Capt Crockat of the 20th regiment, arrived at the Admiralty on Wednesday, with dispatches from St Helena announcing this important event. The following are the particulars.
St Helena, 7 May
Buonaparte died on the 5th May at 6pm, after an illness of six weeks; the last fortnight only considered dangerous. The body has been opened, and the disease ascertained to be a cancer in the stomach, with a great extent of ulceration. He has been lying in state since yesterday afternoon, the Admiral, Governor, and heads of departments having first seen the body. During the first four weeks of his illness, it did not assume any very dangerous appearance, though he seemed himself to be conscious that it would terminate fatally.
But for the last fortnight it was evident to all the medical attendants that he could not recover. It is said that he gave directions about his affairs and papers till five or six hours before he died, having retained his senses till that period, he said he wished to be opened, in order that his son might be informed of the nature of his disease. The body was opened by his own surgeon.
We believe that he left a will, which, with his other papers, have been, or will of course be, transmitted to this country. One trait of character displayed itself in his last moments, which marks the “ruling passion strong in death.” As he found his end approach, he was habited, at his own request, in his uniform of field marshal, with the boots and spurs, and placed on a camp bed, on which he was accustomed to sleep when in health, and preferred to every other. In this dress he is said to have expired. His attendants wished his body to be conveyed to Europe; but on opening his will, it was found that he had left a request that it should be interred in the island, and pointed out the spot where he wished his remains to rest, in a beautiful valley near to his residence.
Though Buonaparte is supposed to have suffered much, his dissolution was so calm and serene, that not a sigh, escaped him, or any intimation to the bystanders that it was so near. At the departure of the Heron no day had been fixed for the funeral, but it was understood that it would be solemnized with the military honours due to his rank.