Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-23

BoNApARTE's ARRIVAL AT ST. HELENA.
From "Secret Letters" supposed 10 be ortt-
ten by Madame Bertrand.
One morning, whilst was still reposing
in my hammock, my maid entered the cab
in sooner than usual, to inform me that the
Emperor and Gen. Bertrand were already
on deck, and that the Island Of St. Helena
was within sight. cannot describe, Caro-
line, the singular and mingled sensations
which experienced on hearing this news.
My heart throbbed with anxiety. The
thought Of being so near our prison filled me
with sorrow; and yet was oveUoyed to re-
feet that our tedious voyage was almost at
an end, that | should soon begin, as il were
new life, devoted to the means ofrecoye-
ring freedom. Hastily Put on my morning
dress, and was on deck in few moments.
There discovered, al all immense dis
lance, blue mountain, the middle Of which
was obscured by clouds, though the summit
rose above them. The people CD deck told
me that we were then about 80 English
miles from the Island. The horizon, which
in the South Sea had hitherto been clear and
brilliant, now assumed thick and misty
appearance over St. Helena, and seemed
TO wrap us in veil OF cloud. on our arrival.
Napoleon was standing on the deck so bu-
ried in contemplation that he did not OBJ
serve me. His arms were folded, and his
hat drawn over his forehead. His counte-
nance seemed perfectly composed but it
was evident that something was working
strongly in his mind, for during the whole
-, ,,Eo hat / hn
did not take pinch OF snuff.
AT length he turned round as though he
had just awoke from dream, and perceiv-
ing me, smiled, and said, "Well, Madame,
yonder is my Olympus" Eyes, Sire" Ire
piled, Olympus is always the abode OF
Jupiter"
A telescope was placed before him; he
looked through it for few moments, and
then ordered it to be taken away.
wish," said he, " 10 enjoy the satisfaction
of seeing these rocksgradually unioi d them
selves" But this was melancholy salts
faction. As you will readily suppose, Caro-
line, we remained on deck the whole OF the
day. The blue hill by degrees separated,
and soon appeared an irregular mass ofbro-
ken rocks, rising perpendicularly out OF the
sea, here and there forming immense i'm
pending cliffs, separated from each other by
narrow valleys or rather ravines. Nature
can present nothing more dreary than these
black barren masses of rock. unadorned
either by trees or shrubs, and from which
a peak [called Diana's Peak rises to the
height of about 5000 feet above the level
OF the sea.
II is probable that the whole Island, has,
at some remote period, been thrown up
from the sea by a volcanic eruption, and
now the popular volcano OF Europe has sent
a visitor here who excites more astonish-
ment among the inhabitants than shower
of moons stones would do. When the Portu-
guese discovered St. Helena 800 years a.
go, they little thought it would become
place of Punishment for Corsican hero,
after he had driven an imbecle Regent TO
the Brazils. The British and Dutch never
imagined, when $50 years ago they were
fighting for this barren rock, that il was
destined to receive mighty sovereign like
Napoleon, who will soon issue from it de-
crees that will work complete transforms
ton in Europe! As little did the East In
dia Company suppose, when they were ma
klnS eSldUIlslucUts DIT 81. I1elcHd lOT uleiF
homeward bound ships, that il would one
day become the prison of him who has so
often threatened their destruction.
The approach of night at length drove US
from the deck. Ii was our custom 10 spend
the evening in the Emperor's cabin, but on
that occasion he expressed wish TO be a.
lone. He slept none that night for, through
the thin partition that divided our cabins,
we heard him continually moving about,
and we never for moment closed our
eyes.
The anxious wish to obtain nearer view
Of our new home, and eagerly 10 explore
every corner that might be favorable to our
projects, rendered our eyes watchful, and
our tongues silent. In the meanwhile, the
fresh breeze continued TO carry us forward.
On the following morning, as soon as day
light began to dawn, we all quilted our ca
bin, asceuded the deck, and eagerly turned