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Revision as of 21:27, 24 February 2019

(1) 157 This letter, written by Henry addition Henry FitzClarence /addition from Portsmouth, addition to Daniel unclear /addition is dated May 15th 1815, on the ever of his departuer. When it was written Naopleon was already back in France, and the Battle of Waterloo was fought very little more than a month later.

We sail the day after to-morrow, and perhaps even to-morrow. I like my messmates in the wardroom very much.

Since I have been here I have seen a great deal of Captain Tower of the underline Curacoa /underline, an old friend of mine, who carried Napoleon's mother to Elba, and relieved Captain Usher on that station. Tower was nearly a month there, living entirely and on the most friendly terms with the Emperor. Being an old friendof mine, and my being naturally very curious to know something of the manner in which this great man passes his time and employs himself, he informed me of a great many interesting particulars respecting him.

He is grown very fat, although he takes a great deal of exercise. Eats immoderately, and without any discrimination.'s Drinks little, takes a great deal of physick, and is, from Tower account one of the most pleasant comapnions he has every lived with. He has a vast fund of general knowledge, talks smartly and to the purpose on almost every subject, and is very far from avoiding conversation on the subject of his late reign and campaigns. He talks lightly of the Russians as soldiers, out admires their patriotism as a people, of the Prussians vice versa, thinks and speaks contemptuously of the Austrians, their cavalry excepted. Thins and speaks of the Prince Regent as every man of sens must do. But of the English he speaks in rpatures as soldiers, sailors, individuals and collectively as a nation, always mentions the Duke of Wellington and Lord Hill with respect and admiration, abuses the Americans, and wishes to come to England to see the country.

Moreover the Emperor is immoderately fond of women and has a most beautiful harem. The Elban women are very pretty. He is constantly sending to Italy for women, and means to sendto England.

The story of the dispute between him and the director of mines is true.

Tower was likewise at Naples, where Murat was superabundantly civil to him. He has completely got the Anglomania. Grooms, horses, stable &c., everything English. An English governess for his children, who speak perfect English. He says, "If they take his throne away, he will put his boys into the English Navy, and will marry his daughters to Englishmen.

By becoming aide-de-camp to Lord Moira George was spared the humiliation of joining his "horrid regiment, the 24th Light

dragoons; he was just twenty, Henry a little more than a year younger 

At Gibraltar, where the Cornwallis put in, they the frigate on which Adolphus was serving, (1) unclear