An Unpublished Interview with Napoleon.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 436, 11 January 1890, Page 6

An Unpublished Interview with Napoleon.

From an article in the * Century ’ on ‘Napoleon in Exile,’ described in unpublished letters by British officers, we quote the following :— ‘ When I was presented he said that he was once a great enemy to England, but now hewas as sincere a friend. He said that we were a great and generous nation. He asked me about the wind, weather, distance to Elba, and other nautical questions; he then bowed and retired. He was very dignified - still the Emperor. I received his command to dine with him. There were at table all the commissioners and the Grand Marshal; the conversation was most interesting. ‘ He laughed when I asked him if he did not issue his Milan decree for the purpose of forcing America to quarrel with us. This he did not deny. He said “all his plans were on an immense scale,” and would have been finished in four or five years. I have not time to repeat all his interesting conversation. ‘ That night we embarked all his numerous baggage. In the morning he sent for me. He asked how the wind was, and said he had made up his mind to embark at eight in the evening. At seven o’clock he sent for me. and I remained half an hour alone with him (an immense mob had gathered round his hotel). His sword was on the table, and he appeared very thoughtful; there was a very great noise in the street. I said to him—“ The French

mob are the worst - I have seen.” He answered—“ They are a fickle people.” He appeared in deep thought ; but, recovering himself, rang the bell, and ordering the Grand Marshal to be sent for, he asked if all was ready. Being answered in the affirmative, he turned to me and said in his usual quick wav, 44 Allons.” 4 The stairs were lined at each side with ladies and gentlemen. Ho stopped a moment, and said something to the ladies which 1 could not hear. He walked to his carriage and called for me (not a safe berth); he then called the Austrian commissioner and the Grand Marshal. I sat opposite to him in the carriage, and we drove off. My boats were almost two miles from the town. We were accompanied by an Hungarian regiment of cavalry. It was a delightful moonlight night, the country we passed through a paradise. Then the carriage stopped, the bugle sounded, and the regiment was drawn up. 4 An interesting scenenowopened—bugles sounding, drums beating, horses neighing, and people of every nation in Europe witnessing the embarkation of this man who had caused so much misery to them all. 4 1 informed him that the boat was ready, and we walked together to where she was. He was handed into the boat by a nephew of Sir Sidney Smith’s who is my fourth lieutenant —rather an odd coincidence. Lieutenant Smith had been confined in prison for seven or eight years. I introduced him. The Emperor seemed to feel his conscience prick him : he only said, 44 Nephew to Sir Sidney Smith ; I met him in Egypt.” 4 When v/e got on board he walked rdund the ship. My people crowded about him, and he said “ for the first time in his life he felt confidence in a mob.” His spirits seemed to revive, and he told me the next morning that he iiad never slept better. Next day he asked me a thousand questions, and seemed quite initiated in nautical matters. At breakfast and dinner there was a great deal of conversation. He spoke of the Scheldt expedition. I asked him if he ever thought we should succeed. He said, “Never;” and turning a little towards the Austrian Commissioner, he said, “I wrote from Vienna that the expedition was intended against Antwerp.” He told me his motive for annexing Holland to France was for a naval purpose, and that he thought the Zuydtr Zee particularly well adapted for exercising his conscripts. ‘At breakfast one morning he asked me to bring to a neutral brig that was passing. I said, laughing, that I was astonished His Majesty should give such an order, as it was contrary to his system to denationalise. He turned round and gave me a pretty hard rap, saying, *‘Ah, Capitaine !” 4 When we were sailing by the Alps he leaned on my arm for half an hour, looking earnestly at them. I said he had once passed them with better fortune. He laughed, an! liked the compliment. He told me had been only once wounded ; it was in the knee, and by an English sergeant-. He looks uncommonly well and young, and is much improved for the better, being now very stout. He showed me a portrait of the king of Rome; he is very like his father. He likewise showed me one of the Empress, which is rather pretty. We had a smart gale when off Corsica; he asked me to anchor at Ajaccio, the place of his birth : bub the wind changing made it impossible. In the gale I told him i had more confidence than Ciesar’s pilot ; the compliment pleased him. 4 He dresses very plain, wearing a green coat with the decoration of the Legion of Honour. A portrait of him with the cocked hat and folded arms is the strongest likeness I have seen.’ (Here a sheet of the letter appears to be lost, and we find ourselves at Elba.)