n board, I had no direct authority from my
Government, and I have yet to learn whether my conduct will be
approved of. Besides, were I to receive a present of such value, it
might possibly be said, that I was actuated by selfish motives;
whereas all the measures I have taken were dictated solely by the
desire of serving my country to the best of my judgment: if,
therefore, I am to receive any reward, it must come from that
quarter."

On the 20th of July, early in the morning, we spoke the Swiftsure, on
her way from England to reinforce me in the blockade of Rochefort.
The astonishment of Captain Webley can scarcely be conceived, when, on
his entering the ship, I said, "Well, I have got him." "Got him! got
whom?" "Why, Buonaparte; the man that has been keeping all Europe in a
ferment these last twenty years." "Is it possible?" said he; "well,
you are a lucky fellow." We had some further conversation; but Captain
Webley was not introduced to Buonaparte, who had not then left his
cabin; and as the Swiftsure was going to the southward, and I was
desirous of getting to England as quickly as possible, we soon parted
company.

During the 21st and 22nd of July, we exchanged signals with two or
three others of our ships, which I took care to explain were on the
look-out for my guest; and he seemed by this time pretty well
convinced that an attempt to elude our cruisers would have been
fruitless. On the latter day, the Prometheus showed her number, while
we were at dinner: when Buonaparte expressed a wish to know whether
the ships at Brest had hoisted the white flag or not. I sent for the
officer of the watch, and desired him to ask the question by
telegraph. In a few minutes he returned, with an answer in the
affirmative. Buonaparte made no remark upon this information; but
asked, with apparent indifference, how the question and answer had
been conveyed; and when I explained it to him, he approved highly of
the usefulness of the invention.

During meals, he always entered very freely and familiarly into
conversation with those about him, addressing himself frequently to
Las Cases and me; asking many questions about the manners, customs,
and laws of the English; often repeating the observation he had made
on first coming on board, that he must gain all the information
possible on those subjects, and conform himself to them, as he should
probably end his life among that people. Monsieur Las Cases, it
appears, had emigrated fr