246 



ST. HELENA 



mander of this vessel, was highly esteemed in the navy, as much 

 for the nobleness of his character as for his services. He it was 

 who in 1815, in conjunction with several of his companions, pro- 

 posed to the Emperor when he was at Rochefort to carry him to 

 the United States. About an hour after our fine frigate had anchored 

 in the roads of St. Helena the decks were crowded by great numbers 

 of visitors who came to present their respects to the Prince. Mr. 

 Solomon, the Croesus of the Isle, consul of France, Sardinia and 

 sheriff of the country, etc., came on board : he is an old friend of 

 the French, and one who seemed happy to receive the old companions 

 in exile of the great man. In the midst of all this noise, of the 

 thousand questions put to me from all parts, of my brothers who 

 had lived here, excited by the pleasure of seeing again my native 

 land, the former house of the Emperor, the dwelling of my mother, 

 the old Chinese who served us five years, I knew not what I did, 

 I was so happy. 



We were all impatient to render homage to the tomb of the 

 Emperor. This is the first duty which every French heart must 

 fulfil on landing at St. Helena. 



The day after our arrival, the 9th of October, about ten o'clock, 

 His Royal Highness disembarked, attended by a party of his officers 

 and by those who had lived at Longwood. The place where we landed 

 is protected by numerous artillery : we saw a long range of mounted 

 guns with their piles of shot. On our entry into the town we found 

 the authorities of the place waiting for the Prince. After having 

 received them with his customary politeness, he mounted on horse- 

 back. 



The only town which we traversed in the whole way to Longwood 

 is called James' Town. As in all English colonies, we remarked in 

 this town a propriety and order which left nothing to be desired. 

 The streets and walks by the sea remind us of the paths in our gar- 

 dens ; it is a pleasure to walk in them. James' Town is commanded 

 on all sides by lofty mountains covered with fortifications which 

 threaten the town with their artillery. 



I found a severe grandeur in these rocks, which threaten to fall 

 upon the helpless inhabitants. In spite of the precautions taken 

 to sustain them by little walls of masonry, the rocks suspended 

 here and there do not unfrequently fall. The eye is terrified by 

 the disorder of this wild and savage place, and the soul mourns 

 over the memory of the great unfortunate who has immortalized 

 St. Helena. It is difficult to suppress a sentiment of generous 

 indignation against those who chose so well for him a prison and 

 a tomb. 



In leaving the town we followed the traverses of the mountains 

 by a good road with a parapet ; we had for our guide Captain Alex- 

 ander, of whom we all preserve the best remembrance, not alone 

 for the manner in which he acquitted himself of the mission entrusted 

 to him, but also from the amiable reception we had from him. 



At a little distance from the town he showed us the " Briars," 

 a pretty little house, of which the Emperor during two months 



