The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-08-20 00:00:00

TfiE STATESMAN.

' TREATMENT or NAPOLEON AND HIS
Ph YJICIAN.
COPISSOF LETTERS RESPECTING MR. 011 EA RA's
CAS
,1;“
••
.f.r.ogwood, Dee. 89,
Sta,—ln consequence of some circumstances
which have latterly occurred relative to the oblige-
lions espected from a person filling the situation I
have the honour to hold, I conceive it to be essentially
necessary to lay the following statement before your
Escellertcy for your consideration.
64 When in Augost,lBls, Count Bertrand (afterhay.
ing received satisfactory answers from Capt. Maitland,
of his Majesty's ship Bellerophon, to enquiries made
by him touching my character and conduct) did me the
honour to make application to Admiral Lord Keith
for me to accompany Napoleon Bonaparte to St.
Nelms in quality of surgeon, his Lordship was
pleased to approve of, and sanction my accepting of
the above-named situation, which, at his Lordship's
vecousmendation, was afterwards confirmed by the
Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty; the appointment, therefore, was not of
my seeking.
" I never for a moment entertained the most dis.
lent idea, that, independent of my medical duties, it
was espected that I should make a Report of con.
emotions which I might have with the persons whom
my duties led me to visit; no such proposition was
ever made to me either by Lord Keith or Sir George
Cockburn, nor was even the most distant insinuation
to that effect made by the above-mentioned &stirs•
guished characters.
66 When asked by Napoleon Bonaparte to tell
him candidly whether he ought to consider me as a
Sergeon darn Gulere, or as a medical man in wheel
he coold repose confidence, I replied, that I was not'
Surgeon truss Gakre ; that I was Surgeon, and not
a Spy, and one in whom I hoped he might place con-
idence—that my principles were to forget the con-
versations
I had with my patients on leaving the II
TOOM, unless as far as regarded my allegiance as a
British Officer to my Sovereign and Country—and
that my orders only obliged me to one thing, to wit,
to give immediate notice to the Governor in case of
any serious illness befalling him, in order that the
test medical advice might be promptly afforded.
66 When asked again, subsequently, whether I
am not obliged by your orders, Sir, to go twice
a week to Plantation House to make Reports, and
what the nature of such Reports or Communications
Was I referred to the sentiments I.:pressed above.
66 When minutely interrogated by you, Sir, as to
the number of interviews, and the subject of conver-
sations I have had, and when informed by you, Sir,
that I was DO judge of the importance of the subjects
of any conversations I might have—that I had no busi-
ness to set op my own judgment upon the nature of them
—that you might think several things of great im-
yortance which I might consider as trilling and unin-
teresting-1 have had the honour to reply, that if I
was not at liberty to ezetcise any discretion or jatig-
ment as to the importance or otherwise of such con.
versations es I might be present at, there was evidently
no other alternative than that of repeating to you
every syllable which passed, the doing of which would
place me in the situation of a man acting the most
base and dishonourable part. In fact, that I would
fie e spy and a mouton.' fhat such conduct
would cover my name with well-merited infamy, and
tender me unfit for the society of any man of honour.
66 Ho who, clothed with the specious garb of
sician, in,inuatee himself into the confidence of his pa-
tient, and ;moils himself of the freynent opportunities
and facilities which his situation necessarily presents
of being noar his person, to w ring (under pretence a
curing or alleviating his infirmities, and in that con-
fidence which has been from time immemorial reposed
by the sick in persons professing the healing art) dis-
closures of his patient's sentiments and opinions,
for the purpose of afterwards betraying them, de-
serves most justly to be branded with the appellation
of s mouton'
66 In answer to your. question on the 16th of this
month, of 6 whether l had given any word of honour
not to make any written reports of the state of Na..
poleon Bonaparte's health, without obtaining his
consent, and leaving the originals in his possession ?'
I had the honour to reply to you, Sir, that I bad'
avoided giving such a pledge, by stating (according
to your directions), that none would be asked with-
out first acquainting him.
" I have the honour to acquaint you, Sir, that
Count Bertrand has signified to me, that with respect
to the title, it might be easy to arrange matters by
snsking use of no proper names in the Reports, and
by substituting the words personage, or the patient,
in the lieu thereof; that provided this was done,
previous consent being obtained, and the originals
deposited with one of the French Suite, there would
be no objection to written Reports of the state of
Napoleon Bonaparte's health being made. The sub.
stance of this I have had the honour to make known
to you verbally, on the 15th of October, and on the
14th of this month.

