce n'est pas vrai, jamais ; cela aurait ete une trahison envers les Fran9ais. Cela n'aurait pas ete consulter leur bonheur et leurs interets.' ^ * After the battle of Marengo the Abbe Montesquieu,' he said, * gave me a letter from Louis XYin., wherein he asked my assistance to restore him to the throne. Without me he had no hope ! With- out him I could have no security ! I replied, with all the respect that was due to him, that I could not accede to his proposals ; but that I should always be happy to con- tribute, as far as I could, towards the welfare of himself and his family in other respects.' Dec. 5. — To-day I presented, at an interview with Na- poleon, Captain Adye, commanding H.M.S. 'Partridge' on the Elba station. Captain Adye having infonned Napoleon that he had served on board of Lord Nelson's ship at the battle of Aboukir, he at once entered minutely into the details of that action. As I have perceived iu many similar conver- sations upon naval matters. Napoleon has no idea of the ^ * It is not true, never ; that been to consult their happiness and vrould have been treason towards their interests.' the French. That would not have Chap. VI. BATTLE OF ABOUKIE. 339 hazard incident to movements upon a coast, nor of the difficulties occasioned by winds and tides, but judges of changes of position in the case of ships as he would with regard to troops upon land. He said that Admiral Brueys expected Lord Nelson's attack would have been on his left, but he ought to have made sail instead of waiting for it at anchor. In a book of Regulations and Instructions for the French Navy there is a plan of a fleet at anchor, with another attacking in the same way as Nelson. It was singular enough that at L'Orient, while he was on board Admiral Brueys' ship, the latter showed him this very plan, and pointed out the disadvantages a fleet would labour under, in waiting for an attack in such a position, instead of getting under weigh. Captain Adye said that Admiral Brueys could not well expect that Lord Nelson's attack should have taken place before the following morn- ing, and that, as far as he recollected, the wind would not allow of his getting under weigh when the attack was about to begin. Napoleon spoke of Sir Robert Calder's action, and blamed Villeneuve for not attacking the British on the second day. Instead of losing time by putting his vessels into order and arranging their numbers, he ought to have borne down to the attack in any order. I remarked that if the French lost two ships on the preceding day, while the British had only one out of action, the former of course were comparatively less able to engage on the next day. He said those two ships were taken by manoeuvre and accident, not by force. If the British Admiral had confidence in his own strength, why did he not attack on the second day, and prevent the French from going into Vigo ? I replied that the British Admiral was to leeward, and it depended upon the French to attack : this they made a show of doing, but never came down. The Admiral had another object in view, and could not follow the French fleet to the coast, where he would also have had to encounter the fleet then z2 340 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. in Ferrol. He said that was onlj an excuse, advanced from national pride, for the Admiral ran away during the night of the 23rd (July, 1805). He lamented deeply the conduct of Villeneuve in dis- obeying his orders in various ways during the cruise, so as to occasion an improper and unnecessary loss of time in the West Indies, and in going to Cadiz instead of up the Channel, where he was anxiously awaiting him, in order that he might cross over with his flotilla. He explained his plan of deceiving us, by mounting guns on the transports, as if he intended to force his passage across. He would have landed either in Kent or, if possible, on the right bank of the Thames, so as to turn all the defences of towers, canal, &c., made by Mr. Pitt. This danger must always hang over England. An invasion is perfectly prac- ticable whenever France can assemble a larger army than England, and at the same time obtain, for a week or ten days, the command of the Channel with her fleet. On this account the formation of the port of Cherbourg is a serious consideration for England. Our possessions are so extensive, that we must have fleets to guard each of them, and to watch the movements which may be directed against them. While engaged in this, it is easy to mislead so great a proportion of the British navy, that the French must infallibly obtain that superiority in the Channel which is required for a time, in order to effect the inva- sion. However, he himself foresaw that, if his j)reparations were not put into execution, it would have the effect of making England a military as well as a naval Power, by rousing the spirit and energies of the whole people, and causing them to form both armed associations and a great army. In the event it had proved so, for it was this which gave both the impulse and the materials for the British army, as particularly shown in Spain. I told him it was often doubted in England whether he intended to accompany the first body of troops who were Chap. VI. INVASION OF ENGLAND. 341 to attempt the invasion, and hoped he would excuse my asking him the question. He told me, Certainly, he meant to command it in person. The whole would have left Bou- logne together, and disembarked as quickly and as much in company as they could. But if the wind admitted of it, he should prefer landing in or near the Thames — so as to turn all the defences constructed by Mr. Pitt — rather than on the coast of Kent. No British force could be collected in sufficient numbers to oppose him. His subsequent mea- sures, in case of success, must depend upon circumstances, but he should certainly have separated Ireland from Great Britain, and success he considered certain. At first there was a brig placed by Admiral Lord Ex- mouth upon the Elba station, to act in concert with me. But, upon his departure, Admiral Hallowell directed this vessel never to remain longer than twenty-four hours at Elba, for fear of causing jealousy to other Powers. On my making a representation to the latter, a partial relaxation of the order was allowed, in case of a positive necessity and direct application on my part. For some time past the ' Partridge ' has been under orders to be in readiness to accompany a Sicilian frigate from Leghorn to Sicily, as soon as the Prince Leopold of Sicily should arrive there from Vienna. As this would leave me without means of communication, I have this day vrritten to Eear-Admiral Penrose, now commanding in the Mediter- ranean, as follows : — ' Porto Ferrajo, Isle of Elba: December 5, 1814. < gir^ — I avail myself of the first opportunity to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letter dated November 21, and to express my thanks for your offers of assistance to the objects of my mission. ' I beg leave to assure you, that every circumstance connected with the isle of Elba, and which appears to me 342 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. in the smallest degree interesting to you as Commander-in- Chief of His Majesty's fleet in the Mediterranean, shall be regularly transmitted. ' I presume you are in possession of my correspondence with Lord Exmouth and Rear- Admiral Hallowell, by which you will perceive that I submitted to the latter the inconvenience which might arise to the interests of His Majesty's Government from the restrictions which he had placed upon the man-of-war employed here, subsequently to the departure of Lord Exmouth, and the intention of withdrawing her entirely to accompany the Sicilian frigate, neither of which circumstances can have entered into the calculation of His Majesty's Government according to my instructions. ' I beg leave to submit to your consideration my repre- sentations to that effect, and am supported in the same opinion by that of His Majesty's Minister at the Court of riorence — particularly until the proceedings of the Con- gress and the affairs of Italy are finally settled, and espe- cially those of Naples. * Notwithstanding these surmises, I hope I shall not excite your apprehensions ; but it is necessary to be pre- pared for possibilities. A thousand reports and conjec- tures are afloat as to an understanding between Napoleon and Murat. I have no reason myself, however, to believe that the enmity which existed between them has yet been removed, and the alarming apprehensions circulated re- specting Napoleon arise from old guns, shot, and shells having been sent from the dismantled fort of Longono to sell at Civita Yecchia. * It is impossible for me to advert further to aU the reports which have been circulated, even by persons in public situations in Italy. The correspondence which I have had with Captain Adye, and which I presume he has transmitted to you, arose more from these prevailing rumours than from any belief of my own in the circum- Chap. VI. LETTEE TO ADMIRAL PENROSE. 343 stances to whicli I requested liis attention, by means of a memorandum to that effect. ' It is with great satisfaction that I avail myself of this occasion to express to you that cordial and zealous co- operation which I received from Captain Adye in the exe- cution of our united duties. (Signed) 'Neil Campbell.' December 6. — In a despatch under this date [No. 38], I have written to Lord Castlereagh thus : — ' I beg leave to repeat my opinion that, if the means of subsistence which he was led to expect on coming to Elba are given to him, he will remain here in perfect tranquillity, unless some great opening should present itself in Italy or France. He does not dissemble his opinion as to the latter, in regard to the present temper of the people, and what may be expected hereafter. ' I keep a strict look-out upon all vessels belonging to this island, a list of which I do myself the honour of enclosing for your Lordship's information. I have also given the same to Admiral Penrose, commanding His Majesty's fleet in the Mediterranean, and to the naval officer on this station.' List of Vessels belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte in the Island of Elba. 1. One brig, * L'Inconstant,' 16 guns, commanded by M. TaUiade, formerly of the French Imperial Navy. This corvette was given to Napoleon, at the time of his abdication, by the Provisional Government, and has lately returned from Naples with Napoleon's sister, Pauline. At present she is taking old guns, shot, and shells at Longono, to carry to Italy for sale. 2. One bombard, ' L'Etoile,' with two masts — Caj)tain Eichon — unarmed, 90 tons. 3. One felucca, ' La Caroline ' — two four-pounders, 26 tons. 344 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. 4. One felucca, ' La Pastorella ' — M. Comevali — 5 tons, unarmed. Remarks. — The bombard is generally employed in bring- ing grain and flour from Civita Vecchia ; the two feluccas in carrying provisions to Pia Nosa, and in watching the coast near Eio, to prevent the inhabitants from sending away ore from the mines on their own account. Besides these vessels, which are the private property of Napoleon, there are seventeen belonging to the inhabi- tants of Rio, which are employed in carrying the iron ore to the coast of Italy and Genoa for sale. They are from 50 to 100 tons each, consisting of 10 pinques, 2 brigs, 5 xebecs, and 1 brigantine. Dec. 7-10. — I really believe that Napoleon's reason for preventing the officers of his brig from wearing the decora- tion of Naples is on account of his enmity towards Murat. The inhabitants of Capolini paid their contributions, upon which the troops were withdrawn. The priests are con- fined to the town of Porto Ferrajo, and suspended from their functions by the Grand Vicaire, at Napoleon's desire. The Intendant-General of the island of Elba informs me that Napoleon's troops and vessels cost him one mil- lion of francs per year, while all his sources of revenue, including the contributions, will not net four hundred thousand this year. In addition to the discharging a number of servants lately, he has reduced to one-half the salary of his surgeon, treasurer, and some others who hold civil appointments in his household, and who accom- panied him from Fontainebleau. Dec. 11-19, Leghorn.— M. Mariotti, the French Consul here, read to me the substance of a conversation which Napoleon had with a M. Litta, who came to Elba about six weeks ago from Milan. He has been described to me as a native of that city, well connected, possessing ability and enterprise, much attached to Napoleon, and inveterate against the Austrians. Chap. VI. NAPOLEON AND M. LITTA. 345 M. Mariotti did not inform me by what means he obtained a knowledge of this conversation. It is not probable that any person could have overheard it, or that M. Litta would divulge it ; and I believe that persons who are employed by different governments to watch over Bonaparte's actions sometimes exaggerate, falsify, or invent stories, in order to appear the more zealous in their duties. However, I shall enclose a copy of the con- versation to Lord Castlereagh, as near as I can recol- lect it. [Enclosure A, in Besjpatch No. 40.] Napoleon. ' Que voulez-vous ? ' Litta. ' Je viens faire mes hommages a Votre Majeste, et vous offrir les assurances fideles d'une vie consacree a Yotre Majeste.' N. ' Est-ce que le General Bellegarde est a Milan ? ' L. ' Oui, Sire.' N. 