near the mole by the captain of the port, sufficient. who, on being told the answer was expected in one hour, replied, that it was would wait two or three hours; he then observed, two hours were quite The fleet at this time, by the springing up of the sea-breeze, had reached the bay, and were preparing the boats and flotilla for service, until near two o'clock, when, observing my officer was returning, with the signal flying that no answer had been received, after a delay of upwards of three hours, I instantly made the signal to know if the ships were all ready, which being answered in the affirmative, the Queen Charlotte bore up, followed by the fleet, for their appointed stations; the flag, leading in the prescribed order, was anchored in the entrance of the mole, at about fifty yards distance. At this moment not a gun had been fired, and I began to suspect a full compliance with the terms, which had been so many hours in their hands. At this period of profound silence, a shot was fired at us from the mole, and two at the ships to the northward, then following. This was promptly returned by the Queen Charlotte, who was then lashing to the main-mast of a brig, fast to the shore in the mouth of the mole, and which we had steered for, as the guide to our position. Thus commenced a fire as animated and well supported, as, I believe, was ever witnessed, from a quarter before three o'clock until nine, without intermission, and which did not cease altogether until half-past eleven. The ships immediately following me were admirably and coolly taking their stations, with a precision even beyond my most sanguine hope; and never did the British flag receive, on any occasion, more zealous and honourable support. To look further on the line than immediately around me, was perfectly impossible; but so well grounded was my confidence in the gallant officers I had the honour to command, that my mind was left perfectly free to attend to other objects, and I knew them in their stations only by the destructive effect of their fire upon the walls and batteries to which they were opposed. I had about this time the satisfaction of seeing Vice-admiral Van Capellen's flag in the station I had assigned to him, and soon after, at intervals, the remainder of his frigates, keeping up a well-supported fire on the flanking batteries he had offered to cover us from, as it had not been in my power, for want of room, to bring him in the front of the mole. About sun-set I received a message from Rear-admiral Milne, conveying to me the severe loss the Impregnable was sustaining, having then one hundred and fifty killed and wounded, and requesting I would, if possible, send him a frigate to divert some of the fire he was under. The Glasgow, near me, immediately weighed, but the wind had been driven away by the cannonade, and she was obliged to anchor again, having obtained rather a better position than before. I had at this moment sent orders to the explosion vessel, under the charge of Lieutenant Fleming aud Mr. Parker, by Captain Reade, of the Engineers, to bring her into the mole; but the rear-admiral having thought she would do him essential service if exploded under the battery in his front, I sent orders to this vessel to that effect, which were executed. I desired also the rear-admiral might be informed, that many of the ships being now in flames, and certain of the destruction of the whole, I considered I had executed the most important part of my instructions, and should make every preparation for withdrawing the ships, and desired he would do so as soon as possible with his division. There were awful moments during the conflict, which I cannot now attempt to describe, occasioned by firing the ships so near us, and I had long resisted the eager entreaties of several around me, to make the attempt upon the outer frigate, distant about one hundred yards, which at length I gave in to, and Major Gossett, by my side, who had been eager to land his corps of miners, pressed me most anxiously for permission to accompany Lieutenant Richards in this ship's barge. The frigate was immediately boarded, and in ten minutes in a perfect blaze. A gallant young midshipman, in rocket-boat, No. 8, although forbidden, was led by his ardent spirit to follow in support of the barge, in which he was desperately wounded, his brother officer killed, and nine of his crew. The barge, by rowing more rapidly, had suffered less, and lost but two. The enemy's batteries around my division were about ten o'clock silenced, and in a state of perfect ruin and dilapidation; and the fire of the ships was reserved as much as possible, to save powder and reply to a few guns now and then bearing upon us, although a fort upon the upper angle of the city, on which our guns could not be brought to bear, continued to annoy the ships by shot and shells during the whole time. Providence at this interval gave to my anxious wishes the usual land wind, common in this bay, and my expecta tions were completed. We were all employed warping and towing off, and, by the help of the light air, the whole were under sail, and came to an anchor out of the reach of shells about two in the morning, after