12th.—Fine weather had now fairly set in. About four o’clock the
Emperor walked in the garden. The temperature was delightful, and we
all acknowledged that it was like one of our finest evenings in
Europe. We had enjoyed nothing equal to it since we had been on the
island. The Emperor ordered the calash; and by way of a change,
instead of driving along by the gum-trees, to get into the road
leading to the Grand Marshal’s house, he wished to take the road which
encircles the upper hollow of our favourite valley, and to gain, if
possible, the spot on which is situated the residence of Miss Mason,
and which is on the opposite side, facing Longwood. The Emperor
invited Madame Bertrand to take a drive in the calash, in which Madame
de Montholon and myself were already seated: the rest of our party
followed on horseback, so that we were now all assembled together. At
a few paces from Madame Bertrand’s, at the military post, which is
established near the house, the ground was very steep and uneven; the
horses refused to advance, and we were obliged to alight from the
calash. The barrier was scarcely wide enough to allow the carriage to
pass; but the English soldiers came to our assistance, and in a moment
pushed it through by main force. However, when we had reached the
hollow of the valley, we found walking so agreeable that the Emperor
wished to continue it; and, after a short time, he ordered the
carriage to be driven along the road as far as the gate of Miss
Mason’s house, while we proceeded with our walk in the valley. The
evening was really most delightful; the shades of night were beginning
to overspread the sky, but the moon shone brilliantly. Our walk
reminded us of those strolls which we had been accustomed to enjoy on
fine summer evenings, in the neighbourhood of our country residences
in Europe.
The calash had now returned; but the Emperor declined getting into it.
He directed that it should wait at Madame Bertrand’s door; but when
the Emperor got there, he chose to walk on to Longwood, where he
arrived very much fatigued. He had walked nearly six miles, which is a
great deal for him, who never was accustomed to walk at any period of
his life.
BAD TEMPERATURE OF ST. HELENA.—OBSERVATION ON
THE SPIRIT OF THIS JOURNAL.
13th—16th. I have already observed that there is no regular course of
seasons at St. Helena, but merely irregular successions of good and
bad weather. It would be difficult to find four words to express any
deviation from our accustomed routine, during these four days. And
here I take the opportunity of observing, once for all, that if, in
the course of my journal, the events of several days are occasionally
found combined in one article, it is because I have cancelled a
portion of the notes relating to each day separately. I have been
induced to do this from various motives. Sometimes my notes appeared
to me too puerile; sometimes, on the other hand, they seemed to be too
serious, and calculated for a more distant period; or occasionally
they consisted of personalities, and I make it a rule studiously to
avoid every thing of that kind. If, in spite of all my care, any
offensive personal allusions have escaped me, it can only be when I
have been led to them by the essential object of my journal; namely,
to describe the character of the Emperor. Even then, I may reflect,
for my own satisfaction, that these personalities relate only to
public characters, and refer to facts already circulated in the world.
I am, however, perfectly well aware that the task I have undertaken
may subject me to many inconveniences; but I consider it as a sacred
duty, and shall endeavour to fulfil it to the best of my abilities,
happen what will.