Napoleon's Appeal to the British Nation, on His Treatment at Saint Helena

Napoleon's Appeal to the British Nation, on His Treatment at Saint Helena

M. SANTINI, Huissier du Cabinet de lEmpereur NAPOLEON, arrived at Portsmouth from St. Helena on the 25th February 1817. He affirms, that Napoleon, on his arrival at St. Helena, was treated by Sir George Cockburn with respect and delicacy. He was afterwards transferred to Longwood, once a farm belonging to the East India Company. In this wretched asylum he still remains. His sleeping chamber is scarcely large enough to contain a bed and a few chairs. The roof of this hovel consists of paper, coated with pitch, which is beginning to rot, and through which the rain-water and dew penetrate. In addition to all these inconveniences, the house is infested by rats, who devour every thing that they can reach. All the Emperors linen, even that which was lately sent from England, has been gnawed and completely destroyed by them. For want of closets, the linen is necessarily exposed upon the floor. When the Emperor is at dinner, the rats run about the apartment, and even creep between his feet. The report of a house having been sent from England is false. The new Governor has introduced into the house of the Emperor absolute want. The provisions he furnished were always in too small a quantity, and also very often of bad quality, and in the latter case, when sent back, were never replaced by others more fit for use. Often being without butchers meat for the Emperors table, the steward has sent to purchase a sheep for four guineas, and sometimes could only procure pork for making soup. Captain Poppleton, of the 53d regiment, has often lent candles, as well as bread, butter, poultry, and even salt. M. Santini was, even from necessity, in the habit of repairing secretly to the English camp to purchase butter, eggs, and bread, of the soldiers wives, otherwise the Emperor would often have been without breakfast, and even without dinner. The Governor sent seven servants to Longwood, but the Emperor was obliged to dismiss four of them, from inability to supply them with food! The Emperor is limited to a bottle of wine per day! Marshal and Madame Bertrand, General Montholon and his Lady, General Gourgand, and Count de Las Cassas, have also each their bottle. Marshal Bertrand has three children; M. de Montholon two; and M. de Las Cassas one, about fifteen or sixteen years of age; and for all these mouths the Governor allows no rations. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 50118
Author: Montholon, Charles-Tristan
Release Date: Oct 3, 2015
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Contributor (Author): Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821