Adventure of a French Political Exile. 2^^ 



in 1851, and maintained a zealous correspondence with some 

 of the most intimate hangers-on upon Louis Napoleon, till the 

 coup cVetat revealed the French ruler's projects, and Longo- 

 masino joined the camp of the opponents of the new empire. 

 His contumacious agitation against the new order of things 

 led to his imprisonment and ultimate banishment. He was 

 first transported to Nukahiwa, one of the Marquesas Islands, and 

 afterwards received permission to settle at Papeete in Tahiti. 

 Starting as a farrier, then an advocate, and finally a tavern- 

 keeper, he was unable in any of these capacities to earn a 

 subsistence for himself and his numerous family ; the less so, 

 that political intrigues deprived him of the right to practise 

 at the bar, and this compelled him to have recourse to a 

 business for which he had neither taste nor turn. If we un- 

 derstood matters aright, Longomasino, in the com-se of his 

 juridical labours, had been able to do many a good turn 

 to the Catholic bishop of Tahiti in his dispute with the French 

 administration, and it was therefore less sympathy with the 

 unfortunate political convict than the desire to play an adver- 

 sary a trick by depriving him of an able adherent, which induced 

 the Governor to ask our Commodore permission to give a free 

 passage to Longomasino, who had been condemned to trans- 

 portation for life. The request was willingly granted, and on 

 the eve of our sailing Longomasino came on board the frigate, 

 while his wife and family were to follow by a merchant-ship. 

 The unhappy man, who had not words enough wherewith to 

 express his gratitude for the friendly reception he experienced, 



