Napoleon escapes from St. Helena?

  Must admit I only seem to get some discussion of fairly recent political events by that link?  Can't see anything apart Napoleon or anything historical.

  Have hear that, I believe shortly before he died there was an attempt to rescue him by supporters of the rebels against Spanish rule in southern America - although have a feeling that might have been a factor in one of the later Richard Sharpe novel. 

  One point however is what sort of condition would he be in because his health seemed to be declining before Waterloo then definitely in his 2nd exile so he might not have been a great military threat anywhere, although I suspect Britain and other powers would be unlikely to take such a risk.

  Latin America or the US would seem to be the most likely options, both for geographical and political reasons.  However while some of his early actions may make liberals and revolutionaries think kindly of him would he be able to shake off the autocratic nature of his later years as emperor?  If not his welcome could quickly wear out.  Ditto if he was made a military figure and fought some bloody battles as again in his later years he often got involved in some massive bloodbaths and the relatively small manpower resources of the rebel states especially could find this too costly.  Although if he managed to get some quick and relatively cheap victories he might win through.  However whether he would then try to seize power as an emperor again and how much other powers might support Spain in that case I don't know.

  I wonder if its less changing his mind inexplicably or simply facing up to the reality of the very tight blockade Britain had installed and the fact that with his power in France collapsing he might end up getting executed by the returning Bourbon monarchy or simply strung up by angry French.

  Not sure if there was any unrest in Texas during the Spanish period, other than by the native Indian population.  The writer might be concatenating it with the later revolt by American settlers in the 1830's against Mexican rule.    By 1815 the Mexican revolution was under way but whether Napoleon would be able to make a successful intervention to take control of it I don't know.  It was a very large are with many parts being distant from the densely populated capital region/central valley of Mexico.  Also given that the war had been ongoing for quite a while would the mines which generated so much of Mexico's wealth in the colonial period still have been too badly damaged?  Or as I said a Napoleon making himself emperor of Mexico encouraged European intervention?  It nearly happened OTL with conservative states seeking to restore Spanish rule to their colonies but Britain blocked it with the strength of the RN.  If Napoleon is looking to build up another empire then they might well step aside.

  Going further afield the idea of his gaining control of all of Latin America from Mexico southwards seems highly unlikely.  Even apart from foreign interference its such a huge area with many regions with their own identities and long distances and travel times from any capital region that I can't see it holding together for any length of time.  I suspect he would have problems holding the 1820 Mexico together after the initial driving out of the Spanish, although increasing concerns about American encroachment may help him here.

  Furthermore there is the question of which Napoleon would this be.  The energetic young general who did force on many conquered areas a lot of reforms or the autocratic emperor of the French who ruled a police state kept afloat economically by stationing his army aboard and continual warfare?  Or a tired and faltering man who, prematurely aged by his earlier life gave such a limp performance at Waterloo and seems to have faded quickly in exile - even accounting for the possibility of arsenic poisoning from the wallpaper.

  He might well have finally outlasted his welcome in France, at least for a while after another period of bloody warfare sees defeat again and a big occupation by multiple armies.  However if he started building a large empire in the Americas it would make the Bourbon monarchy even more determined to support the Spanish in regaining their colonies.  Ditto I suspect the rest of the conservative continental powers.  Britain might be less willing to oppose them, especially since a French controlled Latin America is likely to be closed to most British commerce and would probably be a threat to their colonies in the region.