Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-30

ed that the further care of the body
would be given up to him. He was
however, mistaken-a sentinel was
marched upon his grounds, with orders
to guard the grave; temporary, and af-
forwards permanent, barracks were E.
rected upon Mr.. Torbet's grounds, for
the accommodation of the soldiers APP
pointed to watch, without the new ce-
remony of consulting the proprietor
This invasion Of his territory Mr.. Tor
bet found to be extremely disadvaEta-
geous. He had, he says, at the time he
permitted the interment of Napoleon
in his estate, by no means intended to
give up any portion Of his ground to
the government, still less to allow the
military to troop over it-but redress
by an appeal to the laws was out of the
question. At St. Helena, which, it is
known belongs to the East India Com
pany, law can with difficulty be obtain
ed. The Company have not allowed
any of the profession to settle there, al
leging that it was for the benefit Of the
inhabitants that peace should be invari-
ably maintained, and the introduction
of the iniquity of Legislation prevented.
There are consequently no regular law
authorities in the island; and when a
Jury is summoned, the jurors, in con-
junction with those who preside, pick
as much law as they can, applicable to
the case, out of Blackstone's Common
taries; and, as intricate questions very
seldom arise amongst them, they are in
general very well satisfied with their
own decisions. Mr.. Torbet could,
however, have wished for legal assis-
lance on the occasion of this encroach-
ment, for he was strongly inclined to
treat the soldiers as trespassers, altho'
few persons could be found in the isl
and to serve an ejectment, and put it
into execution against regiment. He
also had some delicacy in proceeding in
the matter, as it might at q place so
distant from the seat of government
be something dangerous" to utter or
to perform any thing calculated to
imply that the authorities had forgot
ten to do Justice.
When after the death of Napoleon,
persons were allowed to go into the in
terror Of the Island, without restraint,
almost every passenger of rank or edu-
cation, in the company's vessels which
touched at the Island, took the oppor-
tunity of visiting the grave.-The Mar
quis Of Hastings, and great numbers
of others ofthe Nobility, were amongst
the visitors, all of whom cut relics from
the trees which hung over the grave
and drank of water from Napoleon's
favourite well, which is also upon Mr.
Torbet's estate. Mr.. Torbet hit upon q
plan of remunerating himselfby turn
! ing the vast influx of strangers to hi:
pccuniary advantage. He created toll
and as the visitors were well condition
ed, he charged dollar per head fol
admission to the spot where Napoleon
reposed. His receipts soon began te
| reconcile him to that act which he hae
| at first considered misfortune. The
water Of the well would doubtless have
become another source of revenue t.
MIR. Torbet, if he had been permitted
TO avail himself of all the benefits which
were thus springing from his hospita
bic consent to receive the deceased
1t was the practice of Buonaparte t.
send one of his most faithful servants
for this water, which was always con
veved to him in silver vases. A belle
i'll fact, began to prevail that it hat
medical qualities-when, shortly ate
the death of Napoleon, Captain Lock
erby visited the grave, accompanies
by party of ladies, who were OH thei
return from India; they all drank deep
ly of the water, which their imagina
tons transformed into nectar.
The demand for relics, after Napo
Icons death, became very great, ant
under judicious management, there wa
not tree, shrub, or even a stone i
the neighbourhood which might nc
have been turned to profit. MIR. Tol
bet found that the average number c
FlSltOTS u TIC grave ""91 amman
400, and that the toll produced $50
to Aoo year, which he put in his ow
pocket. The Authorities, however
perhaps considering, that as the dc
ceased was in their charge, the to
might be attributed to them, ordered
to be discontinued after it had bee
but a short time exacted. Mr.. Tol
bet now ventured to state, that he ha
a fee simple in his estate, and thu
when it became his by purchase, thel
was no contract that it should be i
trust, for the military, but that it wa
his, above and below the surface, upo
the maxim-"Cujus est solum ejus e.
usque ad celum ct mira terrain.
But the military comprehended nothin
ofall this. 1t was intimated, that /;
room was given for the remains of Il