The Sun.
London, England, 1827-09-22 00:00:00

honour. In representing the ex-Emperor's
health as good, his finances as ample, his means
of escape as easy and frequent, while he knew
his condition to be the reverse in every particu-
lar, General Gourgaud must have been sensible
that the deCeptive views thus impressed on the
British Ministers, must have had the natural
effect of adding to the rigours of his patron's
confinement. Napoleon, it must be recollected,
would receive the visits of no English physician
in whom Sir Hudson Lowe seemed to repose
confidence, and he shunned as much as possible
all intercourse with the British. Whom, there-
fore, were Sir Hudson Lowe and the British
Ministers to believe, concerning the real state
of his health and circumstances, if they were to
refuse credit to his own Aide-de-Camp, an
officer of distinction, whom no one could suppose
guilty of slandering his master, for the purpose
of obtaining a straight. passage to England for
himself, instead of being subjected to the in-
convenience of going round by the Cape of
Good Hope? and again, when General Gour-
gard having arrived in London, and the purpose
of his supposed deception being•fully attained,
continued to represent Napoleon as feigning po-
verty whilst in affluence, affecting illness whilst
in health, and possessing ready means of escape
while he was complaining of unnecessary re-
restraint, what effect could such statements pro-
duce on Lord Bathurst and the other Members
of the British Ministry, except a disregard to
Napoleon's remonstrances, and a rigorous in-
crease of every precaution necessary to prevent
his escape ? They had the evidence of one of
his most intimate personal attendants to justify
them for acting thus ; and their own responsi-
bility to Britain and to Europe for the safe ens-
tody of Napoleon, would have rendered them
inexcusable had they acted otherwise. .

It is no concern of mine, however, how the
actual truth of the fact stands. It is sufficient to
me to have shown that I have not laid to Gen.
Gourgaud's charge a single expression for which
I had not the most indubitable authority. If I
have been guilty of over credulity, in attaching
more weight to General Gourgaud's evidence
than it deserves, I am well taught not to repeat
the error, and the world, too, may profit by the
lesson. I am, Sir, your humble servant,
Abbotgfordv Sept. 14, 1827. WALTER SCOTT.

No. I.—Notes relative to General Gourgaud's mumuni.
rations with Sir Hudson Lowe, and with the Commis
sinners fur the Allied Powers residing at St. Helena.
Gourgaud, an officer of high military attainments,
having been made Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of
Berri, was nevertheless one of the first to leave him
on the Hundred Days. He accompanied Buona-
parte to St. Helena, being in immediate attendance
on him at the time of his fall. Took less part in
the quarrels with the Governor than Bertrand or
Montholon, and made himself no party to their de-
bates with each other. Received several affecting
letters from his mother and sisters, to whom he was
much attached. his conduct appeared to Sir Hud-
son Lowe to be that of a brave officer, who follows
his chief in adversity. Sir Hudson Lowe, there-
fore, transmits him direct to England.
Gonrgaud, in taking leave of Sir Hudson Lowe,
gave his word of honour, that he had never entered
into any political intrigue ; said he would accuse no
one, but that he owed his whole distress and morti-
fications to his having refused to enter into matters
which had been proposed to him ; that the truth
would one day be known, awl Sir Hudson would
then learn that he had left Longwood rather than
enter into any political affairs.
Bertrand had given Gourgaud a draught on Mr.
Balcombe for 5601., which Balcombe had not paid.
This was not known to Bertrand, who, on General
Gourgaud's applying for money, declared, in conver-
sation with a British officer, that the Emperor had
given Gourgaud's mother a pension of 12,000 francs
yearly. Gourgaud conceived this allegation was
meant to prejudice him with the Bourbons. He
stated that they had attempted to make him the
executioner of some directions. He had once, he
allowed, received an order for 12,000 francs, but
clogged with a condition about lodging money on
IBuonaparte's own account; and his refusal to do
this occasioned him much ill-treatment on the part
of Napoleon, with every act of persecution on that
of Bertrand. lie was finally informed by them,
that unless he agreed to facilitate the transaction,
he would not be allowed to remain at St. Helena.
He filially sent this letter by the 511 regiment.
[There is much more about this squabble.] •
The breaking up of the plate he spoke of as a
trick, as they had abundance of money. Sir Hud-
son Lowe observed, it might be that supplied by
Las Cases, to which Gourgaud replied—" (Anon;
avant cela ifs oat cu 210,000 francs en or 201 C
grande partie en quadruples d'Espagne :" further
said it was Prince Eugene who had lodged the
money in the hands of Messrs. Andrew Street and
Parker. He spoke of the circulation of pamphlets,
and the design to form a moyen in France and in
England, to which he had been required to be as-
sisting. Said Buonaparte had told Talleyrand that
Count Bertrand was " l'homme le plus faux et le
plus dissimule de la France."
On one occasion Buonaparte said Las Cases had
more talent than Talleyrand; on another, that he
was" plutot un honime mediocre."
Gourgaud communicated also to Baron Sturmer
the circumstance of the 240,000 francs.
Napoleon suggested to General Gourgaud the
idea of self-destruction, and Bertrand supported the
idea. The plan was to shut themselves up with
charcoal burning, as an easy death recommended by
Barthollet the chemist.
Said General Wilson was to be the editor of San-
tini's pamphlet.
Piontowski suspected by Gen. Gourgaud to be a
spy of Fouehe.
Ellis's book on St. Helena disappointed great ex-
pectations on Buonaparte's side, who expected much
from his conversation with Lord Amherst ; " that
several pamphlets would appear; that Sir Hudson
Lowe was not to consider the abuse against himself
as personally meant, malt par politique J. that he
trusted to obtain something a force de plaintes."
The publications which Napoleon had thought to
be injurious to him were Trucksess's Journey to
Elba, and De Pradt's Embassy to Warsaw:
The mixture of his character. SAietimes he
woke like a Deity ; sometimes.in a very
Napoleon hadagitated vaguely several schemes o
lothes-chest, or
escape, as by laying concealed in a c
through the betise of sentinels.
Lord Bathurst
These assertions are transmitted to
by Sir:Hudson Lowe, who seems to entertain a very
favourable opinion of General Gourgaud's candour.
They appeared inferior style.
f
mid hence the regulations of the 9th of Oct., 1816.
to demand an increased vigilance,

" Rapport a S. A. M. le Prince de Metternich, by Baron
Stunner, 14 Mai, ISIS." concerning communication
to him by General Gourgaud. These particulars occur
1. That Buonaparte mourned 'ouch for the death
of the Princess Charlotte, whom he considered as
having an almost fanatical admiration of him.
2. Ile was persuaded he would not remain at St.
Helena, and expected to be restored to liberty by
the English Opposition. He had not even entirely
renounced the hope of restoration to the throne.
3. He thought the conduct of Louis XVIII. was
revolutionary, and exposed him to the risk of losing
his throne. Ile contended that, in prudence he
should have got rid of all the Mareschals, and de-
prived of power all who were not of his own party.
4. He blamed Marie Louise for leaving Paris in
1818 ; said he ought to have placed Madame de
Beauveau about her, instead of Madame Montebello;
and that if he had not married an Austrian Princess
(or if he had married
Russian Princess), he
would still have been at Paris.
5, Ile said, on the subject of Colonel !Atapie s