River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-12-13
HI KNEW NAPOLEON.
Testimony of an English Midshipman
Writing Ia 1918.

Writing In 1918.
One of the most curious, as well as
one of the most ancient letters which
has passed through the dead-letter Of
flee was one which turned up few
days ago. 1t was dated July 80, 1915,
and was addressed by the writer to his
mother in Ireland by a midshipman in
the English navy, who was stationed
ON the English brig Bellerophon, which
conveyed Napoleon Bonaparte from
France to st. Helena, where he spent
the last years of his life. The letter is
interesting as throwing additional
light upon the circumstances of the
surrender of Napoleon to the En-
glish, and as showing the routine
of his daily life on shipboard.
OF course the letter was treasured as a
relic by the descendants of its writer,
and in the course of time was brought
to America by member of the family
to whom it descended, who settled in
New Jersey.
Recently his son while rummaging in
the garnet found the valuable paper
and forwarded it to more direct de-
scendant residing in Ireland. The
person to whom the letter was adj
dressed could not be found. and it was
in the course of events returned to the
dead letter Office here. The old mis-
sive with its faded lines has been re
turned to the sender in New Jersey.
1t reads as follows:
''Was it not for the strict blockade
we kept up Napoleon would hive es-
capped to America. We heard of him
being on board the French frigate
Saale, off Rochefort, from which mo-
ment we watched his motions, if posi-
bic, more closely than ever. On the
morning of the 14th inst. duly, observ-
ing schooner bearing flag of truce
on board standing toward us, we
hove to for her, when Count Lescazas
and Gen. lAllernand came on board
will proposals from Bonaparte, in con-
sequence of which we came to anchor
in the evening in the roads off Ro-
chelle Next morning at four o'clock
we observed a man-of-war brig stand
ing out and heading toward us.
Owe Immediately dispatched all our
boats and brought Napoleon on board
at seven o'clock a. IN. The boats were
busily employed in bringing his ret
inue and baggage. / never saw men
exert themselves as ours did that day,
lest Admiral Hotham should take him,
as he was off the harbor in the Superb
and saw him coming on board here,
and did all in his power TO get him,
but did not come to anchor before
eleven o'clock in the m orning.
"Bonaparte is tine-looking man, in
clined to corpulency; five feet six
inches in height, has hair turning
gray, and is little bald on the crown
of his head, 40 whiskers, complexion
French yellow, eyes gray, Roman
nose, good mouth and chin, neck
short, big belly, arms stout, small
white hands, and shows good leg. He
wears a cooked hat, somewhat like our
old-fashioned three-cornered ones, with
a tri-colored cockade in it, plain green
coat, cape red and cuffs the same, plain
gold epaulettes, and large star on the
left breast, white waistcoat and
brooches and white silk stockings, thin
shoes and buckles. He eats but two
meals in the day breakfast and dim
ner-and these are sumptuous-fish,
flies h and fowl, wines, fruit, various
French dishes, etc. He breakfasts
about eleven and dimes at six, is about
half an hour at each meal, when he
generally comes on deck or goes into
the after cabin to study."-N. Y. Adj
vertiser.