| identifiant | 58_Masson_SH |
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| fait partie de | Masson |
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| est validé | oui |
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| date | 1819/04/11 00:00 |
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| titre | Lettre du lieutenant colonel Wynyard au comte Montholon |
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| texte en markdown | <h1><span style="font-family:Chivo;font-size:60%;line-height:1;"><b>58_Masson_SH -</b> LE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WYNYARD AU COMTE MONTHOLON</span></h1>
<h2 data-kind="letter-context;" style="text-align: right; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal">St Helena, 11<sup>th</sup> April 1819</h2>
Count de Montholon
Sir,
I am directed by the governor to transmit to you the enclosed paper firstly his letter of 4<sup>th</sup> April, secondly your letter to him of 8<sup>th</sup> April received on 10<sup>th</sup> instant (with his remarks upon it) returned in consequence of the use of the Imperial title in it, also two enclosures referred to in the remarks, thirdly the governor’s observations on the proposals contained in your letter to him of 1<sup>st</sup> April referred to again in that of the 8<sup>th</sup> instant with the one enclosure.
I have the honour to be Sir your most obedient, humble servant,[^1]
*Edward Wynyard, Lieutnant Colonel & Military Secretary*
**Annexe 1**
Extract from Earl Bathurst’s instructions to Sir Hudson Lowe
London, 9<sup>th</sup> July 1816
“It appears very desirable that the officers who are allowed to continue with him should clearly understand, that their protracted residence in St Helena, is an act of indulgence shown by the Prince Regent, for the purpose of ordering the confinement of General Bonaparte as little irksome to him as the circumstances of the case will permit. They ought therefore to be fully aware, that any abuse of this indulgence either on his part or on theirs, will require an alteration in the system, which His Royal Highness has been desirous of adopting in this particular.”
London, 17<sup>th</sup> July 1817
“With respect to his followers, they cannot be too frequently reminded, that their continuance in the island is an indulgence on the part of the British Government, and you will inform them, that you have received strict instructions to remove them from the person of General Bonaparte, if they shall not conduct themselves with that respect, which your situation demands, and with that strict attention to your regulations is the indispensable condition on which their residence on the island is permitted.”
**Annexe 2**
*No 1* - This letter is returned for the same reasons as preceding ones Vide Earl Bathurst's instruction to Sir H[udson] Lowe of 17<sup>th</sup> September 1817, communicated to Count Bertrand on 3<sup>rd</sup> January 1818, and also letter to Count Montholon dated 2<sup>nd</sup> April 1819.
*2* - The governor has already stated the only motives which had *heretofore* determined his forbearance in respect to Count Bertrand, Vide his letter of the 4<sup>th</sup> April 1819 to Count Montholon.
*3* - This is not a disavowal of the letter, nor of the falsehoods it contains.
*4* - If Napoleon Bonaparte believes what is stated in this letter to be *perfectly exact*, it affords the strongest proof of the illusion in which a person who refuses to himself any opportunity of seeing or knowing what passes can be kept by these around him. The governor declares the letter to be a shameless libel throughout, discolouring every fact or circumstance, *torturing even acts of attention into outrages*, sent forth to the world with the express design to blacken and defame and by such unworthy means attempt to excite the public commiseration.
*5* - Captain Blakeney delivered his own sentiments to Count Bertrand on this point. It is false that the letter he wrote was dictated by the governor, or any other that has been sent. There is not a syllable in the governor's letter of 25<sup>th</sup> 1817, on such subjects.
*6* - As a proof how much real delicacy has been hitherto practised on this point and how little acknowledgment it ever produces, a statement from Captain Blakeney is annexed. Count Montholon in a discussion on this very matter admitted the absolute propriety of every article which left or was sent to Longwood being examined, and proposed it should be done at or outside the Barrier, which was immediately acceded to.
*7* - The governor considers these letters as delivered and will act upon them accordingly.
*8* - The governor's letter of 25<sup>th</sup> July 1818, and note of the 25<sup>th</sup> March 1819, the contents of which have been again referred to or repeated in the communications made to Count Montholon on the 2nd and 3rd April, point out the very simple and natural conditions upon which Napoleon Bonaparte may have at any time made his selection of a medical attendant. The Governor has notwithstanding drawn out some observations on the proposals contained in Count Montholon's letter and they are sent herewith. He was rendered aware that Count Bertrand had taken upon himself to show Count Montholon's letter to Mr Ricketts, who will know the use that has been made of his name, and form his own judgment upon it.
*9* - The governor sent all the newspapers he received - he has *never* withdrawn any paper of a regular series received by him, although he shall not hesitate to do so, if he sees a sufficient motive for it. If any numbers of the papers usually sent by the governor have not been seen by Napoleon Bonaparte, they must have been kept from him by his own followers.
*10* - The information which is here sought after, will not be given. The governor does not intend to become the channel for the delivery of letters or parcels clandestinely sent here or of making known their contents.
*11* - No series of any papers has been received by the governor of later date than the 12<sup>th</sup> December. He has made it an invariable practise when he obtained any papers of a late date, otherwise than by the regular channels, to send them directly to Longwood, but as an act of regard which he was every way disposed to show, and not of direct obligation.
*12* - The governor has not in his possession any books, Morning Chronicles and Edinburgh Reviews for the persons at Longwood, nor does he know of any that have been sent expressly for them. The Morning Chronicle has been regularly forwarded to Longwood. It is the *only* paper received from England expressly for Napoleon Bonaparte. All other papers sent have been the governor's or borrowed by him. Some French books were sent in a *separate box* directed to be delivered to a person under a feigned name and supposed to be destined for Napoleon Bonaparte which were some months since forwarded to Count Montholon on his application. No others have since arrived.
