The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-08

the NorthumbtrluUu' WHICH cphFcycu the great emperor. was seventy days en route.
 The governor occupied a spacious mansion in the country called planta- ton house. The grounds about the house are superb even now, reminding one of q fine old English country home.
 After dusk on the evening of the third day after the Northumberland's arrival Napoleon was taken ashore, Troops were massed at the landing. and a carriage was in waiting to take the prisoner into Jamestown. The road lies along shelf of rocks under a high cliff and enters the town through gate in the ancient Notifications Inside the wall is an open space, on one side of which stand the church. the custom house, the prison and government stores; on the other the castle, the colony offlces tbe public library and small public park. A single broad street leads from the square up to the gorge. and Is built up on both sides with resi- dences and business houses. many of which are now vacant and falling into decay.
 Napoleon was lodged the first night with a private family In a plain, two story, stone house, the walls of which are still standing adjoining the park. Napoleon was greatly distressed by the gloomy aspect and sultriness of the place. and his first night ashore was one of intense discomfort. Sir George Cockburn, the admiral In whose charge he was placed by the allies. was dis posed to treat him, as well as circum- stances would permit. and assured him that he would soon be lodged in the country where his surroundings would not be so forbidding. The prisoner had thoroughly acquainted himself with the island and was therefore sorely disap- pointed that Plantation house was not suggested by his captors as his prison home.
 Though 50 small, St. Helena is not blessed with uniformity of climatic con- ditions any more than the large contin- ents. The southern and western por- tions are visited by ample rains and are covered with luxuriant vegetation, shaded by magnificent trees. The east ern and northern sections are very bar ren and possess few of the attractions of the more favored parts. Plantation is the center of the pleasant zone and Lopgwood is on the ragged edge of the unpleasant zone.
 | If Admiral Cockburn could have had his way he would have acceded to Ma poleon's wish for @ sheltered nook on the plantation side of the "old rock" but his superiors held that there would be dangers of escape unless the "Corsi- car Npstart" were kept at an exposed point where all his movements could be noted. Long'wood plain exactly met this requirement., There was nothing to obstruct the view, the few gum trees that led a miserable existence there being bent almost to the earth by pre- vailing winds.I J0.l!
 ] The admiral took his prisoner next day for q horseback ride to Longwood plain and made g partial tour of the i more attractive portions of the island. At the head of the Jamestown gorge | Napoleon saw the pretty little villa I called the Briars, nestled among the flowers and shrnbbery and expressed a wish to stay there while the Longwood barn was being reconstructed as his prison. Sir George made the necessary arrangements With MT. Balcomb, a sut. Ter or contractor for the garrison, who occupied the Briars, and the two most happy months of Napoleon's exile were passed there. This historic spot is to. day very little changed from what it was in 1s15,s except that q few a1tera- tions have beenf made, in the house and the .palmsI and ether trees are larger. The. paxiaton that was occu. pied by Napoleon, Count Las Casas and the latter's son, Stands just as they left it., and the visitor realizes what close quarters it must have been for such guests. J1 @" ' In December the order came for the prisoner to be transported to Long, wood, and the move was made with out the least regard to Napoleon's con- fort. The old barn was overrun with rats and mice, and workmen were still saving and hammering. while no at- tempt had been made to remove the litter that encountered the place. Odds and ends of furniture had been got to- !gether to make the dismal structure habitable, after fashion, and in this remarkable dwelling Napoleon lived from December, 1915, to May, 1921, and in which he breathed his last on the 5th day of the month last named. It is to-day practically as it was when Napoleon occupied it. Such alter ations as have been made were necessi- tated by the fact that after his demise 1t reverted to its former use, and be- came storehouse for grain and vege- tables and shelter for cattle and hogs. When the property was ceded to the French government early in Queen vic- toria's reign, custodian was sent out, l proper fences were built around it and it has since been kept in order, The site of the tomb was included in the ces- sion. In the Napoleonic era, from 1858 to 1870, much attention was given to the property and high priced officers were sent to the island from France to watch over 1t. But in recent years 1t has been in the care of sergeant on small pay, whose stewardship Is sub- ject to report and inspection by officers of the French navy who touch the ' | a If