On 3 August the Admiralty sent an order marked 'secret and confidential' to Admiral Keith. The Bellerophon and escorting frigates, together with the 80-gun ship Tonnant, must put to sea at once and take up a position off Start Point. They must remain there until the Northumberland arrived and the transfer of Napoleon and his suite could take place. If the weather proved unfavourable for a transfer off Start Point they must move to Torbay.
The Bellerophon weighed anchor at 9.30 am on 4 August. It was another fine, sunny day but the light, southerly breeze and incoming tide made it necessary for her to be towed from the anchorage by the guard boats. As they headed slowly out of Plymouth Sound, Maitland became suspicious of a rowing boat with a man in the stern which was intent on intercepting them. He ordered one of the guard boats to prevent the boat from approaching and he later learnt that there was a lawyer in the boat who had a subpoena for Napoleon. Once clear of the breakwater they set sail and beat slowly out to sea with the frigate Eurotas in company. Off Rame Head they joined the
Prometheus which was waiting for them with Admiral Keith on board. He sent a boat across with a message for Maitland: 'I have been chased all day by a lawyer with a Habeas Corpus: he landed at Cawsand and may come off in a sailing-boat during the night; of course, keep all sorts of boats off, as I will do the like in whatever ship I may be in.'
During the afternoon Keith transferred his flag to the Tonnant and that evening the flagship, accompanied by the Bellerophon, the Eurotas, the Myrmidon and the cutter Nimble, headed east along the coast to Start Point. Some of Napoleon's followers were encouraged by the unexpected move, thinking that the government might have had a change of heart about St Helena. Napoleon, however, became increasingly depressed. He no longer appeared on deck but remained shut in his cabin. His valet took his meals in to him and he spent most of his time with Bertrand and Las Cases. Madame Bertrand said that his legs had swelled up due to lack of exercise. Las Cases later reported that at one stage Napoleon talked about ending his life but was persuaded that he should accept his misfortunes in the spirit of the heroes of antiquity.
'But what can we do in that desolate place?' he asked Las Cases. 'We will live in the past, sire; there is plenty there to satisfy us.
Do we not enjoy the lives of Caesar and Alexander? Better still, you will re-read your own writings, sire.'
'Very well, we will write our memoirs! Yes, one must work; work is Time's scythe. After all one must fulfil one's destiny; that is my chief doctrine.'
For two days the ships waited in a loose formation off the coast between Start Point and Bolt Head. The fine weather gave way to misty, overcast conditions with occasional showers of rain. The grey sea under the louring, grey sky seemed to reflect the air of gloom which had settled over the passengers on the Bellerophon. At last, at 9 am on Sunday 6 August, the Northumberland appeared on the eastern horizon, accompanied by the troopships Bucephalus and Ceylon. The wind had been increasing since dawn and Keith decided that they must seek a more sheltered position for the rendezvous, so he ordered the flotilla under his command to sail to Torbay where they anchored to the westward of Berry Head. The Northumberland anchored nearby. As yet Napoleon had refused to make a decision on who should accompany him to St Helena but he now produced a list which was handed to Sir George Cockburn when he came aboard. The list included General Bertrand, his wife, and their three children; General Montholon, his wife and one child; Count Las Cases and his son; General Gourgaud; Napoleon's valet Marchand; a cook, a butler and eleven servants. That evening Napoleon had a meeting with Captain Maitland and once again made a formal protest against his treatment by the British Government which was very different from what he had hoped for and expected.
'My only wish,' he said, 'was to purchase a small property in England, and end my life there in peace and tranquillity. As for you, Capitaine, I have no cause for complaint; your conduct to me has been that of a man of honour; but I cannot help feeling the severity of my fate, in having to pass the remainder of my life on a desert island.
The atmosphere at breakfast on 7 August was subdued and tense. Maitland and Bertrand were preoccupied with all the arrangements for the transfer of people and luggage to the Northumberland. Madame Bertrand again pleaded with her husband not to accompany Napoleon and when he remained silent she launched into an attack on the British which provoked an uncharacteristically sharp response from Maitland.
'Madame, you talk like a very foolish woman; and if you cannot speak more to the purpose or with more respect of the Government I have the honour to serve, I request you will not address yourself to me. '
After breakfast Maitland was called in to see Napoleon. It was the last conversation they were to have alone. Napoleon thanked him once again for his kindness, and asked his opinion of the Bellerophon's surgeon Barry O'Meara who had volunteered to go to St Helena in place of his French surgeon. Maitland warmly recommended O'Meara who had served with him for many years. Later in the morning Montholon came to see Maitland to tell him that Napoleon particularly regretted not having been permitted an interview with the Prince Regent because he had intended to ask him as a favour to promote Maitland to the rank of Rear-Admiral.
By mid-morning the children and the servants who were to go to St Helena had been taken across to the Northumberland, together with several boatloads of luggage and personal effects. The entire ship's company of the Bellerophon had assembled on deck. Admiral Keith and Sir George Cockburn had been piped aboard and were waiting outside the cabin where Napoleon had been closeted with Bertrand since breakfast. Cockburn became impatient and wanted to remind Napoleon that they were all waiting but Keith restrained him. 'Much greater men than either you or I have waited longer for him before now. Let him take his time; let him take his time.'
There were emotional scenes when Napoleon came to say goodbye to those of his followers who were staying behind. Tears were shed as they embraced but Napoleon himself remained calm and dry-eyed.
'Be happy, friends,' he told them. 'We shall never see each other again, but my thoughts will never leave you nor any of those who have served me. Tell France that I pray for her.
When Napoleon eventually left the after-cabin and stepped out on deck, he was greeted by total silence. He had not been seen by most of the crew for four days and they were shocked by the change in his appearance. He was unshaven, his face was pale and drawn, and his clothes appeared ill-fitting. Bowerbank thought he looked confused. As he crossed the quarterdeck the marines presented arms to the accompaniment of three drum rolls, the salute due to a general. He raised his hat in acknowledgement, went up to Maitland and again thanked him. Turning to the ship's officers he said, 'Gentlemen, I have requested your captain to express my gratitude to you for your attention to me and to those who have followed my fortunes.'
He walked to the gangway, paused and turned to face the dense crowd of sailors gathered on the deck. He took off his hat again, and solemnly bowed two or three times before climbing down into the waiting barge. He was followed by the French men and women who would be going with him to St Helena. As the barge headed towards the Northumberland the entire crew of the Bellerophon lined the rails to watch. Napoleon had been on the ship for twenty-four days and had made an indelible impression on all of them. Maitland was impressed by the mood of the men and asked his servant what the sailors thought of Napoleon.