twelve hours' incessant labour. The flotilla of mortar, gun, and rocket-boats, under the direction of their respective artillery officers, shared, to the full extent of their power, in the honours of this day, and performed good service; it was by their fire that all the ships in the port (with the exception of the outer frigate) were in flames: which extended rapidly over the whole arsenal, storehouses, and gun-boats, exhibiting a spectacle of awful grandeur and interest no pen can describe. The sloops of war which had been appropriated to aid and assist the ships of the line, and prepare for their retreat, performed not only that duty well, but embraced every opportunity of firing through the intervals, and were constantly in motion. The shells from the bombs were admirably well thrown by the royal marine artillery; and though thrown directly across and over us, not an accident that I know of occurred to any ship. The whole was conducted in perfect silence, and such a thing as a cheer I never heard in any part of the قار line; and that the guns were well worked and directed, will be seen for many years to come, and remembered by these The conducting this ship to her station, by the masters of the fleet and ship, excited the praise of all. The Having thus detailed, although but imperfectly, the progress of this short service, I venture to hope, that the humble and devoted services of myself, and the officers and men of every description I have the honour to command, will be received by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent with his accustomed grace. The approbation of our services by our sovereign, and the good opinion of our country, will, I venture to affirm, be received by us all with the highest satisfaction. If I attempted to name to their lordships the numerous officers, who, in such a conflict, had been at different periods more conspicuous than their companions, I should do injustice to many; and I trust there is no officer in the fleet I have the honour to command, who will doubt the grateful feelings I shall ever cherish for their unbounded and unlimited support. Not an officer nor a man confined his exertions within the precise limits of their own duty; all were eager to attempt services which I found more difficult to restrain than excite; and no where was this feeling more conspicuous than in my own captain, and those officers immediately about my person. My gratitude and thanks are due to all under my command, as well as to Vice-admiral Capellen, and the officers of the squadron of his Majesty the King of the Netherlands; and I trust they will believe, that the recollection of their services will never cease but with my life. In no instance have I ever seen more energy and zeal: from the youngest midshipman to the highest rank, all seemed auimated by one soul, and of which I shall with delight bear testimony to their lordships, whenever that testimony can be useful. I have confided this dispatch to Rear-admiral Milne, my second in command, from whom I have received, during the whole service intrusted to me, the most cordial and honourable support. He is perfectly informed of every transaction of the fleet, from the earliest period of my command, and is fully competent to give their lordships satisfaction on any points which I may have overlooked or have not time to state. I trust I have obtained from him his esteem and regard, and I regret I had not sooner been known to him. The necessary papers, together with the defects of the ships, and the return of killed and wounded, accompany this dispatch; and, I am happy to say, Captains Ekins and Coode are doing well, as also the whole of the wounded. By accounts from the shore, I understand the enemy's loss, in killed and wounded, is between six and seven thousand men. In recommending my officers and fleet to their lordships' protection and favour, I have the honour to be, &c. EXMOUTH. A General Abstract of the Killed and Wounded, in the Squadron under Admiral Lord Exmouth's command, in the Total.-15 officers, 88 seamen, 19 marines, 1 marine artillery, 1 rocket troop, 4 boys killed; 59 officers, 459 seamen, DUTCH SQUADRON.-Total.-13 killed, 52 wounded. Flotilla, consisting of 5 gun-boats, 10 mortar-boats, launches, 8 rocket-boats, flats, 3 gun-boats, barges, and yawls; Memorandum of the Destruction in the Mole of Algiers, in the Attack of the 27th of August, 1816. Lord Exmouth's Letter His Britannic Majesty's ship Queen Charlotte, Algiers Bay, August 28, 1816. As England does not war for the destruction of cities, I am unwilling to visit your personal cruelties upon the in- If you receive this offer as you ought, you will fire three guns; and I shall consider your not inaking this signal as a refusal, and shall renew my operations at my own convenience. I offer you the above terms, provided neither the British consul, nor the officers and men so wickedly seized by you from the boats of a British ship of war, have met with any cruel treatment, or any of the christian slaves in your power; and I repeat my demand, that the consul, and officers and men, may be sent off to me, conformable to ancient treaties. EXMOUTH. To his Highness the Dey of