Nel. I'm glad to hear that. Wel. One has since lost a leg at Moscow. Nel. He paid a high price for his commission. Wel. And commanded at Vinciennes when I left Paris. When he was summoned by the Russians, he replied, that as soon as they sent him back the leg he had lost at Moscow, he would surrender the fortress. Nel. It would be a curious fact to ascertain, messmate, how many men, Bonny in his life, placed on "wooden legs;" I should say your victory at Waterloo must have drawn many a sacre from the wooden leg manufacturers of La Belle France; so long as they had a Buonaparte, they at least would not have wanted trade. Wel. Just so. He continued-many times in my life have I been saved by soldiers and officers throwing themselves before me, when I was in the most imminent danger; at Arcola, when 1 was advancing, Colonel Meuron, my aide-de-camp, threw himself before me, covered me with his body, and received the wound destined for me; he fell at my feet, and his blood spouted up in my face; he gave his life to preserve mine! Nel. Gallant fellow. Wel. Never yet, I believe, has their been such devotion shown by soldiers, as mine have manifested to me. Nel. That I believe. Wel. In all my misfortunes, never has the soldier, even when expiring, been wanted to me. Nel. There devotion was indeed great. Wel. Never has man been served more faithfully by his troops; with the last drop of blood gushing out of their veins, they exclaimed Vive L'Empereur! Nel. Yes, true; in the agony of death; that he was idolized by the army there is no doubt. Wel. No man ever more so. He was asked, if he had gained the battle of Waterloo, whether he would have agreed to the treaty of Paris. Nel. What did he say? Wel. He replied-I would certainly have ratified it; I would not have made such a peace inyself; sooner than agree to much better terms I abdicated before; but finding it already made, I would have kept it, because France had need of repose. Nel. Great need. Wel. We are informed, Sir Hudson Lowe sent orders to Count Las Cases to dismiss his present servant. Nel. Why so? Wel. And replace him by a soldier, whom he had sent for that purpose. Nel. This was strange; what said the Count? Wel. He replied-that Sir Hudson Lowe had the power to take away his servant, but that he could not compel him to receive another. Nel. No, I should think not. Wel. That it would certainly bean in convenience to lose his servant in the present state of ill health of his son; but that if he were taken away, he would not accept one of Sir Hudson Lowe's choosing Nel. I should expect not. Wel. We are told, Captain Poppleton wrote to Sir Hudson Lowe, stating the Count's disinclination; and that the man he had sent to replace the Count's servant, had formerly been employed at Longwood, and turned away for drunkenness. Nel. What answer did Sir Hudson make? Wel. Sir Hudson informed Poppleton that the former servant might remain until he could find one that would answer; adding, that he would look out himself for a proper subject, which he also desired me to tell the Count. Nel. They seemed determined to keep Buonaparte in hot water. Wel. Count Las Cases was informed of the reply of Sir Hudson Lowe. Wel. He replied-if the governor had told me that he did not wish my servant to remain with me, or that he would be glad if I sent him away, and that he would give a fortnight to look out for another Nel. Certainly. Wel. I would have immediately dismissed him, and most probably have asked the governor to send me another; but acting in the manner he has done, without saying a word to me, I will take no servant from his hands, he treats me as a corporal would do. Nel. A very good answer. Wel. The Admiral, even if displeased with me, never would have taken my servant away out of revenge. Nel. No, Cockburn would not have done that; I do think, messmate, by what you have told me, that it was unfortunate for all parties, that Buonaparte was not placed in the custody of an admiral, instead of a General; for whatever might have been the instructions form home, they might have been carried out in a milder manner, and less offensive to the feelings of the captive. I cannot help thinking posterity will censure the British government for giving its sanction to the needless restrictions placed upon Buonaparte and his faithful companions in exile; this constant tormenting them about such paltry trifles, was unworthy of England. You had "caged the eagle," and why this uncalled for, and petty day by day goading. But bear on. Wel. The allowance for Longwood diminished by order of Sir Hudson Lowe, two pounds of meat daily. Nel. This was not calculated to make the French at Longwood beat time to the band of the gallant 20th, while playing— "The roast beef of Old England!" Wel. This was in consequence of the departure of a servant, who had received but one pound. Nel. Really, messmate, Shylock does not seem the only man in the world who demands his Pound of Flesh!! Wel. A bottle of wine was also struck off. Nel. Sharp practice; the governor seems inclined to make the French at Longwood make a virtue of necessity, and be followers of Father Mathew, (you spoke of,) as well as Napoleon. Why not put them on rations at once. Wel. We are told, that the carters who bring up the provisions, state that the foul linen