This is part of a series where we’re translating the memoirs of Napoleon’s supposed last mistress, Albine, the wife of Napoleon’s alleged poisoner, Charles de Montholon.
When we last left off, Napoleon’s held a council to decide if they could trust the word of the British authorities.
Albine writes:
[Napoleon ordered the people who did not trust the British to] develop their reasons and they began a long and lively discussion.
This discussion, in which M. de Montholon had supported his opinion [that they should not trust the British authorities], was very often the object of the discussions of Saint Helena, and it was one of the causes which gave the Emperor so much confidence in my husband’s judgment and in the capacity of his mind.
The Emperor often repeated to him: "It struck me very much. On the 14th, General Gourgaud was sent to England with a letter from the Emperor to the Prince Regent. We know the terms of this letter; seized by the grandiose idea of asking his enemies for hospitality, the Emperor wrote: "Like Themistocles, I place myself at the hearth of the British, etc." This letter has been blamed and I know no good reason for it.
VII THE BRIG NAMED THE “SPOILER”
During these three days of indecision, the government had changed the destination of Captain Baudin; the tidal wave ship idea would be perilous and chancy; the Provisional Government, which saw with concern that the Emperor was still on French soil and so close, urged him to depart to the island of Aix.
There was then hardly any other course to take than that of going aboard the Bellerophon.
On the 15th of July, very early in the morning, the Emperor embarked on the French brig the Sparrowhawk which was to take him there.
Nothing can describe the stupor, the deep discouragement which could be seen on the faces as the Emperor gave himself up to the English!
To the English, his enemies, the always avowed or hidden enemies of France! This thought was written on the forehead of the sailor as on that of the officer. There were 3 of us who followed him, less unhappy, and yet, my heart was tight!
When I boarded, the Emperor was already seated on deck. They brought me a chair and I found myself beside him; he was calm, cold and thoughtful.
After a few minutes of solemn silence, he said to me, passing his hand over the sleeve of his coat: "Is it green or blue?"
We know that the Emperor had trouble distinguishing colors. - I was so surprised by this question, that I was slow to answer, believing I had heard wrong.
He repeated the same question gently and in a low voice. "Green, Sire," I replied. He went on again as if to be sure: "Green?”
“Yes, Sire, green."
He was in a frockcoat and undoubtedly he wanted to be dressed in the color of the uniform he always wore, that of Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard.
They brought black coffee, he took it. The boarding ended, we set sail; the Bellerophon was in sight. Soon the boat of this vessel, mounted by the 1st lieutenant, was sent to transport us. The lieutenant went up on the Sparrowhawk bridge and made the obligatory speech in English. -
To be continued.
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Cela fait partie d'une série où nous traduisons les mémoires de la supposée dernière maîtresse de Napoléon, Albine, l'épouse du prétendu empoisonneur de Napoléon, Charles de Montholon. La dernière fois que nous nous sommes arrêtés, Napoléon a tenu un conseil pour décider s’ils pouvaient faire confiance à la parole des autorités britanniques.
Albine écrit:
Let’s look at the transits the day Napoleon trusted in the integrity of the English government.
The Sun is about to transit or spotlight’s Napoleon natal Saturn (imprisonment) in the sign of Cancer (home). Napoleon about to be put under house arrest. The ruler of Cancer, the Moon, reinforces this theme as the Moon is transiting the ascendant (how Napoleon comes across).
Napoleon’s Mercury (communications) is about to transit the Mercury that sits atop his natal chart and a tense looking t square that straddles his ascendant and descendant (others) between Jupiter (generous grandeur) in Scorpio (passion/power) and Uranus (revolution/eccentricity) in Taurus (Venus/art).
Natal Mercury is in the 9th house of Jupiter (ideology/foreign affairs) in Leo (the Sun/fame) near the midheaven which shows the native’s reputation, Napoleon was well known for being lied about in media and it’s a major way in which people have been brainwashed to hate him for 2 centuries. It has been a major problem for him. The chart shows this.
Regardons les transits le jour où Napoléon a fait confiance à l'intégrité du gouvernement anglais. Le Soleil est sur le point de transiter ou de mettre en lumière Saturne natal de Napoléon (emprisonnement) sous le signe du Cancer (domicile).
Napoléon sur le point d'être assigné à résidence. Le souverain du Cancer, la Lune, renforce ce thème alors que la Lune transite par l'ascendant (comment Napoléon apparaît).
Le Mercure de Napoléon (communications) est sur le point de transiter par le Mercure qui se trouve au sommet de sa carte natale et un carré t tendu qui chevauche son ascendant et son descendant (autres) entre Jupiter (grandeur généreuse) en Scorpion (passion / puissance) et Uranus (révolution / excentricité) en Taureau (Vénus / art).
Natal Mercury est dans la 9e maison de Jupiter (idéologie / affaires étrangères) à Leo (le soleil / la renommée) près du milieu du ciel, ce qui montre la réputation du natif, Napoléon était bien connu pour avoir été menti dans les médias et c'est un moyen majeur pour les gens ont été soumis à un lavage de cerveau pour le haïr pendant 2 siècles. Cela a été un problème majeur pour lui. Le graphique le montre.
