his departure from Plymouth put off, for a plot had been formed by discontented British officers to get rid of the Premier and one other Minister.  Napoleon must not build any hopes on the Prince Regent:  “Le Silene de cette isle....  Je fonds donc mon espoir avant tout sur les navires marchands, Anglais comme autres, par l’apas du gain.”  The writer’s name is illegible:  so is the original postmark:  the letter probably came from London:  it missed Mme. Bertrand at Plymouth, followed her to St. Helena, and was opened by Sir G. Cockburn, who sent it back to our Government.  I have published it in extenso in my volume, “Napoleonic Studies " (1904), as also an accompanying letter from Miss McKinnon of Binfield, Berks, to Napoleon, stating that her mother, still living, had known him and given him hospitality when a lieutenant at Valence.]

[Footnote 541:  Las Cases, “Memorial,” vol, i., pp. 55, 65.]

[Footnote 542:  I wish I had space to give a whole chapter to the relations between Napoleon and the Whigs, and to show how their championship of him worked mischief on both sides in 1803-21, enticing him on to many risky ventures, and ruining the cause of Reform in England for a generation.]

[Footnote 543:  “F.O.,” France, No. 123.  Keith adds:  “I accompanied him to look at the accommodation on board the ‘Northumberland,’ with which he appeared to be well satisfied, saying, ’the apartments are convenient, and you see I carry my little tent-bed with me.’” The volume also contains the letter of Maingaud, etc.  Bertrand requested permission from our Government to return in a year; Gourgaud, when his duty to his aged mother recalled him; O’Meara stipulated that he should still be a British surgeon on full pay and active service.]

[Footnote 544:  “Extract from a Diary of Sir G. Cockburn,” pp. 21, 51, 94.]

[Footnote 545:  “Napoleon’s last Voyages,” p. 163.]

[Footnote 546:  I found this return in “Admiralty Secret Letters,” 1804-16.

Lord Rosebery, in his desire to apologize for our treatment of Napoleon at every point, says ("Nap.:  last Phase,” p. 64):  “They [the exiles] were packed like herrings in a barrel.  The ‘Northumberland,’ it was said, had been arrested on her way back from India in order to convey Napoleon:  all the water on board, it was alleged, had also been to India, was discoloured and tainted, as well as short in quantity.”—­On the contrary, the diary of Glover, in “Last Voyages of Nap.,” p. 91, shows that the ship was in the Medway in July, and was fitted out at Portsmouth (where it was usual to keep supplies of water):  also (p. 99) that Captain Ross gave up his cabin to the Bertrands, and Glover his to the Montholons:  Gourgaud and Las Cases slept in the after cabin until cabins could be built for them.  We have already seen (p. 529) that Napoleon was well satisfied with his own room.  Water, wine, cattle, and fruit were taken in at Funchal in spite of the storm.]