d
such soldiers as these." He asked which had been longest in the corps;
went up and spoke to him. His questions were put in French, which I
interpreted, as well as the man's answers. He enquired how many years
he had served; on being told upwards of ten, he turned to me and said,
"Is it not customary in your service, to give a man who has been in
it so long some mark of distinction?" He was informed that the person
in question had been a sergeant, but was reduced to the ranks for some
misconduct. He then put the guard through part of their exercise,
whilst I interpreted to the Captain of Marines, who did not understand
French, the manoeuvres he wished to have performed. He made some
remarks upon the difference of the charge with the bayonet between our
troops and the French; and found fault with our method of fixing the
bayonet to the musquet, as being more easy to twist off, if seized by
an enemy when in the act of charging.

On getting into the boat, he looked at the barge's crew, and said,
"What a very fine set of men you have got!" He then turned to Las
Cases, who had come on board the ship in plain clothes, but now
appeared in a naval uniform, and said jocularly, "Comment, Las Cases,
vous etes militaire?" "What, Las Cases, are you a military man? I
have never till now seen you in uniform." He answered, "Please your
Majesty, before the revolution I was a lieutenant in the navy; and as
I think an uniform carries more consideration with it in a foreign
country, I have adopted it."

His attention was now drawn to the men on the Superb's yards, as well
as to the appearance of the ship, about which he made some
observations, and asked several questions; among others, whether she
was French or English; what her age was; the number of guns she
carried, and the weight of metal on each deck.

On going alongside, General Bertrand went up and announced to the
Admiral, that the Emperor, for they always gave him that title, was in
the boat. He then went up, and was received by Sir Henry Hotham on the
quarter-deck, where a captain's guard was turned out to him. He was
immediately shown into the cabin, and, after looking round him,
requested to have the officers presented, which was done; when he
asked nearly the same questions of each, that he had put to those of
the Bellerophon the day before. He then expressed a wish to go through
the ship; and did so, accompanied by several of his own suite, the
Admiral, Captain Senhouse,