'Est-ilaime?' L. ' Non, Sire.' N. ' Le Due de Modene, est-il aime ? ' L. * n tache a se faire aimer, Sire, mais comme tous ses sujets sont degoutes de devenir si petits, cela ne peut pas etre.' N. ' J'ai voulu faire de belles choses pour les Italiens.' [D'abord Napoleon demandait de I'esprit parmi les Pie- montais, les Milanais, les Toscans et les autres Italiens. Litta lui repondait qu'il n'avait qu'un sentiment parmi tous, excepte quelques pretres et quelques hommes d6 soi- xante annees.] N. ' Mais sont-ils fermes ? ' L. ' Votre Majeste peut toujours compter sur eux; et si Votre Majeste avait ete avec nous, les circonstances n'au- raient pas change, comme elles sont a present.' N. ' Mais le Prince Eugene vous a bien commandes ? ' L. * II nous a trop meprises, Sire.' 34G SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VL N. * Et mon Grand Chambellan, Caprara, que fait-il ? ' L. ' II est tres-afflige, Sire.' N. ' Combien de vos troupes ont pris le service avec les Autrichiens ? ' L. ' Je crois a peu pres de six mille, et le General Palombini.' N. ' Et mes Gardes, est-ce que beaucoup d'eux ont pris le service avec les Autrichiens ? ' L. * Non, Sire, la plupart d'eux ont pris le service de Naples.' N. * Combien de troupes autrichiennes sont en Italie ? ' L. ' On comptait soixante mille hommes quelque temps passe, mais il y en a beaucoup qui sont partis en Autriche.' N. ' Etes-vous seul ici ? ' L. * Je suis accompagne d'un jeune bomme qui a servi aussi sous les aigles de Yotre Majeste.' N. * Et ou allez-vous ? ' L. * J'ai I'intention d'aller a Naples.' N. ' Naples.' (II a regarde M. L., et a pris un air pensif.) ' Je vous verrai encore avant votre depart.' I have since learnt that M. Mariotti had this conver- sation from a person in particular intimacy with M. Litta, to whom he confided it. Dec. 20. — Returned to Elba. Bee. 21. — Had a conversation with General Bertrand concerning the statements which appeared in some of the continental journals that General Roller (the Austrian officer who accompanied Bonaparte from Eontainebleau) was now on his way from "Vienna to this place. Soon afterwards I received a message from Napoleon, requesting to see me the same evening at 8 p.m. I have no doubt it arose from his anxiety upon the same subject ; for, very soon after saluting me, he asked as to the founda- tion of the report, and again introduced it several times during a conversation of two hours which I had with him Chap. \I. THE BOURBONS. | 347 upon various other subjects. He inquired if I had read the report ? If I knew it from any other source ? What did I suppose to be the object of the journey? Was it respecting Marie-Louise ? Of course I could only express my entire ignorance, excepting having read the report in a French nevs^spaper, under the head of a letter from Vienna. He seemed to me to view the report more with feelings of hope and eager curiosity than of apprehension. He discussed the proceedings of Congress at Vienna, and asked me whether it was expected there woidd be a renewal of war. He knew there were serious differences of opinion, and he did not think they would be easily adjusted. The Congress might be continued for five years, during which time Prussia would keep possession of Saxony, England and Holland of Belgium, and Russia of Poland. I asked him what he thought of Marshal Soult being appointed Minister of War in France. He did not appear to relish the news, but admitted that the King of France could not have made a wiser choice. ' He will be faithful to the Bourbons,' Napoleon added, ' so long as there is no weight in the other scale; but if ever a patriotic party (as he called it) arises, they need not confide in him! He cannot forget twenty years of service for the glory of France.' In talking of France, he said that many of his Guards had letters from their comrades and relations, who de- scribed the discontent to be very general, and congratu- lated them on having accompanied him to Elba ; that he had no correspondents there himself, but he received many anonymous communications, which described the same state of affairs, and expressed great fears of another revolution and the reign of terror. ' The present Government is too feeble. The Bourbons should make war as soon as possible, in order to establish themselves upon the throne. With such an army as they could assemble, it would not be difficult to recover Belgium. 348 SIR NEIL CAMPBELLS JOURNAL. Chap. VI. It is only for the British there that the French army has the smallest awe.' He inquired whether it was true that the French esta- blished in Leghorn were ordered to quit it. I told him I had not heard so. The other parts of his conversation were not remarkable, and, as usual, contained much repetition. Dec. 22-27. — It is reported in this island, and at Leg- horn, that proposals have been made by Napoleon to the Grand Duke of Tuscany for the sale of his brass guns. I was misinformed in stating lately to Lord Castlereagh that some of the Corsican recruits had been sent back. So far from it, that they still continue to come over here in small parties, clandestinely ; eight arrived here on the 10th ult. Napoleon has lately sold some provisions which were in store in the fort of Longono. Dec. 28. — Although General Drouot informed me that the ' Inconstant ' brig had gone to Civita Vecchia for grain, yet, as it was currently reported and generally believed in the island that Bonaparte had sent her to the Levant, supplied with three months' provisions, I was induced to request Captain Adye, commanding H.M.S. * Partridge,' to look in at the former port. He returned here this morning, and informs me that the ' Inconstant ' and another of Napoleon's smaller vessels are in the harbour of Civita Vecchia, but that the Pope has refused them permission to export any more grain to Elba from his States. This will prove a considerable annoyance to Napoleon, as there is no other State from whence he can so economically draw this indispensable article for the supply of his troops, workmen, and house- hold. Dec. 29-31. — Napoleon's spirits seem of late rather to rise than to yield in the smallest degree to the pressure of pecuniary difficulties ; although his mother, and some Chap. VL 'EMBARRASSING SITUATION. 349 of the principal persons who have followed his fortune, are constantly absorbed in grief and effusions of discon- tent. They place their last hope for amelioration in the Congress, the members of which, they expect, will fix the regular payment of Napoleon's annuity, according to treaty. They appear also to entertain sanguine hopes that Marie-Louise will reside at Parma as sovereign, and even that she will come to Elba after the Congress is dissolved ; from all which they draw favourable conclusions. Of late Napoleon does not oppose the return to France of officers or soldiers who urge it ; but most of theni prolong their service with him only to await the issue of the Congress. Fourteen non-commissioned officers and privates re- ceived their discharges last week, and have taken their passages in vessels for Genoa. I have seen several of these discharges ; they are regularly stamped upon parch- ment, with the title, ' Conge absolu, Garde Imperiale, Ba- taillon Napoleon.' The services and descriptions of the men are recited, and the motive assigned for the discharge is, ' en le pressant besoin que sa famille parait avoir de lui.' They are signed by ' Comte Drouot, General de Divi- sion, Gouvemeur de I'ile d'Elbe,' and by several other officers, precisely according to the previous forms under the government of Napoleon. They are stamped at the top with a seal, upon which there is an eagle. It is universally supposed in Italy, and publicly stated, that Great Britain is responsible to the other Powers for the detention of Napoleon's person, and that I am the exe- cutive agent for this purpose. Napoleon believes this. He has gradually estranged himself from me, and various means are taken to show me that my presence is dis- agreeable. Of this, however, I could not be certain for a long time, as it was done by hints which could not well be noticed. I think his inviting Lord Ebrington to dine with 350 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VI. him,^ without me, was intended as a marked slight, for the purpose of inducing me to quit Elba entirely. But, always expecting the Congress to be brought to an end, I have resolved to make the sacrifice of my own feelings until that event, occasionally going to Leghorn, Florence, and the baths of Lucca for my health and for amusement, as well as to compare my observations here with the information of the authorities on the Continent and the French Consul at Leghorn. My return always gives me an opportunity of asking for an interview with Napoleon, to pay my respects. Of late he has evidently wished to surround himself with great forms of court, as well to preserve his own consequence in the eyes of the Italians as to keep me at a distance ; for I could not transgress on these without the probability of an insult, or the proffer of servile adulation inconsistent with my sentiments. '^ Dec, 8, 1814. Lord Ebrington dum of Two Conversations between (afterwards Earl Fortescue) pub- the Emperor Napoleon and Viscount listed a record of his conversation Ebrington at Porto Ferrajo, on on this as well as a previous occa- December G and 8, 1814.' — Ed. sion, under the title of * Memoran- Chap. VII. VISIT TO GENOA. Sol CHAPTER VII. GOES TO GENOA — INTEEVrEW "WITH l^APOLEOlf 03T EETTTRIT — M. RICCI VICE-CONSUL — STISPICIOTJS PERSONS AT PORTO FEERAJO — WARM ARGUMENT WITH GENERAL BERTRAND — VISIT TO CONTINENT — MEETS MR. COOKE, UNDER-SECRETARY — SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES — EMBARKS IN ' PARTRIDGE ' FOR ELBA — LANDING AND DISCOVERT OF napoleon's ESCAPE — INTERVIEWS WITH MR. GRATTAN, MADAME BERTRAND, M. LAPIS, AND PAULINE — PURSUIT OF NAPOLEON — RETURN TO ENGLAND. January 1815. — Early in this month. I went to Genoa, in hopes of affording to the Austrian General, Koller, the means of coming here with the man-of-war belonging to this station, and being desirous also of conversing with him previously to his arrival in this island. Receiving no instructions of any sort from Vienna, I was anxious to let General Koller know my uneasiness respecting Napo- leon, and my suspicions of his holding communications of an improper nature with Murat. As, however, he did not arrive here within the period calculated upon, I returned to Elba. During my absence, accounts had been received at Porto Eerrajo that many Italian officers, including some generals, had been arrested at Milan, and that General Koller had gone there from Vienna. In the first interview I had with Napoleon after my return (January 14), he asked many questions as to the nature of the charge against those officers. I told him that I had no knowledge beyond the public reports at Genoa, which ascribed their arrest to the discovery of a plot against the Austrian Government ; and it was more- ^52 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VIL over stated that the information as to their plans had been given by Murat. He said repeatedly, ' On ne trouvera rien contre moi. An moins, on ne trouvera pas que je sois compromis du tout.' ^ These expressions, as well as the whole tenour of his conversation upon the subject, bore evident marks of anxiety. He did not believe, he added, that these persons were guilty of any crime, but that it was merely a pretext of the Austrian Government, in order to confine them, and then remove them out of Italy. He then spoke of the statements which had appeared in some of the newspapers respecting his removal to St. Helena or St. Lucia, in a way which showed his belief in them, said he would not consent to being transported from Elba, but would resist the attempt by force to the last. ' Avant cela il faut faire une breche dans mes fortifications. Nous verrons ! ^ I told him I did not believe these stories, which had no foundation beyond vague report.' [He has lately placed detachments of his Guards in two advanced works of considerable strength, which were erected a few years ago to retard the approach to the for- tifications of Porto Ferrajo in case of a siege.] He asked me, with a kind of suspicious curiosity, whether I had met with any of the ships of war belonging to Louis XVIIL, which have lately cruised off Corsica and Elba.* He repeated his invectives against the present governor of Corsica,^ asserting that an assassin, sent by him, ' ' They will not find anything O'Meara, A Voice fi-om St. Helena, against me. At least, they will vol. i. p. 460. — Ed. not find that I am at all com- * ' Two French frigates were sent promised.' from Toulon to cruise round the "^ '■ Before that, they will have to island of Elba, soon after my inter- make a breach in my fortifications, view with M. Hyde de Neuville.' — We shall see ! ' Is^ote by Sir K. C. ' 'I asked if he thought that it * 'Bonaparte had particular rea- had been the intention of the Allies son to dread Brulart. This Chouan to have sent him to St. Helena ? chief had been one of the numbers " Why," replied the Emperor, " it who had laid down their arms on was much spoken of. However, Napoleon assuming the Consulate, Colonel Campbell denied it." ' — and who had been permitted to Chap. VII. CONVERSATION WITH NAPOLEON. 353 was lately landed in Elba from one of tliese same French men-of-war ; that the gendarmes were in search of him, and he would undoubtedly be apprehended ; that the crews of these ships were attached to himself, and gave him in- telligence of everything which passed in the squadron. He appeared much agitated, and impressed with a belief in the truth of what he stated. In reply, I assured him that I did not believe for a moment that the Bourbons were capable of sending emissaries to make attacks upon his life, and that if I became aware of any circumstance which could induce me to suspect anything of the kind, I would lose no time in acquainting him with it. His brig returned here from Civita Vecchia last night, having touched by the way at Naples and Corsica. She failed in procuring any grain. This morning (January 15) she was driven on shore by a violent gale of wind, but by taking out her guns and stores she will be got off again without any material injury. A sloop of war belonging to Murat anchored here yes- terday, having on board a Princess of Saxe-Gotha. This ship left Genoa ten days ago, bound for Naples, and it is said that she will proceed from this to Leghorn, to repair some damages. I can only consider this as a pretext to cover some other intention, as the wind is now favourable for Naples, and the distance to the latter place so little beyond that to Leghorn. February. — In my last interview with Napoleon (Feb. 2) he was unusually dull and reserved ; but from that manner reside at Paris. A friend of Brulart, Brulart fled to England in grief still more obnoxious than himself, and rage, at being made the means was desirous of being permitted to of decoying his friend to death, return from England, to which he In the height of his resentment, had emigrated. He applied to he wrote to Napoleon, threatening Napoleon through Brulart, who him with death by his hand. The was directed by the Emperor to recollection of this menace alarmed encom*age his friend to come over. Bonaparte, when he found Brulart Immediately on his landing in so near him as Corsica.' — Scott's Z?yc France he was seized and executed, of Napoleon, ch. Ixxxii., 7iotc. — Ed. A A 354 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. %vearing' off by degrees, it afterwards appeared to me as if it had been studied. He goes less abroad than before, and appears much more tenacious of his dignity in exterior show and form. He never takes exercise, excepting in a carriage drawn by four horses, and accompanied by Generals Bertrand or Drouot, who sit uncovered, whatever may be the state of the weather, while passing through the town and fortifi- cations. For some tim,p past Napoleon has suspended his im- provements as regards roads and the finishing of his country residence. This is, I think, on account of the ex- pense. Some of the roads, as well as a bridge built entirely for his own use, and unconnected with the public, have yet, by his order, been paid for entirely by the inhabitants. A Council of State was lately held at Porto Ferrajo, to determine whether the town-house {hotel de ville) can be sold for his private emolument ; but as the opinions were divided, the project has not yet been carried into execu- tion. Some time since, I recommended to Lord Castlereagh M. Ricci, who was formerly British Vice-consul at Lon- gono, whilst that port belonged to the King of Naples, as a person very fit for the appointment of vice-consul in this island. As it was very desirable that some one should in the interim represent this character, in order to send out pilots, and afford other assistance to British men-of- war or trading vessels which might touch here, I took it upon myself to give M. Ricci a letter of recommenda- tion, requesting all captains who might enter to consider him in such a capacity, so long as the appointment might be vacant ; to call upon him for every necessary aid and pro- tection, and to pay him the usual trifling fees. I informed General Bertrand of the circumstances of the case, stating that although no exequatur or formal acknowledgment of his appointment could be asked for, or was expected for CriAP. VIl. M. EICCI VICE-CONSUL. 