Page:Napoleon (O'Connor 1896).djvu/413

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Napoleon's Last Voyages.
397

versation, and the high powers of rhetoric which, came to him from his Italian blood.

VII.

THE VOYAGE TO ST. HELENA.

It will be seen that Napoleon made almost a conquest of the heart of Ussher, that he was treated still as a Royalty, and that accordingly the narrative of the British officer is sympathetic and even eulogistic. The other narrative that which describes the voyage to St. Helena is written in a very different spirit. Even those who do not love Napoleon cannot feel altogether pleased with the almost studied rudeness with which the fallen Emperor was treated on board the Northumberland. Here, for instance, is how Napoleon was treated on the question of cabin accommodation:

"The Admiral after this went into the after-cabin with some of the officers, and finding Bonaparte seemed to assume an exclusive right to this cabin, he desired Maréchal Bertrand to explain that the after-cabin must be considered as common to us all, and that the sleeping cabin could alone be considered as exclusively his. Bonaparte received this intimation with submission and apparent good-humour, and soon after went on deck, where he remained a considerable time, asking various questions of each officer of trifling