The Portland daily press., 1894-04-28
NAPoLEoN's CAPTIVITY.
New Light Thrown on His Life at st.
Helena by a French RoyaIist's Letter.

Helena by French Royalist's Letter.
An old family letter just unearthed by
the Figaro and written by the Marquis
de Monchena, Commissioner of the King
of France, to his intimate friend M. de
Dineur, Knight of ST. Louis and Post
master of Angouleme, throws some new
and interesting light upon Napoleon's
mode of life in exile on st. Helena. The
following passages are well worth trans
lating:
II will now speak to you of our great
man. his position and his guard. The
garrison of St. Helena consists of 21,5oo
men. Numerous pieces of artillery and
about twenty mortars defend the coast.
Buonaparte occupies the house OF the
Lieutenant Governor, situated In the
one and only. valley in the island, ana
known under the name of Eongwooo
This plain is surrounded by precipices,
and it can be reached by one road only
Around the house the Fifty-third Regi-
ment is encamped, and little further
off stands park of artillery, while the
confines of the valley are guarded by
posts of troops.
He has fifty men in his service. and is
permitted to go out alone mean with
out being accompanied by his guards.
But if he wants to leave the valley.
Buonaparte must be followed by an
officer in uniform, who never leaves MIN,
and who must note and report every
thing that he does during the day. Inc
persons that compose the suite OF the
emperor are guarded by officers, and
the Wallets are watched by non-commls-
stoned officers.
At every hour of the day or night the
Governor or his Lieutenant is informed
of all that goes on insthe Island; ana II
anything serious should happen the gar
rison would promptly be put under
arms.
Such are the precautions taken on
shore in regard to Buonaparte As to the
precautions taken on the water they are
much more rigorous. Two frlgates are
stationed at anchor, and two briggs cruise
necessarily around the island from o
O'Clock in the evening until 6 in the
morning, while sloops of war patrol the
coast.
In the evening all boats belonging to
private parties and to the war vessels
are obliged to come into port, because
there is an order to fire upon any boat
that appears outside after O'Clock.
Moreover it is impossible to navigate
into the waters of St. Helena without
having the password. The boat tn a.
should attempt it would be sure to be
fired upon. No foreign vessel is allowed
to approach. A piastre is awarded I'M
mediately to the man who first reports
the presence of a vessel outside. Then
she is warned off bv signals. Add to
these precautions the very dangerous
condition of the coast. The breakers are
=. Il kho ,orpir ono
often obliged to remain for several days
in their vessels on account of the dlf11-
Guilty OF landing. Therefore, you can
easily understand. my dear, that escape
is impossible Even admitting that the
| Governor should favor the escape of
Buonaparte, it could not be accomplished
unless the Admiral was in connivance
dence to the superior authority, the Ad-
miral should allow on some favorable
night two or three sloops to approach
with the intention of delivering our
prisoner, what would be the fate of those
| sloops? They would have to stand I'M
der most formidable fire. and their
little landing party would BE- quickly
! arrested. because the roads are all strong
| ly guarded.
| The other day, in making reconnois-
| sance with the Governor, it seemed to
me that one point of the coast was not
sufficiently defended, Notwithstanding its
| twenty-six pieces of artillery; because
one of the fanking batteries was on too
high ground. I selected an adjoinin /,
F spot where the calcined rock permitted
| the EASY esta blish ment of a battery of
| four pieces on a level with the water.
| Thew are working at that at the present
moment.
I tell You this to let you know that
nothing goes on here without my knowl-
| edge. Comfort our good Angoumolslns
| and YOU yourself live quietly and cal I'M
| ly, for you will see him no more, at least
as long as / remain here.
| In the evening Buonaparte and his per-
sonnet must return to the house that is
| given over to them, and remain indoors
until the following morning. This
house is surrounded by sentinels, who
| have orders to fire upon anyone ap-
preaching, and the Emperor and his suite
| have acquired the conviction that this
| order will always be obeyed, for it has
| been already. | hope nevertheless that
| / will not die on this island, unless
hunger or ennui get the better of my
health.
In that case every month passed here
will certainly be placed to my account
as worth several years in purgatory.
| Consider, my good friend, the means
of salvation which you have neglected
| by not following me!
| on arriving at st. Helena Buoaaparte
was placed in the house of q resident
named Balcombe, one of whose daugh-
tiers a girl of fourteen, answers to the
name Of Betsy. Now this little girl
who is very pretty and charming in her
| cheerfulness and the vivacity of her
| character, was admired by the Emperor
to such degree that he appeared to be
| in love with her.
Yesterday while talking to her l said !:
mile. Betsy, am no longer astouished
to hear you speak such good French,
for / have just been informed that you
have chosen Buonaparte for your teach
er."
.Ah, surely not" said she. "He is
| altogether too rude for that"
"But am told that you have been
able to tame and train him and that he
is in love with you"
"Oh you don't know him at all. He
isn't one bit gallant"
just at this point Betsy's sister came
in and told me that one day. finding her
alone, Buonaparte took her by the ear
and pulled it hard enough to hurt her.
"And what did you do them" l
asked.
q gave him good slap IN the face,
and he got so angry that he squeezed
| vii "a