355 the present, yet that I requested he might tacitly be ac- cepted in that office. This was agreed to. Soon after- wards, in consequence of his informing me that the priest and some other of the inhabitants of Capolini — who were then in revolt on account of the contributions — had made use of very strong language with reference to Napoleon, and had requested his interference, I cautioned him against ?aiy such communications, and furnished him with written instructions for his guidance. Upon my return here lately from Leghorn, after a short absence, M. E-icci informed me that he had been called upon by the governor to state the nature of his appoint- ment, and was informed that my mstructions, of which he gave a cojyj, were not official, and therefore he could not be considered as consul until he had received his formal commission from London. When speaking to me on the subject, General Bertrand did not say that M. Ricci would be prevented from acting as consul, but that it was necessary for him to receive a commission as such from the British Government before he could be recognised in any manner. At the same time, he acknowledged that M. Eicci's character was highly re- spectable, and that he had not committed any act which could justly give offence. I cannot precisely account for this sudden and apparently useless stir about M. Eicci's powers, unless it were from disappointment at finding that he had not received any commission from the British Government, as had been re^Dorted, and in which it is possible that Napoleon ex- pected his own titles might have been mserted. Or it might be to intimidate him from giving me information of what passes in the island, and to authorise, perhaps, a sudden seizure of his papers, after having deprived him by the commandant's letter of that protection which might be understood to attach to his public character, or to resent his interference with regard to vessels which frequent this A A 2 366 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. island under British colours, without being in reality entitled to them. He has also taken up the case of a British vessel which was lately wrecked on the island of Pia Nosa. If any personal insult be hereafter offered to M. Eicci (which has never yet been the case, but, so far from it, he has always been assisted hitherto in the execution of his duties), such as I have supposed, it will be a proof of the existence of some improper and guilty connection, in regard to which Napoleon is anxious to ascertain how far my knowledge extends. Nothing injurious to M. Eicci could possibly be discovered, as I have invariably directed him, since my first arrival, neither to ask nor speak in any way which could be considered hostile or exception- able, confining himself entirely to his duties, and to giving me information. However, I have again told M. Eicci to be very careful to give no cause for suspicion, either by indiscreet language or by holding any communication with the discontented people at Capolini ; nor to keep by him any paper which can possibly be made a charge against him as one of Napoleon's subjects. For at present they had deprived him of the inviolability which belonged to his public character, and therefore he must be very circumspect not to put himself in their power, nor to retain any documents which might be suddenly seized, and might compromise him. At the same time he was to be particularly on the alert, to give me constant information ; and if anything extraordinary occurred while I was absent, not to consider expense, but to come off instantly himself and report the matter both to me at Leghorn and to the British Minister at Florence. The letter written to M. Eicci by the Governor was noticed by me in conversation with General Bertrand, in order to make them feel their responsibility in case of any indecorous proceedings towards him, and looking upon it Chap. Vn. WRECK AT PIA NCSA. 357 also as a want of delicacy and politeness towards myself. Their chief motive, I suspected, arose from a wish to disgust me, and induce me not to remain in the island. I often reflect whether this is really from some improjjer projects g-oing* on, or merely because Napoleon has appeared to those about him, and to all persons in Italy, to be a sort of prisoner of England under my charge. Notwithstanding that the licence of Genoese vessels to trade with British colours, formerly granted by Admiral Lord Exmouth and Mr. Fitzgerald, acting consul at Genoa, has been withdrawn for several months, this island is fre- quented by small feluccas and other boats, which carry British colours but are certainly not British. Some of them possess these licences renewed by a person signing himself R. Waller, British Proconsul at Naples. Others are originally granted by the same person, with every appearance of irregularity, although bearing the British arms and seal. Some, too, are renewed by a person signing himself Joseph Towies, Proconsul, and dated at Castellamare, in the Bay of Naples. Most of these vessels come in here for shelter in the course of their voyages from Naples along the coast, so that it appears to be an expe- dient of Murat's for giving to the Neapolitan trade the security of the British flag. M. Ricci, who was desirous to obtain further particulars on the subject, has been refused access to the register of the harbour-master. A British trading-vessel of considerable size was lately wrecked upon the island of Pia Nosa, where there is a de- tachment of Napoleon's troops. The master of the wreck has presented a petition to M. Ricci, setting forth that the commandant demands a daily sum for protection, and also a proportion of the cargo as salvage for Napoleon. This petition has been transmitted to General Drouot as governor of Elba, by M. Ricci, but as yet no answer has been received. In the channel of Piombino, which is from four to five 358 SIR XEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. miles in widtli between the nortk-east j)oint of Elba and the nearest part of Italy, there is a small rock called Pal- mayola, situated about one mile from Elba, and rather more than three miles from the to^vn of Piombino. There is a surface of not many square yards upon its summit. During the late war two guns and a howitzer were placed upon it by the French, to annoy the British men-of-war. These guns were left there. No possession of this rock was given to Napoleon, but he alwaj^s spoke of it as being an appen- dage of Elba, no less than Pia Nosa. He has lately sent a few soldiers there. This can only be for one of two motives — either to apprehend any of his men who might desert, and possibly touch there, or to hold secret communica- tion personally or through others with anyone who may come over from Italy. I mentioned this circumstance to General Bertrand as having attracted observation in Italy. He did not attempt to explain the matter in any way, but treated it quite lightly. Without attaching too much importance to this rock, or the facts in connection with it, it is worthy of remark that there is another island, without any inhabitants, called Monte Chi'isto, south of Elba, and not double the distance of Pia Nosa, to which JSTapoleon's fancy or projects may also lead him, and others at similar distances again to the southward, approaching the coasts of Rome and Naples. So that his absence from Elba could be less easily known, while any pretext remained for quitting it. He has paid three visits to Pia Nosa since his arrival here, and before the winter set in. His brig has been repaired of the damages sustained by running aground last month, and she is again ready for sea. It is given out that she wiU proceed to Longono, to convey here the stores of that fort — an operation in which another of his vessels has been emj)loyed for some time. The officer who commanded the brig when she was di'iven on shore has been discharged, on the plea of incapacity and peculation. But some per- Chap. VII. FRENCH SQUADRON. 359 sons say that Napoleon suspects him of a secret under- standing with the existing Government of France, and of a wish to destroy the brig. His successor is M. Chauslard, capitaine de fregate, who came here from Toulon a few months ago. The ships of the French squadron are sometimes seen near this island. There is a brig and a schooner under the immediate orders of the Governor of Corsica, and two frigates from Toulon. In my last conversation with Napoleon, when the subject of these ships was mentioned, he did not seem so irritated or apprehensive as at first. Quarters are provided for twelve men in each of the villages nearest to Corsica ; but whether this circumstance is in order to prevent the Corsican soldiers from deserting, (many of them have gone off lately), or as a blind to draw off attention from Porto Ferrajo, it is impossible to say. As usual, this arrangement has been accompanied by a report, purposely circulated to cause a stir, ' that a very great personage is expected to disembark there shortly.' Feb. 14. — To-day there was a review of the Corsican battalion, when it was notified to them, that all who were desirous of quitting Napoleon's service should declare it, and discharges would be given to them. None came for- ward ; so far from it, that the men generally called out, ' Yive Napoleon ! ' This probably arose from the fear of being stripped of their uniform, and sent away without any clothing, for there have been frequent desertions of late. Feh. 15. — M. Litta, whose conversation with Napoleon I have before related, went lately from this to Naples. Similar mysterious adventurers and disaffected charac- ters continually arrive here from France and Italy, and then proceed on to Naples, giving out that they are disappointed in their hoj)es of employment by Napoleon, and that they expect to realise them with Murat. One of the most remarkable of these characters, who 360 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII lately fell under my observation here, was a M. Theologue, a Greek, said to have come here from Paris. He is much attached to Napoleon, and has been greatly employed by him in the affairs of Turkey and Persia. He left this for Naples about ten days ago. A person, who calls himself Pietro St. Ernest, has arrived here under the guise of a sailor from the Bay of Spezzia. The commandant de place, the commissary of police, and other officials, have been with him, and have ordered him not to be disturbed. Madame Bertrand gives out that M. Talliade is going at once to Paris. He belonged formerly to the French Marine, and is married to a native of Elba. M. Kundtzow, a Norwegian gentleman, was presented to Napoleon lately. His first question was, 'Are you a Norwegian ? ' next, ' "What is the population of Norway ? ' Mr. K. answered, ' Two millions, Sire.' ' One million eight hundred thousand,' said Napoleon immediately. Some of Napoleon's admirers will say in this, as in so many other instances, that it shows wonderful knowledge and minutely correct information — unless indeed he had referred to his library to prepare himself for the inter- view ! The Adjudant de place of Lougono — an Italian named Bellucci — has lately returned from Naples, whither he went some months ago. He speaks openly of Murat's preparations for war, and states that the fortress of Gaeta has been provided with stores, as if for a siege. It is scarcely possible to convey an idea of Porto Ferrajo, which is like the area of a great barrack, being occupied by military, gendarmes, police officers of all de- scriptions, dex^endants of the court, servants, and adven- turers — all connected with Napoleon, and holding some place of honour or emolument in subservience to him. The harbour is constantly filled with vessels from all parts of Italy, bringing over almost hoiu'ly supplies of provisions Chap. YII. CONVERSATION WITH COUNT BERTRAND. 361 for this great increase of ]3opulation, as tlie island itself furnishes nothing but wine. Vessels, too, of all nations frequently anchor here, from motives of curiosity and specu- lation, or detained by contrary winds. I have before alluded to the claim made by the Com- mandant of Pia Nosa to a part of the wreck of a British vessel cast away there. This he stated to be by Napoleon's order, and I have every reason to believe it was so. This claim, however, has now been withdrawn, or rather is post- poned for future reference to the owners at Leghorn, in consequence of the master's petition to M. Eicci and my interference. Napoleon's habits of unprincix^led rapacity appear not to have been as yet forgotten. In a conversation which I had with General Bertrand, I perceived that my mediation in su^^port of these un- fortunate persons was not relished by Napoleon, as well as a request which I had made to be permitted to visit Palmayola, in order to ascertain its exact position and extent. General Bertrand expressed his feelings in very strong terms ; said that the Emperor and all of them were under great obligations for all the facilities afforded by me as the British Commissioner, and were very happy at my pro- longing my stay; that they wished to show me every attention (hienseance) ; that I must know all the reports about Palmayola were absurd. M. Eicci, he added, could not be considered as British Vice-consul without holding a commission as such. There could be no treason or injury to the British Government in a few small vessels arriving there from Genoa or Naples, although they might perhaps carry the British flag. The Emperor lived quietly in his retreat, and therefore considered aU this as meddling {tra- cassant) ! I told him this was a strong expression ; that, to be sure, I was not accredited, and therefore had no right to interfere in these matters, holding no ostensible situa- tion excepting that of Commissioner, which had been 3G2 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VIL 23i*olonged there originally for tlieir advantage and at their request. Now, however, it was my duty to notify to him, that neither Pia Nosa nor Palmayola had been given over to the possession of Napoleon, and that I should report to the British Government what had passed in regard to the points now under discussion. Our conversation was loud and warm ; but however disagreeable the prolongation of my stay might be under such circumstances, I resolved to remain, being in daily expectation of the Congress termi- nating. On February 16, I quitted Elba in H.M.S. 