"No shore-boats, or others, are to be suffered, either by night or by day, to approach nearer the Bellerophon than one cable's length; and no boats are to be permitted to loiter about the ship, even at that distance, either from curiosity or any other motive: neither the captains of the Liffey or Eurotas, nor any other officer belonging to those or any other ships, are to go on board the Bellerophon, either to visit, or on any pretence whatever, without permission from me in writing."
Signed, Keith, Admiral.
A Copy.
Keith, Admiral.
To the respective Captains of the
Liffey and Eurotas.
When I returned on board, I found the frigates had taken their positions as directed in the last order, and their boats were endeavouring as much as possible to keep the shore-boats at the specified distance from the ship. I stated to Buonaparte what Lord Keith had said; to which he answered, "I am extremely anxious to see the Admiral, and therefore beg he will not stand upon ceremony: I shall be satisfied to be treated as a private person, until the British Government has determined in what light I am to be considered." He then complained of the two frigates being placed as guard-ships over him, "as if," said he, "I were not perfectly secure on board a British line-of-battle ship;" and added, "The guard-ships' boats have been firing musquetry all the evening, to keep the shore-boats at a distance: it disturbs and distresses me, and I shall be obliged to you to prevent it, if it lies in your power." I immediately sent to the Captains of the frigates, to put a stop to the firing.
On the 27th of July, I received a letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, of which I give an extract:—
Extract of a Letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, addressed to Captain Maitland, of H.M.S. Bellerophon, dated 25th July, 1815.
"I have received and laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, your letter of yesterday's date, reporting your arrival in the Bellerophon in Torbay, accompanied by the Myrmidon, having on board Napoleon Buonaparte and suite, and transmitting a copy of a letter you had addressed to Admiral Lord Keith, reporting your proceedings, under the various circumstances which occurred prior to his embarkation, of which their Lordships have been pleased to direct me to signify their approval."
I waited on Lord Keith in the morning, and carried with me Buonaparte's original letter to the Prince Regent, which General Gourgaud had refused to deliver to Captain Sartorius: finding that one of his own officers would not be allowed to proceed with it, he now consented to its being forwarded through the Admiral. I reported to his Lordship all the occurrences of the previous day; and that, in consequence of the frequent repetition in the newspapers of its being the intention of his Majesty's Government to send Buonaparte to St Helena, he, as well as the officers of his suite, had expressed much uneasiness. I also carried a message from him, stating his desire to see his Lordship, and that he would willingly waive all ceremony, and be considered as a private person. To which Lord Keith answered, "I shall now have no difficulty whatever, having received full instructions as to the manner in which he is to be treated: he is to be considered as a General Officer, and have the respect due to that rank paid him, and no more: you may therefore say I shall wait on him to-morrow forenoon." He then put into my hands the following additional orders.