BOOKS.

FORSYTH'S HISTORY OF THE CAPTIVITY OF NAPOLEON AT ST. HELENA.* OPINION has greatly changed since it was among the articles of the Whig-Liberal creed that the Duke of Wellington was a man of one idea, or even " wooden-headed "; that the Revolutionary and Imperial wars were forced on France by Pitt and the English aris- tocracy ; and that the confinement of Bonaparte at St. Helena re- flected eternal disgrace on this country. Some of the change is due to time—the reaction of exaggerated prejudice ; much to the force of facts. The collected Despatches of the Duke answered the doubts as to his intellectual capacity. Memoirs, private and official corre- spondence, proved the strong desire of Pitt for peace on reason- able terms, and the impossibility of obtaining them. The almost libraries that have been published on the public life of Napoleon by original observers, and more than all his own avowal of his principles of action—his unconscious self-exhibition—have com- pletely dissipated the halo that faction and want of knowledge had thrown around the character and career of Napoleon Bona- parte. His remarkable genius is proved by what he did ; though he had not the sound judgment of Wellington, or the com- prehensive mind, the " teres atque rotundus " nature which dis- tinguished Caesar. His manners and public morals were of the lowest. All accounts seem to agree that when he pleased he could exercise a sort of Italian fascination ; but he had no " good-breed- ing" either acquired or innate, and no regard for decorum or pro- priety. Moral sense in him was not so much bad or perverted as extinct. He shrank from no crime, he stuck at no falsehood to carry his objects ; and though, like the Devil, "good tempered when pleased," he had a selfishness so thorough and so hardened that he cared not what misery he inflicted, or upon whom, however near to him. The Voice from St. Helena perhaps did more damage to Napoleon's character than the attacks of avowed enemies. Jeffer- son was induced by O'Meara's book to pronounce that Napoleon " wanted totally the sense of right and wrong," if he said what O'Meara represents him as saying.

The truer appreciation of Napoleon's character, and the change in opinion already mentioned, have extended to his confinement and in some degree to his management at St. Helena. Few now dispute the political necessity of his detention ; the reaction against him has probably diminished the belief in his harsh treat- ment ; though the reiterated complaints of Napoleon and his parti- sans, echoed by the Holland House coterie, and the continual at- tacks on the Tory Ministers and their Governor Sir Hudson Lowe by Whig wits, have perhaps kept up the tradition in many minds that Napoleon in exile was not treated with sufficient considera- tion. We think the idea is fainter than Mr. Forsyth would seem to imagine, but the impression doubtless exists. To remove this impression is the object of these three volumes. They appear to have originated in a wish entertained on the part of his family to justify the character of the late Sir Hudson Lowe. They are founded on " thirty folio volumes filled with copies of correspondence and other writings, carefully made under the direc- tion of Sir Hudson Lowe, who seems to have treasured a memorial of every incident, however trivial, connected with that important period of his life."

"In addition to these, there are several large boxes which contain manu- scripts, chiefly copies, relating to the same events, all of which have been diligently examined for the purpose of the present work. Two sets of copies of O'Meara's letters to Mr. Finlaison, so frequently quoted in the narrative, were placed iu my hands; but I wish distinctly to state that I have not seen the originals. One of these sets was made officially at the time when the letters were communicated through the Admiralty to the Cabinet, as will be explained in the course of the narrative, and their correctness cannot for a moment be doubted."

The task of selecting from this mass of papers and presenting the results to the public was undertaken by the late Sir Harris Nicolas. The method he had proceeded upon was to print nearly every document at length in chronological order, " connecting them with a slender thread of explanatory remark." When Mr. Forsyth, after the premature death of Sir Harris, undertook the task of editor, he preferred to throw the materials into the form of a History of the Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena ; sup- porting the statements of the narrative by extracts from the docu- ments, and printing the most important in full as appendices.As the plan of Sir Harris Nicolas would have involved seven or eight closely-printed volumes of official documents, often containing much formal or trivial matter, it is well that the method w. as changed. Three ample volumes is quite enough on a subject whose temporary interest has long since ceased, which cannot be other than the variation of an often-told tale, and the general attraction of which, however sad it may be to say it, will be in

j the picture of Napoleon, rather than in the justification of Sir Hudson Lowe. The British public loves justice, but it does not like the trouble necessary to pass judgment. i