'Partridge' (Napoleon's schooner, ' L'Etoile,' commanded by Captain Richon, sailed out of Porto Perrajo with us, supposed to be bound for Longono), upon a short excursion to the Continent for my health, having agreed to meet Cap- tain Adye at Leghorn, in ten days, in order to return. I was anxious also to consult some medical man at Florence on account of the increasing deafness, supposed to arise from my wounds, with which I have been lately affected. Captain Adye promised to cruise round the island during my absence, as well as to visit Palmayola for my informa- tion. His doing so, I thought, would excite less suspicion and attention on Napoleon's part. My despatch to Lord Castlereagh [No. 43] , under date February 15, was delivered by me to Lord Burghersh on my arrival at Florence. It was read by Mr. Cooke, Under- Secretary of State, who had just come from Vienna. He seemed to think my uneasiness with respect to Napoleon quite unnecessary, and at Lord Burghersh's table on the same day said, ' When you return to Elba, you may tell Bonaparte that he is quite forgotten in Europe ; no one thinks of him now.' Before leaving Florence, when I told Mr. Cooke that of course Napoleon would ask me many questions as to the Congress upon my return, and that I should be glad if he could give me any information which might be particularly Chap. VII. MR. COOKE UNDER-SECRETARY. 3G3 interesting with regard to liis money, Marie-Louise, Parma, &c., he very sarcastically replied, ' You may tell him that everything is amicably settled at Vienna ; that he has no chance; that the Sovereigns will not quarrel. Nobody tJdnJcs of him at all. He is quite forgotten — as much as if he had never existed ! ' I did feel very uneasy at the position of Napoleon and the seeming inconsistencies of his conduct ; but, after Mr. Cooke's remarks, I began to fancy that my near view of him and of the state of Elba had induced me to exag- gerate circumstances. I had thought it probable that he was preparing to desert to Murat, in case the latter should commence operations against the Allies, and that he was suspicious of an attempt to seize his person before these were fairly begun. I had written to Captain Adye at Leghorn, to say, that as I knew it was his intention to go over to Elba on February 22, and from thence shortly after to Genoa, to complete his provisions, I feared it would be too long an absence for me from Elba to wait his retuini, and therefore requested he would land me there previously to his going to Genoa. In answer to this. Captain Adye wrote me that he should go to sea on the afternoon of Wednesday the 22nd, and return to Leghorn for me by Sunday the 26th.^ ^ ' Capt. Adye's report of subse- able, I did not get near enough be- quent events was as follows : fore dark to accomplish my wishes, 'I anchored in the harbour of and therefore lay to in the passage of Porto Ferrajo about midnight, on Piombino the whole of the night of Thursday the 23rd, and landed there Friday the 24th. The next morning, about nine o'clock a.m. on Friday February 2oth, I went towards the the 24th. After seeing General island, but was refused a landing, in Bertrand, and ascertaining that Na- consequence of the order of Bona- poleon Bonaparte was still on the parte not to allow any person to island, I put to sea again about visit it, although both Sir Neil two o'clock in the afternoon, with Campbell and mj'self had been as- the intention of inspecting the sured by General Bertrand that no island of Palmayola, agreeably to opposition should ever be made to the wishes of Sir Neil Campbell ; our landing, but as the wind was light and vari- 'At daylight on Friday morning, 364 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VU. I returned from Florence to Legliorn February 25, and on tlie 2Gtli, wliile anxiously waiting for Captain Adye, the 'Partridge' being becalmed for several hours off the har- bour, and after my suspicions had been increased by in- formation which General Spannochi, M. Mariotti, and I myself had obtained, I wrote a despatch (No. 44.) to Lord Castlereagh, and also forwarded by estafette to Florence a letter for Lord Burghersh. Another letter, containing a similar outline of information received up to midday, I the 24th, Bonapai-te's brig of war, " L'lncoustant," put to sea, and shaped her coui'se to the northward. The captain of the port, on his coming on board, told us she was bound to Leghorn to repair her damages, in consequence of having been on shore twice. About nine o'clock A.M. she was perceived to tack, and for about a quarter of an hour her head was towards Porto Ferrajo. She soon afterwards wore round, and appeared to have little wind, but about noon was lost sight of, close in with the Italian shore. ' On my getting into the passage of Piombino about five o'clock p.m., I was rather surprised to see the brig with the bombard " L'Etoile " and " La Caroline " (a row-boat, which I had seen leave Porto Fer- rajo about an hour afternoon) com- ing down from the southward, as if from Longono. I afterwards saw them round Cape Bianco, and haul in to Porto Ferrajo. ' On Saturday morning, the 2oth, as before mentioned, I made the at- tempt to land at Palmayola. Soon after one o'clock p.m. (having light wimis from the NE.), I made sail in the direction of Leghorn, and about si.x P.M. plainly .^aw the brig " L'ln- constant"' at anchor in Porto Fer- rajo. Shortly after noon on Sunday the 26th, I anchored in Leghorn Roads, and about two p.m. saw Sir Xeil Campbell, who embarked with me about eight P.M. that evening. Had there been a breath of wind, I should have instantly sailed, as Sir Neil CampbeD, from information which he had gained, was most anx- ious to ascertain the movements of Napoleon. About foui- a.m. on Mon- day the 27th, a light breeze sprang up from tlie eastward. I instantly weighed and made sail, but the wind was so light and variable that at the close of the day, we had not got the length of Capraja. ' On Tuesday morning the 28th, at daylight, from having had a light breeze during the night, we had ad- vanced to about six or seven miles from Porto Ferrajo. At eight A.M., having little or no wind, and Sir Neil Campbell being very anxious, he went in one of the ship's boats into the harbour, agreeing with me that if he did not return in two hours, it should be considered as a proof of his being detained, and that I was accordingly to despatch an officer from Piombino to Lord Burg- hersh at Florence. Sir Neil Camp- bell returned in about an hour and a half, with tlie information that Bonaparte had left the island with his generals, and all his French, Polish, and Corsican troops.' Chap. VII. INFORMATION FROM ELBA. 365 left with Mr. Falconer, the British Consul at Leghorn, to be sent bj post the next day. Although mixed up with some other very absurd, con- tradictory, and confused reports, M. Ricci's letter to me,'^ "^ Memorandion of information from Elba received at Leghorn Fe- bruary 26, 1815 : ' 1. Upon the niglit of the 16th arrived at Longono, from Porto Ferrajo, a Captain Raimondo, ac- companied by an orderly dragoon, with a letter fi'om General Drouot to the Commandant, recommending him. He immediately embarked onboard a small vessel belonging to Marciana, commanded by one Nanzi (which was supposed, before his arrival, to have been destined for Civita Vecehia), and sailed. '2. Napoleon's vessel, "L'Etoile," commanded by Richon, went upon the 16th from Porto Ferrajo to Lon- gono, and took on board military stores and salt meat, with which she returned there. ' 3. Upon the 20th two of the vessels usually employed in convey- ing iron over from Rio to the Con- tinent, sailed from thence to Porto Ferrajo in ballast only. ' 4. The " Inconstant " brig, with three other vessels, was in Porto Ferrajo upon the 21st inst., and it was suspected that all of them had on board military stores and salt provisions. It was understood that the voyage of the "Inconstant" was to Naples, and that it would take place in a few days. ' 5. Upon the IGth, General Bar- tolozzi inspected the detachment of the Corsicans at Longono, made some promotions of non-commis- sioned officers, and was busy with his interior organisation. '6. Upon the 17th, M. Colonna arrived at Longono from Porto Fer- rajo, and was expected to embark for Naples, to prepare a residence there for Napoleon's mother. ' 7. A Greek from Cephalonia, named Demetrian Calamalli, was at Elba for ten days, and presented Napoleon with a work of his own composition, after which he left the place. '8. The police has now been more active and suspicious than ever. Detailed instructions are given to the master of the port, health- officer, &c., which are said to have been drawn up by Bonaparte. ' 9. It is reported that the horses of the Polish Lancers are to be brought up from Pia Nosa imme- diately, and that the saddlers are busily employed. The troops are full of expectation of some great event. Innumerable reports are on foot, so that it is impossible to trace the origin of any. It is said that Na- poleon was out in a boat all night ; that some days ago his mother had an interview of two hours with Na- poleon, during which a very loud discussion took place. She was ob- served to be much affected on sepa- rating from him to return to her own house, and gave orders for immedi- ately packing up part of her effects. ' 10. Some time ago a contract was made with a M. Rebuffat, of Longono, to supply a considerable quantity of grain, which is ground into flour at Rio, and sent to Porto Fen'ajo, where it is put in store. ' 11. It is said that a Genoese merchant has lately sent part of the brass guns, dismounted at Longono, to the Barbary States, where they were sold. '12. It was reported lately in 366 SIR ^'EIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. CnAr. VII. dated February 18, contained matter of sucli nature as a to excite the gravest suspicion. And on comparing it witli information in the possession of M. Mariotti, the French consul, and General Spannochi, the governor of Leghorn, also received from their agents at Elba, it became evident that Napoleon was on the point of embarking a military- force with stores and provisions. General Spannochi, in- deed, is a feeble old man, who knows little and believes less. But M. Mariotti's reports have always been so superior to those of M. Ricci, that I have constantly had recourse to them as the basis on which to found my personal observa- tions ; and now, after being employed together the whole of the morning in tracing the connection of the various suspicious circumstances respecting Napoleon and his ad- herents at Elba (which we have been in the habit of doing reciprocally, in order to combine and check them), we felt persuaded that he himself was prepared to quit the island immediately with his troops. I have been in habits of very friendly communication with M. Mariotti, and have perfectl}^ coincided in every observation and measure, always looking with anxiety towards Naples on account of Elba, that one of Napoleon's officers tlie Princess Pauline's plate, and Lad employed a person to purcbase tbat tbey were sent there to be sold, a vessel of eighty or ninety tons, but that the keys and instructions and that the money was deposited would be sent to him. in readiness. ' 14. The same person was in- '13. I ascertained that, upon the formed upon February 26, by M. 23rd inst., four or five large cases Constantin, that he had lately re- belonging to the Princess Pauline ceived orders from M. Sisca to were disembai'ked at Leghorn, freight a British vessel for four from Elba. A person of credibility months certain, and the option of told me that he saw them landed, two more. A contract was made and the person to whom they were for one of 250 tons about a week consigned (M. George Bastacchi, a ago, but, upon February 25, direc- merchant there and a Greek) told tions were sent to him not to exe him that, about a week before, he cute the order, had received a letter from M. Sisca, '15. A magistrate and a briga- a merchant of Porto FeiTajo, to in- dier of gendarmerie lately left Cor- fomi him that these cates were em- sica, and there is reason to know barked and insured for the sum of that they have gone over to Elba. 5,000 dollars, that they contained Chap. VII. CONGRESS OF VIENNA. 