Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-08-18

Various species Of vine, citron, orange, fg, sha
doc, gueva, nanRo, all 10 endless prousion Ma
,ure as u jealous of the beauty Of this enchanting
spot had surrounded j. on every side with impen-
eirnble barriers On The ensi, to speak geographic
cally, il was bounded ny precipice SO Steep as
to render all approach impraccalIe. The dark
frowning mountain called Peak Hill, rendered IL
acresslble from the South. To the westward II
was protected by steep derliviiy, and opposite
WIS q cataract, which was in itself a picturesque
and striking object. forgot its exact height, but
It's roar was very imp0sng to me, and the volume
of wa or must have been considerable.
In that hot ciiiuate il was delightful next door
neighbor. In the most sultry day one could hard
Iy feel the oppressive heat when gazing on lis
cool and sparkling waters. On the side nearest
the cottage, the detences Of the garden we're
completed by an aloe and prickly pear hedge,
through which living thing could penetrate.
We had been living for years in this romantic
and secludsd glen, when our little I" ire sud
denly frightened from its proprieiy," by hearing
tina, Napoleon Buonaparte was 10 be confined
there as u prisoner OF State.
The garden at the Briars, like the bright dreams
and hopes Of my own early youth, is now with
cred and destroyed. Ii was sold 10 the East India
Company, aud was rooted up and planted with
mulberry trees.
Ii became food for worms.'-ifI may be gull
~ OF conceit on, 10 the, melancholy subject.
believe the speculation was unsuccessful.
1t was in October 1915, tina. this news first
burst uponus. We heard one morning an alarm
gun fired from the Ladder hill, which was the
slgnal OF vessel being in sigh. of the island.
The same evening two naval officers arrived AT
the Brlars, one of whom was announced as Capt.
D. commanding the lcarus man OF war. Tie
requested TO see my father, having intelligence oil
Importance 10 communicate TO hun.
On heiug conducted to him, he informed him
that Napoleon Buonaparle was on board the
Northumberland, under the command Of Sir
George Cockburn, and within few days sail Of
the island. The news of his escape from Eba,
aud the subsequent eventful campaign, had OF
course not reached us; aud ! remember how
amazed and incredulous they all seemed at the
information. Captain D. was obliged more
han once 10 assure them Of the correctness OF his
statement.
My own feeling at the intelligence was excess
sive terror, and an underlined conviction that
soinehing awful would happen TO us all; though
of what nature hardly knew. glanced eager
" at my father, and seeing his counlenance caIuI,
l became more composed, but still listened to
every word of Captain DIS detail as it my
fate depended OIL whit he was telling US.
The earliest idea had OF Napoleon was tina,
| Of huge ogre or giant, with one large flaming
red eye in the mndle OF his forehead, aud long
teeth proiruding rom his mouth, with which he
tore TO pieces aud dtvoured naughty little glrls,
especially those who did not know llier lessons
had rather grown out Of this first opinion of
Napo con; but if less childish, my terror of hun
was sill hardly diminished.
The name Of Buonapar,e was still associated in
nv min" with every thing that was bad aud hor
| rible l had heard the most atlrUcious crlrnes
imputed 10 him, mud il had learned TO consider
hun rs human being, YET still believed him to
| lbs the worst that had ever existed.
Nor was ! singular in these feelings; they were
participated in by many much Older and wiser
than myself; might say, perhaps by a majority
n ah lnGtn tI.nt
the day described him DIS demon, and ali those
OF his own country who lived III England were OF
course his bitter enemies. And from these two
sources we formed our opinion of him.
1t was NOT, therefore, without uneasiness that
saw my father depart, day or two afterwards,
to 60 on board the vessels which had just cast an
| Choir in The bay.
! The fleet consisted of the Northumberland
commanded by Sir George Cockburn, 10 whose
care Napoleon had beei conhded, the Savannah,
Captain Hamilton, and several other men of war,
together with transports containing the fifty third
| regiment. We remained four hours in great aLx-
leiy.
At last my father returned from his visit in
| safety, and we rushed out TO question him as to
what had happened
swell, papa, havo you seen him ?" for we tho,
of no one but Napoleon.
He told us no had not seen the Emperor, but
| had paid his respects to Sir g. Cockburn, and had
Monlhoion, and the rest OF Sapoleons suae. lie
added that General Buonaparle would land in
| the evening and was to reulain for the present
at the house OF "a Proleus. until Longwood, which
was intended for his Ultimate residence, should be
| ready for him.
We were eager to see the iustrious exile,
that we Determined 10 go in the evening to the
valley 10 witness his disembai ka0n.
Ii was nearly dark when we arrived at the land
ing place. and shortly after a boat from the Nor
| cumberland approached, and we saw figure
step from it on the shore, which we were told was
the emperor; but it was loo dark TO distinguish
| his features. lie walked up the lines between the
admiral aud General Bertrand, and developed as
| he WIS in a surtout, | could see lite but the
! occasional CLEAN Of u diamond star which he
wore on his heart.
The whole population of ST. Helena had crowd
ed 10 see him, ind could hardly believe il con-
tanned so many inhabitants The pressure be.
came so great that it was with difficulty way
could be maie for him. and the senlres were at
last ordered to stand with fixed buyonets at the
entrance fIom The lines 10 the town, and prevent
the multitudes from pouring in.
| Napoleon was excessively provoked at the ca
gerness of the crowd 10 get a peep al him, more
particularly as he was received in silence, though
with respect. ] heard him afterwards say no "
much he had been annoyed al being followed and
stared at, CONNIE un bsie Jeroce'
We returned TO the Brlars that night to talk and
| dream Of Napo con.
The next morning we observed large caval.
cahe moving along The path which wound around
the mountain, at the base Of which our dear liule
cottage was lying, almost hidden in It's nest Of
leaves. The effect Of The party was very piclur-
esque.
| II consisted of five borsemen, and we watched
them with great interest, as, following the wind
| ihgs OF the path, they now cleaned IN the sun 8
| rays, and were thrown into brilliant relief by the
dark back ground behind, and then disappearing,
we gazed earnestly, until from some lurl in the
road they flashed again upon US. Sometimes we
only saw single white plume, or the CLINT Of
| weapon in the sun.
To my already excited fancy il suggested the
idea OF an enormous serpent, with FURNISHED
scales, occasionally showing himself as he crawl
| ell 10 our little abode.
We were still doubtful whether Napoleon was
| of the party. We had already learned IN link