Meanwhile Napoleon observed that Las Cases was busily employed, and obtained a sight of his journal, with which he was not displeased.  He, however, noticed that some of the military details and anecdotes gave but a meagre idea of the subject of war:  This first led to the proposal of his writing his own Memoirs.  At length the Emperor came to a determination, and on Saturday, the 9th of September he called his secretary into his cabin and dictated to him some particulars of the siege of Toulon.  On approaching the line they fell in with the trade-winds, that blow here constantly from the east.  On the 16th there was a considerable fall of rain, to the great joy of the sailors, who were in want of water.  The rain began to fall heavily just as the Emperor had got upon deck to take his afternoon walk.  But this did not disappoint him of his usual exercise; he merely called for his famous gray greatcoat, which the crew regarded with much interest.

On the 23d of September they passed the line.  This was a day of great merriment and disorder among the crew:  it was the ceremony which the English sailors call the “christening.”  No one is spared; and the officers are generally more roughly handled than any one else.  The Admiral, who had previously amused himself by giving an alarming description of this ceremony, now very courteously exempted his guests from the inconvenience and ridicule attending it.  Napoleon was scrupulously respected through the whole of this Saturnalian festivity.  On being informed of the decorum which had been observed with regard to him he ordered a hundred Napoleons to be presented to the grotesque Neptune and his crew; which the Admiral opposed, perhaps from motives of prudence as well as politeness.

Owing to the haste with which they had left England the painting of the ship had been only lately finished, and this circumstance confined Napoleon, whose sense of smell was very acute, to his room for two days.  They were now, in the beginning of October, driven into the Gulf of Guinea, where they met a French vessel bound for the Isle of Bourbon.  They spoke with the captain, who expressed his surprise and regret when he learnt that Napoleon was on board.  The wind was unfavourable, and the ship made little progress.  The sailors grumbled at the Admiral, who had gone out of the usual course.  At length they approached the termination of their voyage.  On the 14th of October the Admiral had informed them that he expected to come within sight of St. Helena that day.  They had scarcely risen from table when their ears were saluted with the cry of “land!” This was within a quarter of an hour of the time that had been fixed on.  The Emperor went on the forecastle to see the island; but it was still hardly distinguishable.  At daybreak next morning they had a tolerably clear view of it.