Star.
London, England, 1815-07-28 00:00:00

BONAPARTE.

The following interesting communication ;atom
an intelligent Officer of his Majesty's 3bip ISsux-
ItOPUON

66 His Majesty's ship Beneraphon, July 24.
" On the 16th of this month, a flag of truce ar-
rived from Aix Roads (where there were lying two
frigates, two corvettes, and a brig, which we were
blockading), having on board the noted &miry,
Duc de Rovigo; and the Count de Lascasses, Cham-
berlain to Napoleon : the object of whose niission was
to procure leave for Naroi.eoN. and his suite to pro.
ceed to America in one of the frigates, or in a mer-
chantman, if that could not be allowed. This was
immediately refused by Captain MAITLAND, not-
e iiiistandine Savary threw nut a hint of the probabi.
lit y of the' iench squadron coming out and forcing
their passage. We had previously to this been very
actively employed with the squaelrein ender Captain
Marreasin's command, in forming a most strict
blockade before the ports of Bourdeanx, Basque
Roads, and all the passages leading from it, and now,
it possible, the Captain's exertions were doubled. He
proceeded with this ship and the Myrmidon, and an-
chored just out of gun-shut of the We d'Aix ; sta-
tioned the Cyrus off the Petit Breton Passage ; the
Daphne ofF the Marmazon Passage; the Erne and
Larne off Bourdeaux ; the Cephalus off the Nemis-
s.'n Passage; the Endymani twenty leagues in the
offi:ig ; while with this ship and the 111yrmiden, some-
times at anchor, and sometimes cruizing between the
two Light houses, one on the Isle de lithe ( ['our de
Bat:ones) and the Chasseion Light on the Lle d'Ole-
ton, and the Slaney outside (all placed with such
judgment as to be able to communicate intelligence
from one to the other in a very short time), he corn.
pletely hermetically sealed the ports in such a manner
that it was impossible for any vessel to escape us.
66 Capta;ii MAITLAND having been an old cruizer
here, was intimately acquainted with every passage;
and I oever saw a man so indefatigable and zealous
io his exertions, or whose judgment was so correct in
the steps which he took with the small force under
his command, to prevent the possibility cf NAPO•
LEON% escape. We were kept constantly cleared and
ready for action night And day, ana only the ham-
mocks of the watch allowed below at a time.
{t On the ilth. while t anchor about three miles
from the enemy's frigates, 'we 'perceived a flag of
truce again in the morning, on board of which were
the aforesaid de Lascasses,. and Lieutenant-General
Count PAllemand, Aide-de-Camp to NAPOLEON.—
After being some hours on board they departed, and
I then lest-tad that probably we should have the sa-
tisfaction of receiving the Ex-Emp:ror. In the even-
ing another flag of truce came out, on board of which
was de Lascasses and General Gargaud, also Aide-
th:••Ctrnp to Narateox, with two et his Pag.:s, and
part of his baggage. We now became pretty certain
of seeing him. Captain MAITLAND dispatched the
Watley immediately with this important intelligence,
and with General Gorgaud on board, with a letter
from NAPOLEON to the PUINCE REGENT) direct to
England. The following worming at day-light, we
perceived a brig and a schooner working out of Aix
It ,Ads. The Captain dispatched die boats to them,
and in the space of an hour the First Lieutenant,
Mr. MOTT) retuined in the barge, accompanied by
the " once great Ruler of halt the World,". with
Lieutenant• General Count Bertrand, Savary (the
Duc de Rovigo), General Count Montholon, the
Countesses Bertrand and Montholon. When he cane'
on the quarter-deck, lie said, in a firm and certainly
dignified manner, in French, to Captain MAITLAND,
" 1 are terse to claims the protection of your Prinee and I
your Laiws."
6' I observed his person particularly, and can de-
scribe him thus :—He is about 5 feet i inches in
height, very strongly made, and well-proportioned ;
very broad and deep chest; legs and thighs propor-
tioned with great symmetry and strength, a small
round and handsome foot. His countenance is sal-1
low, and as it were deeply tinged by hot climates :
but the most commanding air I ever saw—his eyes'
prey, and the most
_piercing that you can imagine—
his glance, you fancy, searches into your inmost
thoughts —hir hair dark brown, and no appearance of
grey—his features are handsome now, and when
younger he must have been a very handsome man.
He is rather fat, and his belly protuberant, but he
appears active notwithstanding—his step and demea-
nour altogether commanding. He looks ,about 45
or 46 years of age. In fact, he is very like the pic-
tures exhibited of him in public, and also of seve-
ral of the prints. He is extremely curious, and never
passes any thing remarkable in the ship without hos
mediately demanding its use, and enquiring minutely
• into the manner thereof. He also stops and ask; the
Oificers divers questions relative to the time they
have been in the service, what actions, &c. ; and he
caused all of us to be introduced to him the first day
he came on board. He has also asked several ques-
tions about the marines, particularly those who ap.
peered to have been some time .in the service, arid
.about the warrant officers, midshipmen, seamen, &co
He was but a very short time on board when loto
asked that the boatswain might be sent for, in ordel
that he might look at him, and was very inquisitive ao:
to the nature of his duty. He dresses in green uni-
forms with red facings, and edged with red, two
plain gold epaulettes, the lappets of the coat cut round
and turned back, white waistcoat and breeches, and
military boots and spurs, the Grand Cross of the• L-
egion of Honour on his left breas% He professes his
retention (if he is alloived to reside in England) to
adopt the English customs and manners, and declares
that-he will never meddle with politics more. The
army which lett Paris, and united with others on the
Loire, wanted him to join them and resume his title,
which he refused to do. He declares that not another
rutie de sang" shall be shed on his account. Fonu-
laate, indeed, it would have been it he really had been
of this opinion some years back.
66 His followers still treat him with the greatest
• respect, not one of them, not even the Duke, of
Rovtge himself, eve speaking to him without being
Uncovered the whole time. He does not appear oat
until about half-past ten, though he rites about seven.
kie breakfasts is the French fashion at eleven, and
-dines at six. He spends most of the day alone in the
after-cabin, and reads a great deal. He retires to bed
lithota eight. He has not latterly been much on the
•
trarter-deck. His suite is composed of flat persons.
t 66 .Geogral Bertrand appears to be a fine and faith-

ful soldier. He has nearer abandoned Napoleon is .
his adversity or prosperity. He was at Elba with him,
and, I believe, intends actompenying him (if per-
mitted) wherever his destination may be. It was this
officer who constructed the bridge over the Danube,
from the Isle de Lobito, which saved the French
army alter the battle of Asperne. Madame Bertrand,
I believe, was born in Martinique of Irish parents, and
her maiden name was Dillon. She is extremely
pleasant and affable, and greatly attached to Napo-
leon's interests. The Dec de Rovigo is a very fine.
looking man, about 50, with a countenance expres-
sive of superior talents. 1)e Lascasses is a little'
fellow about five feet one inch, very clever. He is
the author of the Historical Atlas, which I suppose
you have seen. L'Allemand is considered an excel.
lent officer, and commanded the light infantry of the
Impetial Guard in the Battle of Waterloo.".

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