Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-11

the night the effect coming on deck in the morning
most peculiar and at FIRST almost even alarming. From
great depth of water shps are able 10 60 very Gloss
no the land, and tie eye long accustomed the ex-
panse OF sea and atmosphere, is suddenly startled By
coming amos, as seems, in contact with the dnrk
threatening rock towering hundreds Of feet into tn
air far above the masls of the tallest vessel wa
quite child at the time OF nay first visit, and nd
lerrors were increased by being told that one g liant
shouted Graz" which bore some resemblance 10 TIT
head Of negro was cat me up FIRST when the break
fast bell struck and then the rest of the passengers AM
crew.
rushed instantly below, and hiding my face in m.
mothers lap, irembngly announced our fate, and wa
with difficulty soohed by her assurances of safety ant
protection But did not venture from under her WIN!
mill me dreaded "enht bells had sounded and ih'
appea,ance of breakfast announced better things store
for US "
On rounding Munden's battery, James Town breaks
upon the view II singular and striking and quite u
harmony with the rest Of the peculiar scenery OF SAINT
Helena The houses are all built at the bottom of :
wide rayine which looks If It had been caused by
some of nature; or as II the rock tired OF us
solitary life and isolated situation in the midst of the Al
lantc, had given great yawn and could not shut 'ti
mouth again.
The buildings are confined entirely to the bot'o m
of this cleft or chasm It's sides are TOO precpous
to allow of houses being built upon them.
The position of the town renders tsuocalngly ho'
in summer The cool sea breeze SO delicious III most
tropical climates, is almost excluded by the sltna
ton OF the valley, the inhabitants call James Town
and for nine mouths in The year the heat almost un-
endnrable
we were fortunate enough TO reside out Of town;
NV father possessing beautiful little cottage about
mile and quarter from the valley, called the BrIars;
spot which merits slight description, both from lis
own beauty, and from having been the residence OF
Napoleon during the first three months Of his exile IN
ST. Helena.
The wsy to the Briars winds out Of the town by
roads cut in the side of the mountain. canoot say
much of this road Of the surrounding scenery On
my first journey TO distant abode, was put mo
basket and carried negros head, who rudgeo
away with me- very merry, singing some joyous ar
Occasionally he put down TO rest, and, grlnnmg
from ear to ear, asked me if felt comfortable in my
little nest. was rather rghiened, Us this was the
frs, time had seen q black man, but soon be
came reconclled to him. and we became grca. friends
He told me he generally carried vegetables into the
valley, and appeared highly honored and proud Of a
living burden being conided to his care. was soon
deposited in safety at the door Of the Bnrs, and bid
adeu 10 nv sable bearer who went away quite delight
ed with some little present my father gave him for
making himself to amiabe to me.
Our cottage built in the style Of the Bungalows
in India. 1t was very low, oil the rooms beng on
one floor; and but for s situation, it would not have
been thought pretty. But its situation made 1t d
perfect little PARADISE surrounded by barren noun
talns; it looked an Eden blooming in the midst Of de
ISOLATION
beautiful avenue Of ban yam trees, led up 10 it, and
on each side it anked by the evergreen and ggan
tic lacos interspersed with pomegranate and myrtle
and profuson of large white roses, more resembling
our sweet briar, from which, indeed the place derived
its name.
walk shaded by pome qranae trees, 80 40 feetir
height conducted TO the gardenl must plead the same
excuse for devoling few lines to the garden that
have for the cottagethat was lovely IN tse and lht
fayorite retreat of the Emperor.
1t would require the pen Of Scott, or the pencil
of Claude 10 do anything like justice TO It's beauty
often wander, in my dreams, through its myrtle
groves and the orange trees with their bright greer
leaves delicious blossoms, and golden fruit, seem agar
before me- as they in my blessed days Of child
hood Every description Of tropical fruit hourshe'
here luxuriantlyi
Various species of vine, ctron, orange, fig, shadoc
puava mango, all in endless profusion. Nature, as
Jealous of the beauty of this enhancing spot had sur
rounded 1t every side with impenerable barriers VI
the East to speak geographically, 1t was bounded ny
prec,pice Steep to render all approach impractical
BILE. The dark frownEg mountain called Peak Hill
rendered it inaccessible from the South To the West
ward was protected by steep declvy, and opposite
was cataract which in itself picturesque ant
striking object. forget its exact height but lis roa
very imposing to me, and the volume OF water mus
have been considerable.
49,
neighbor. In the most sullry day one could hardl,
feel the heat oppressive when gazing on It's cool anc
sparkling waters On the side nearest the cottage, the
delences Of The garden completed by an aloe and
pckly pear hedge, through which no living Thing could
penetrate.
We had been living for years in this romantic and
secluded glen, when little F." isle was suddenly
frighted from its propriety by hearing that Napoleon
Buonapar,e to be confined there as prisoner oil
State.
The garden at the Brars, like the bright dreams
and hopes of my own early youth IS now withereo
pany, and rooted up and planted with mulberry
trees. II became flood for worms
IT | may be guilty of conceit on, to me, me-
lanchoy subject, | believe the speculation was un-
successful.
1t was in October, 1915, that this news first burst
upon us. We heard one morning an alarm gun' ffeo
from Ladder Hill, which The signal Of vessel be-
ing in sight Of the Island.
The same evening two naval officers arrived at the
Brars, of whom was announced as Capt. D,
commanding the lcarus man-o war. lie requested to
my father, having intelligence of Importance &c
communicate TO him.
On being conducted to him, he informed him thai
Napoleon Buonapar,e was on board Of the Northum
berIand, under the command of Sir George Cockourn
and within few days sail of the Island. The news
of his escape from Elba, and the subsequent eventu
campaign, had Of course not reached Ms; and re-
member we'll how amazed ana incredulous lHty al
seemed al the information. Capt. D. was obgec
than TO them of the correctness OF bs
statement
My own feeling at the intelligence excessive
terror, and an underlined conviction that something
awful would happen 10 us u though of what nature
hardly knew. | glanced eargerly at my fa,her
and seeing his countenance calm, became more com
posed, but still listened to every word OF Captain
D-s detail as if my fate depended on what he wa
telling
The earliest idea | had Of Napoleon, was that OF I
huge ogre giant with one large flaming red eye IN tb'
middle of his forehead, and long teeth prolrndng from
his mouth with which he tore pieces and devonret
naughty little girls, especially those who did not kno"
their lessons
] had rather grown out of this first opinion OF Napo-
leon but less childish, my Of him still hard
is diminished
The name of Buonaparte was still associated IN my
mind with every thing that was bad and horrible.
had heard The most atlrocous crimes imputed 10 HIM
and If had learned to consider him as human be-
Ing yetstll believed him be the wors, that had eve
existed.
Nor was singular in these feelings, they were par
ticipated in by many much older and wiser than my
self; might say, perhaps, by majority of the I'm
elish nation. Most of The newspapers of the day De
scEbed bin as demon, and all those Of his coun
L.It.