been, and universally fell, was feeble in comparison to what we now experienced, when conscious of being within so short a distance of such a man as Napoleon. I say this without the least affectation, hut simply as a curious fact in the history of curiosity, if I may use so quaint an expression, by which every individual on board, high as well as low, was infinitely more occupied about this one man, than he had been with all the incidents of our singular voyage put together. Even those of our number who, from their situation, could have no chance of seeing him, caught the fever of the moment, and the most cold and indifferent person on board was roused on the occasion into unexpected excitement. If this were true of others, it was ten times more striking in the case of those who had any expectation of being admitted to an interview; and I landed with two gentlemen who were passengers in my ship, in a state of greater anxiety than I ever experienced before or since.
“As I had the pleasure of being personally acquainted with the governor and his family, and had received an invitation to live at Plantation House, I calculated with some confidence on the assistance which this acquaintance would afford in forwarding the object in view. Before taking any steps, however, I waited upon the Admiral to receive his orders for my further proceedings. He had no objections to my attempting to see Buonaparte, but gave me very slender hopes of success: and on reaching the governor’s country-house, I was much disappointed by finding that Buonaparte and he were on terms which rendered it impossible for him to request an interview for any stranger. He most kindly, however, undertook to do all that was in his power, and immediately wrote a note to Captain Blakeney. the officer who was at that period in charge of Longwood, to say that I had just arrived from the Eastern Seas, and was desirous of waiting upon General Buonaparte, to whom my wishes were to be made known in the manner most likely to succeed.
“No answer came that evening; and I did not sleep a wink all night. A positive refusal would probably have had a different effect; the disappointment must have been submitted to; but this uncertainty was harassing and agitating in a degree which, though it surprised me a good deal at the time, I have since learned to consider perfectly normal; for I see abundant explanation of my anxiety and want of rest, on comparing what I feel now on the subject, with the lasting regret I should inevitably have experienced, had I failed, when so very near, to see the most remarkable man of the age.
“This night was succeeded by a still more anxious morning. After breakfast an answer came from Longwood to say, that my name had been mentioned to Buonaparte, as well as my desire of paying my respects to him, but it seemed he had not taken the slightest notice of the communication. Captain Blakeney added, that he thought it might be as well for me to come to Longwood, as Buonaparte might possibly choose to receive