367 its vicinity. My access to Napoleon has for some time past been so much, less than at first, as to afford me very little opportunity of personal observation ; and besides, the etiquette of a sovereign and court were studiously adhered to. So that during the last few months our intercourse has been continued under different feelings upon both sides, although no expression to that effect was ever pro- nounced by either of us ; and when he did grant me an interview he always received me with the same apparent courtesy as formerly. Sometimes T could only ascribe his reserve to a dislike of his ajDpearing in the eyes of the world as a prisoner, and to my stay being prolonged beyond the period which he perhaps expected, owing to the duration of the Congress. Or possibly he had projects and communications of an improper nature, which he was afraid might be discovered by me, in case of my associating with his mother and sister. The latter, I knew, desired such intimacy, and had taken several steps for that pur- pose, in which she was counteracted. Whatever the fact might be — however disagreeable this situation had become for some months past, acting upon mere conjecture and suspicion — with great responsibility in case of Napoleon committing any eccentricity — remaining at Elba as an obnoxious person, upon a kind of sufferance, and gradually slighted by inattentions — I nevertheless considered it my bounden duty not to break off the ties which still existed, in hopes of being useful to my sovereign and his ministers, who had been pleased to honour me with this confidential appointment. Nor was it in my power to quit my post, until the sanction of my employers should be communicated to me. So that I have looked forward for a long time, with impatience and daily anxiety, to the conclusion of the Congress of Vienna, as the period which would produce an order to that effect from Lord Castlereagh and close my mission. By absenting myself occasionally from the island, I had 368 SIR NEIL CAMPBELLS JOURNAL. Chap. YII. a pretext for requesting an interview botli before my de- parture and again upon my return, and this became latterly my only opportunity of conversing with Napoleon. In one of my former despatches to Lord Castlereagh, I observed that ' I did not think Napoleon would ever commit himself, unless some very favourable opportunity occurred in France or Italy ; but that if the payments promised to him at the time of abdication were withheld, and the want of money pressed upon him, I considered him capable of any desperate step, even that of crossing over to Piombino and landing there with his Guards.' There is a proba- bility that, about this time, the decision of the Congress as regards Murat may have become known both to him and to Napoleon. I think it almost certain that Napoleon is prepared to join Murat, in the event of the latter throw- ing down the gauntlet in defiance of the sovereigns of Europe. In case of Napoleon quitting Elba, and any of his vessels being discovered with troops on board, military stores, or provisions, I shall request Captain Adye — who has instructions from Admiral Penrose to afford me every facility in the objects of my mission, and who has assisted me very cordially upon every occasion — to intercept, and, in case of their offering the slightest resistance, to destroy them. I am confident that both he and I will be justified by our sovereign, our country, and the world, in i^roceeding to any extremity upon our own responsibility in a case of so exti'aordinary a nature. I shall feel that in the execution of my duty, and with the military means which I can procure, the lives of this restless man and his misguided associates and followers are not to be put in competition with the fate of thousands and the tran- quillity of the world. At midday, Feb. 26, the ' Partridge' came to an anchor. Immediately after Captain Adye landed at Leghorn in the afternoon, I inquired of him, with abrupt anxiety, whether Chap. VII. CAPTAIN AD YE. 369 anything extraordinaiy had occurred at Elba, and when he left it ? He smiled at my anxiety, and rex^lied, ' I neither saw nor heard of anything extraordinary. Upon the 24th I was on shore for some time. In the forenoon Bonaparte was there in good health. I visited General Bertraud. I walked about the town of Porto Ferrajo, and saw the soldiers of the Imperial Guard all busy in carrying earth and in planting trees in frontof their barracks. Upon the after- noon of the 24th I again sailed out of Porto Perrajo. Upon the forenoon of the 25th I was off Palmayola, and went in my boat to the landing-place of that rock, but the guard refused to let me go on shore. Everything was quiet at Elba. Last night at sunset I could see the topmasts of the " Inconstant " within the harbour of Porto Ferrajo ! ' I then informed Captain Adye of the suspicious information which M. Mariotti and I had obtained ; that some chests of plate, belonging to the Princess Pauline, had been secretly sent to Leghorn ; that I had succeeded in tracing a proposal lately made from Elba to a person at Leghorn, to hire a British merchant-vessel ; that the Polish Lancers had been em^^loyed in mending their saddles, &c. I re- quested Captain Adye to endeavour to recollect whether there was any circumstance which could noiv bear a suspicious construction, although it might not at the time have attracted his notice. He then recollected that at daylight, on the morning of the 24th, tlie ' Inconstant ' left Porto Ferrajo, and in the forenoon was seen at a great distance to the northward, off the coast of Italy. It was said on shore that she had sailed for Leghorn or Genoa, to undergo repairs for the damage received when driven on shore at Porto Ferrajo, January 12. In the course of the day the 'Inconstant' was observed by some of the officers of the ' Partridge ' to return south- ward, keeping close to the coast of Italy. In the afternoon, when the ' Partridge ' got out of the harbour and turned into the channel of Piombino,she perceived the ' Inconstant ' £ B 370 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL, Chap. VII. with one of Napoleon's smaller armed vessels and one of the island mine-vessels, which passed her and entered the harbour. Captain Adye then recollected that the smaller vessel had been hastily manned, and left the pier while he was on shore at Porto Ferrajo in the forenoon ; but he paid no attention to it at the time, nor could he afterwards assign any particular motive for it. It is probable that the latter vessel was sent to communicate with the ' Inconstant,' in consequence of the arrival of the ' Partridge.' occasioning some alarm in the mind of Napoleon that his project of quitting Elba was discovered. General Bertrand inquired particularly of Captain Adye respecting my movements and probable return, which were frankly communicated to him. At 8 P.M. went on board the ' Partridge,' and at once sat down to write Lord Burghersh hastily the information I had obtained from Captain Adye. While on shore at Porto Ferrajo upon the forenoon of the 24th, Captain Adye did not see Napoleon. But General Bertrand's wife told him that she had walked with him in the garden on the preceding day, and that he had a bad cold. I think this must be true, so far as relates to his beinsf there on that dav ; and that Madame Bertrand would neither be made the tool of covering his departure, nor is she capable of dissembling her uneasiness, if any such cir- cumstance had taken place. If I may venture an opinion upon Napoleon's plans, I think he will leave General Bertrand to defend Porto Ferrajo, as he has a wife and several children with him to whom he is extremely attached, and probably Napoleon will not communicate his intention to him until the last moment. But he will certainly take with him General Cambronne (a desperate, uneducated ruffian, who was a drummer with him in Egypt) and those of his Guards ujDon whom he can most depend, embarking them on board ' L'Inconstant,' ' L'Etoile,' and two other vessels, while he Chap. VII. PRECAUTIONARY ARRANGEMENTS, 371 himself probably, with General Drouot, will precede them in 'La Caroline.' The place of disembarkation will be Graeta, on the coast of Naples, or Civita Yecchia, if Murat has previously advanced to Rome. For I cannot persuade myself that Napoleon will commit himself openly, until the former has moved forward with his troops ; but it is very likely they will endeavour to have an interview immediately at Pia Nosa or Monte Christo. To divert attention from the real point, it is possible that General Bartolozzi may at the same time disembark in Corsica with some of the Corsican battalion. As there is a line-of- battle ship, a frigate, and a brig at Genoa, I have requested Lord Burghersh to transmit the last accounts immediately to Captain Thomson, R.N., the senior officer there, in hopes that he will at once detach one of the ships under his command either to watch or pursue Napoleon, as the case may be, as well as to be ready to convey information of occurrences. If I find that Napoleon is really as criminal as appears at present, I shall proj^ose to take immediate possession of Palmayola and Pia Nosa, so as to leave him no pretext for quitting Elba, and being absent without its being knowa where he is. As the first object is to ascertain whether Napoleon is still there, I shall, in the usual manner, request an inter- view, after which I shall remain almost entirely on board ship, in order to watch and examine all vessels which approach the island, and as soon as possible to communi- cate with some of the French men-of-war. Captain Adye does not intend to anchor in the harbour of Porto Ferrajo, for it is probable that Napoleon would seize the ' Partridge' when he puts his plan in execution, as well as my person, in order to prevent intelligence being sent. At 9 P.M.- 1 went down below, and thought the brig was B B 2 372 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. TIL getting up her anclior. But as it turned out, on account of there being no wind, she did not leave the harbour until early this morning (the 27th), In the course of the day we saw the French brig ' Zephyr. ' * Fehmary 28. — Being becalmed several miles north of Porto Ferrajo, I went on shore in a boat of Captain Adye's, at 10 A.M., in order to ascertain if Napoleon was still there, and then transmit whatever information I could collect to His Majesty's Minister at Florence, acting afterwards according to circumstances. We agreed that the ship should not enter the harbour, and that if I did not return in two hours it would be a sure proof of my detention ; in which case Captain Adj^e would immediately despatch an express from Piombino to Lord Bm-ghersh with this in- formation and all he could obtain otherwise of the state of afiau's. Upon enterinaf the harbour I immediately perceived, from the appearance of the National Guards as sentries on the fortifications, that the French Guards were no longer there ; and, on proceedmg alongside of the health-office, was informed, in answer to my inquiries after General Bertrand, that he had gone to Palmayola. Expecting to be detained, I thought to push off im- mediately, but, after a moment's deliberation, considered that this would not be sufficiently satisfactory to others, although it might be so to myself, and therefore resolved upon the risk (or rather sacrifice more probably), as Captain Adye would be able to transmit the information required. Accordingly I landed, and, proceeding towards General Bertrand's house, was met by Mr. Grattan, an English gentleman, who had been conveyed to the island by Captain Adye on the 24th inst. He informed me that, about 3 p.m. on the 26th, there was a sudden bustle among the troops and inhabitants, and a parade of the Corsican battalion took ^ We must have been nearly in ' Zt^phyr,' it is since known, spoke sight of Napoleon's flotilla, as tbe the 'Inconstant.' — Note hy Sir N. C. Chap. VII. DISCOVERY OF NArOLEON'S ESCAPE. 373 place. Soon afterwards the gates were shut. His servant, who had a brother a lieutenant in the Corsican battalion, told him that the Emperor and the whole of the troops were about to embark for Italy. Some spoke of Naples and Milan, others of Antibes and France. He applied several times to see General Bertrand, but could not obtain access to him under various pretexts. At 7 P.M. the troops marched out of the fortifications without music or noise, and embarked at the health-office in feluccas and boats which were alongside, a part of them being transported to the brig which lay in the harbour. At 9 P.M. Napoleon with General Bertrand passed out in the Princess Pauline's small carriage drawn by four horses, embarked at the health-office in a boat, and went on board of the brig ' L 'Inconstant.' Immediately afterwards the whole flotilla got under weigh with sweeps and boats, the soldiers crying out ' Vive I'Empereur ! ' Mr. G rattan says that his curiosity tempted him to hire a boat to go alongside'*'of the brig, as he could scarcely believe his eyes and senses. There he saw Napoleon in his grey surtout and round hat pacing the quarter-deck of the brig, which, as well as all the other vessels, was crowded with troops. One of his boatmen called out that there was an Englishman on board ; upon which he was questioned by an officer from the poop in Engli&di, what was his business there, and who he was ? He told who he was, and said that he had come merely to see the Emperor ; upon which he was ordered to go away. This he immediately complied with, for he expected every moment to be fired at or seized. Mr, Grattan informed me that, ever since their depar- ture, there had been very little wind. Upon the preced- ing day, the 27th, they were still in sight till 2 or 3 p.m., a short distance north of the island of Capraja. I pro-, ceeded to General Bertrand's house in company with Mr. Grattan. There I found his wife alternately smiling anci 374 SIR NEIL CAMPBELI/S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. expressing her anxiety. She told me that her husband had known nothing of Napoleon's intentions until the moment of his departure ; that he had only a quarter of an horn- given him to prepare his portmanteau ; that she was not aware where they were going to, as they had spoken only of Pia Nosa. I thought that by moving her feelings something might be discovered, and therefore told her it was a most desperate step ; that the whole of the project was known for some time ; and that they must be already taken. She immediately asked me, with great earnestness, where was her husband, and what was become of him ? Were they really taken ? If so, she, as an Englishwoman, claimed my protection, as well as that of Lord Burghersh, the British Minister at Florence. I told her that I could not exactly say they were taken, but that they were so situated they could not escape, for there were British as well as French men-of-war all round them; that the squadron from Sicily with the Admiral were looking out for them between Elba and Gaeta. On this she became more relieved and quite collected ; from which I concluded that her opinion of their destination was north, and not south, as I thought at first. She told me that Napoleon had left M. Lapis ^ as gover- 9 The following proclamation, -in a six des cltoyens les plus distingiies, strange handwriting, and very badly et a votre attaclienient reconnu et a spelt, occurs among Sir Neil Camp- votre valeiir la defense de la place bell's papers : et le maintien de bon ordre. [ Traduction de I'ltaiien.] ' " Je pars (a-t-il dit) de I'ile ' Le G»?neral Lapis, d'Elbe. Je siiis extremement satis- * Gouverneur de I'ile d'Elbe, Cham- fait de la conduite des habitants, bellan de S. M. I'Empereur Napo- Je leur confie la defense du pays l^on, Directem" des Domaines et auquel j 'attache la plus grande im- Biens extraordinaires de la Cou- portance. Ji^ ne puis leur donner ronne. une preuve d'line plus grande con- ' Habitants ! fiance que de luisser apres le depart ' Votre auguete Souverain, rap- des troupes ma mere et ma sceur pel^ par la Divine Providence a sous leur garde. Les membres de la son antique gloire, adu abandonner Junte et tous les habitants de File Bon lie. 11 ra'en a con tie le com- peuvent compter sur ma protection mandement — le gouvemement a sp^ciale." Chap. VII. M. L.