Mr. Forsyth's book, however, is an interesting and a readable work. The celebrity of the principalpersonage, his great reverse of fortune, equalling if not surpassing all that history or tragedy can parallel, the curiosity to see him under the change, the more true-looking and doubtless the truer picture of his daily life and temper as exhibited in the official despatches, and the reports of the • History of the Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena; from the Letters and Pont, nals of the late Lieutenant-General Sir Hudson Lowe, and Official Documents not before made public. By William Forsyth, M.A., Author of "Hortensius "and "History of Trial by...Jury," late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. In three volumes. With Portrait and Map. Published by Murray. British officers, excite and sustain the interest of the reader. To these last may 13e added subordinate and collateral matter, especially the reports of O'Meara in the island, and his private letters to his friend Mr. Finlaison the celebrated actuary, at that time a clerk in the Admiralty. O'Meara's private letters differ from his works subsequently published when he was sent home from St. Helena and dismissed the service, less in facts than in the tone and colouring; though the baseness of the man appears in the ridicule he throws upon the private life at Longwood, and in his violations of medical confidence even with respect to the ladies. In fact, he seems, by nature or bad company, to have been thoroughly corrupt. Receiving the pay and expressly stipulating for the rank and cha- racter of a British officer, he became the unscrupulous tool of Na- poleon, not only in servilely promulgating his views, but in vio- lating the regulations and the law, by acting as an agent and a medium of conveying secret correspondence. Yet to some extent he betrayed the secrets of Longwood to the other side, in spite of a contrary pledge to Napoleon. On one occasion, (Vol. III. pp. 16-17,) he is found avowing a disregard of truth so per- fectly shameless that Napoleon himself would scarcely have done it. The Finlaison letters, however, are very clever ; and so much was thought of them at home, that they were copied for the perusal of the Cabinet and the Prince Regent. His Royal Highness was doubtless entertained by the passages which Mr. Forsyth sup- presses. The impression left by the full exhibition of the case is favour- able to the intentions and temper of the British Government as well as of Sir Hudson Lowe. After General Bonaparte's security was provided for, the instructions of Government were, to furnish him with every reasonable accommodation and comfort, and to at- tend to his wishes in every respect, with a due regard to the regu- lations prescribed for safety. Those instructions were fully car- ried out by Sir Hudson, and indeed exceeded. He maintained his temper under circumstances of continual provocation, accompanied with braggart and offensive insolence of the most vulgar character. Whether sufficient care and judgment were exhibited by the au- thorities at home or by Sir Hudson Lowe, is another matter. It may at once be conceded that Napoleon would not have been con- tented with anything short of full liberty to escape from St. Helena : like the soldier under punishment, there was no pleasing him strike how you would. Granted that we are speaking after the event in all cases ; that many luxuries, especially at the out- set, were with difficulty procured at St. Helena, and that for necessaries the establishment at Longwood was never in want or even stinted. It is nevertheless a fact, that Government cut the annual allowance down to 80001. a year, after two experiments of Admiral Cockburn, made for the express purpose, had fixed the expenditure at about 13,000/. and 15,0001. per an- num respectively. Sir Hudson took upon himself the responsi- bility of raising it to 12,0001. ; and Ministers afterwards allowed him to exceed that sum ; still the reduction gave Bonaparte the op- portunity of perpetrating the fraudulent trick of selling his old plate, and the ostentatious offer, accompanied with offensive braggadocio, of maintaining himself if he were allowed to draw for his expenses under a sealed cover. The wine, the meat, and the bread, were sometimes indifferent or ran short, and some par- ticular kinds of wine occasionally deficient. When this became known, there were official inquiries and reports in plenty, and the evil was remedied : but the resources of the British Government were surely liberal enough to have prevented this scandal. Long- wood house was dilapidated, and occasionally damp and smoky. The inconvenience Napoleon in some degree brought upon him- self, by pettishly refusing to have repairs ; but why not have done at first what was done at last, build a new house ? It is true, he would give no opinion about site or anything else ; but, the option having once been offered and declined, the house should have been built in whatever spot the authorities deemed best. And so upon every occasion. The " fons makrum "—the source of the seemingly founded com- plaints against the Government and the Governor—originated in that spring of many other evils, the martinet, narrow, official spirit, in which everything was done or thought of. The essential object was security—safe keeping. That must be provided for at all cost; but once provided for, everything else was indifferent. Scott's argument in favour of the title of " General" is, we think, conclusive ; but simply because the etiquette of an acknowledged Emperor would throw obstacles in the way of proper supervision. Security was substantially provided for by a sufficient naval force to prevent the approach or escape of a strange vessel of any kind, and by the inspection twice a day. Yet there are doubts whether the naval force was sufficient at a certain time, and we have doubts whether it ever was thoroughly sufficient. The in- spection can hardly be said to have been enforced at all. For long intervals the resident orderly officer scarcely saw Napoleon ; only inferring his presence, and that on insufficient grounds, in spite of incessant watchfulness. These are some of the troubles attend- ant upon the office, from the journal of Captain Nicholls.

