my death.  I recommend you, above all, carefully to examine my stomach, to make an. exact detailed report of it, which you will convey to my son.  The vomitings which succeed each other without intermission lead me to suppose that the stomach is the one of my organs which is the most deranged, and I am inclined to believe that it is affected with the disease which conducted my father to the grave,—­I mean a cancer in the lower stomach.  What think you?” His physician hesitating, he continued—­“I have not doubted this since I found the sickness become frequent and obstinate.  It is nevertheless well worthy of remark that I have always had a stomach of iron, that I have felt no inconvenience from this organ till latterly, and that whereas my father was fond of high-seasoned dishes and spirituous liquors, I have never been able to make use of them.  Be it as it may, I entreat, I charge you to neglect nothing in such an examination, in order that when you see my son you may communicate the result of your observations to him, and point out the most suitable remedies.  When I am no more you will repair to Rome; you will find out my mother and my family.  You will give them an account of all you have observed relative to my situation, my disorder, and my death on this remote and miserable rock; you will tell them that the great Napoleon expired in the most deplorable state, wanting everything, abandoned to himself and his glory.”  It was ten in the forenoon; after this the fever abated, and he fell into a sort of doze.

The Emperor passed a very bad night, and could not sleep.  He grew light-headed and talked incoherently; still the fever had abated in its violence.  Towards morning the hiccough began to torment him, the fever increased, and he became quite delirious.  He spoke of his complaint, and called upon Baxter (the Governor’s physician) to appear, to come and see the truth of his reports.  Then all at once fancying O’Meara present, he imagined a dialogue between them, throwing a weight of odium on the English policy.  The fever having subsided, his hearing became distinct; he grew calm, and entered into some further conversation on what was to be done after his death.  He felt thirsty, and drank a large quantity of cold water.  “If fate should determine that I shall recover, I would raise a monument on the spot where this water gushes out:  I would crown the fountain in memory of the comfort which it has afforded me.  If I die, and they should not proscribe my remains as they have proscribed my person, I should desire to be buried with my ancestors in the cathedral of Ajaccio, in Corsica.  But if I am not allowed to repose where I was born, why, then, let them bury me at the spot where this fine and refreshing water flows.”  This request was afterwards complied with.