VISIT TO NAPOLEON'S TOMB. 361 



universal ruin, doomed, as I have before observed, at no 

 distant time to entirely disappear. 



There are no traces remaining of the gardens, but the 

 little-fish pond is still in tolerable preservation. It is asserted 

 that before the Emperor's own earthly career was closed, all 

 the fishes sickened and died, and that the incident deeply 

 affected him, for he sought amusement in attending them 

 himself, and watching their gambolings. When the last 

 little favorite was gone, he exclaimed, "Yes, everything I 

 love, everything that belongs to me is immediately struck. 

 Heaven and mankind unite to afflict me." 



Not many paces distant from the crumbling and deserted 

 building we have been describing, may be seen the new resi- 

 dence built for the use of Napoleon. It is constructed of 

 yellow sand-stone, one story in height, and stands on the de- 

 clivity of a gently sloping hill. The house is much larger 

 and more convenient than the old one ; but he took a strong 

 dislike to it, and would never occupy it. The grounds are 

 rather pretty, and the whole is surrounded with a neat stone- 

 wall, surmounted by an iron-railing. It was the sight of these 

 walls and iron-rails that gave the Emperor such disgust for 

 the new residence ; for, he said they would constantly remind 

 him he was a prisoner-of-war. We found the building occu- 

 pied by Lieutenant Smith, of the Artillery, who had charge of 

 the Magnetic Observatory. 



It may be interesting to add to this description the follow- 

 ing particulars. Napoleon and his suite arrived at St. Helena 

 on the 15th of October, 1815, under charge of Admiral Cock- 

 burn. It is stated the island was first suggested as a suitable 

 place of confinement for the fallen Emperor by the Duke of 

 Wellington, who had been there himself, and was forcibly 

 impressed with its natural strength. 



