Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-18
A VISIT TO NAPoLEoss TOMB AT ST. HELENA

steering for st Helena, when, about IL in the
forenoon, land, no p was cried right ahead"
Nothing was yet visible from the deck, but many
sprung to the topsailyard to crafty that strangely
mingled feeling of curiosity with which this black,
bleak spot must be regarded narrow irregular
line away up the clouds all that the most earn
est gaze.
/ A fine breeze hurried along and when again went
deck standing close along steep and ragged
Of dark volcanic rock upon which the was rudey
breaking Upon every craggy peak stood bbetike the
remains OF signal stations, no longer used and then
caught glimpses of the green table lands and now
Longwood was pointed out swept rapidly by; and
| at sunset anchored in James Town roads. II was
soon nosed that to sail in the morning wa
terng party left the ship Immediately and relief crews
picked for the boat announced that the duty would con-
tinue through the night.
All anxious to visit the tomb-a difficult matter
to arrange. There time for thought action was
the word and after dark left in Of the water
ing boats for the Shore and directed by the senres
CROPPED way into town. After making arrangements
for horses in the morning we gave short relief to
messmates on the beach, and then returned aboard
| At early dawn again landed in little nook in the
rocks, in the face of battery and, after walking
around thin strip Of beach the foot of dark towering
cliffs crossed drawbridge, and by narrow portal
tered the town, which is built in deep gorge, by dark
| either side
/ horse was ready for me and, as could find
a mounted companion, we set off up steep road built
along the mountains side beneath lay the barracks
and the town. each house round with miniature gar
den. As looked upon this beautiful scene, could not
repress sentiment Of admiration for people whose skill
and energy the very of nature and
covered the rocks with bloom and flowers
After short ride we gained the heights where the
road became sufficiently level to indulge in gallop,
which soon carried us into melancholy little wood whose
stiffness made impressive by the plaintve notes
of doves We were now little bewdercd, and my
panon turned back to cottage to inquire the way;
meanwhile a negro woman and boy approached me- in
curing, Massa 60 de tomb" and then, d.
recting George TO go show de gemman de tomb"
touched the horses with the spur, and, leaving the
Brars" left, dashed down hin until to
finger post inscribed, sTo the tomb of Napoleon
We instantly checked speed aud walked reverenty
down to the halowed premises. servant took charge
of the steed and invited walk into the house. where
polite reception from the proprietress, Mrs T.,
matrony LADY, to whom we explained the object of
visit and then requested ham and eggs for breakfast
servant Immediately dispatched to make prepa-
rations for visit stretched myself old sofa,
the favorite lounge of the Emperor and Mrs
in old armchair good-humoredly answering many
questions and relating interesting incidents of Napoeons
residence the island At last she held forth her hand
display ring containing of his hair which he
had given her We bent down eagerly towards it, when
To- it discovered that the setting gone The good
burst into ordinations Of surprise and distress
and called Mary. Mary came Napoleon vanished; all
interest at absorbed by the bewitching Mary
figure of faultless grace, face of love and beauty
in which the bright blood Of England bushed through the
olive of Hndostan soft lustrous eyes, hair, and
voice Of sweetest harmony.
After leaving the house, followed pathway leading
into beautiful glen Swallowed by lofty pines; the hills
re-echoing the voice Of negro crying, "0pen de tomb
The tomb in view. As silently drew near,
collections Of Lodi and Lepsc, Egypt Arcoa, and Aus
terltz, Marengo and Moscow, Wagram and Waterloo,
crowded fast and thick upon US and now, before US
within a small enclosure, surrounded by iron rail
ing overhung by tattered SAIL was the first rest
agplace Of him for whom all Europe had been too small
We had scarcely reached the spot when the old British
sergeant commenced in pure cicerone STYLE pouring his
story into unwilling ears, from which sought re-
fuge by descending fra ladder leading the bottom
of the sepulchre.
anxious afterwards to preserve the narrative Of
the sergeant and while my companions supplying
themselves with mementoes Of their visit besough him
to repeat for me- which he did, follows "This was
tomb Of the great Bonaparte here he lay for nineteen
years FIVE months and six days he buried in three
cofhns-lead, tin, and mahogany-n his full and state
dress-pea coat stars and orders epauets boots
and spurs cooked hat sword and scabbard plate,
knife and fork showed in at his feet his heart in silver
vase, laid on his breast"
This the sergeants story which, related in his
peculiar way and repeated by myself noted down,
produced effect ridiculous that in spite Of our
efforts we could contain ourselves and the tomb filed
with loud laughtev
We visited sweet little spring, gushing up from
the foot Of rock TO which Napoleon frequently
but all the while looking ntently in the blue eyes
Of the ergeans daughter who handed glass OF the
water, that had no recollection of the spring then
clambered up hill side the cottage Of Mrs Young of
whom had already obtained the promise of low-
ers and while she went to gather them dotted down
these We afterwards returned to Mrs. It's cot
tage, where took hasty breakfast then galloped
back town, leaving my companions to follow at more
leisure In hour after called "aH hands up anchor
for hoethat blessed word whose echoes reach and find
vibration in every chord Of the sailors heart The
rapidly to the surface and willing sails woong the
favorng gale, bounding the deep for
the land Of love- with the stars Of country
ing above" w.
NAvAL.-The ship Cyane arrived at Pensacola the
4th from San Juan de Nicaragua with part of the
crew sick with the Ishmus fever Twenty eight were
sent to the hospital at Pensacola.
The ship Columbia, Commodore Newton was at Pensa-