" Ha►ing so often received contradictory instruc-
tions from you, Sir, I must beg leave to reiterate the
request I have frequently matte to you before, to wit,
to be furnished with instructions in writing, to the
end that I may well comprehend my situation, and
what is required from me, and to prevent the possibi-
lity of mistakes which may arise from verbal instruc-
tions being either forgotten or badly comprehended.
" It is with infinite pain, Sir, that I feel myself
obliged to refer to the ignominious treatment which I
have suffered from you in your oars house, especially
upon two occasions. Were I culpable, even a Court-
. Martial could not authorize the intemperate and op.
probrioas epithets se liberally bestowed upon me,

and being twice turned out of doors in the presence
of witnesses; the lasitleee not without apprehensions
on my part of experiencing personal violence. I have,
Sir, had the honour of serving my country in the
Royal Navy for several years, until now without
censure, and, perhaps, not without some little com-
mendation; and I must protest against any person,
however superior to me in rank, making rise of lan-
guage and treatment towards me unworthy of,
and degrading to, an Officer who has the honour
to serve in his Majesty's Navy.—l. have the honour
to be, Sir, with all due respect, your Excellency's
most obedient humble servant,
" BARRY E. M FARA, Surgeon, R. N.
" To his Excellency Lieut.-General
Sir HUL144141 Luwe, K.C.B. &c. &c. Guveruor."

St. Helena, April 10,1818.
66 Sus,—l am directed by Lieutenant-Getteial Sir
lledsou Lowe, to convey to you its instructions,
that except in the event of any thing extraordinary
occuring, which you might feel it your duty to re-
port immediately in person to him, you are not to
quit Longwood without his permission, artless under
a cull for medical attendance, when other medical aid
is not at hand, or sinless under the circumstance of
Napoleon Bonaparte passing outside the grounds of
Longwood, when, if he should require it, you may
follow him, observing however, (list pursuant to the
•riginal arrangement made by Rear-Admiral Sir
George Cockburn your attendance upon him cannot
be considered as supplying the place of a British
Meer should he pass• beyond the limits.
6' Your immediate attendance upon the Naval
Commander-in-Chief, should he at any time require
it, is also an exception to the above rule.
" In case of your feeling it necessary or desiring
to call in, or consult with, other medical aid, you will
apply forthwith to Mr. linter (or to any nearer meth.
cal person, if the suddenness of the csse should require
it), making known the same to the Orderly Officer,
who has orders to place a dragoon at your disposi-
tion, for the above or any other purpose you may
want one, connected with your medical duty.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) '* T. R I; A DE, Liem.-Cui. U. A.G.
" Burly O'Meara, Esq. Lfingwood."

