Before O’Meara left the island, news of the diabolical treatment of the Emperor had filtered through to Europe in spite of Lowe’s precautions.  The Edinburgh Review had published several articles exposing the Governor’s conduct, and when these were delivered at St. Helena (addressed to Longwood) a great commotion arose at Plantation House.  Reade had orders to buy every one of the obnoxious publications, but determined men of talent are not easily thwarted in their object, especially if it is a good one, so the Governor had the mortification of seeing himself outwitted.  O’Meara was confronted and charged with securing for Montholon the objectionable Edinburgh Review.  The articles gave the Emperor great pleasure, and when this was made known to Lowe it was intolerable to him.  O’Meara gets official notice to quit on July 25, 1818.

Napoleon thought it a bold stroke on the part of the British Ministers (whom he regarded, and spoke quite openly of, as assassins) to force his physician from him.  The doctor took the precaution to reveal the place of concealment of his journal to Montholon, who found a way of having it sent to him in England.  This document was read to the Emperor, who had several errors corrected, which do not appear to have been of great importance, except one that had reference to the shooting of the Duc d’Enghien.[10]

On the day following his exit from Longwood O’Meara sent a report on the exile’s illness and his treatment thereof.  The report is an alarming account of the health of the Emperor, who, notwithstanding, is deprived of medical aid for months.  He justly adhered to the determination of having none other than his own medical attendant.  Lowe sees in this very reasonable request a subtle attempt at planning escape, and will not concede it.  An acrimonious correspondence then takes place.  Letters sent to him by Montholon or Bertrand are returned because Napoleon is styled Emperor.  Montholon in turn imitates Lowe, and returns his on the ground of incivility, and it must be admitted the French score off him each time.

Lowe whines to Montholon that Bertrand calls him a fool to the Commissioners, and accuses him of collecting all the complaints he can gather together, so that he may have them published.  The newspapers, particularly the Edinburgh Review, have slashing articles holding him up to ridicule and denouncing him as an “assassin.”  He whimpers that it is very hard that he, who pays every attention and regard for the Emperor’s feelings, should be pursued and made the victim of calumnies.  These expressions of unctuous pharisaism are coldly received by the French, who ask no favours but claim justice.  Their thoughts are full of the wrongs perpetrated on the great man who is the object of their attachment and pity.  They will listen to none of Lowe’s canting humbug.  They see incontestable evidences of the Destroyer enfolding his arms around the hero who had thrilled the nations of the world with his