[Footnote 7: "A Visit to Bonaparte in Plymouth Sound," by a Lady. Plymouth, 1815.] [Footnote 8: Mackerel.] This doggerel helps us to realize the intense desire of the British public to get, at least, a glimpse at Boney, that great bugbear, who for so many years had been so great a terror to them, and whose existence, every one, from the highest to the lowest, had acutely felt in that tenderest place of our social economy--the breeches pocket. They all but carried out the threat, made twelve years previously, of putting him in _Pidcock's Menagerie_, vide the following extracts from a contemporary pamphlet[9]:-- "The desire of all ranks to see him was excessive; the guard boats were unable to prevent them from closing the ship, and it was amusement on board to look at the boats contending for places. Napoleon generally walked the quarter-deck about eleven in the forenoon and half-past six in the afternoon. He ate but two meals in the day, both alike, meat of every description, different wines, coffee, fruit, &c. Immediately after each meal, he rose first, and the others followed; he then either went on the quarter-deck, or in the after-cabin to study. The comedy of _The Poor Gentleman_[10] was performed before him. He was much pleased at it; it went off very well. The scenery was good, but somewhat better dresses were wanted for the _female midshipmen_.[11] [Footnote 9: "Interesting Particulars of Napoleon's Deportation for Life to St. Helena," &c. London, 1816. Printed for W. Hone.] [Footnote 10: By George Colman the Younger.] [Footnote 11: _I.e._, the midshipmen who took female parts.] "The immense number of persons who daily flock from all parts of the country to take a view of the person of Napoleon, is incalculable. He generally gratified the public curiosity by making his appearance every afternoon for two hours. "Upwards of one thousand boats were from morning to night round the _Bellerophon_. The seamen of the _Bellerophon_ adopted a curious mode to give an account to the curious spectators in the boats of the movements of Napoleon. They wrote in chalk on a board, which they exhibited, a short account of his different occupations. 'At breakfast.'--'In the cabin with Captain Maitland.'--'Writing with his officers.'--'Going to dinner.'--'Coming upon deck,' &c."