[233] Sir Hudson Lowe writes, for example, to Lord Bathurst, 13th May, 1816:—"Having found Dr. O'Meara, who was attached to Buonaparte's family on the removal of his French physician, very useful in giving information in many instances, and as, if removed, it might be difficult to find another person who might be equally agreeable to General Buonaparte, I have deemed it advisable to suffer him to remain in the family on the same footing as before my arrival." On the 29th of March, 1817, Sir Hudson writes:—"Dr. O'Meara had informed me of the conversations that had occurred, and, with that readiness which he always manifests upon such occasions, immediately wrote them down for me."—S.
[234] "A catastrophe seemed inevitable. Napoleon indeed concluded that there was a determination to bring it about. On the 6th of May, he sent for O'Meara, in order that he might learn his personal position. He desired me to express to him in English, that he had hitherto no cause of complaint against him. It was necessary, he said, to come to an understanding. Was he to consider him as his own physician personally, or merely as a prison doctor, appointed by the English Government? Was he his confessor or his inspector? Had he made reports respecting him, or was it his intention to do so if called upon. The doctor replied with great firmness, and in a tone of feeling. He said he had made no report respecting the Emperor, and that he could not imagine any instance in which he might be induced to make a report, except in case of serious illness."—Las Cases, tom. i., p. 211.
[235] Last Days of the Emperor Napoleon, vol. i., p. 60.
[236] Last Days of the Emperor Napoleon, vol. ii., p. 185.
[237] Las Cases, tom. ii., p. 89.
[238] Las Cases, tom. ii., p. 115-120.
[239] Hist. de la Campagne de 1814 par Alphonse de Beauchamp.
[240] "It appears that this governor was with Blucher, and is the writer of some official letters to your government, descriptive of part of the operations of 1814. I pointed them out to him, and asked him, 'Est-ce vous, Monsieur?' He replied, 'Yes.' I told him that they were pleines de faussetés et de sottises. He shrugged up his shoulders, and replied, 'J'ai cru voir cela.'"—Voice, &c., vol. i., p. 49.
[241] Las Cases, tom. i., p. 121.
[242] Voice, &c., vol. i., p. 93.—"The Emperor admitted that he had, during this conversation, seriously and repeatedly offended Sir Hudson Lowe; and he also did him the justice to acknowledge, that Sir Hudson had not precisely shown, in a single instance, any want of respect; he had contented himself with muttering, between his teeth, sentences which were not audible. The only failure, perhaps, on the part of the governor, and which was trifling, compared with the treatment he had received, was the abrupt way in which he retired, while the admiral withdrew slowly, and with numerous salutes."—Las Cases, tom. iii., p. 222.