*13* - The officers who have accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte hither are of course at liberty to follow the path of honour and duty according to their own feelings. The governor does not dispute the sentiments or the principles of attachment which bind them to their superior, particularly in his adversity. Whether such attachment has been shown in the way most honourable to themselves or most for the comfort of the individual to whom they are attached, by the course they pursued, it is not the governor's business to discuss. All that he has to require of them is expressed in the annexed extracts from his instructions which have been before transmitted.
*Hudson Lowe*
**Annexe 3**
Extract : *Hudson Lowe*
“All parcels and boxes were brought to me previous to their being sent away from Longwood, to the persons to whom they were addressed. The linen sent to the washwoman was put into the cart that daily attended, sometimes in front of my quarters, and at other times at the houses of the individual. It was never examined by me or any other person, nor did I receive any orders to that effect from the governor, the linen when returned as soon as reported to me by the carter to have arrived, I desired to be delivered immediately without examination. General Bonaparte's linen was never even brought to my quarters, but was sent and received by his own servant.”
(Signed) Henry Pearse Blakeney, Captain 66th Regiment
**Annexe 4**
*Articles under which it appeared by a letter from Count Montholon, Napoleon Bonaparte is willing to admit a British medical officer to attend upon him.*
Longwood le 1 Avril 1819
1° Qu'il le pouvait choisir parmis tous les officiers de santé actuellement présents dans cette Isle, et ce en conséquence de la lettre de Lord Bathurst du 18 Mai.
2° Que le medecin qu'il choisirait serait consideré comme celui dont il est fait mention dans le decret de votre gouvernment du 15 Aout 1815.
3° Qu'il recevrait l'assurance qu'il le garderait au moins pendant la durée de sa maladie que le medecin serait consideré et traité comme le sien propre.
4° Qu'il ne rendrait compte de sa santé a qui que ce soit.
5° Qu'il serait autorisé a rediger tous les huit jours, plus souvent si c'etait necessaire, un bulletin dont l'original resterait entre nos mains
6° Qu'il pourrait communiquer a tout heure verbalement, par écrit, le jour, la nuit, avec les français de Longwood.
7° Qu'il donnerait l'assurance qu'il ne rendrait compte a qui que ce soit des conversations qu'il entendrait `a Longwood se reservant sur toutes les matieres a son serment d'allegeance envers sa patrie et son souverain.
(signé) : Le comte de Montholon
*Governors Observations referred to in his remarks No 8 on Count Montholon's letter of 8<sup>th</sup> April.*
1° Napoleon Bonaparte may select a medical officer accordingly, provided the person chosen strictly conforms to the regulation in force, pursuant to Earl Bathurst's letter of the 16th May 1818.
2° According to the sense in which the British government may have given its orders on the above occasion.
The governer in the meantime can only refer to the conditions the surgeon then chosen stipulated for himself in his letter to lord Keith viz. that he should be considered as a British officer employed and paid by the British government and not as in any wise dependent upon, subservient to or paid by Napoleon Bonaparte.
3° It cannot be expected the governor should bind up his own authority so far as to give the unqualified assurance required of him in the first part of this article. He can only pledge his own desire of forbearance, even should a case arise to demand removal until a French medical attendant may arrive, or until the orders of his government may be received.
The Individual chosen will be regarded as Napoleon Bonapartes personal medical attendant and bound to consider the health of Napoleon Bonaparte as his principal charge, but he can contract no personal tie whether as a medical man or otherwise inconsistent with his natural duty as a British subject.
4° If the medical officer is considered as employed by the British government he must of course be prepared to furnish such information as is required respecting the health of Napoleon Bonaparte whenever he may be indisposed, but only to the governor.
5° The governor will not require any bulletins unless in cases of serious indisposition which the medical officer may deem it his duty to report in writing when a counterpart in original may be left with Napoleon Bonaparte; it being understood however that in all cases of serious indisposition which require that written reports be presented, no objection shall be made to a compliance with the regulation contained in the last article but one of the instructions to Sir George Cockburn. (copy annexed)
6° Professional attendance may be given at all hours, but where in the execution of professional duty any written communication may become indispensable, it is to be made known to the Governor if he requires it.
7° The medical officer has never been required nor will he be required to make reports of communications but whenever he may be communicated with on points that relate to the governor's duties, as connected in any way with the detention of Napoleon Bonaparte on this island and prevention of his rescue or escape, or may become informed of any infraction or intended infraction of the regulations established for his safe custody, it cannot be expected that as a British subject he should bind his honor or his conscience by any tie which may restrain him from making the fullest and most immediate communication thereof. Matters touching his allegiance and his duty towards his sovereign and his country, it would of course be treasonable in him to withhold.
St Helena, 10th April 1819
*Hudson Lowe*
**Annexe 5**
Extract of a letter from Earl Bathurst addressed to Lieutenant General Sir Hudson Lowe.
Downing Street, 6th July 1819
“The conduct of Count Bertrand makes it unfit that you should any longer address yourself to him, in any communications which you may have occasion to make to General Bonaparte.”
(Signed) Bathurst
True copy : *Hudson Lowe*
[^1]: Expédition, Bibliothèque Thiers, fonds Masson, carton 8, fol. 240-252. |
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