Holland House copy of O'Meara's account of Napoleon's exile on St Helena

Relation des événements arrivés à Sainte-Hélène, postérieurement à la nomination de Sir Hudson Lowe, au gouvernement de cette île, en réponse à une brochure anonyme intitulée : "Faits démonstratifs des traitements qu'on a fait éprouver à Napoléon Bonaparte, confirmés par une correspondance et des documents officiels", etc

Barry Edward O’Meara was highly critical of Napoleon’s treatment after his surrender and on the island. He had been a surgeon on HMS Bellerophon when Napoleon surrendered, and accompanied him to St Helena as his personal physician. His Exposition of some of the transactions that have taken place at St Helena since the appointment of Sir Hudson Lowe as governor (of which our example is the first French edition) was published on his return to England after relations with Lowe had broken down completely and he was ordered to leave. He dedicated his much reprinted 1822 work, Napoleon in Exile, to Lady Holland.  Read more

Once touted as a possible prime minister, Lord Holland opposed the restoration of the Bourbons after Napoleon’s abdication. He attempted to prevent Ney's execution and, to the embarrasemnt of the whigs, he also opposed the exile of Napoleon at St Helena. 

Our book was formerly in the library of Holland House, the Jacobean mansion in Kensington which was owned by the Fox family, the Barons Holland; the house was largely destroyed in the Blitz although most of the books were salvaged and sold in a two day sale at Hodgson's in July 1947. 

You will find the appropriate crest (fox and coronet) at the top of the spine, and an armorial bookplate to the front pastedown. The book was presumably acquired by Henry, 3rd Baron Holland (1773-1840), who led the circle of whig politicians and men of letters known as the Holland House set after the death of his uncle, Charles James Fox. 

Henry Edward Fox, the future 4th Baron Holland, mentions in his journal (published 1923) that O’Meara visited in July 1822 to present a copy of Napoleon in Exile; the family was clearly sympathetic, and he and made further visits in August and December.

Condition & Materials
First French edition. 8vo. pp. 508, light spotting, contemporary red half calf, rebacked retaining original spine, headcap renewed.

References
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Read less