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COLUMBIAN CENTINEL
Boston, Saturday, November 11, 1815REPORT OF NAPOLEON ON THE NORTHUMBERLAND
Further of Buonaparte
Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 1815The following are extracts of a letter from a gentlemen of information in the island of Madeira, to his friend in this city; and my be relied on:
"Madiera, Sept. 14
On the 24th August we had the pleasure to see the British squadron having the Destroyer of Mankind on board, coming into the bay, and the Northumberland making signals. About 10, the Admiral's Secretary, Mr. Glover, and officers, landed; and I was introduced to Mr. G. At the house of Messrs. M.T.W. & Co. on whom orders for wine were drawn. From Mr. Glover, who dined every day with Buonaparte, I have collected a number of small anecdotes, in addition to others already known. He complained of the Prince Regent for sending him to St. Helena; and said the King would have treated him more liberally. He confessed the Duke of Wellington's talents were equal to his own; and that he was more fortunate. He attributed the loss of the severe battle of Waterloo to the treachery of Ney, and the mistaken confidence he had placed in the French Jacobin party. He pronounced the Emperor Alexander a deceitful man; and said he offered him the hand of a Russian Princess. The Emperor of Austria he calls a weak man, and the King of Prussia no better. The King of Spain he pronounces a fool. Admiral Cockburn asked him, if the American Government did not apply to him, previous to the war, for a part of the French navy -- "No, Monsieur, but if they had, I would have given them plenty of ships, provided they sent men." He spoke sometimes very disrespectfully of the American Government.
He is excessively fond of card-playing; and scarcely an evening passes but he plays Vingt-un. One evening he won 160 Napoleons d'Or * from the Admiral; and as it was on his birthday, he was much elated. His suite address him as Emperor, the English, as a General. He breakfasts at eleven, dines with the Admiral at six, eats heartily, and drinks moderately. On the Sunday before he arrived here, he joined the officers of the ship in all the forms of the Episcopal Church. As soon as the service was over, Admiral Cockburn asked what religion he professed -- "All," said Napoleon, "for I find it to be the best policy."
He seldom speaks of his wife and child. He is cheerful and sometimes pleasant; supports his fall with unalterable firmness, and joins in conversation with any body. He delights to converse on his campaigns and military subjects; "I ought," he frequently exclaims, "to have died at Moscow; for there my glory ended." He speaks no English, but has everything translated to him.
The Northumberland did not anchor, but lay off and on, about three miles from the shore.
The squadron is composed of the Northumberland, Havana, Bucephalus, Ceylon, Zenobia, Persvian, Zephyr, Ferret, Redpole, and Icarus; with the 53rd regiment on board, commanded by Sir G. Bingham. On the 26th they sailed for St. Helena.
Buonaparte's suite consists of Marshal Bertrand, Gens. Montholon and Gourgaud, (the two latter were his aids at Waterloo) and Count Las Cases. They have with them, the Countess Bertrand, and three children; the Countess Montholon, and one child; the young M. Las Cases, two female and twelve male servants.
*A Napoleon is worth about 60 livres.
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