of Longwood is frequently inspected by Sir Thomas Reade, on its arrival in town. Nel. For fear, I suppose, of a plot. Poor Bonny's shirt, perhaps, might contain treason in the frill, and the collar denote that he would soon again be stuck up! Wel. Ha, ha! good, Nelson, good. Countess Bertrand sent down in the trunk containing her soiled linen, some novels which she had borrowed from Miss Chesborough, before the arrival of Sir Hudson Lowe on the island. They were placed on the top of linen, and the trunk was unlocked. Sir Thomas Reade said it was a violation of the proclamation. Nel. Proclamation, indeed! well might Bonny say, "from the sublime to the ridiculous there is but one step." What, did he smell treason in the loves of "Rosa Matilda?" Was a novel of the "Minerva Press" to signify the re Also, A REVIEW of the Recent Cruelty to the Poor Cabman, and the baneful prospects of the New Cab Act. establishment of the empire? Talk of "Sermons in Stones," messmate, treason Nel. Delicacy, indeed; when the peace of Europe might again be disturbed by the mere folding of the countess's petticoat. The Bruxelles lace on her nightgown might have been a signal for Holland to rebel-her very bustle, I suppose, might again have thrown the world into a bustle-but go on. Wel. He was told, it was said, that he had saved Maréchal Duroc's life during his first campaigns in Italy, when seized and condemned to death as an emigrant, which was asserted to have been the cause of the great attachment subsequently displayed by Duroc to him until the hour of his death. Nel. What did he say? Wel. We are told, Napoleon looked surprised, and replied-No such thing; who told you that tale? He was answered, the Marquis Montchenu repeated it at a puble dinner. There is not a word of truth in it, Napoleon replied. I took Duroc out of the artillery train, when he was a boy, and protected him until his death. Nel. Bravo! Wel. But I suppose Montchenu said this because Duroc was of an old family, which, in that booby's eyes, is the only source of merit. Nel. And in many other eyes, too. Wel. He despises everybody who has not as many hundred years of nobility to boast of as himself. Nel. Hear! Wel. It was such as Monthenu who were the chief cause of the revolution. Wel. Before it such a man as Bertrand, who is worth an army of Montchenu's Wel. As her husband was once a private soldier. He was asked his opinion of the Duke Reggio. Nel. What did he say of him? Wel. A brave man, replied Napoleon, he has been influenced latterly by his young wife who is of an old family, whose vanity and prejudices she inherits. Nel. Yes, yes, I understand, his once being one of the "rank and file" is in her eyes almost a "rank offence." Wel. Quite possible. However, continued he, he offered his services after my return from Elba. Nel. What faith they had in him, messmate, for he says even the crafty and cunning Talleyrand offered his services after his return from Elba, yes, yes, you dispelled the fond illusion. Wel. I asked him if he thought he was sincere. He answered-If I had succeeded, dare say he would have been, Nel, Not a bad reply. Wel. We are told Sir Hudson Lowe objected to allowing the proceeds of the last plate which had been disposed of to be placed at the disposal of the French. Nel. Why so? To be continued. VOICE FROM THE TOMB. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN NELSON AND WELLINGTON. OVERHEARD AT ST. PAUL'S. TWENTY-EIGHTH PART. LONDON: J. PATTIE, CHRISTOPHER COURT, ST. MARTIN'S-LE-GRAND AND SOLD BY M. A. PATTIE, 110, SHOR LANE, FLEET STREET. PRICE ONE PENNY. A VOICE FROM THE TOMB, A DIALOGUE BETWEEN NELSON & WELLINGTON, OVERHEARD AT ST. PAUL'S. Wellington. Alleging that it was too large a snm, viz.-£295. Nelson. Oh! Wel. And demanded an explanation of the manner in which so large a sum of money was to be disposed of. Nel. Why to buy back the Empire, to be sure, for what other purpose could they want such an immense sum-£295 between the "Conqueror of the Earth," and half a dozen Counts and Generals; no wonder the governor demanded to know how it was to be disposed of. Wel. But it appeared upon examination that instead of having £2.95 disposable, there would be in reality only a few pounds, as £85 was due to Marchand, £45 due to Cipriani, £16 to Gentiline, for money advanced by them to purchase articles of food, previous to the sale of the last plate; also £70 to Mr. Balcombe's concern, £10 to Le Page, and £20 to Archambaud, for fowls, &c. Nel. This is a fowl transaction-unworthy of England. Wel. We are told-Orders were sent up by Sir Hudson Lowe, for a fresh reduction of meat and wine. Nel. Sir Hudson seemed determined they should not die from over eating the Gallic Cock must dispense with his pullet, and fall back upon frogs. But pray proceed. Wel. We are informed that when Sir Pultney Malcolm arrived from the Cape, Napoleon was very anxious to procure some newspapers. Nel No doubt about it; and did he succeed? Wel. No. We are told, the governor got all that was to be had. Nel. As with the fowls, so with the Times and Courier; poor Bonny must go short. Wel. His doctor says-On my return from town to Longwood, I met Sir Hudson Lowe, who was riding up and down the road; when I came near to his Excellency Nel. I dare say Bonny did not consider him excellent. |