ce, the
one at all times imbued with the idea of some sanguinary plan of
punishment, while the other varied the plan of his doubtful
transactions, at the same time telling the exiles that he was actuated
by the sweetest and purest of motives.
In contrast to Lowe and Reade, the chroniclers speak in the highest
praise of Major Gorriquer. The officers and soldiers of the garrison,
as well as the men of the navy, extended their touching sympathy to
the hero who described his imprisonment as being worse than
"Tamerlane's iron cage." Captain Maitland, in his narrative, relates a
story which indicates the magnetic power of this great soldier.
Maitland was anxious to know what his men thought of Napoleon, so he
asked his servant, who told him that he had heard several of them
talking about him, and one of them had observed, "Well, they may abuse
that man as much as they please; but if the people of England knew him
as well as we do, they would not hurt a hair of his head." To which
the others agreed.
There are many instances recorded where sailors ran the risk of being
shot in order that they might get a glimpse of him, and there is
little doubt the poor gunner-messenger was subjected to inimitable
moral lectures on the sin and pains and penalties of having any
communication whatsoever with the ungentle inhabitants of Longwood.
This good-hearted fellow was as carefully shadowed as though he had
been commissioned to carry the Emperor off. Lowe was infected with the
belief that he had some secret designs, and if he were not kept under
close supervision he might take to sauntering on his own account and
really have some talk with the French, and then what might happen?
This episode was brought to a close by the Emperor directing that a
kind letter should be written to the enterprising sailor, and that a
draft for _L_300 should be enclosed. O'Meara says, "By means of some
unworthy trick he did not receive it for nearly two years."
The reason so much is made of the bust affair is accounted for as
follows:--
Lowe, on first hearing of it being landed, intended to have it seized
and thrown into the sea. He afterwards took possession of the article,
with the idea of making Napoleon a present of it himself. This idea
did not pan out as he expected, and in consequence of public
indignation running so high, he had the bust sent to Longwood
immediately after his conversation with Bertrand. While Las Cases was
waiting at Mannheim i
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