The same afternoon, Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn proceeded in the admiral’s yacht to the _Bellerophon_. Napoleon was on deck to receive them. After the usual salutations, Lord Keith addressed himself to Bonaparte, and acquainted him with his intended transfer to the _Northumberland_ for passage to St Helena. After much expostulation, Napoleon finally refused to go; but upon Lord Keith expressing the hope that no coercion would be necessary to carry out the orders of government, he replied: ‘O no, no! you command, I must obey! Only, recollect, I do not go of my own free-will.’ He then formally handed to Lord Keith a written protest against his transportation to St Helena, in which it was contended, that having come voluntarily on board the _Bellerophon_, he was the guest and not the prisoner of England. ‘I appeal,’ he concluded, ‘to history, whether an enemy who comes deliberately in his misfortunes to seek an asylum under the protection of English law, can give a more convincing proof of his esteem and confidence. But how have the English answered such confidence and magnanimity; they pretended to extend a friendly hand to this enemy; and when he relied on their good faith, they sacrificed him.’ It was afterwards arranged that the transfer should take place the following morning (Monday) about eleven o’clock. Early next day, Sir George Cockburn superintended the inspection of the baggage, consisting of services and toilet sets of plate, several articles in gold, books, beds, &c., which were sent on board the _Northumberland_, four thousand gold napoleons being sealed up and detained. The baggage having been removed, the parting scene commenced, Napoleon handing to several of his officers a certificate of fidelity and good service. About eleven o’clock, the barge of the _Tonnant_ proceeded to the _Bellerophon_ to receive the fallen Emperor and those who were to be the partakers of his exile: General and Madame Bertrand with their children, Count and Countess Montholon and child, Count Las Cases, General Gourgaud, nine men and three women servants. At the last moment, Napoleon’s surgeon refused to accompany him, whereupon the surgeon of the _Bellerophon_, Mr O’Meara, consented to supply his place. Shortly afterwards O’Meara was offered a salary of five hundred pounds per annum, but this he rejected, with the remark that the pay of his king was sufficient to satisfy him.