as not the case: the Endymion having gone into the Gironde,
the Liffey having sprung her bowsprit and returned to England, and the
others, from various causes, having quitted the station; so that, had
he passed the squadron off Rochefort, there can be little doubt he
would have made his voyage in safety to America.

About this time, Buonaparte amused himself by playing at cards after
breakfast: the game was _vingt-un_, in which all the party joined,
except myself. He proposed that I should play with them, but I told
him I had no money, making it a rule to leave it all with my wife
before I went to sea: on which he laughed, and good-humouredly offered
to lend me some, and trust me until we arrived in England: I, however,
declined his offer, having the numerous duties of the ship to attend
to.

As my despatch of the 14th instant to the Secretary of the Admiralty
had been very short, and written in great haste,--being desirous that
his Majesty's Ministers should be made acquainted with the important
arrangements agreed upon, as early as possible,--I considered it
right to make a more detailed report to the Commander in Chief; and
therefore wrote a despatch to Lord Keith, of which the following are
extracts, intending to send it by the officer who should announce to
him the Bellerophon's arrival in Torbay.

Extract of a Letter From Captain Maitland, Addressed To Admiral
Viscount Keith, G.C.B., Dated on Board H.M. Ship Bellerophon, at Sea,
July 18th, 1815.

"Having received directions from Sir Henry Hotham to forward the
accompanying despatch to your Lordship by an officer, I avail myself
of the opportunity to explain the circumstances under which I was
placed when induced to receive Napoleon Buonaparte into the ship I
command.

"After the first communication was made to me by Count Bertrand (a
copy of which, with my answer, has been forwarded to your Lordship by
Sir Henry Hotham) that Buonaparte was at Isle d'Aix, and actually
embarked on board the frigates for the purpose of proceeding to the
United States of America, my duty became peculiarly harassing and
anxious, owing to the numerous reports, that were daily brought from
all quarters, of his intention to escape in vessels of various
descriptions, and from different situations on the coast, of which the
limited means I possessed, together with the length of time requisite
to communicate with Sir Henry Hotham at Quiberon Bay, rendered the
success at least poss