After dinner, the Emperor good-humouredly related the remark made by an old soldier of the 53rd, who, having seen him yesterday for the first time, went back to his comrades and said,—"What lies they told me about Napoleon’s age; he is not old at all; the fellow is still young enough for at least sixty campaigns." We thought this expression savoured very much of the Frenchman, and we laid claim to it as having proceeded from one of our grenadiers. We then related to him a number of _bons-mots_ made by our soldiers during his absence and on his return, with which he was much entertained. But what particularly excited his risibility was the answer made by a grenadier at Lyons. A grand review was held there, just after the Emperor had landed on his return from Elba. The Commanding Officer remarked to his soldiers that they were well clothed and well fed, that their pay might be seen upon their persons:—"Yes, certainly," replied the grenadier to whom he addressed himself.—"Well!" continued the officer, with a confident air, “it was not so under Bonaparte. Your pay was in arrear, he was in your debt?”—"And what did that signify," said the grenadier smartly, “if we chose to give him credit?”
THE EMPEROR’S MESSAGE TO THE PRINCE REGENT.—CHARACTERISTIC REMARKS.—PORTFOLIO LOST AT WATERLOO.—ON AMBASSADORS.—M. DE NARBONNE.—NAPOLEON ON THE POINT OF BEING TAKEN PRISONER IN GERMANY AFTER THE BATTLE OF MOSCOW.—COST OF THE EMPEROR’S TOILET.—EXPENSE OF A FAMILY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DIFFERENT CAPITALS OF EUROPE.—THE FURNISHING OF NAPOLEON’S HOUSE IN THE RUE DE LA VICTOIRE.—THE FITTING UP OF THE IMPERIAL PALACES.—THE EMPEROR’S METHOD OF EXAMINING HIS ACCOUNTS.
21st.—The Emperor sent for me to attend him in the garden, about four o’clock, to act as interpreter. Captain Hamilton, the Commander of the Havannah frigate, was to sail next day for Europe, and, with his officers, had come to take leave of the Emperor. Captain Hamilton spoke French. When I joined the party in the garden, the Emperor was expressing himself with warmth.
“They wish to know what I desire?” said he; “I demand my liberty or death. Report these words to your Prince Regent. I no longer ask to hear from my son, since they have had the barbarity to leave my first request unanswered.... I was not your prisoner. Savages would have had more respect for my situation. Your Ministers have basely violated in my person the sacred rights of hospitality; they have for ever dishonoured England!”