Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-28

His eyes light grey, teeth sood; and when hi
smiled, the expression Of his countenance wa.
highly pleasing; when under the influence o
disappointment however,t assumed dark gloo
my cast. His hair was very dark brown
nearly approaching to black, and though little
thin on the top and front, had not gray hair
amongst it. His complexion was very un.
common one, being one lig ht salIow color, diff
fering from almost any other ever met with
From his having become corpulen., he lost
much Of his personal activity, and, il we are 10
give credit to those who attended him, very
considerable portion Of his mental energy was
also gone.
"Itis certain his habits were very eth argic
while he was on board the Bellerophon; for
though he went to bed between eight and nine
O'Clock in the evening, and did not rise till the
same hour in the morning, he frequently fell a.
sleep on the sofa in the cabin in the course of the
day. His general appearance was that Of man
rather older than he was. His manners were
extremely pleasing and afable; he joined in e.
very conversation, related numerous anecdotes,
and endeavored in every way TO promote good
humor he even admitted his attendants to great
familiarity; and saw one or two instances OF
their contradic,ing him in the most direct
terms, though they generally treated him with
much respect. He possessed, to wonderful
degree, facility in making favorable impress
sion upon those with whom he entered into
conversation; this appeared to me to be accom-
plished by turning the object to mat .ers he sup
posed the person he was addressing was we'll
acquainted with, and on which he could show
himself to advantage.
"This had the effect of putting him in good
humor with himself, after which it was not a
very difficult matter to transfer part of that
feeling to the person who had occasioned it
Lord Keith appears to have formed very high
opinion of the fascination Of his conversation,
and expressed it very emphatically TO me, after
he had seen me: speaking of his wish for an
interview with the Prince Regent, Oh the
fellow" he said, "if he had obtained an inter-
view with his Royal Highness, in half an hour
they would have been the best friends in Eng
land "
He appeared to have great command OF
temper; for, though no man could have greater
trials than fell to his lot during the time he re-
NAMED on board the Bellerophon, he never, in
my presence or as far as knew, allowed fret
full or captious expression % escape him; even
the day he received the notification from Sir II
Bunbury, that it was determined to send him
to ST. Helena, he chatted and conversed with
the same cheerfulness as usual
He adds the following anecdc -, which shows
the Emperor in an amiable light:
81 shall here relate circumstance that oc-
Cured during the passage TO England which
will show in a strong point Of view, the free
dom that subsisted between him and those OF
L La h,I "A
conversation took place respecting the relative
state of cultivation in France and in England
My opinion being asked, said, that though
the climate Of France was much superior to
that Of England, believed that agriculture had
arrived at greater state OF perfection with us
than in France Mos, of the Frenchmen treat
ed the idea with ridlcnle; upon which l said
let us refer to Monsieur Las Cases, who has
lived several years in England "Yon are
right" said he "there can be no doubt that ag-
riculture has arrived at much greater perlec-
ton in England than in France; but what adj
mire most in England, are the country seats OF
your noblemen and gentlemen; there you sur
pass France very much" General Bertrand
then took up the conversation, & said that he
was assured that 3O,ooOl, sterling was annually
expended on the park * grounds OF Blenheim
Bonaparte Immediately reduced that sum in
to livers, and observed, "the thing is impossi-
bic: the English people are not fools; they know
the value of money, and no individual could or
would expend such sum for such purpose"
He then spoke of the expense of keeping up
Malmaison, one ofhis country places in France,
stating the sum cost annually, did not eX-
coed $4,000 Bertrand still persisted in his state
ment, & made reference to me. however, could
give no information further than saying that
from what had heard Of the Duke OF Marlbo-
rough's finances, he could not possibly lay out
any such sum on Blenhem. Bertrand would
not give up the point, but repeated his asser-
ton. On which Bonaparte said, with quick
ness, "Bah! c'est impossible" "Oh!" said
Bertrand, much offended, "if you are to reply
in that manner, there is an end to all arguments
and for some time would no, converse with him.
Bonaparte so far from taking umbrage, did all
he could to sooth him and restore him to good
humor, which was not very difficult 10 effect.
@NNSyH NTSTRS-W(a