Algiers. (Signed) Communi Queen Charlotte, Algiers Bay, August 30, 1816. General Memorandum -The commander-in-chief is happy to inform the fleet of the final termination of their sation to his strenuous exertions, by the signature of peace, confirmed under the salute of twenty-one guns, on the following conditions, dictated by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of England. Fleet. Terms of Additional I. The abolition, for ever, of christian slavery. II. The delivery to my flag, of all slaves in the dominion of the dey, to whatever nation they may belong, at noon to-morrow. III. To deliver also, to my flag, all money received by him for the redemption of slaves since the commencement of this year, at noon also to-morrow. IV. Reparation has been made to the British consul for all losses he may have sustained in consequence of his confinement. V. The dey has made a public apology, in presence of his ministers and officers, and begged pardon of the consul, in terms dictated by the captain of the Queen Charlotte. The commander-in-chief takes this opportunity of again returning his public thanks to the admirals, captains, officers, seamen, marines, royal marine artillery, royal sappers and miners, and the royal rocket corps, for the noble support he has received from them throughout the whole of this arduous service; and he is pleased to direct, that on Sunday next a public thanksgiving be offered up to Almighty God for the signal interposition of his Divine Providence, during the conflict which took place on the 27th, between his majesty's fleet and the ferocious enemies of mankind. It is requested that this memorandum may be read to the ships' companies. To the admirals, captains, officers, seamen, marines, royal sappers and miners, Queen Charlotte, Algiers Bay, Sept. 1, 1816. Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you, for their lordships' information, that I have sent Captain Brisbane with Dispatches. my duplicate dispatches, as I am afraid that Admiral Milne, in the Leander, who has charge of the originals, may experience a long voyage, the wind having set in to the westward a few hours after he sailed. Declaration pronouncing of Slavery. Captain Brisbane, to whom I feel greatly indebted for his exertions, and the able assistance I have received from him throughout the whole of this service, will be able to inform their lordships upon all points that I may have omitted. Admiral Sir Charles Penrose arrived too late to take his share in the attack upon Algiers, which I lament, as much on his account as my own; his services would have been desirable in every respect. I have the satisfaction to state, that all the slaves in the city of Algiers, and immediately in its vicinity, are embarked: as also 357,000 dollars for Naples, and 25,500 for Sardinia. The treaties will be signed to-morrow; and I hope to be able to sail in a day or two. The Minden has sailed for Gibraltar to be refitted, and will proceed from thence to her ultimate destination. The Albion will be refitted at Gibraltar, for the reception of Sir Charles Penrose's flag. The Glasgow I shall be obliged to bring home with me. To John Wilson Croker, Esq. &c. Admiralty. I have the honour, &c. EXMOUTH. In addition to the above dispatches of Lord Exmouth, further particulars were received at the Admiralty Office September 24, 1816, conveyed from his lordship by Rear-admiral Milne, K. C. B. detailing the subsequent proceedings of which the following is the substance : On the 28th of August, treaties of peace were signed by the dey with his Majesty, and his Majesty the King of the Netherlands. On the same day also was signed an additional article of declaration, for the Abolition of Christian Slavery, to the following effect: DECLARATION. Of his Most Serene Highness Omar, Bashaw, Dey and Governor of the Warlike City and Kingdom of Algiers, made and concluded with the Right Honourable Edward Baron Exmouth, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Admiral of the Blue Squadron of his Britannic Majesty's Fleet, and Commander-inchief of his said Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed in the Mediterranean. "In consideration of the deep interest manifested by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of England for the the Abolition termination of christian slavery, his Highness the Dey of Algiers, in token of his sincere desire to maintain inviolable bis friendly relations with Great Britain, and to manifest his amicable disposition and high respect towards the powers of Europe, declares, that in the event of future wars with any European power, not any of the prisoners shall be consigned to slavery, but treated with all humanity, as prisoners of war, until regularly exchanged, according to European practice in like cases; and that at the termination of hostilities they shall be restored to their respective countries without ransom; and the practice of condemning christian prisoners of war to slavery is hereby formally and for ever renounced." Done in duplicate, in the Warlike City of Algiers, in the presence of Almighty God, the 28th day of August, in the year of Jesus Christ, 1816, and in the year of the Hegira, 