Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-04-25
.NjSccy!a.c0ws,
From hr .N;'' is''i' Courier and Enquirer.
BONAPARTE'S GRAVE


Journal Of person LIisiy reiurned from, In
a'S'-our touching at ST. Helena would have
, been on incident devoid OF interest IA me
had It not been for the opportunity of viewing
The tomb OF him, whose arms spread terror
over Europe. 81. Helena appeared 10 me 10
De, IN itself, afrighIful, isolsted spot of DESC
iatlon, AN emblem Of the scat Of exile. or
more property, for a prison "a place. OF eli
Others, the most fit TO break the heart OF a
banished man. II cost me a world Of trouble
aud fatigue (Which, bat for the object 1 had
IN view, would have been lily rcpaid ! 10
mount up the steep scrpenIine windings.
'"lsungs and turnings, which relieve the ira
reher IN some degree in the almost perpen.
dicuiar ascent. On my way passed by the
country house. called "The Briars. - which
was the first habitation Of Napoleon. on his
arrival in the Island. II. n very sweet spot,
when contraSted with tie surrounding horrors
/ - The place, and owes much Of it, attrac.
ton TO n waterfall, which Invites us 10 nu.inr
and meditation. But the haunts Of the liyin,
were not the objects OF nay expedition. al
length gained the tomb. lie " no looL, for
The lofty or sublime in this mansion Of the
eead, viii bc wholly disappointed. Not a
ToP,,y~not wrcath-no broken trumpet.
nor fallen sPcdr-po glaive nor helmet. A
plain slab, formed Of the Portland slab stones
taken for the purpose from the Emperor,
kitchen, Is the only covering on las grave. On
tins, not line. either descriptive or comme-
mora;i'e, u written. No name, no datc--as
II lac had gone
"Aud Ike he ba.cl .,s-ILrie If n ,;.i,,
La 10; wreck bcirind
Around tie secluded spot. the rcmartic aud
picturesque prevail ~ a hish degree. II J.
situated N green valley, well planted with
i - - a J. n.
willows dfDOp over the blank tablet. and " iv-
.Ag IN the breeze, throw alternate light and
shade on tie untitled monument rustling az
TIE same tine IN sort Of hollow cadcnce 49,
On Tic leit sHie Of tie grave are peach trees
whirh bear fruit, and a spring. as bright o.
crystal, giides on the outside &c the railing
which surrounds tie tomb, itself encompas.ed
by hedge of grr1niums. A sergeant and
private are placed here on guard aud have
orders to prevent people from gathering leaves
and cutting pieces from the iliow trees.
hal intended 10 write Inc By way ~ epit1ph
with ny pencil on tho stone bat the thing
was impossible. Ny attempt was resisted
and had some difficulty 10 obtain a small
\ piece q oLe q the trees, but was freely allow
/ ed o. gather some ~ the peaches and gera-
NUNS, the hue Il which would remind one of
\ ihe riband 81 The Legion of Honor, founded
I by toe deceived. and elevated by she blood Of
80 many battlefield. nov prepared g. de-
/ part, but 90 Incident of some interest arrested
I my steps for a while. a young and extreme
+ y pretty French lady approached and leaned
20 2 pensive attitude over che railing already
describod with her eyes IN tears, bent on
the grave which 70 encirclcd. She was one Of
party q natives Of france. who bod landed
from slip IN the bay 20 visit the memorable
sePuchre. Yer com lnions speedily arrived
and after a look Or two, persuldcd her b quit
the SPOT, n whtrh She seemed O. be immova-
6'y attached Tie oaiy male IN The PARTY