Europe and Napoleon 527 public tranquillity, and to make common cause against all who may attempt to compromise it. The present declaration, inserted in the protocol of the congress assembled at Vienna, March 13, 18 15, shall be made public. The allies completely carried out the programme announced in the declaration above. In less than two months after the battle of Waterloo, the ship bearing Napoleon to St. Helena was well on its way. One of the few companions who were permitted to accompany him, the Comte de Las Cases, kept an interesting journal of his experiences, especially of his conversations with Napoleon (see above, p. 468). He makes the following entries in his diary. August jo. This day we cleared the Channel. We had 454. Napo- now entered upon the dreary unknown course to which fate icon's exile to U A A AX- A ■ St ' Helena - had doomed us. Again my agonies were renewed ; again (From the dear connections I had abandoned resumed their sway Las Cases' over my heart. . . . Meanwhile we advanced in our course ary and were soon to be out of Europe. Thus, in less than six weeks, had the emperor abdicated his throne and placed himself in the hands of the English, who were now hurry- ing him to a barren rock in the midst of a vast ocean. This is certainly no ordinary instance of the chances of fortune, and no common trial of firmness of mind. . . . As to the reproach of suffering himself to be trans- ported to St. Helena, it would be a disgrace to answer such a charge. To contend with an adversary in the cabin of a ship, to kill some one with his own hand, or attempt to set fire to the powder magazine would have been at best the act of a buccaneer. Dignity in misfortune, submission to necessity have also their glory, and it is that which becomes great men overwhelmed by adversity. . . . August 11-14. Our course was shaped to cross the Bay of Biscay and to double Cape Finisterre. The wind was fair though light, and the heat excessive. Nothing could be