1231, and the 6th day of the moon Shawal. (The Dey's seal.) EXMOUTH, (L.S.) Admiral, and Commander-in-chief. H. M'DOUELL, (L.S.) (Signed) (Signed) 16. EXILE OF NAPOLEON. In tracing the most distinguished character of modern times through a career of splendid ambition and unexampled success, to a state of involuntary exile, the reader is naturally led to inquire, how that extraordinary man whom prosperity seemed not to satisfy, sustained the shafts of adversity, and supported himself against that degradation to which he was doomed by the united voice of all the courts of Europe. This inquiry, alike interesting to the historian and the moralist, has met with a satisfactory solution in a work* written by Mr. William Warden, the surgeon of the Northumberland man-of-war, in which ship, as it has been already seen, Napoleon sailed for St. Helena. In this interesting series of Letters, which bear upon them the internal evidence of truth, the particulars of the voyage of the fallen emperor are given somewhat in detail, and the conduct and conversations of the exile in his new residence, are exhibited in a manner calculated at once to interest the reader, and to illustrate several passages in the foregoing history. Description In describing the person of Napoleon, Mr. Warden says:-" He has an uncommon face; large, full, and of Napoleon's pale, but not sickly; his forehead is thinly covered with dark hair, as well as the top of his head, which is large, Person. and has a singular flatness; what hair he has behind is bushy, and I could not discern the slightest mixture of white in it. His eyes, which are grey, are in continual motion, and hurry rapidly to the various objects around him. His teeth are regular and good; his neck his short, but his shoulders of the finest proportion. The rest of his figure, though a little blended with the Dutch fulness, is of very handsome form. He sometimes smiles; but I believe he seldom laughs-I have never observed, when laughter was prevalent around him, that he has caught the pleasing infection." "On the first day of his arrival on board the Northumberland, our distinguished passenger," says Mr. Warden, "displayed rather an eager appetite; I observed that he made a very hearty dinner, which he moistened with claret. He passed the evening on the quarter-deck, where he was amused by the band of the 53d regiment; when he personally required them to give the airs of "God save the King," and, "Rule Britannia." At intervals he chatted in a way of easy pleasantry with the officers who were qualified to hold a conversation with him in his language. I remarked, that on these occasions he always maintains what seems to be an invariable attitude, which has somewhat of importance in it, and probably such as he had been accustomed to display at the Thuilleries when giving audience to his marshals or officers of state. He never moves his hands from their habitual places in his dress, but to apply them to his snuff-box; and it struck me as a particular circumstance, to which I paid an observing attention, though it might have been connected with his former dignity, that he never offered a pinch to any one with whom he was conversing. On the subsequent day he breakfasted at eleven. His meal consists of meat and claret, which is closed with coffee. He passed much of the third day on deck, and appeared to have paid particular attention to his toilette. He receives no other mark of respect from the officers of the ship than would be shown to a private gentleman, nor does he seem to court or expect more than he receives. He is probably contented with the homage of his own attendants, who always appear before him uncovered, so that if a line were drawn round them, it might be supposed that you saw an equal space in the palace of St. Cloud." "His conversation at all times consists of questions, which are never asked at random, and which never fail to be put in such a way as to prohibit a return of them. He always addressed his inquiries to such persons as, from their official characters, are particularly qualified to give explanatory answers; or, which may be the most probable circumstance, the official appearance of persons whom he accidentally encounters, suggests the subject of his interrogations. "This man, who, in the course of his career, seems scarcely to have allowed himself time to sleep, while he, for so many years, kept the world awake, is now become the most decided sleeper on board the Northumberland. During the greater part of the day he reclines on a sofa, quits the card-table at an early hour in the evening, is seldom visible before eleven in the morning, and not unfrequently takes his breakfast in bed. But he has nothing to do, and a novel will sometimes amuse him." Voyage to St. Helena. Arrival at Madeira, Crossing the Line. Arrival off St. Helena. Arrival at St. Helena. Napoleon's temporary Residence. "On our approach to Madeira," continues Mr. Warden, "the hazy state of the atmosphere precluded the possibility of seeing the island, until we got close between Puerto Santo and the Deserts. The latter rocky island is almost perpendicular; and has some slight resemblance to St. Helena. This circumstance