NAPOLEON'S GRAVE.

65

trees in the centre of the view as the spectator approaches from the town. The estate (1) on which the celebrated burial place (2) is situated, has long been the property of Mr. Richard Forbett, who is in the habit of supplying provisions and live stock (3) to the vessels. that touch at the island. When, on opening Napoleon's will, it was found, contrary to expectation, that he desired to be buried in the island of his captivity, on the spot in question (4), permission for that purpose (5) was asked of Mr. Forbett; no particular statement (6) was made at the time as to (7) the intention to guard the remains, but merely the simple permission to make the interment was requested. Mr. Forbett, it appears, did not contemplate the possibility of being compelled to make any sacrifice, or to inconvenience (8) himself by acceding to the request, and he without hesitation consented.

This grave was railed round (9) with green railing (10) and Mr. F. considered that its care would be left to him, when to his astonishment a sentinel was marched upon his grounds and placed over, it, to guard it. But

(1) Estate, terre, bien.

(2) Burial place, sépulture.

(3) Live stock, bétail, provisions de bouche.

(4) The spot in question, l'endroit dont nous parlons.

(5) For that purpose, à cet effet.

(6) Statement, détail.

(7) As to, quant à, à l'égard de.

(8) To inconvenience, gêner.

(9) Railed round, entouré.

(10) Railing, balustrade, barrière de bois.

this was not all. A temporary (1) and afterwards a permanent house or barrack was erected, for the soldiers on duty (2) at the grave, and an equal want of attention to his inclinations was manifested on this occasion. He found himself placed in a very difficult situation. He had never intented to give up any portion of his ground to the Government, still less to allow of its being made a military station. Under these circumstances Mr. Forbett sent in his complaint to Government; but his memorial (3), though always under consideration, did not advance the affair. After the death of Napoleon, when persons were permitted to go into the interior of the island without restraint, almost every passenger (4) of rang or education, in the Company's vessels that touched at the island, took the opportunity of visiting the grave. In fact visitors soon became extremely numerous, and none passed without viewing the spot and obtaining a relic from the trees, or drinking the water from Napoleon's favourite well, which is also situated on the grounds of Mr. Forbett. That gentleman at last hit upon (5) a plan of remunerating himself, and turning this influx of strangers to his own advantage. He created a toll (6), and as most of the visitors were wellconditioned persons, he charged a dollar per head for

(1) Temporary, provisoire.

(2) On duty, de service, de garde.

(5) Memorial, remontrance, réclamation.

(4) Passenger, voyageur.

(5) To hit upon, frapper, tomber sur, trouver, imaginer.

(6) Toll, péage, droit de passage, argent que l'on paye pour passer une barrière, un pont,

etc.

NAPOLEON'S GRAVE.

67

admission into his grounds to view the spot where Napoleon reposed. It was so productive that he began to felicitate himself for having done that which he before considered as a grievous misfortune. The demand for relics after his death became considerable, and under proper management the localities might have been turned to great profit. Mr. Forbett found that the average number (1) of visitors was 1,400 per anum, producing for the toll between L 300, and L 400 (2), which he put into his own pocket during the short time he maintained it. Doubtless it would have become extremely profitable; but the autorities considered perhaps that as the tomb was under their charge, the toll might be attributed to them, and it was ordered to be discontinued, after it had been but for a short time exacted (5). He now however ventured to state (4) that he had a fee simple (5) in his estate, and that when he bought it, it was by no means expressed that he should hold it in trust (6) for the military. But the military comprehended nothing of all this. It was intimated that possession of the remains never had been, or ever would be given up, and that of course (7) a guard would still be kept over them. Mr. F. was willing enough to give up

(1) Average number, nombre moyen, entre deux extrêmes. (2) L signifie livres sterling, dont chacune vaut 24 francs et souvent 25, selon le cours.

(3) Exacted, perçu, exigé.

(4) To state, démontrer.

(5) Fee simple, fief absolu, droit absolu.

(6) In trust, en fidéi-commis.

(7) Of course, naturellement.

the honour of having them in his grounds if they were to be clogged (1) with the grievous encumbrance of the soldiery; but he soon found that if compensation was doubtful, the removal was utterly hopeless. He went to England and memorialized both the Government and the honourable East India company (2), setting forth (5) his grounds for compensation, and offering to sell the part of his estate where the remains were interred. But now a great difficulty arose as to the price which he should ask of a liberal and munificent Government.

Perhaps it was not unfair to form the estimate (4) of the value of the ground according to the income (5) it would produce; and as it would bring in (6) upwards of L 300 per annum, and allowing for collection repairs, etc., a net income of L 200 per annum, L. 4000 was not an unreasonable sum to ask. When he applied to sir HUDSON LOWE, then in England, that officer advised him to fix upon as low a sum as possible : · "For, said he, "if you ask too much, the Government may remove the remains elsewhere (7). Mr. Forbett was ready to resign every thing rather than take such a course, and he fixed his demand at one thousand pounds; but Government offered him only five hun

(1) Clogged, gêné, embarrassé.

(2) The East India company, la compagnie des Indes orientales.

(3) To set forth, démontrer, exposer.

(4) To form the estimate, estimer, évaluer.

(5) Income, rente.

(6) To bring in, rapporter.

(7) Elsewhere, autre part, dans un autre endroit.

THE TUNNEL UNDER THE THAMES.

69

dred. This sum he agreed to take, payement to be made by the East India company as soon as he arrived at St.-Helena, for which place he sailed in the Farquhar East Indiaman. The spot will be left open for the gratuitous admission of all strangers who may visit it; and we believe that some part of it will be laid out (1) in gardens and carefully kept in order. Government has acted laudably (2) in allowing free access to it.

THE TUNNEL (3) UNDER THE THAMES.

This undertaking has excited much curiosity, and forms a frequent topic of conversation on the continent a tunnel for carriages beneath such a river as the Thames, being regarded as one of the wonders for which England has become such an object of admiration. The tunnel will consist of two archways (4) and in order that there may be no obstruction to carriages, those going from the north to the south shore will pass through one, while those from the south to the north will occupy the other arch-way. The passages will be macadamized (5), and there will be distinct pathways (6)

(1) Laid out, arrangé, disposé.

(2) Laudably, d'une manière louable.

(3) Tunnel under the Thames, pont sous la Tamise; le mot tunnel signifie passage couvert, souterrain, sous l'eau. Le mot français pont se dit bridge, ou en parlant de vaisseaux, deck. (4) Archway, chemin voûté.

(5) Macadamized, pavé d'après l'invention de M. Mac Adam, avec des granits cassés.

(6) Pathways, trottoirs.