Columbus Democrat., 1849-12-01
XAPOLEoN's VILLA ELIZA.

We take the following from the n. Y. Com
mercial Advertiser;
The villa of Napoleon is at Saint Mar,ino,
small hamlet about four miles distant from the
city. 1t is situated in the bosom Of one of the
most beautiful valleys in the island the front
view commands the harbor and the entire city
of Porto Ferrago, while upon the right and Jeff
mountains Of exceeding majesty lih their lofty
submits for its protection. The adjacen, grounds
are embellished with groves OF the orange, the
olive and the lemon, all bunAened with golden
fruit while in the garden flowers Of every hue
unfold their perecIions, and perfume the air with
the aroma Of an earthly paradise.
The villa itself is plain, low, white stone
house, with an unusual number Of windows,
which are all supplied with green Venetian blinds
The first story is Of no account. being merely in.
tended as basement accommodation. The sec
ond, which is only few feet above the ground,
contains two grand rooms in the centre, (tronl
and rear,) and three smaller rooms on each side
thereof, making eight in all upon that floor. -
The walls Of the front grand centre room are
painted in graceful imitation of drapery, ingeni.
ously represented as supported by spears, the
heads OF which are crowned with garlands of
I evergreen. Upon the mantcpeee noticed
marble busis Of Prince Bacciochl and the Prn.
ces Eliza, his consor.
The ceiling of the rear grand centre room ap.
pears covered with clouds full of mystery and
grandeur, while the surrounding walls are EN-,
btlhshed in thorough oriental style. Egypt was
before me with her pyramids, pillars, obelisks,
hierog lyphics, cames, palma, priests and sacred
birds. These views transported me to the banks
of the Nile, and lived again among the Egyp.
tian victories OF The French conquerer. The
sleeping apartment of Napoleon is OF the ordina,
~ size, and looks out upon the hill and forts OF
the city The walls are Of pale slate color,
aud ornamented with eagles, which bear in their
beaks the glory and cipher of the Emperor
! The villa Is still the property OF the Bonaparte
family, bat the original furniture has long since
been conveyed to Paris the few things that re
main are of subsequent introduction. As turn.
| ed to take a long lingering look at the premises
the aged gardner approached, aud presented me
with branch of myrtle He could not have Sc.
lected more ludcious or seasonable offering
and need scarcely say that il was received with
emotions Of unspeakable qualification.
The residence and reign of Napoleon upon
the island of Eba continued about ten months
but those few months have suIIiced to embaln
lis memory among the most aileclionate recol
lccdOns of this esnable people, Upon his ar
rival on the 4lh OF May 1914, in the haven o
Porto Feralo, an immense multitude haseneC
from all the cantons Of the island, to greet thei
Emperor. The British irgae Undaunted, whcl
had conveyed him TO the port was mmedialel,
surrounded by great number Of small boats
filed with musicians and decorated with banners
As soon as her cannot announced his deparIur,
Tor he city, the artillery Of the forts responded
aud the cry of Vtue / Empereur ascended from
her yards, 10 be repeated by the boats aud pro
longcd by the shores and hills adjacent to TIT
capital. Upon landing AT the pier, the civic au
thorites and chief citizens formally submitted tt
him, and at the same time presented hIin will
the keys OF the city, in basin OF silver The
clergy then advanced and received the person o
the new sovereign under grand baldaquino
(canopy and proceeded in state to the cathedral
through double file of national guards. The
balconies were all hung with rich tapestry, ant
special services were performed in the church
lie was afterwards conducted to the muncpn
palace, where were presented to him in rcl
basn map and plan of Elba, and other thing
connected with the illustration Of its affairs. il
the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated
which was repeated Tor two nights, while fires q
Joy were simultaneously kndcd throughout lh
country. In the midst Of these Joyful testivi!ie
the artillery Of the forts announced the eleya
ton of the new national standard consisting 0
a red bend dexter, in white field, the ben,
bearing three bees. Those days formed tn
golden age OF Elba. Under the sceptre of Ma
poleon, the island became the nucleus of actio
and enterprise. Hills barbors and highway
were improved, and new life diilused into the so
cial and political institutions of the people.