comte de Charles-Tristan Montholon

“ There is no water fit for cooking at Longwood. Very good water may, however, be procured at a distance of 1200 yards, which might be conveyed to the Emperor’s barracks at an expence of from 12 to 1500 francs. The house is only supplied by the water which is brought from this fountain; it is open only once during the day, at all other times it is locked. It is guarded by an English officer, who is scarcely ever present when water is wanted. There is a conduit for conveying water to the English camp; but it was thought unnecessary to do as much for the unfortunate Napoleon. ”

“ The Emperor Napoleon protests against the contents of that Treaty. He is not the prisoner of England. After having placed his abdication in the hands of the Representatives of the Nation, for the advantage of the Constitution adopted by the French People, and in favour of his Son, he repaired voluntarily and freely to England, with the view of living there, as a private individual, under the protection of the British laws. The violation of every law cannot constitute a right. The person of the Emperor Napoleon is actually in the power of England ”

“ The house at Longwood was built to serve as a barn for the Company’s farm; the Deputy Governor of the Island had since built some chambers; it served him for a country-house, but it was not in a proper habitable state: workmen have been employed at it for a year, and the Emperor has been continually subjected to the inconvenience and insalubrity of inhabiting a house in the progress of building. The chamber in which he sleeps is too small to contain a bed of ordinary dimensions; but every alteration at Longwood prolongs the inconvenience of having workmen there. ”

“ He affirms, that Napoleon, on his arrival at St. Helena, was treated by Sir George Cockburn with respect and delicacy. He was afterwards transferred to Longwood, once a farm belonging to the East India Company. In this wretched asylum he still remains. His sleeping chamber is scarcely large enough to contain a bed and a few chairs. The roof of this hovel consists of paper, coated with pitch, which is beginning to rot, and through which the rain-water and dew penetrate. In addition to all these inconveniences, the house is infested by rats, who devour every thing that they can reach. ”

“ Count Bertrand has observed to you, that you violate even the laws of your Legislature, and that you trample under foot the rights of General Officers, prisoners of war. You have replied, that you act according to the letter of your instructions, and that your conduct to us is not worse than is dictated by them. ”

“ The English Ministry is not authorized to order any of these vexations;7 the law, although unique, by which the British Parliament regards the Emperor Napoleon as a prisoner of war, has never prohibited prisoners of war from subscribing to journals or receiving printed books: such a prohibition only takes place in the dungeons of the Inquisition.
The Island of St. Helena is ten leagues in circumference; it is inaccessible every where; brigs surround the coast; posts are stationed on the shore within sight of each other, which renders impracticable any communication with the sea. ”

“ The Emperor has always desired, and is still desirous, to provide himself for all his expences, of whatever nature, and he will do it as soon as you render it possible by taking off the interdiction laid upon the merchants of the Island with regard to his correspondence, and directing that it should not be subjected to any inquisition on your part, or by any of your agents. ”

“ Having no longer any cabinet, he thought proper to dismiss M. Santini. In the same manner, objects of the first necessity for his household suffer daily diminution. Col. Poniatowski has been removed from the Island by order of the Governor.
M. Santini departed from St. Helena on the 28th of October, on board the Orontis, sailed to the Cape of Good Hope, and again returned to St. Helena, but was not suffered to land. The Emperor sent some provisions on board the vessel; but M. Santini sent back the live-stock, as the Captain insisted on his killing it immediately. ”