The National Register.
London, England, 1815-10-22 00:00:00

• TTIE.NATIONAL REGISTER.

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• I AUTHENTIC PARTICULARS OF BUONAPARTE.
(FROU AN OFFICEiI ON BOARD TNIK NORTILUMBERLAND.)
His 111edesty's ship Northumberland. lat. 51, 58,
long. 13,43. August 22, 1815..
• Conversing one day about the siege of St. Jean d'Acre,
Iltmaapatte observed--" That when Sir Sidney Smith was
there lie distributed several Proclamations among the French
which made them ware,' a little." In order to ob-
viate this, he published an Older, in which he "asserted that
the Engli,h commodore was mad," and it concluded with
prohibiting all communication with I im. This, he added,
" bad the desired effect, and so enraged Sir Sidney, that he
scut him a challenge to single combat, which was declined,"
and Napoleon 'Tweeting at the same time for answer, that
.• when he brought the Duke of Marlborough to meet him
be would accept it." Ile stated most positively " that be
t.wald then have taken Acre, if
.the English had not taken his
Battering Train;' and added, in English and-French, "had it
not been for you English, 1 would have been Emperor of the
East; but wherever a ship could get, I was always sure to find
some of the English to oppose me."
iie spoke of the Invasion of England as 14s firm determina-
tion, and said that be intended to have landed as near Chat-
taw as possible, and to have dashed at once for London. lle
ad;; itted the great probability of his nrqt succeeding, and that
I,e might have been killed in the attempt. That this scheme
not, put into of was owing to Admiral Villeneuve not
übeying the orders he received. Ile was particularly inqui-
sitive as to the climate of England, and said'that the cause of
so many suicides was the humidness of the atmosphere.
The anxiety of the English to see him when on board the
lle!kr(phem flattered his vanity in the extreme, and he
'would frequently stand in the gangway purposely to afford
'the gapitv.; and wondering multitude an hpportunity• of be.
liotding his person. At this time be had invariably a spy-
his hand, which he frequently used in observing the
!+cc.ratbrs. There was always a great number of vtell•dressed
.Y'-rriales, many of then) very elegant in their persons. and they
ever failed tO attract Ins particular attention ; and he would
not 141! to 'mace to those near him how forcibly he gazed on
tteir beauties.

He apPeated greatly pleased with the beauty and elegance
. of our fair couuttyWometi, and was always wishing to know
tteir names; families, and any circumstance that could be
c6Mmunicatett to him ccucerning them.
Ile took particular notice one evening of a young Lady
•iyho was. very cl .ti,e to the ship, and, as usual, inquired what
' 'vas her name and ftmily. lie was informed she was a Miss
•‘
daughter of General B. Ile bowed and took oil his
exclaiming sevet al times, with pecolinr emphasis, to
those neat Itir.n--.4 Oh, Charmanle!"—This admiration of the
females was not confined to Buonaparte, for all his officers
l'Avere cqn .lly delL:hted; and they expressed their opinion of
the.fupet iority of the English women over any they had be-
Vote set' H.

Buonaparte gives great credit to our infantry and our Ar-
'tillcry. Ile said, the British Infantry is now what the
'French was ten yea's hack ; and that the Cavalry is greatly in-
fcrior to Ole lnfantiy in every thing but appearance." He
found gr:•nt ftult with the construction of the bits, which he
says "are so bad that the men eintiofmanage their horses."
'Bertrand and -.hr others assented to the truth of this observa-
tion.'

. .
Cne day Buonaparte wapspeaking of the Duke of WVelling-
tnn, observed, *4 he' did not expect he-would have given
folo battles but that he would have retreated, and waited for

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the Russians and other reinforcements, in which case, he says,
he must have been finally beaten; but that he was extremely
happy to find Lot d Wellington did not decline Cie combat,"
—adding, that " he made qeite certain of ..btaining tire Vic-
tory." Ile also said,—" That he knew of •tße Advances of
the Pressians, but that he did not regard it as of tour h conse-
nuence; and that he was betrayed by some of hi, generals.~
He further said, that " the univet sal consternation ameng
his troops taking place at a time of darkness, he was o t ab!e
to rally the fugitives by sh, wing his person to them. whi.h he
is conrinced would hare effectually restored order had it been
day-light, but that, in consequence of its being dark, hr was
borne away by the crowd, and obliged to FIN lIINISELF."
On being asked, why he had net give's himself tip to A us-
tria ?he replied," What, give Inv-elf up to•a nation Without
laws, honour, or faith! No : 'he moment I had got the; e, I
should have been put into a dungeon, and never heard of
more. In giving myself up to the EnJish, I have given
myself up to a nation with honourable and just lay's, which
afford protection to every person."
At another time, he remarked on the singularity of Mr.
Whitbread's suicide, but made no further observation pn that
melancholy event.
One day lie observed, he "ought to have died the day be
entered Moscow, as ever since he had experienced a con-
tinual series of disasters." he further observed, "He would
have made peace at Dresden, and also afterwards. if it had
not been for the advice of the Duke of Ba-satio, who per.
suaded him against it."
The Invasion of Spain, Buonaparte says, he undertook at
the special desire of Talleyrand, who was continually urging
him to that measure, invariably pointing out the absolute
ne-
cessity of its being undertaken, and, if possible, accomplished
at all hazards.
It is astonishing the detestation in which rouche is held by
Buonaparte and all his followers. who never mention his
name but with the ;neatest contempt; and they say, " it was
entirely owing to this creature that Buonaparte abdicated in
favour of his son ; and that he was continually carrying on
a clandestine correspondence with the Allies."
The respect that is still paid to Buonaparte by his suite, is
very great; as an instance I shall mention that he was one
day play ing at chess with Moutholon, who is by far the best
player of the two. Buonaparte had evidently the worst of the
game, when Moutholon made purposely an improper move-
ment, e..bir b was speedily observed by the former. and he ul-
timately vas the victor. .Moutholon praked the superior
skill of his master (as he termed him), and declared himself
" not competent to encounter such an excellent player
again ;" at which Buonaparte was highly pleased. At this
game, or Vingt.un, Buonaparte generally passes his time ;
but was much hurt when the Admital insisted that neither of
these games, nor any other, should be played on Sundays.
He has been very inquisitive as to the climate, &c. of St.
Helena, arid declares that he shall be more comfortable there
than in Austria. Temperance, he says, is the only means o(
preserving health ; and adds, that he never was ill hut twice in
his life, and on one of those occasions only applied a blister.
Moutholon's wife has been unwell, and he inquired of ti e
Surgeon how she was. He said, litoher better, but that he
thought the fear of the trop' al climates preyed on her mind.
Buonaparte replied near the words of Shakespeare,—
" Docter, thou cautsuot a ulster to a mind diseased." The
force with which this remark was made, was observed by
every one near, end apparently related to his 'own feelings.
Bertrand and !Ili wife are continually with Buonaparte,
and the whole are more reconciled to their future destiny.
SirclicorCockburn and itooilaritte arc on• euellent