This insensate mockery of a man is always asserting himself in some detestable fashion or other.[8]

At one time his benighted mind would swagger him into droll ideas of attempting to chastise his Imperial prisoner, at another, his childish fear of the consequences of his chastisement was pathetic, and when one droll farce after another broke down, he shielded himself with manifestations of aggrieved virtue.

The Emperor received Lord Amherst, who was a man of some human feeling, and the noble lord offered to convey to the precious Prince Regent certain messages.  Then Napoleon, aroused by the recollection of the perfidy which was causing him such infinite suffering, declared that neither his King nor his nation had any right over him.  “Your country,” he exclaims, “sets an example of twenty millions of men oppressing one individual.”  With prophetic utterance he foreshadows “a terrible war hatched under the ashes of the Empire.”  Nations are to avenge the ingratitude of the Kings whom he “crowned and pardoned.”  And then, as though his big soul had sickened at the thought of it all, he exclaims, “Inform your Prince Regent that I await as a favour the axe of the executioner.”  Lord Amherst was deeply affected, and promised to tell of all his sufferings and indignities to the Regent, and also to speak to the saintly Lowe thereon.  “Useless,” interjects the Emperor; “crime, hatred, is his nature.  It is necessary to his enjoyment to torture me.  He is like the tiger, who tears with his claws the prey whose agonies he takes pleasure in prolonging.”  The audience then closes and the sordid tragedy continues.

The Commissioners are to have bulletins, but no communication with the Imperial abode.  O’Meara is asked to prepare inspired bulletins, and to report what he hears and learns from the Emperor, and in a general way act the spy.  He refused, and as Lowe required willing tools, not honest men, he was ultimately banished from the island.  The Emperor embraces him, bestows his benediction, and gives him credentials of the highest order, together with messages of affection to members of his family and to the accommodating Marie Louise, who is now mistress to the Austrian Count Neipperg.  He is charged to convey kindly thoughts of esteem and gratitude to the good Lady Holland for all her kindness to him.  The King of Rome is tenderly remembered, and O’Meara is asked to send intelligence as to the manner of his education.  A message is entrusted to him for Prince Joseph, who is to give to O’Meara the private and confidential letters of the Emperors Alexander and Francis, the King of Prussia, and the other sovereigns of Europe.  He then thanks O’Meara for his care of him and bids him “quit the abode of darkness and crime."[9]