I then went to Majorca, to measure there the latitude and the azimuth.

At this epoch, the political fermentation, engendered by the entrance of the French into Spain, began to invade the whole Peninsula and the islands dependent on it.  This ferment had as yet in Majorca only reached to the ministers, the partisans, and the relations of the Prince of Peace.  Each evening, I saw, drawn in triumph in the square of Palma, the capital of the island of Majorca, on carriages, the effigies in flames, sometimes of the minister Soller, another time those of the bishop, and even those of private individuals supposed to be attached to the fortunes of the favourite Godoi.  I was far from suspecting then that my turn would soon arrive.

My station at Majorca, the Clop de Galazo, a very high mountain, was situated exactly over the port where Don Jayme el Conquistator disembarked when he went to deliver the Balearic Islands from the Moors.  The report spread itself through the population that I had established myself there in order to favour the arrival of the French army, and that every evening I made signals to it.  But these reports had nothing menacing until the moment of the arrival at Palma, the 27th of May, 1808, of an ordnance officer from Napoleon.  This officer was M. Berthemie; he carried to the Spanish squadron, at Mahon, the order to go in all haste to Toulon.  A general rising, which placed the life of this officer in danger, followed the news of his mission.  The Captain-General Vives only saved his life by shutting him up in the strong castle of Belver.  They then bethought themselves of the Frenchman established on the Clop de Galazo, and formed a popular expedition to go and seize him.

M. Damian, the owner of a small kind of vessel called a Mistic, which the Spanish Government had placed at my disposal, was beforehand with them, and brought me a costume by means of which I disguised myself.  In directing myself towards Palma, in company with this brave seaman, we met with the rioters who were going in search of me.  They did not recognize me, for I spoke Majorcan perfectly.  I strongly encouraged the men of this detachment to continue their route, and I pursued my way towards Palma.  At night I went on board the Mistic, commanded by Don Manuel de Vacaro, whom the Spanish Government had placed under my orders.  I asked this officer if he would conduct me to Barcelona, occupied by the French, promising him that if they made any attempt to keep him there, I would at once return and surrender myself a prisoner.

Don Manuel, who up to this time had shown extreme obsequiousness towards me, had now no words but those of rudeness and distrust.  There occurred on the pier where the Mistic was moored a riotous movement, which Vacaro assured me was directed against me.  “Do not be uneasy,” said he to me; “if they should penetrate into the vessel you can hide yourself in this trunk.”  I made the attempt; but the chest which he showed me was so small that my legs were entirely outside, and the cover could not be shut down.  I understood perfectly what that meant, and I asked M. Vacaro to let me also be shut up in the castle of Belver.  The order for incarceration having arrived from the captain-general, I got into the boat, where the sailors of the Mistic received me with emotion.