Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-08-15
Bonaparte's Grave on ST. Helona.

In acknowledging the receipt of "'fhe Home
Circle" an interesting Literary magazine, issued
by the Southern Methodist Publishing House,
at Nashville, Tennessee, the Charleston Courier
saws:
The Rev. Charles Taylor, M D.. relates in live
" and perspicunus style. nm account of "A Visit
to the Island Prison Of Napolo m" IL will be
recoleccted TINT this clergyman served his church
"a missionary to China several years and WAS
compelled to leave this interesting fold by the i'll
health of his wife. The visit he now nnrra'es was
made on the voyage from that far-of country.
The Doctor enterains IA with minute aud
graphic description of 1.-The Rock Of ST. Helena"
We pass the localities with legendary titles
that the writer notices, and pause a moment at the
spot that has invested the island with immortal in
tcrest. lie tells us that the tomb ofNapolepn was
in n sweet, quite. lovely dale called Sane Valley.
"A low black paling enclosed few square rods Of
grpenwards in the NEEDLE of which an iron raj
ling surrounds the open and now empty grave of
the Imperial prisoner, Ii is covered by an aw-
ming in the form of roof, raised ahunt three feet
from the grpnud. and is shaded by two willows,
which stand few feet from tho head"
The Doctor was indugng in the train Of reGcc-
tons suggested by tho place. when his rovery was
interrupted by odd Sally" the negro who has
charge Of the house where tho great Captain lived
in bonds and in pain, and Of the sacred spot where
his body was buried. After demanding and "I-
tanning the indispensable 'one-and-sixpence heal,
the giibtongneed crandam delivered the familiar
story. 1t is told with much freshness, the ne
gro dialect admirably preserved, that we cannot
forbear quoting the picturesque narrative;
"Dar. gen 'iemen." said Sally. "now yDu stan
in de berry spot whar de great Napoleon lay; no
was buried with his head to the Nortl', an his
feet to dc Soul'. lie had on his greon uniform
his arms was crossed on his breast. 81, (suting
the action of tie word, with sequential air:)
an his cap an his sword was laid ON his stomach
He was hurried in fodr collins de fnst was ma
hogany, de secon' was lead de third WAS deal and
de fourt was black cloff over de whole wild gold
tossels hangin' down an stone slab was ber
de top. He used to come here an sct down under
desc two willows; an one day he got asleep here
an, he dreamed his Josephine was buried here;
an always after dat he said If he died on de is
Ian, he wanted to be buried JUS here. in dis ber-
ry spot When dey dug him UP. dey begun at
twelve O'Clock in de night, an didn't git done till
eight O'Clock de next morning." Hers our friend
Capt, Kennedy interrupted her, saying. What's
that nonsense you are telling there SailyS They
didn't get through till noon." '.Wal. MAJ be dey
didn't till nine or ten o'clock. or somswbar along
dar." Il tell YOU il was quite noon when they
finished" WAL" rejoinel Sally. lyon ought %
don't know, Cap'n. for you was de officer oh de
day. Now gen iemen, onme m seo de water Ia
de spring." This is natural basin, ab'ut two
feet in diameter. At the foot Of perpendicular
ek in the side hill. just outside the pslinx. aud
t,so or ihrec rods fr.m tho tomb. The water 10
beautifully lear; and is said tn be the best On the
island "Dis is dc water Napoleon always drunk.