"April 3d. 'Napoleon still keeps himself concealed. I have not been

able to see him since the 25th . . . . April 19th. again waited on Montholon, and told him that I could not see Napoleon. He appeared sur- prised, and said they had seen me. N.B. General Bonaparte has got in most of his billiard-room windows small holes to put his spy-glass through ; con- sequently he is able to see them [i. e. persons] without being himself ex- posed to observation. A few minutes past six p. tn., General Bonaparte ap- peared in his back flower-garden, dressed in green, with his cocked hat. I eve it was Bertrand that was with him. I was nearly twelve hours on meier this day, endeavouring to see Napoleon Bonaparte before I suc- ; and I have experienced many such days since I have been stationed at Longwood. While at dinner this evening, Sergeant Kitts told me that Napoleon was walking. in Longwood garden between seven and eightp. Montholon told me this day that General Bonaparte could not appear out of

his quarters, he was so chilly and cold.' . . . . 23.1. believe that I saw Napoleon Bonaparte today in the act of strapping his razor in his dressing- room.' "

This is a " report " from the same officer about the same time.

" received your note late last night; and this morning I again waited upon Count Montholon, and stated to him that it was absolutely necessary that I or some other officer should daily see General Bonaparte, and that my orders on this head were very positive. I also requested that the Count would be pleased to point out a certain room for me to see Napoleon, or that some one of General. Bonaparte's family would inform me where he would be seen. The Count said he would state this to Napoleon. In the afternoon I again saw Count Montholon, and he told me that he had mentioned the above to Napoleon Bonaparte, but had received no answer. " ' I must here beg leave to state, that in the execution of my duty yes- terday I was upon my feet upwards of ten hours, endeavouring to procure a sight of Napoleon Bonaparte, either in his little garden or at one of his win- dows, but could not succeed ; that during the whole of this time I was ex- posed to the observations and remarks of not only the French servants, but also to the gardeners and other persons employed about Longwood House; and that I have very frequently experienced days of this kind since I have

been employed on this duty. * "From the 1st to the 4th of July Captain Nicholls continued to see Bona- parte occasionally ; but failing to do so on the 5tb, he applied the next day to Count Montholon ; who told him that Napoleon often walked in the bil- liard-room after dinner, at which times it was probable he might see him, and that if he could not do so through the window, he could see him through the keyhole ! 'I told the Count,' says Captain Nicholls, 'that I certainly should not adopt such a plan ; and we parted.' "On the 21st, the unfortunate orderly officer, who bad been constantly baffled in his attempts to perform his duty, reported as follows, " Yesterday I was upon my feet at least ten hours walking about Long- wood garden, but had no opportunity given me of seeing General Bonaparte. I heard persons talking in his billiard-room at about six o'clock in the after- noon. This evening, since seven o'clock, I have been employed in the like

