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THE YANKEE
Boston, Friday, October 13, 1815NAPOLEON'S PROTEST
Translation of the protest presented by Bonaparte to Lord Keith, against his transportation to St. Helena.Protest
"I protest solemnly in the face of heaven and of men, against the violation of my most sacred rights by the forcible disposal of my person, and of my liberty. I came freely on board the Bellerophon; I am not the prisoner, I am the guest of England.
Once seated on board the Bellerophon, I was immediately entitled to the hospitality of the British people. If the Government, by giving orders to the Captain of the Bellerophon to receive me and my suite, intended merely to lay a snare for me, it has forfeited its honor and sullied its flag.
If this act be consummated, it will be in vain that the English will talk to Europe of their integrity; of their laws; of their liberty. The British faith will be lost in the hospitality of the Bellerophon.
I appeal, therefore, to history; it will say that an enemy who made war for twenty years on the people of England, came freely in his misfortune to seek an asylum under its laws. What more striking proof could he give of his esteem and of is confidence? But how did they answer it in England? They pretended to hold out a hospitable hand to his enemy, and when he surrendered himself to them, in good faith, they sacrificed him.NAPOLEON
On board the Bellerophon at sea, August 4.
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