^lPIS. 875 nor. (This gentleman, a native of Porto Ferrajo, had for- merly been mayor before his arrival, and afterwards one of his chamberlains.) I proceeded to his house, but was directed to find him in the citadel, whither I went accord- ingly with the expectation of being- detained. However, to intimidate him from so much responsibility, I told my servant who accompanied me to say that the whole would be certainly taken ! A Piedmontese surgeon, whom I had been in the habit of meeting at General Bertrand's, and who accompanied me, confirmed most distinctly all Mr. Grattan's informa- tion as to seeing the flotilla in the situation described, adding, further, that Napoleon had given M. Lapis the rank of general of brigade and the appointment of gover- nor. M. Lapis received me in his uniform as commandant of the National Guard, his doors being open, and a dozen of persons in the passage. I told him that ' I came to him as one of the Commissioners of the Allied Powers, who had accompanied Napoleon to Elba, in which charac- ter I had likewise prolonged my stay there. Therefore I requested to know from him in what position was I to consider him 'P ' He said, ' As governor of the island of Elba.' ' Governor for whom ? ' I asked. * For his sove- reign.' ' What sovereign ? ' 'L'Empereur Napoleon.' I then said that ' I wished to inquire of him whether he would give up possession of the island to the British, or the Grand Duke of Tuscany, or the Allied Sove- reigns ? ' He smiled and said, ' Certainly not ; that he had the means of defending Porto Ferrajo until he re- ' Habitants, cette epoque est la Junte, les autorites et les fonction- plus fortunee et la plus memorable naires seront dans le cas de vou3 pour vous. De votre conduite de- donner dans les circonstances ac- pend Totre gloire et votre felicite tuelles. Vous serez heureux, habi- perpetuelle. Si vous voulez ac- tants de Tile d'Elbe, si vous ne vous querir I'une et I'autre, continuez laissez pas seduire par les perfidea a obeir aveuglement aux sages dis- conseils des ennemis de bon ordre.' positions du gouvernement, que la 376 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. CnAP/YII. ceived orders from the Emperor.' I told him to recollect that he had taken upon himself the responsibility, and therefore that it only remained for me to notify to him that the island would now be considered in a state of blockade, speaking- very audibly, on purpose that what I said might be heard by others. After bowing to retire I advanced again, and told M. Lapis in a loud voice, that in order to prevent misery to the inhabitants individually throughout the island, it would be proper for him to announce the fact to them, and that they ought to hold no communication with the Continent. I acted in this manner in order to impress M. Lapis with a sense of responsibility, and prevent him from detaining me. I was also in hopes that the inhabi- tants would, for their own sakes, induce him to hold no more connection with JSTapoleon or Murat, and surrender the island to the Allies, perhaps even give intelligence of importance, and take some friendly step after my depar- ture, as my time would not allow me to follow up this object. In passing the house of Madame Mere and the Princess Pauline, I observed sentries of the JSTational Guard at their door, while an officer and a Pole were walking toge- ther as if on duty. I told them that if Madame or the Princess had any letters to transmit to Leghorn, or would express any wishes which it might be in my power to exe- cute, it would give me pleasure to serve them. While on my way to the boat, the Princess sent to request me to return. After being detained for a minute or more in the antechamber, I sent in to say that I was under the neces- sity of departing immediately, as the frigate would other- wise leave without me. She then came out and made me sit down beside her, drawing her chair gradually still closer, as if she waited for me to make some private communication. I merely told her that as perhaps she might have some commands Chap. yil. PRINCESS PAULINE. S77 for tlie Continent, I wonld willingly receive them. She asked me, with everj appearance of anxiety, if I had nothing to say to her, and what I would advise her to do ; said she had already written to her husband. Prince Borg-hese, who was now at Leghorn, and requested me to tell him that she wished to go to Eome immediately. I told her that my advice in the meantime would be to re- main at Elba. She then went on to protest her ignorance of Napoleon's intended departure till the very last mo- ment, and of his present destination ; laid hold of my hand and pressed it to her heart, that I might feel how much she was agitated. However she did not appear to be so, and there was rather a smile upon her countenance. She inquired whether the Emperor had been taken ? I told her I could not exactly say he was, but that there was every probability of it. During this conversation she dropped a hint of her belief in his destination being for France : upon which I smiled and said, ' O non ! ce n'est pas si loin, c'est a Naples ; ' for I fancied (for the moment) she mentioned France purposely to deceive me. Two or three minutes afterwards I took my leave, and proceeded to the boat without any opposition, accom- panied by Mr. Grattan. He agreed, at my request, to proceed in a boat to Leghorn with my despatches. After going out of the harbour, I forced a fishing-boat to accompany us, in order to have the means of conveyance for him. At 3 p.m. he left the frigate, carrying with him my despatch for Lord Castlereagh, No. 46, which he was to convey immediately from Leghorn to Florence. I also gave him a copy to be forwarded from Leghorn, by a com'ier, to Colonel Sir John Dalrymple, commanding at Genoa, for his information and that of Captain Thoin- son, commanding the navy there. Copies were to be forwarded by the former to Paris, to London, and to Vienna. At the same time M. Ricci, provisional vice-consul at 378 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. Elba, wlio came off in a boat, was to go to Piombino, in order to proceed direct from tlience, by tlie horse-road of Sienna to Florence, carrying with him for Lord Burghersh my despatches to Lord Castlereagh, Nos. 45 and 46. After fully deliberating with Captain Adye upon all the circumstances, and comparing the information of Mr. Grattan and M. Ricci in their own presence, we deter- mined to proceed towards Antihes for the following rea- sons. (In so doing Captain Adye had the goodness to sacri- fice his own opinion, which inclined to Naples, to mine.) There was always a probability of overtaking Napoleon and his flotilla, if he had gone in that direction ; there was none if he had gone to Naples. The horses and guns, which he was said certainly to have embarked, could be of no use at Naples, but only an incumbrance ; although, to be sure, it might be a mask to make one believe that he had not gone there, and he might afterwards have thrown them overboard. Would he, however, also have incumbered himself with so many civil followers, and with all the Corsicans, if he was destined for Naples ? He could not throw them over- board, and they could be of no importance as an addi- tional force. But, what was still stronger than all, would he lose the whole of the first night, and the following day, in going north instead of south, and so be obliged to retrace his route ? Had he gone out during the day, he might do so to deceive until that night, but certainly not for so long a time (nearly twenty-four hours), incumbered with soldiers broiling in the sun, and with a dead calm, and every minute of the utmost consequence. I think his destination is for the frontier of Piedmont next France, and that he will take possession of some strong place near Nice, or between that and Turin, dis- persing his civil followers immediately over North Italy, of which he will proclaim the independence, raising the Chap. ^'II. XArOLEON'S PROBABLE DESTIXATIOX. 379 disaffected there, wliile Mur^t does the same in the south, ^ This plan will be more reconcilable to the national feelings of his officers and men, and thej will think it probably less hazardous than raising the standard of re- bellion in France, where they would be considered traitors. General Drouot gave in his adhesion to the present dy- nasty of the Bourbons before quitting France, and I believe General Bertrand did the same. No part of Napoleon's plan for quitting Elba could have increased my general suspicions of his possibly taking that step at some time or another, even had I been there from the 16th to the 26th, nor could have authorised me to report to the British Government any fact which could be considered as a certain proof of that intention. There would have been no positive criminality in any act previous to his embarkation of the troops and his actual depar- ture, a period of six hours, durmg which time the gates of Porto Ferrajo were shut. He had been for months em- ployed in dismantling the fortress of Longono, situated in the passage of Piombino, and in conveying the guns, ammunition, and provisions from thence to Porto Ferrajo in three of the vessels taken with him. Two of the others are feluccas from his mines at Rio, the arrival of which at Porto Ferrajo could not attract observation. Had His Majesty's ship ' Partridge ' been in the harbour on Sun- day, February 26, she might have been detained. Captain Adye, the first lieutenant, and myself would probably have been invited to General Bertrand's house, where we sometimes dined, and we might have been easily arrested there, and thus made more subservient to the easier exe- cution of his plan. H.M.S. 'Partridge' was at anchor in Porto Ferrajo harbour upon the 24th, and Captain Adye went on shore during the day. He was also off the mouth of the harbour upon Saturday the 25th inst., and ascertained, for his own 380 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VIL information and mine, that tiie ' Inconstant ' was there at anchor at 6 p.m. Thence he proceeded immediately to Leghorn, to bring me back to Porto Ferrajo, according to previous agreement made some days before. M. Ricci, the person who gave me private information of a suspicions character, observed on the 25th that he was constantly followed by two gendarmes ; but he had knowledo^e of his beinp- watched for some time before. Wlien he heard of the gates being shut upon the 26th, he wished to go over to Piombino with the information, but could not obtain a boat for any sum, as they were all under embargo. For a few weeks previously to his departure, ISTapoleon employed people in planting trees upon the roads leading to Porto Ferrajo, and in forming an avenue near his house, also in making a garden close to the barracks of his Guards. When Captain Adye was on shore there on the 24th, there were about thirty soldiers busily employed in shaping beds and forming gravel walks in the garden ; and they were probably employed all day on Saturday the 25th in finishing the work, in order to deceive the various spies who, he knew well, watched all his proceedings. A.S to the immediate execution of Napoleon's project, I do not believe that any person in Elba, except Gene- ral Drouot, knew of his intentions until the gates were actually shut upon the afternoon of the 26th. I had long thought Napoleon so restless and unprinci- pled a person, that he would lose no opportunity of employ- ing himself in war upon the Continent ; and, particularly if pressed by want of money, or subjected to any humiliating treatment, that he was capable of any eccentric or des- perate act. But all accounts from France, and the ap- parent tranquillity of the country, have induced me to judge that he has no chance of success there, and that he himself has despaired of every hope in that quarter. Neither did I think that he would commit himself openly Chap. MI. NAPOLEON'S MEANS OF ESCAPE. 381 in Italj, until Murat had. made some progress, and this would give sufficient time to secure his person, if at least it was wished to do so. For many months he has fur- nished a just pretext for this measure — has given ample cause for such a step, by his violation of the law of nations and breach of good faith, in sending officers clandestinely to Corsica and Italy to recruit soldiers ; and therefore I no longer considered this to be an object which was sought for or intended on the part of either the Trench Government or the Allied Sovereigns. With the free sovereignty of Elba, four armed vessels of his own, and seventeen belonging to the mines, which sailed in every direction, I knew well that Napoleon had it in his power to avail himself any day of these means of esca23e, without any chance of my preventing him, depen- dent as I was on the occasional calls of a man-of-war, which cruised between Civita Vecchia and Genoa, and the frequency of whose visits was subject entirely to the cap- tain. In justice, however, to the four captains successively employed in this service, as well as to Admirals Lord Ex- mouth and Penrose, I must say that they entered liberally and cordially into my wishes and the objects of my mission. What I considered as the surest means of secmity for Napoleon's person were the two frigates and some smaller vessels belonging to Louis XVIII. (none of them were to be seen either on the 27th or 28th), which were constantly cruising between Corsica, Capraja, and Leghorn; while I knew also that the French consul at Leghorn and the governor of Corsica had their respective spies over him. At 7 P.M. spoke the British merchant-ship, ' Lady Ann,' Captain Segur, by whom I wrote to Mr. A'Coiu't, minister in Sicily. Napoleon's flotilla consists of seven sail ; viz., ' L'lncon- stant,' a brig, 18 guns and about 300 tons ; ' L'Etoile,' a bombard, 80 tons and a few guns ; ' La Caroline,' half- decked, 25 tons and 1 gun. 382 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. Four feluccas of 40 or 50 tons each. There is also a French merchant-brig, of between 300 and 400 tons, which had anchored at Porto Ferrajo by accident, a few days before Napoleon's departure. He seized her, and put a guard on board to j)reveut its being known. List of persons who embarked with Napoleon in Elba, February 26, 1814. General Count Bertrand . . . . "^ General Count Dronot . . . . . I _, , r^ 1 -r, r^ 1 ^ Frenchmen. ijreneral Uaron Uambronne . . . .1 Adjutant- General (Colonel) Lebelle . . J Baron Germanowski, commanding the Poles. Chevalier Fourreau, medecin, Frenchman. M. Gatte, pharmacien, Frenchman ; married, a few months ago, a Mdlle. Nenchi, whose father is a merchant at Leghorn. M. Peyrouse, tresorier, Frenchman. M. Deschamps "1 „ . ^ , • -r^ , -.f -n -n > lourriers de palais, J^renchmen. M. Baillon J ^ ' M. Pons, administrateur des mines, both before and since the arrival of Napoleon in Elba, formerly chef de bataillon under Massena, who, with Lacepede, the chancellor of the Legion of Honour, are his friends and patrons — a violent, intriguing fellow. M. Talliade, formerly of the French Marine, and, until lately, commander of Napoleon's brig — married to a woman of Lon- gono. M. Chauslard, capitaine de fregate ; lately appointed to command of ' Inconstant ' brig. M. Richon, of the French Marine, commanding the bombard ' L'F]toile.' Colonel Socoski, a Pole ; his wife is with the Princess Pauline. Captain Roule, officier d'ordonnance, confidential oflficer about Napoleon's person ; Frenchman. M. Perez 1 ^ . ,, -, ^-^ -r-. • M V f ■ ^ °™*^^^^''5 d ordonnance of Porto Ferrajo. M. Phillidore, captain of the port at Porto Ferrajo ; probably taken away by force, in order to return to Elba or Naples with the flotilla. Captain PaoH, Corsican. Captain of gendarmes. Chap. VII. NAPOLEON'S SUITE. 