‘• Longwood, April 12.1818.
rr Sin,--1 had the honour this morning of receive
ing a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas
Reade, Deputy Adjutant-General, containing in•
structions, In your Excellency's name, by which I
find that I am assimilated wits the French prisoners
at Longwood.
" When, in 1815, Count Bertrand asked me to
accompany Napoleon Bonaparte as Surgeon, I de-
clared to Admiral Lord Keith and Captain Maitland
(both of whom strongly recommended my accepting
of the offer), that I would accept of the situation
on certain conditions, viz.—that I should continue
upon the Navy List in my rank as Surgeon, with my
time going on ; that it should be permitted me to
resign, should I find the situation not to be con.
sonata to my wishes ; that I should not be considered
as dependant upon or paid by Napoleon Bonaparte,
but as a British Officer e•nployed by the British Go-
vernment (and consequently not subject to any re.
striction or restrictions imposed upon French pri-
soners), preferring to renounce any situation, how-
ever advantageous, rather than give up my inde-
pendence, and the rights to which every British
subject is entitled by the laws of the land which
gave him birth ; the subsequent arrangements made
by the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, show that all these conditions were
approved of.
" In June, 1817, you, Sir, manifested some inten-
tion of imposing upon me the same restrictions as the
French prisoners were subjected to. I bad then the
honour to communicate to you, the stipulations which
I bad made, and the conditions under which I had
accepted the situation ; adding, that l would prefer
giving in my resignation, to submitting to any
such restrictions. I, therefore, Sir, consider your
order, of the 10th of this month, as a demand for my
resignation, and I have the honour now, Sir, to
tender it to you, and also to demand permission to
return to England ; as no pecuniary advantages are
sufficiently powerful to induce me to give up my
rights is a British subject, and to sully the uniform
which I have the honour to wear.—l have the honour
to be, Sir, with all possible respect, your Excel-
lency's most obedient humble servant,
(Signed) •• BARRY E. 0' MEA RA, Surgeon, R.N.
Tu bb Esrelles.cy Lieoi..6eii. Sir Ho.tbon Luoe,
K. C. B. ac. tkc. Qr. &err, our."

" Longwood, April 12, ISM
" SIR,—I have received this morning a letter,
bearing date the 10th of this month, containing di-
rections from the Governor of the Island, that I am
not permitted in future to stir out of Longwood ;
which is equivalent to saying, that I am to he sub-
jected to the same restrictions as the French pri.
toners.
When, in 1815, I resolved, in consequence of the
confidence you had manifested towards me, and the
advice of Admiral Lout Keith and Capt. Maitland,
to accept of the situation of Surgeon, I made a spe-
cial condition, that in so doing I should be conti-
nued upon the Navy List, in my rank as Surgeon,
with my time going on; and that I should be consi-
dered as a British Officer, paid by the British Go-
vernment, and consequently not subject to any re•
inaction or restrictions, which it might be thought
proper to impose upon the French ; desiring thereby
to preserve my character as a British Officer un-
sullied.
" Ten months past, the Governor conveyed to me
some intimation of his wish to submit me to the same
restrictions as the French; to which I replied, by
making known to him the engagements which I had
made, and that, however flattering might be the
confidence which had been placed in me, nothing
would induce me to degrade my character and the
uniform which I wore, by renouncing the privileges
to which every Englishman is entitled by the laws ofl
his country.
" It appears clearly to me now that the intentions
are, by subjecting me to such restrictions, to oblige
me to quit the Chief Personage at Longwood, and I
am under the necessity of representing to you, Sir,
that however painful it is to my feelings to On so, in the
actual state of ill health in which he is at present, it
is iMpossible for me to sacrifice my character, and my
rights as a British subject, to the desire which I have
of being useful to him; trod I have; lu consequence;

formed the resolution to depart, and retatn to My
native country. In doing Ibis, I do not conceive
that I break through any engagements which I may
have contracted with you, since it is caused by a su-
perior power, as independent of my will, as ao irresisti-
ble physical force, or death itself. It is doubtless,
true, that [ made a promise to stay as long as you
remained in the state you are, and whilst I could be
of any service to you ; hut in so doing I only ex-
pressed my volition to execute, which is now as im-
possible as it I were labouring under sickness, or no
more.
" had an interview this morning, but, in cense-
quence of observing him to be very unwell, I did not
like to communicate to him the novel intelligence
which must cause my departure from him ; I there-
(ore beg of you, who are most accustomed to, and
have a greater right to his confidence, to make it
known to him.—l have the honour to he, Sir, with
the greatest respect, your most obliged humble
' servant,
(Signedl " BARRY R. O'MEARA, Surgeon.
r "To Lieut.-General C.,unt Bertrand, " &r."

••,* AT NINE O'CLOCK NEXT TUESDAY MORN-
ING, TWO PRIZES OF £30,000, TWO PR I ZES
OF .et.ooo, 1,000 SOVEREIGNS, &c. WITII GOLD,
CL A RET, PORT, MA D A.---A LL MUST HE
DRAWN NEXT TUESDAY.--LOTTERY FI-
NISHES.