Homepage
Login
Profile
BookClubs
dmBox
Read Ebook: The Surrender of Napoleon Being the narrative of the surrender of Buonaparte and of his residence on board H.M.S. Bellerophon with a detail of the principal events that occurred in that ship between the 24th of May and the 8th of August 1815 by Maitland Frederick Lewis Sir Dickson William Kirk Editor
Font size:
Background color:
Text color:
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page Prev Page
Ebook has 535 lines and 63881 words, and 11 pages
Arms required to be delivered up 181
Lists of articles essential for the Trench officers and ladies forwarded to Plymouth 182
Sir George Cockburn is introduced to Buonaparte 182
Buonaparte permitted to wear his sword 183
He requests an interview with Captain Maitland 183
He expresses his wish of living on a small estate in England 185
He speaks in favour of Savary and Lallemand 185
Captain Maitland's letter to Count Bertrand 186
Lord Keith's order to the captain to deliver up General Buonaparte and others 187
General Gourgaud 190
Countess Bertrand's remonstrances 192
A misunderstanding and reconciliation 193
Napoleon returns thanks to Captain Maitland 194
He speaks with regard of Count Bertrand 195
Search of the baggage 196
The box of money temporarily taken charge of 197
Parting of Buonaparte with the captain 200
Count Montholon's polite intimation to Captain Maitland 201
The captain declines the present of a portrait 202
Savary and Lallemand; their affecting parting with Napoleon in the presence of Captain Maitland 203
Description of Napoleon Buonaparte 205
His manners and conversation 206
Anecdotes 207, 210, 215, 216
He speaks of his wife and his son 211
Their pictures 211, 212
Conversation respecting Kleber and Dessaix 213
Napoleon's resources in money 214
The midshipmen act plays 217
Buonaparte's observations on the British cavalry, and relative to the Duke of Wellington 218, 219
Character of Count Bertrand 222
Countess Bertrand, a daughter of General Dillon 222
Savary, Duke of Rovigo, described 224
Savary, Lallemand, and Planat are sent to Malta, and allowed to go to Smyrna 225
Character of Lallemand 225
Count and Countess Montholon 226
Count Las Cases and his son 227
On what terms Captain Maitland received Buonaparte on board his ship; and documents relating thereto 231
CHART OF THE BASQUE ROADS " 1
NAPOLEON ON BOARD THE BELLEROPHON " 108 From the picture by W. Q. Orchardson, R.A., in the Tate Gallery.
H.M.S. BELLEROPHON AT PLYMOUTH " 132 From the picture by J. J. Chalon, R.A., in the Painted Hall at Greenwich.
TUMBLER GIVEN TO CAPTAIN MAITLAND BY NAPOLEON " 202 Photograph from the original at Lindores.
FACSIMILE OF PART OF SIR WALTER SCOTT'S NOTES ON THE "NARRATIVE" " 230 Photograph from the original at Lindores.
MEMOIR
SIR FREDERICK LEWIS MAITLAND.
The name of Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland has found a permanent place in history as that of the captor of Napoleon. Apart from the rare piece of good fortune which befell him in the Basque Roads in July 1815, his distinguished career of public service entitles him to an honourable place in the records of the British Navy.
"It is," he says, "an as yet untold anecdote of the presence of mind and courage of one of the highest-minded characters that ever adorned the British Navy, the late Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland.
"To the honour of the Spanish admiral it must be added, that, having witnessed this bravery and heard that it was Lord St Vincent's flag-lieutenant that had displayed it, he sent Mr Maitland in a cartel to Gibraltar, declaring him free without exchange."
An official letter written by Maitland in June 1805, gives us a vivid glimpse of frigate service in the old days:--
SIR,--Being informed that there was a French privateer of 26 guns fitting out at Muros, and nearly ready for sea, it struck me, from my recollection of the bay , as being practicable either to bring her out or destroy her with the ship I have the honour to command. I accordingly prepared yesterday evening for engaging at anchor, and appointed Mr Yeo, with Lieutenants Mallock and Douglas, of the marines, and Mr Clinch, master's-mate, to head the boarders and marines, amounting, officers included, to 50 men , in landing and storming the fort, though I then had no idea its strength was so great as it has proved. At nine this morning, on the sea-breeze setting in, I stood for the bay in the ship, the men previously prepared, being in the boats ready to shove off. On hauling close round the point of the road, a small battery of 2 guns opened a fire on the ship; a few shot were returned; but perceiving it would annoy us considerably, from its situation, I desired Mr Yeo to push on shore and spike the guns; reminding the men of its being the anniversary of their Sovereign's birth, and that, for his sake, as well as their own credit, their utmost exertions must be used. Though such an injunction was unnecessary, it had a great effect in animating and raising the spirits of the people. As the ship drew in, and more fully opened the bay, I perceived a very long corvette, of 26 ports, apparently nearly ready for sea, and a large brig of 20 ports, in a state of fitting; but neither of them firing, led me to conclude they had not their guns on board, and left no other object to occupy my attention but a heavy fort, which at this moment opened to our view, within less than a quarter of a mile, and began a wonderfully well-directed fire, almost every shot taking place in the hull. Perceiving that, by standing further on, more guns would be brought to bear upon us, without our being enabled to near the fort so much as I wished, I ordered the helm to be put down; and when, from the way she had, we had gained an advantageous position, anchored with a spring, and commenced firing. Although I have but little doubt that, before long, we should have silenced the fort, yet, from the specimen they gave us, and being completely embrasured, it must have cost us many lives, and caused great injury to the ship, had not Mr Yeo's gallantry and good conduct soon put an end to their fire.
I must now revert to him and the party under his command. Having landed under the small battery on the point, it was instantly abandoned; but hardly had he time to spike the guns, when, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, he perceived a regular fort, ditched, and with a gate, which the enemy had neglected to secure, open a fire upon the ship. Without waiting for orders he pushed forward, and was opposed at the inner gate by the Governor, with such troops as were in the town, and the crews of the French privateers. From the testimony of the prisoners as well as our own men, it appears that Mr Yeo was the first who entered the fort, with one blow laid the Governor dead at his feet, and broke his own sabre in two. The other officers were despatched by such officers and men of ours as were most advanced, and the narrowness of the gate would permit to push forward. The remainder instantly fled to the further end of the fort, and from the ship we could perceive many of them leap from the embrasures upon the rocks, a height of above 25 feet. Such as laid down their arms received quarter....
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page Prev Page