383 These are all names of principal persons wlio accom- panied Napoleon (excepting a few officers and men who were at Longono, Pia Nosa, and Palmaj^ola, and who were too late to embark) ; every person, French and Italian, whether in the military or civil service, secretaries, ser- vants, &c., went with him. His whole force may be estimated as follows : — Old Guard 600 Polish Lancers . . . . , . .100 Corsican Battalion ...... 300 Gendarmes, mostly Italians and Corsicans . . 50 1050 Civilians, including servants .... 100 General Bartolozzi, formerly commandant de la place, was left behind at Porto Perrajo. Wednesday, March 1. — About 2 a.m. a light was dis- covered. We beat to quarters, as it was reported that there were several sail. We thought our sanguine hopes were accomplished, but upon nearing and hailing, found it was a French frigate. Captain Adye and I went on board of her. It proved to be the ' Fleur-de-Lys,' com- manded by Captain Chevalier de Garat, belonging to the station of Corsica and Elba, and now five leagues north of Cape Corse. He did not know of Napoleon's escape till we informed him, although his only duty was to prevent it, and he ought to have been off Elba as a watch, unless he was accessory to it. [It is fair to state, that on Marshal Massena hoisting the tricolour flag at Toulon, in the course of the month of March following, the Chevalier de Garat was at once dis- missed from his ship, but again restored to his rank by the Bourbons on August 1. In a formal defence of his conduct, addressed to the Comte d'lancourt, minister of Marine, and dated August 28, 1815, he wrote as follows : — ' Le commandant de cette fregate n'entrcra dans aucun 384 SIR XEIL CAMPBELL'S. JOURNAL. Chap. VII- detail a present sur la navigation la plus penible et peut- etre la plus dangereuse, pendant le plus rude des liivers, depuis le 2* Janvier dernier. ' n passe de suite a I'epoque du 26® fevrier, jour du depart de Bonaparte de Porto Ferrajo. Le Colonel Campbell a rapporte au commandant que " L'Usurpateur " sortit de ce port par une brise tres-faible, qui devint bien- tot un calme plat a huit beures du soir. * La" Fleur-de-Lys " avait eu, le memejour a neuf lieures du matin, connaissance de la fregate la " Melpomene," dans le sud et le S.S.O. de I'ile Capraia; et comme depuis plus de dix jours elle ne I'avait pas apercue, elle diri- geait sa route vers elle, lorsque tout a coup on decouvrit plusieurs voiles doublant I'ile de la Gorgone avec un vent long et fi'ais. * La" Fleur-de-Lys " vira aussitot de bord, et manoeuvi*a a toutes voiles pour les cbasser et les reconnaitre ; elle joint cinq de ces batiments avant midi, parla a un brick anglais, navigua quelque temps avec eux, et s'assura que ces uavires etaient anglais et suedois, et avaient appareille de Livourne le meme matin. Cette chasse avait porte la " Fleur-de-Lys " a remboucbure du Golfe St.-Florent. ' Le vent varia et mollit ; le commandant en profita pour se rapprocber de son port le plus babituel, pres de rile Capraia ; il apercut pour la seconde fois la " Mel- pomene," toujours vers le S.S.O. de cette ile, a portee de pistolet de deux bateaux qu'elle reconnut sans doute ; a buit beures du soir la " Fleur-de-Lys " se trouvait dans I'ouest de Capraia, a la distance de douze milles environ, et dans le N.N.O. de Giralio. * Le 27 au matin, vers midi, la " Fleur-de-Lys " releva le Cap Corse au S.S.O. 4° 0., et la Caj)raia encore plus pres au S.S.E. demi E. ' A quatre beures du soir il fit presque calme ; la " Fleur-de-Lys " etait alors dans le N.O. de Capraia, explorant toulc la partie du vent entre la Gorgone, I'ile Chap. Vir. CHEVALIER DE GARAT. 385 d'Elbe et la elite Capraia ; elle avait encore eu connais- sauce de la "Melpomene," toujours dans la partie du sud, et des deux bateaux precites, caboteurs ordinaires, qui a la nuit avaieut fait route vers I'ouest. ' Pendant la nuit du 27 et dans la matinee du 28, la " Fleur-de-Ljs," suivant son usage, courut divers bords entre le Cap Corse, la Gorgone et Capraia. II vint en idee au commandant, vu le temps favorable, de revisiter Porto Ferrajo ; mais a peine eut-il double Capraia par le nord, que le vent lui manque tout a coup, et il passa environ trois heures en devant de cette ile, a deux tiers de lieues, en calme. II ne decouvrit que deux pecheurs, qu'il fit accoster, et qui ne lui apprirent rien de I'ile d'Elbe, le complimentant au contraire sur I'opiniatrete de sa croisiere depuis si long- temps. ' Le brick de Bonaparte que nous avions plusieurs fois vu dans le port de Porto Ferrajo, ainsi qu'un autre bateau, ce qui au reste etait tres-connu de nos officiers depuis que le Poi I'avait fait remettre a Bonaparte, — ce brick, ni la petite flotille, malgre les eiforts, la Constance, et, on peut le dire, I'opiniatrete de la " Fleur-de-Lys," qui plusieurs fois s'est trouvee en peril, parce qu'il lui etait severement defendu de mouiller en aucun cas a File d'Elbe, seul port neanmoins qui existat sous le vent dans tout cet arcliipel, — cette flotille, dirons-nous, n'a ete decouverte ni aper9ue par personne a bord de la fregate. Vu la situa- tion de Porto Ferrajo, a deux lieues et demie du conti- nent d'ltalie, entoure de six iles et de deux ecueils tres- dangereux appeles les Fourmis, il aurait fallu un coup de fortune extraordinaire pour avoir reussi (sans petits bati- ments, sans moucbes, sans avisos, sans une seule intelli- gence a terre) a arreter ou meme a voir le brick de Bona- parte, qui en tout etat de cause aurait toujours pu se Jeter a la cote. Si le commandant de la " Fleur-de-Lys " I'eut joint, sans egard, sans consideration sur la nature de ses instructions, partout il I'aurait attaque : pas un c c 386 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. YII. individii n'en doutait a bord de la fregate ; la population de Toulon, dans quelque opinion politique qu'elle avait ete, en est convaincue, le General Brulart, Gouverneur de Corse, I'est plus que personne ; car d''apres la connaissance qu'il a, depuis vingt ans, du zele, du devouement, et des principes du Chevalier de Garat, il a garde dans sa poche I'ordre de son rappel a Toulon, expedie de ce port en poste par la goelette " L'Antilope," quinze jours avant I'evasiou de Bonaparte. 'Lord Castlereagh a dit le 19 avril, en plein parlement, que la flotte entiere de sa Majeste britannique n'aurait pas suffi pour assurer la non-evasion de Bonaparte de I'ile d'Elbe, vu sa situation ; et il n'a ete contredit par personne. Que pouvaient done deux grosses fregates separees, a qui il etait impossible de mouiller (quelque temps qu'il fit) dans le seul port qui existe dans ces parages ? ' Early during the forenoon, the Cbevalier de Garat came on board the ' Partridge,' when it was agreed (in conse- quence of what he had stated with regard to his being near Capraja on Monday, and jet not having seen Napoleon's flotilla), that it might possibly have gone there or to Gorgona; that Captain Adye should therefore return and examine them more min^^tely ; that Captain de Garat should proceed direct to Antibes, and if he did not find Napoleon there he should desj)atch an officer immediately to Paris with the news of Napoleon's escape. I gave him a despatch. No 47, for Lord Castlereagh, enclosed to the Duke of Wellington, or British charge d'affaires at Paris, and open for perusal. I have been induced to change my opinion, in concert with Captain Adye, for various reasons. It seems unneces- sary for both shijDS to proceed in the same direction, and Chevalier de Garat must pursue that of Antibes, in order to despatch an officer to Paris. The conjecture upon which we set out yesterday from Elba is now less likely to prove fortunate, from Chevalier de Garat's statement. Chap. VII. PURSUIT OF NAPOLEON. 887 and our not having- seen Bonaparte. In thinking over every project that Napoleon may have intended, and en- deavouring to reconcile Chevalier de Garat's information with that of Mr. Grattan, it appears possible that he may have secreted himself for a few days in Capraja or Gorg-ona, in order to lead away the ' Partridge,' and be able at night to take Leghorn by surprise. This seizure might be ef- fected. He would obtain money, provisions, ammunition, and stores of all kinds, and a ready communication with Murat, who might send a part of his force to meet him at Florence. A portion of Murat's fleet with some troops might replace him at Porto Ferrajo, or even the whole fleet come up there from Naples. The Chevalier de Garat approved of this change in our plan. He pursued his voyage to Antibes, and the ' Par- tridge ' returned towards Capraja, taking on board a mid- shipman belonging to the 'Fleur-de-Lys ' M. Fortis, for Corsica, as the captain was anxious to communicate with the Governor, Brulart. March 2. — Very little wind all day. Standing towards Capraja, which at sunset bore east, thirty miles distant. March 3, — At 2 a.m., near Capraja, saw a sail ; sent on board, and found it to be the French schooner ' AnLilope,' Captain Fernahaye. I went on board with the midship- man belonging to the ' Fleur-de-Lys.' Went on shore at Capraja in two boats from the ' Par- tridge ' and ' Antilope,' in hopes of obtaining information. The escape of Napoleon was not known. The command- ant and mayor both stated circumstantially and separately that a brig, with six feluccas in company, was off the island the whole of Monday standing NW., and was lost sight of in the evening, having then very little wind. This confirms Mr. Gra,ttan's information, although difficult to reconcile with what the Chevalier de Garat stated, and proves almost to a certainty that our first conjecture was c c 2 388 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII just. Captain Adye, therefore, lias again shaped his course for Antibes. March 4. — At 7 p.m. Caj^tain Croker, of His Majesty's ship ' Wizard,' came on board. She left Genoa yesterday, and is bound for Leghorn and Palermo. Sir John Dalrymple, commanding- there, had received my despatch on the 2nd instant, and the troops were put in movement to the west- ward on the 3rd. Wrote by the ' Wizard' to Lord Burg- hersh and Mr. A' Court. March 5. — At midday spoke the Sicilian ship with Nautical School bound for Palermo. She had left Genoa yesterday at 3 p.m., at which time it was reported that Napoleon had been refused a landing by the Commandant at Prejus, and had disembarked at Antibes. Nearly calm all day. March 6. — Nearly calm. Off Savona spoke the trans- port ' Lord Wellington,' with Colonel Bourke and the Italian levy bound from Savona to Nice. There were two other transports in company. Informed that Napoleon had landed a few days ago near Antibes, and, upon find- ing he could not get possession of that place, had marched into the interior. I am persuaded it will soon be proved that the invasion of Prance by Napoleon did not originate with himself, and that it has not long been decided upon, although he had the means of preparing and executing his plans without any possibility of detection on my part. It was the delay in communicating with the ' Pleur-de- Lys ' which alone prevented the ' Partridge ' from arriving at Antibes nearly about the same time with Napoleon, and lost us the glorious chance, which was so nearly at our command, of destroying him. March 7. — At 2 p.m. went on board H.M.S. 'Aboukir,' Captain Thomson, from Antibes, bound to Genoa, and learned, certainly to our mortification, that Napoleon had disembarked at midday on March 1, in Juan Bay, be- Chap. YII. NAPOLEON'S LANDING. 389 tween Antibes and Frejus. In a few liours after, lie had marched off towards Grenoble without opposition. Five officers and thirty men, who had been sent to Antibes to summon it to surrender, were detained by the command- ant- Wrote to Lord Castlereagh, enclosed to Lord William Bentinck and open for perusal. March 8. — Anchored at Antibes. The ' Fleur-de-Lys ' and ' Legerie,' French men-of-war, were in the offing. The latter came in close to us, and sent a boat on board of the * Partridge.' Captain Adye and I returned the visit. Afterwards went on shore at Antibes, and visited General Corsin, the governor. Informed by him that, upon the 1st inst., about 11 a.m., Napoleon stood in from sea, fired two guns, and hoisted the tricolour flag on board of his brig, which was in company with several other smaller vessels. They made for Juan Bay, west of Antibes, where Napoleon disembarked his force upon the beach. The General himself happened to be at the island of Marguerite, in the Bay of Juan, with some friends, and had no idea it was Napoleon. He and his party were looking through glasses, and when the brig hoisted the tricoloured flag, thought it was an Algerine who had captured some Genoese coasters, and was coming in to water. Early in the afternoon, the General went on to say, he received a note from the officer commanding at Antibes in his absence, requesting him to return immediately, ' for that a most extraordinary circumstance had occurred ! ' He thought it was merely some scufile between the soldiers and the inhabitants, and immediately despatched an officer to the place. Later in the afternoon he received a second express, explaining the real cause of the alarm. He at once re- turned, but being obliged to make a considerable detour, and to scramble over rocks and bushes (the marks of which he showed me on his hands), in order to avoid Napoleon's piquets, did not arrive at Antibes till 2 a.m. on the second. He sent out parties to ascertain Napoleon's forces and 390 SIR NEIL C-A3IPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. intentions, but it appears they neither impeded nor fol- lowed him. It seems most extraordinary that the disembarkation should have taken place, and the encampment been con- tinued from midday till nearly suni-ise the next morning, ■without attracting more notice, or causing any measures to be taken on the part of the authorities. However a detachment which Napoleon, after forming his camp, had sent to Antibes, had been taken prisoners without resistance. They were transferred to Toulon under a strong escort, the officers particularly having behaved in the most frantic manner, and attempted to escape during the night. One of them, a Captain Casablanca, leaped over a part of the ramparts and broke his back. They would not give any information whatever. An officer of the garrison, who is a Corsican, and a cousin of the Bonaparte family, was put into arrest on account of some suspicious circumstances. All the horses seized near Antibes were paid for hbe- rally. At Cannes a butcher got his musket with the determi- nation of going to Juan Bay and killing Napoleon; but the inhabitants surrounded him, and begged him to desist, as their village would be biuTit down, and they would all be sacrificed. General Corsin farther told me, that by the last account Napoleon was on the mountain-road from Cannes towards Grenoble. Upon the 4th he entered Digne, with only about a hundred men. The rest of his force was scattered along the road, coming up as fast as they could, and press- ing mules and horses to assist them. Several desertions had taken place, and neither soldiers nor others had joined Napoleon. So far, however, he had not met with any troops to oppose him, as there were scarcely any nearer than Grenoble, where there is a considerable force of artillery, with between 1,000 and 1,500 infantry. Chap. VII. ANTIBES. 