manner The weather at present is so very bad, that I fear my health will be greatly injured if I am under the necessity of continuing the system of walking round Longwood House and garden in the execution of my duty as orderly officer, in order to procure a sight of General Bona- parte.' " This is a sufficient answer as to the tyranny or indelicacy of Sir Hudson Lowe : but while thus lax upon the essential though pain- ful point, he was, we think, foolishly rigid upon indifferent trifles. John Cam [now] Lord Broughton wrote a book upon the Hundred Days, and sent out a presentation-copy, writing therein, "Impera- tore Napoleon " : but he gave Sir Hudson an option, and the book was stopped on account of the " Imperator." One of the Erskines, out of gratitude for some family favour, transmitted a set of chess- men with an imperial crown : the Governor demurred to this, but finally sent the box, with a letter of protest about the heraldry. A bust of the King of Rome was clandestinely sent out by some speculators in London, under circumstances that would have justi-, fled their punishment within the jurisdiction : the bust was arrested, and only forwarded to Longwood on the remark of one of Sir Hudson's officers, that being marble, it could not, like plaster, contain letters. And so on with almost everything where there was a possibility of making mountains of mole-hills. It must in justice to Sir Hudson Lowe be observed, that many of his dilemmas seem to have been occasioned by an over-anxiety to give satisfaction or explanation, and a nervous dread of not properly discharging his duty. He wrote too much, and allowed himself too easily to be drawn into somethinc,° like controversy; and this kept him continually in hot water. When an essential principle of action is once established, one defence or rather ex- planation is enough. No further discussion should be allowed, but the principle carried out, and if necessary by force ; and for this line of conduct he had the authority of his Government. The men he was dealing with were incapable of appreciating gene- rosity; politeness was of no further use than in smoothing matters and affording them no handle. Instead of a plain exposition fol- lowed by a resolute determination, the Governor, if not too good- natured, was too prone to respond ; which with persons always " trying it on" was only playing their game. That this opinion is not mere conjecture, is proved by two facts, really involving the only two points at issue. At the outset a declaration was to be signed by all the residents at Longwood. This was done, but they substituted " Emperor " for " General." Sir Hudson, not to cre- ate dispute, passed it over; but Lord Bathurst returned the de- clarations, giving them the choice to sign or go. After a world of

vapouring, they signed, under circumstances as ridiculous as their melodramatic refusal. We have seen the obstacles thrown in the way of ocular inspection : when an order was finally issued direct- ing the resident officer to make his way through the house till he saw General Bonaparte, facilities were contrived. Towards the end, Napoleon became somewhat more placable. Perhaps he was convinced of the uselessness of resistance ; or he felt that his disease was mortal, and his life drawing to a close. When O'Meara. was sent away, his uncle Cardinal Fesch chose the new physician, and two priests, one of whom Napoleon wished for; • but his Eminence chose badly.

"Bonaparte had no confidence inAntommarchi; who was, in truth, wholly unequal to the situation. In one of the orderly officer's reports this month [January 1821] he said that Napoleon had been very angry with the doctor, because the pills which he had been taking for some time past had lost their proper effect. This might be very hard upon Antommarchi, for the same result would very probably have happened if he had possessed first-rate skill in his profession ; but Napoleon was getting tired of him, and wished to have another physician sent out in his place. And he was equally dissatisfied with the poor old Abbe Buonavita, who was no theologian, and quite unfit to hold converse on religious subjects with the keenest intellect of the age, or answer the questions of such a sceptic as Napoleon Bonaparte. The wishes of the exile on these points were made known to Sir Hudson Lowe by Count Montholon in the course of a long and interesting conversation he had with him on the 27th of January. The Count said that he was charged to request that the Abbe Buonavita might be replaced by a priest from Europe, and that a physician might also be sent out, as well as successors for Count Bertrand and himself; but that Bonaparte particularly desired that his family might be entirely excluded from all interference whatever in the choice of any of them. He had great reason to complain of the choice they bad made in the persons last sent to St. Helena. The Count said that it perhaps was not so much the fault of the family, as of the position in which they were placed, in an ecclesiastical state, where they could not act with sufficient independence in making a selection. Besides, they bad no rela- tions with Paris to enable them to make a good choice. Bonaparte wished, therefore, to leave it entirely to the decision of the King of France and his Ministers, as he thought none could choose for him better than the French Government ; the present Ministry being composed of persons nearly all of whom had served him in the same offices, and who so well knew his habits and disposition : for instance, there was Pasquier, who had been ten years his Minister, with whom he confidentially conversed every day for hours, and discussed the characters of people ; Monier was another who knew him perfectly, as well as Sigur, Simeon, Daru ; and Latour-Maubourg, at this time Minister at War, who served with him for twenty-four years up to 1814, who had been his aide-de-camp, had accompanied him to Egypt, and whose fortune he had made. There was De Cazes himself, once his private secretary, who knew him intimately for several years, and who was in pos- session of many secrets known to none but himself.

