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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1330

St. Helena
Napoleon
1815-1816 Two letters written by W.Mills to his aunt, Mrs Moore, while aboard HMS Northumberland that carried Napoleon Bonaparte into exile in 1815. The first dated 5th August 1815 "off Torbay", the port at which Napoleon was transferred from the Bellarophon to the Northumberland. Mills refers to "the once great man Napoleon...we are going to paint the ship for the reception of Buoney and his suite".
The second dated 7 February 1815 (sic1816) from St Helena, presents a detailed account of the arrival of Napoleon on the island.
"I have procured for you a very small lock of the great Napoleon's hair, with the three different coloured ribbons which suspend his orders...I have the promise of a pocket handkerchief from his chief valet de Chambre.
We landed him in disguise that nobody might crowd around to see him which he detests. He was lodged in a house in the town next to which the Main Guard is kept...he took up residence at a house called the Briars...until his house at Longwood (the prettiest spot on the Island) was ready. The Governor made him a present of a small carriage...in which he rides out almost every afternoon. He is permitted to go three miles every way around his house without attendants... if he attempts to go past without being so attended he is liable to be shot."
Mills mentions by name the horses he has, how resigned he is to his fate and it is an "utter impossibility for him to escape".
The full suite attending him are named and described, certain "were latterley Generals of Divisions and acted in that capacity at the Battle of Waterloo".
With an 18 page stitched manuscript titled "Buonaparte at St. Helena, 9th Feb'y 1816", headed "To Mrs Cocks / from Major Wodsor"(?)
"As you are desirous of having some account of the wonderful man who has made so much noise in the world, I am suited to comply with your request".
The manuscript describes Napoleon's arrival on the island, his lodgings, Longwood, his daily routine, "engaged in writing his life", the writer meeting him and "looked at my height with astonishment", references to conversations, Napoleon's view on slavery which "he deplores", how few invitations are extended to visit Longwood, describes his manners as "course and vulgar, he seems to have been too great a man to be considered a gentleman. To all the French people he is bearish and truly overbearing...Bonaparte's physician today informed him of the execution of Murat. He received the information with the greatest composure, without the least change of countenance and calmly said 'He was a fool'".
The collection includes twelve related engravings of Napoleon and St.Helena and two autograph letters from Barry O'Meara in French (1823) presenting a copy of the French translation of "Napoleon in Exile", and Archibald Arnott MD, who was the medical attendant to Napoleon during his last illness (17)

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Estimate
£900 to £1,200

Starting price
£800