ST. HELENA 213 



one who had for so long agitated and convulsed the dis- 

 tracted nations of Europe, may be more easily imagined 

 than described. In consequence of arrangements necessary 

 for his accommodation, he remained on board until the 

 evening of the 17th ; then, when all the inhabitants had 

 retired to rest, he (with the Lieutenant-Governor and Sir 

 G. Cockburn) walked to the house situate by the gate of 

 the Government garden, which had been hastily prepared 

 for his reception. It is strange that this house should be 

 that in which the Duke of Wellington also remained for 

 one night when, some time previously, he had visited 

 St. Helena on his return from India (see letter from Welling- 

 ton to Admiral Malcolm given on page 162.) < 

 Horses were obtained on the following morning, and the 

 streets were crowded with inhabitants eager to see Napoleon, 

 and he, with Sir George Cockburn and Count Bertrand, rode 

 to Longwood to breakfast with Colonel and Mrs. Skelton. 

 Colonel Skelton was Lieut.-Governor, and occupied the 

 house proposed as residence for Napoleon, who, Sir George 

 Cockburn states in his diary, expressed himself as well 

 pleased with it and desired to remain there, until it was 

 pointed out to him that the Lieut .-Governor's wife and 

 family would be inconvenienced by so sudden a move. 

 The party then proceeded toward town, but Napoleon was 

 dreading the curiosity of the people on his return. About 

 a mile from the town is a pretty house called The Briars 

 (now owned by the Eastern Telegraph Company). The 

 property occupies about two acres of ground, the greater 

 part of which is level, and well supplied with water. It 

 exhibits a scene of luxuriant vegetation which contrasts 

 greatly with the rocky cliffs above and below. Here they 

 rested, and Napoleon, being much pleased with the pic- 

 turesque spot, begged to be allowed to remain there in 

 order to avoid the curious gaze of the assembled inhabitants 

 awaiting his arrival in the valley. Mr. Balcombe, the 

 owner, raised no objection, so it was decided that he might 

 remain until the house at Longwood was vacated and pre- 

 pared for him. At a short distance from the Briars house 

 is a smaller one named the " Pavilion," now connected with 

 the Briars house by a balcony, and there he resided for 

 nearly two months. The ground floor was set apart for 