I mentioned to De las Cases, and he instantly communicated it to Napoleon, who had quitted the dinner-table sooner than usual, and joined a few of us on the poop: but the comparison of what he now saw with his gloomy notions of the place where he was shortly to abide, produced not a single word. He gave an energetic shrug, and a kind of contemptuous smile; and that was all. The sloping front and luxuriant aspect of the island of Madeira could not but excite an unpleasant sensation, when contrasted with the idea he had entertained of the huge black rock of St. Helena." "The ceremony of crossing the line, a day of jubilee to the voyagers of every maritime nation, is so well known, that it would be superfluous to give a minute description of it; though more than usual ceremony was displayed on the present occasion: and it must be acknowledged that the French party submitted with the best grace, that is to say, with the most perfect good humour, to the novel freedoms of the marine saturnalia: nor had the Neptune and Amphitrite of the day any cause of complaint. They were seated in a boat filled with water, the throne a match-tub, and the sceptre a painter's brush. They were surrounded by their tritons, consisting of fifty or sixty of the most athletic men in the ship, naked to the waist, and bedawbed with various colours, each bearing a pail of salt water, to drench more or less, the subjects of the briny god. The licence of the pastime may be imagined, when Captain Ross, who commanded the ship, received the contents of one of them with perfect pleasantry." "Bertrand, Montholon, Gourgond, and De las Cases, with all the domestics, presented themselves to the temporary, but potent Neptune, and received with the necessary cheerfulness their share of his ablutions. The two former led their children forward, each of them presenting, from their extended little hands, a double Napoleon, as their offering to the presiding deity of the deep. A seaboy sung the song of "The snug little Island," some of whose lines were not very complimentary to the enemies of Great Britain, but not an unpleasant look was produced by them. The ladies viewed the scene from an elevated position, and appeared to be equally amused and astonished at the festivities of it. Neptune was rather disappointed that Napoleon did not make his appearance, though he acknowledged the sovereign dignity by sending his tribute. In short, harmony prevailed to the close of this festal medley." "After crossing the line, the south-west winds occasioned our making a sweep off the Gulph of Guinea, before we were enabled to shape a course for our destined port. The declining sun of the 14th of October, 1815, shot out a parting ray ere it sunk beneath the horizon. Under this small illumined space, was obscurely perceived the lofty peak of St. Helena; and the memorable morning soon dawned which was to usher in the commencement of Napoleon's exile." "The sensation excited in the little interesting colony of St. Helena on the arrival of this extraordinary guest, may be more easily imagined than described. Curiosity, astonishment, and interest, combined to rouse the inhabitants from their habitual tranquillity, into a state of busy activity and inquisitive solicitude." Napoleon did not leave his cabin for a full hour after the ship had anchored in the bay; however, when the deck became clear, he made his appearance, and ascended the poop ladder, from which he could examine every gun that bristles at the mouth of James Valley; in the centre of which the town of that name, and the only one in the island, is situate.-While he stood there I watched his countenance with the most observant attention, and it betrayed no particular sensation: he looked as any other man would look at a place which he beheld for the first time.-I shall also take this opportunity to mention, that, during the whole voyage; from the moment the Northumberland set sail from England to its arrival at St. Helena, I never saw any change in the placid countenance and unassuming manners of our distinguished shipmate; nor did I hear of a discontented look, or a peevish expression, being remarked by any other person in the ship. The ladies, indeed, discovered some distress on the first view of their rocky cage; but their general conduct on the occasion, displayed a degree of self-possession which was not expected of them." The first object of the admiral was to make the necessary arrangements for the accommodation of Napoleon and his suite; and the lieutenant-governor's house was appropriated for that purpose, till a proper place could be prepared for his fixed residence. It was not, therefore, till the 17th, that they disembarked. After sun-set, on that day, when the inhabitants, of the town, wearied out in waiting for the spectacle of Bonaparte's landing, had retired to their houses, that he, according to the wish he had expressed, passed unobserved to the house where he was to pass the first night as an inhabitant of St. Helena. "At an early hour of the following morning the general was on horseback, accompanied by Sir George Cockburn. . They ascended the mountain to Longwood, which was to be the tranquil residence |