Basil Hall was a British naval officer, traveller and author who wrote engaging books about his trips to Asia, South America and North America in the early s. Basil Hall was born in Edinburgh on December 31, His father β Sir James Hall, the fourth Baronet of Dunglass β was a prominent Scottish geologist and geophysicist who later became a member of the British House of Commons. James Hall had visited Brienne, France, when Napoleon was a student at the military academy there, something that later came in handy for his son.
Basil Hall joined the Royal Navy at the age of In , he was commissioned as a lieutenant on the frigate HMS Endymion. As such, he helped British forces evacuate northern Spain at the Battle of Corunna in On the return voyage to England in , the Lyra called at St. Helena, where Napoleon had been imprisoned by the British since At first Basil Hall tried to set up a meeting with Napoleon through St. As Napoleon was not on good terms with Lowe, that attempt came to nothing.
Once there, however, Hall was informed that Napoleon was not in the mood to see anybody. The meeting took place in the afternoon of August 13, , and lasted about 25 minutes. It was conducted in French, as Napoleon did not speak English. Later that day, Hall β who kept a daily journal β wrote down everything he could remember about the conversation.
What follows is the account published in his book about his voyage to East Asia. He looked up, and came forward two paces, returning my salutation with a careless sort of bow, or nod. He laughed and nodded repeatedly, as if gratified by what was said. Helena for that purpose? Does he fill a public station? This observation gave rise to a series of inquiries respecting the constitution of the Society in question.
He seemed much struck, I thought, and rather amused, with the custom of discussing subjects publicly at the meetings in Edinburgh. Tell me, is it not so? Upon which he laughed and turned almost completely round on his heel, nodding his head several times.