391 Marshal Massena liad marclied after I^apoleon witli a force from Toulon, but was supposed to be considerably in bis rear. On tbe afternoon of tbe 1st the vessels again sailed out of tbe bay in a SE. direction. Napoleon remained in bivouac till 2 a.m. on March 2, when he marched to Grasse, on the road towards Grenoble, with his whole force and two pieces of cannon, leaving behind him the rest of his artillery, sixteen ammunition waggons, and a carriage -marked P., belonging to the Princess Pauline. While in camp a great noise and mirth were kept up ; people were sent out in all directions to procure horses, and several proclamations in writing were distributed. These proclamations call upon the people of France to rise against their present Sovereign and Government, who have broken their faith and promises, and sacrificed the interest and glory of France to the priests and emi- grants ! Nothing is said of Italy ; so far from it, that Napoleon pledges himself to abandon all thoughts of foreign conquest, and to employ himself only in promoting the internal happiness of France. The proclamation began thus : ' Napoleon, par la grace de Dieu et la constitution de I'Etat, Empereur des Francais ; ' and they are counter- signed by 'Le Grand Marechal, faisant fonctions de Major-General de la Grande Armee, Bertrand.' There is likewise an address from the officers and soldiers of the Imperial Guard who accompany him to the Generals, officers, and soldiers of the Grand Army. We found at Antibes the French merchant- vessel which Napoleon had seized at Porto Ferrajo to convey a part of his force. March 9. — There being no safe anchorage at Antibes, the ' Partridge ' weighed from there and proceeded to Villa Franca, near Nice, Went over to the latter place, and waited on the Governor, General Osarce. Saw also 392 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. General Dejeany, commanding the military force sent from Genoa by tlie King of Sardinia, the Trench Consul Marquis de CandoUe, and the British Consul. The French Consul confirms all the information re- ceived yesterday at Antibes. He read me a letter, received while I was with him, from the prefect of Draguignan, of yesterday's date, wherein he details the marches of the regular troops and National Guards, from Toulon, Mar- seilles, and other points, directed to Nax3oleon's rear. He states that no partisans had joined him, nor bad there been any symptoms of discontent; and he praises the enthusiastic ardour universally displayed by the popula- tion. At the same time he regrets that no opposition had been made in Napoleon's front during his march, nor any steps taken to occupy or destroy the bridge at Sisteron before his arrival there. He takes no notice of Napoleon's movements after reaching that point. It seems strange that the prefect should have had no later information. From all that I can gather. Napoleon's marches appear to have been as follows : Wednesday morning, March 2, left his camp, and marched by Cannes to Serenon. Thursday, March 3, marched to Bareme. Friday, March 4, marched to Digne. Saturday, March 5, marched to Sisteron. The French Consul at Nice seems jealous of any cir- cumstance being mentioned which can reflect a doubt upon the exertions and spirit of the French nation as against Napoleon. He admitted, however, that the con- duct of the General commanding at Antibes was suspicious, but said his authority did not extend beyond the glacis of the fortress. It is stated also by other persons, that General Count Gazan, who commanded at Cannes, ran away and hid himself, without taking any steps whatever. [This he admitted afterwards, on my questioning him.] Chap. VII. NAPOLEON'S PROGRESS. 393 The Governor of Nice, however, seems to have acted with energy, and being disposed to give little credit to the accounts received there, he has sent confidential officers as far as Digne, but he has no report since the 5th. Al- though he thinks Napoleon has got as far as Sisteron, he has no confirmation of the fact. He judges that the spirit of France is not so good as might be expected, or else that the event is so very extraordinary and unexpected, that the people are stupefied. One of his officers states, upon the authority of a respectable person who witnessed it, that Napoleon entered Digne with about fifty mounted officers and cavalry and a few infantry, without any op- position. The people called out, ' Vive I'Empereur ! A bas les droits reunis ! ' He replied, ' Oui, mes enfants ! Quand j'arriverai a Paris, je m'occuperai a cela pour vous, et je m'en occupe depuis quelque temps.' Part of the road by which he has marched is very bad, mountainous and narrow, where an opposing force might arrest very superior numbers ; and he has now no guns with him. The French Consul as well as the Governor say that between twenty and thirty of the garrison of Antibes deserted the third day after Napoleon's disembarkation, when the gates were opened, and it is conjectured that they have followed him. Before being sent away, the prisoners belonging to Napoleon's Guard were treated like friends, and were seen playing bowls with the garrison. And this is confirmed by an English gentleman, who had observed their treatment during their removal from An- tibes to Toulon. March 10. — It is probable that the test of Napoleon's success will be made at Grenoble, and that he will endea- vour to bring it to that issue as soon as possible, before the accumulation of force renders his passage of the Isere more difficult. If he is foiled there, he has no alternative but to retreat to Gap, and there turn off the main road by a mule-path, which leads over Mount Dauphin and Mount 394 Sm NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VIL Genevre, hj the river Durance, to Turin, passing by Sesana and Exele. This route is scarcely passable for a liorse in many places. As lie advances, lie propagates reports that he has many partisans among the principal persons in France, and that he will arrive at Paris before March 24.^ March 11. — Being very uneasy at not hearing any cir- cumstantial facts, and being also desirous to transmit the best and earliest news to Ministers at home, as well as to Lord William Bentinck at Genoa, and Lord Burghersh at Florence, I resolved to follow Napoleon into France. Accordingly at 3 a.m. I set off towards Antibes, in the hope of obtaining certain information, and being able to judge of the spirit of the people for myself. At Juan Bay I saw the lieutenant de douane and the commissaire, who gave me the whole story of Napo- leon's disembarkation as they witnessed it. He came on shore about 3 p.m. on the 1st. During the afternoon the band continued to play occasionally. ' Ou est-ce qu'on pent etre mieux que dans le sein de sa famille ? ' He walked about under the trees, sitting down from time to time. He wore a grey great coat. At night he lay down on a mattrass with a coverlet turned over his head. General Bertrand was constantly with him, and always kept off his hat when he approached him, as did all others. General Cambronne went on horseback along the road towards Cannes, three or four miles off. He gave out that 3,000 men were with him, and that a large body in conjunction with the Allies had passed on by sea to Tou- lon and Marseilles. Detachments were placed about a mile to the right and left, to prevent anyone from pass- ing. They at first said they had come from Corsica; ^ As a fact, he arrived on the evening of the 20th. — Ed. Chap. VIT. NAPOLEON'S PROGRESS. 395 afterwards that they were from Elba, and had been dis- charged; but when they arrived at Cannes, they gave out that the Emperor was with them, and that 4,000 more of his troops had landed west of Frejus. The mayor was directed to go to Napoleon with the public authorities, but he refused. Between 2 and 3 a.m. on the 2nd the whole party arrived. The officers supped together at the mn. One officer paid for a horse which he bought, but all others were impressed, and left in the road when fatigued, and changed. Napoleon did not enter the town, but re- mained outside, where the men halted in position. After remaining there an hour or two, they tui'ned to their right off the great road, and took the mountain-road to Grasse. It was so bad that they were obliged to leave the guns behind. At Grasse Napoleon dined on a height above the town. A table was brought out, and he sat upon a soldier's pack. The troops were encamped round him, and employed themselves in cooking and eating. The courier who travelled with me on the road from Nice to Draguignan told me that Napoleon was certainly taken by this time. A circular letter had been sent by the postmaster of Valence, with the assurance that he was enclosed {cerne) by the National Guards and garrison from Grenoble, between that city and Gap. March 12. — Arrived at Draguignan, the chief town of the department of the Var, and visited the prefect, Comte de Bouthillier, a very clever man, and at the same time frank and communicative. Nothing, as it appears, could have been better than his dispositions. By 6 a.m. on the 2nd, he had sent off mes- sengers to Digne on one side, and Toulon on the other. However the prefect at Digne did not circulate the infor- mation for several hours after he received it, and took no steps to assemble the National Guard, or destroy the 39G SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. bridge at Sisteron. His proclamation is only dated tlie Ctli, two days after Napoleon had passed. The mayor of Castellane gave him a dinner. At Digne he obtained a number of blank passports, signed by the present authori- ties. Still the Comte de Bouthillier was sanguine in the expectation of hearing every moment that Napoleon was taken, as he was surrounded, he said. And the same idea was universal at the Count's house in the evening, where a numerous party was assembled for the prefect's weekly party. All praised the good disj)Osition shown by the National Guards, but it is evident that the troops of the line are not equally trusted. March 13. — About one in the morning a person with a lanthom entered my room very silently, and told me that the prefect requested to see me immediately. In order to avoid all noise and observation, he led me by a back way, and through a stable, into the house. I found the Count in a state of extreme dismay, and occujjied with his secretary. I sincerely participated in his feelings on hearing from him the intelligence he had just received from Aix and Valence, viz., that Napoleon had entered Gi-renoble upon the 7th at 8 p.m., and that General Marchand, with the staff and most of the of&cers, had retired. It may be inferred from this that the rest and the private soldiers have betrayed their duty. This state of affairs is so serious, that I determmed to go off immediately to Nice, in order to convey the earliest intimation of these melancholy circumstances to Lord William Bentinck at Genoa. I shall also report to him my observation as to the bad disposition of the troops at Antibes, and the little reliance that can be placed upon the regular army, so that he may prepare for the worst. No actual disposition has been made by the Piedmontese for the passage of the long bridge over the Yar, which separates them from Antibes. Set off from Draguignan at 3 a.m., and an'ived at Nice Chap. VIL RETURN TO ENGLAND. 397 at 5 P.M. At 10 P.M. went on board of H.M.S. '^Partridge' at Villa Franca, but it blew so bard tbat sbe could not witb safety attempt to beat out. Lord Sunderland ^ has arrived from Marseilles. There it is universally believed tbat the English had favoured Napoleon's return, and the people are furious against us. The same idea also prevails everywhere in the South of France and in Piedmont. A newspaper of Turin, just arrived at Nice, states positively this to be the case ! March 14. — Sailed out of Villa Franca at 6 a.m., and arrived at Genoa at 8 p.m. March 15. — Wrote Lord Burghersh with news from Draguignan of the 13th inst., and mentioned a report of Napoleon having entered Lyons. Madame Mere, as I am informed, states that Napoleon had three deputations from France before he consented to quit Elba. March 18. — H.M.S. ' Aboukir' sailed for Leghorn. March 19. — H.M.S. 'Partridge' left Genoa for Leghorn and Sicily. March 20. — Left Genoa. During the night robbed of my watch and between fifty and sixty guineas by brigands near Novi. March 21. — 4 p.m. at Milan. March 22. — 7 a.m. Domo d'Ossola. 7 p.m. Left the Simplon. March 23. — 11 a.m. Sion. Carriage-wheel broke. 8 p.m. Vevay. March 24. — Midday, Morat. Overtook Mr. Perry, the courier, who had left Genoa the morning before me. March 25.— 11 a.m. Basle. 7 p.m. Fribourg. March 26. — 2 p.m. Rastadt. 5 p.m. Carlsruhe. March 27. — 3 a.m. Manheim. Passed the Rhine. March 28. — 10 a.m. Lisere; passed the Moselle in a flat. * Succeeded as fiftla Duke of Marlborough^ March 5, 1840.— Ed. 398 SIR NEIL CAMPBELL'S JOURNAL. Chap. VII. 4 P.M. Treves. At midnig-lit, Luxembourg. Stopped four hours to pass tkrougli th.e fortress. . March 29. — 4 a.m. Left Luxembourg. March 30. — 6 p.m. Brussels. Eemained three hours. March 31. — 6 p.m. Ostend. Sailed at 8 p.m. in H. M. brig ' Rosario,' Captain Peak. A'pril 1. — 9 A.M. Landed at Deal, and at 9 p.m. arrived in London. Next day had interviews with Lord Castle- reagh, and with H.R.H. the Prince Eegent at Carlton House. LOKDON: PHIUTED DT SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NKW-STBBKT SQUABB A^'D FABLIAUIiM STBBBI x>t THE LIBRARY a.3S UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA d3 Santa Barbara STACK COLLECTION THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. ':S'm UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 174 193 3 ^(^^ '■■^v