Footnotes

A MAJOR SOURCE FOR NAPOLEON'S EXILE AND HIS VOYAGE TO ST. HELENA. John Robert Glover (?1782-1841), author of this compellingly vivid first-hand account of life with the exiled emperor, was Secretary to Admiral Sir George Cockburn on HMS Northumberland, charged with taking Napoleon to St. Helena in 1815. It was clearly written-up very soon after Glover's return to England, being on paper watermarked 1816 and having a note signed by Glover at the end dated 3 August 1816: "As the foregoing Narration was kept for my own gratification, and that of my Friends, and being particularly averse that any part of it should get into Print, I most particularly request of those to whom I may lend it, that they will on no account Copy any part of it, or allow any one so to do/ Jno. R Glover". (For a letter by Glover written in his capacity as Cockburn's secretary in 1815, see British Library, Add.15729, f.17).

Nearly a century later it was to be published as part of Napoleon's Last Voyages: Being the Diaries of Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher...and John R. Glover, Secretary to Rear Admiral Cockburn (on board the 'Northumberland') (1906), edited by J. Holland Rose; where Rose makes the note: "The 'Manuscript Diary' of Mr. Glover was received by Mr. Fisher Unwin from the Rev. Octavius Grindon in May, 1890. In substance it is in most parts closely parallel to an " Extract from a Diary of Rear-Admiral Sir George Cockburn," which was first published at Boston (U.S.) in 1833. It seems highly probable that Admiral Cockburn dictated his diary to his secretary, making use of the memory of the latter with respect to the lengthy conversations held at the dinner-table of the Northumberland. The fact that that diary was found among Mr. Glover's papers strengthens the supposition that it was almost a joint production. Glover, however, certainly kept a diary of his own; for some details respecting the conduct or conversations of Napoleon's companions, especially of Mme. Bertrand and General Gourgaud, appear only in his diary. The parts dealing with affairs at Plymouth, as also at St. Helena, are far fuller than in the Admiral's own narrative. Still, it is clear that Glover made extensive use of the information which he appears to have written down at his chief's dictation. Included in the lot is a collection of newspaper cuttings and correspondence, including a published letter by the owner, the Rev H.M. Grindon of Marden Cottage, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, stating that "a connexion by marriage between Mr Glover and my mother's family accounts for our possession of these relics. The copyright of the diary was, I believe, sold to the Century Magazine in 1893, but we retain the original MS". It is still held by the family.

The portrait profile of Napoleon on the Northumberland, leaning against a cannon and wearing his customary green uniform of the Chasseurs of the Guard is usually attributed to Denzil Ibbetson, the St Helena Commissary; and is presumably a copy made by him for Glover (although it should be noted that later copies of this portrait with forged notes of provenance are to be found on the market). Glover writes of the portrait: "The rough Sketch here placed of his Person will give an idea of it, he is portrayed leaning against one of the Guns on the Quarter Deck of the Northumberland speaking earnestly to Mareçhal Bertrand: His countenance has something in it very remarkable, but nothing peculiarly commanding and this Sketch flatters him both as to Age and Appearance. He is Five feet seven and a quarter inches high, stout made, and rather Corpulent". Glover's descriptions of Napoleon wandering around the ship and interacting with his fellow passengers are even more telling: "Between 2 and 3 Bonaparte made his appearance on Deck asking various questions, as to the names of the Vessels with us, the probable time of our Voyage to Madeira, &c his fellow Prisoners are ever uncovered in his presence, and in speaking to him invariably address him either Sire or Votre Majesté, but the Admiral as well as the Officers at all times address him as General, however, the difficulty of repressing the inclination to pay him marked attention is evident, and the curiosity of both Officers and Men in watching his actions is very easily perceived: About four oClock he retired to the After Cabin where he played at Chess with General Montholon until dinner time, he appeared to play but badly, and certainly very much inferior to his Antagonist who nevertheless was determined not to win the Game from his Ex Majesty. At dinner he ate heartily of every dish, his Fork remaining useless, whilst his Fingers were busily employed, during dinner in conversation with the Admiral relative to our Contests with America he said Mr. Madison was too late in Declaring War, that he had never made any requisition to France for Assistance, but that he (Bonaparte) would very readily have lent any number of Ships of the Line... during the dinner he drank very heartily of Claret out of a Tumbler, but nothing after dinner except a glass of Noyau, when Coffee was served, he swallowed his hastily, and got up from Table before many of us were even served, and went on Deck... He walked the Deck asking various trifling questions, until nearly dark, when our Vingt un Party was again formed; the General was again unlucky losing Ten or Twelve Napoleons, but with perfect good humour, about half past Nine he retired to his sleeping Cabin".