Recollections of Napoleon at St. Helena/Chapter 2

ALARM FROM LADDER HILL.—SHIP IN SIGHT.—NEWS OF THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF NAPOLEON.—OUR DISBELLEF OF THE REPORT, AND MY CHILDISH FEARS.—THE ARRIVAL OF SIR GEORGE COCKBURN, ON BOARD THE NORTHUMDERLAND, WITH HIS ILLUSTRIOUS PRISONER NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.—THE EMPEROR'S LANDING, AND ANNOYANCE AT BEING STARED AT.

We had been living for years in this romantic and secluded glen, when our little "isle was suddenly frighted from its propriety" by hearing that Napoleon Bonaparte was to be confined as a prisoner of state. It was in October, 1815, that this news first burst upon us. We heard one morning an ​alarm gun fired from Ladder Hill, which was the signal that a vessel was in sight, off the island. The same evening, two naval officers arrived at the Briars, one of whom was announced as Captain D., commanding the Icarus man-of-war. He requested to see my father, having intelligence of importance to communicate to him. On being conducted to him, he informed him that Napoleon Bonaparte was on board the Northumberland, under the command of Sir George Cockburn, and within a few days' sail of the island. The news of his escape from Elba, and the subsequent. eventful campaign had, of course, not reached us, and I remember well how amazed and incredulous they all seemed to be at the information. Captain D. was obliged more than once to assure them of the correctness of his statement. My own feeling at the intelligence was excessive terror, and an undefined conviction that something awful would happen to us all, ​though of what nature I hardly knew. I glanced eagerly at my father, and seeing his countenance calm, I became more composed, but still I listened to every word of Captain D.'s detail as if my fate depended on what he was telling us. The earliest idea I had of Napoleon was that of a huge ogre or giant, with one large flaming red eye in the middle of his forehead, and long teeth protruding from his mouth, with which he tore to pieces and devoured naughty little girls, especially those who fid not know their lessons. I had rather grown out of this first opinion of Napoleon: but, if less childish, my terror of him was still hardly diminished. The name of Bonaparte was still associated, in my mind, with every thing that was bad and horrible. I and heard the most atrocious crimes imputed to him; and if I had learned to consider him as a human being. I yet still believed him to be the worst that had ever existed. Nor was I singular in these feel​ings; they were participated by many much older and wiser than myself; I might say, perhaps, by a majority of the English nation. Most of the newspapers of the day described him as a demon; and all those of his own country who lived in England were of course his bitter enemies; and from these two sources alone we formed our opinion of him. It was not, therefore, without uneasiness, that I saw my father depart, a day or two afterwards, to go on board the vessel which had just east anchor in the bay. The fleet consisted of the Northumberland, commanded by Sir George Cockburn, to whose care Napoleon had been confided; the Havannah, Captain Hamilton, and several other men-of-war, together with transports containing the 33rd regiment. We remained many hours in great anxiety; at last my father returned from his visit in safety, and we rushed out to question him as to what had occurred.

"Well, papa, have you seen him?" we ​exclaimed, for we thought of no one but Napoleon. He told us he had not seen the emperor, but had paid his respects to Sir George Cockburn, and had been introduced to Madame Bertrand, Madame Montholon, and the rest of Napoleon's suite. He added that General Bonaparte would land in the evening, and was to remain for the present at the house of a Mr. Porteus, until Longwood, which was intended for his ultimate residence, should be ready for him. We were so eager to see the illustrious exile that we determined to go in the evening to the valley to witness his disembarkation. It was nearly dark when we arrived at the landing-place, and shortly after, a boat from the Northumberland approached, and we saw a figure step from it on the shore, which we were told was the emperor, but it was too dark to distinguish his features. He walked up the lines between the Admiral and General Bertraud, and enveloped as ​he was in his surtout, I could see little, but the occasional gleam of a diamond star, which he wore on his heart. The whole population of St. Helena had crowded to behold him, and one could hardly have believed that it contained so many inhabitants. The pressure became so great that it was with difficulty way could be made for him, and the sentries were at last ordered to stand with fixed bayonets at the entrance from the lines to the town, to prevent the multitude from pouring in. Napoleon was excessively provoked at the eagerness of the crowd to get a peep at him, more particularly as he was received in silence though with respect. I heard him afterwards say how much he had been annoyed at being followed and stared at "comme une bête feroçe."

We returned to the Briars that night to talk and dream of Napoleon.