"At a previous period Count Montholon had described the new-comers in the following flattering terms—' The Abbe can only speak of Mexico; Au- tommarchi of medicine ; and Vignali is perfectly ignorant.'

"With regard to a priest, Montholon said that Bonaparte wanted a man of education and learning, a theologian, with whom he could maintain ar- guments in theology, who would answer all his questions on religious mat- ters in eases which required to be examined and sounded to their depths; one who was perfectly versed in the history of religion, and capable of act- ing as a guide to him in the perusal of the Scriptures ; able to convince and satisfy his mind upon points where he felt doubts. He wished him to be from forty to fifty years of age ; a man of erudition ; for as to Buonavita, he was incapable of discussing any religious point, and had never studied ; he was, in fact, totally ignorant and without education. Napoleon, the Count said, was not satisfied without explanations on every point; he wished to fathom everything, and had lately observed to him, Although I feel myself growing weaker and weaker every day, and am extremely ill, I am not yet brought to bay in a state to require the succour of religion ; still, if I found myself reduced to that plight, is it to a person like that I could address my- self to become enlightened and obtain spiritual aid? Who knows ? Voltaire himself asked for the consdlations of religion before his death, and perhaps I also might find much comfort and relief in the society of an ecclesiastic ca- pable of inspiring in me a taste for religious conversation, who might render me devout.'

" As to the young priest Vignali, Montholon said, when he came out to St. Helena he could neither read nor write, though he was now studying very hard, and making great efforts. With respect to Dr. Antommarchi, he was a good anatomist, and perhaps a good surgeon also ; but he was very ignorant. He had not even finished his studies when he came to the island, and had never been in society. As Napoleon must know everything, and have his inquiries satisfactorily answered, which Antommarchi could not do, he had taken a dislike to him. Besides, added the Count, his manners were too frivolous and presuming ; he had begun by giving himself a good deal of importance, and on his arrival believed that the whole island was at his command."

All these arrangements, which were substantially repeated in a minute of Napoleon, were stopped by his death, in the month of May following.

It has been surmised that Sir Hudson Lowe was to some degree a scapegoat of the Ministry. There is not a trace of this to be found in the proceedings. He was thoroughly supported in what he did ; what he took upon himself was confirmed; and he held greater power than he exercised. On his return George the Fourth gave him his hearty approbation. "Sir Hudson Lowe was presented to the Ring on the 14th of November ; and, being about to kiss his Majesty's hand, the Bing took hold of his and shook it heartily, saying, I congratulate you most sincerely upon your re- turn, after a trial the most arduous and exemplary that perhaps any man ever had. I have felt for your situation, and may appeal to Lord Bathurst how frequently I have talked to him about you.' Sir Hudson Lowe, de- scribing the interview in a letter to a friend, says, 'He took my hand a second time, and again repeated his congratulations on the exemplary man- ner in which I had fulfilled my duties; turning at the time to all the Minis- ters who were present, as if to impress his own sentiments upon them.' And soon after Sir Hudson Lowe had the gratification of receiving a con- vincing proof of the approval of Government of his conduct, by being ap- pointed to the first vacant Colonelcy of a regiment (the Ninety-third) that occurred after his return to England."