Page:Life of Napoleon Buonaparte.pdf/20

 It is impossible to dwell on the minutae of his conduct and reception, or to the circumstances attendant on his consignment for safe custody to St. Helena, by the joint determination of the allies. For this his final destination, he sailed on the 11th August, 1815, and arrived at St Helena on the 18th of the following October. The rest of his life is little more than a detail of gradual bodily decay; rendered however strikingly amusing by the narrative of his remarks, conversation, and literary employment, among the few faithful courriers and officers allowed to accompany him. These are at in the highest degree characteristic; nor, with the exception of some querulous resentment of what he deemed degrading and unnecessary restriction and suspicion, dues he appear to have conducted himself below his great powers of mind. The multifarious publications descriptive of his treatment and deportment under it, render all further attempt at description here superfluous; suffice it therefore to say that while a vast majority deem his detention a justifiable piece of state necessity, opinion is much more divided as to the propriety of a portion of the restrictions, in regard to the receipts of newspapers, portraits, friendly memorials, &c. which could operate in no way to his release. Possibly, indeed, looking to various minor indications, an involuntary conviction of a want of a little governing equanimity and good sense in St Helena; strikes most of those who read these curious details! Leaving this to opinion, it appears probable that mental affliction, added to unhealthy climate, began to operate fatally on the constitution of Buonaparte from the hour of his arrivals as nearly the whole of the four years and upwards, while he remained there, he was sickly and diseased. His ultimate complaint was a cancer