Kentucky Gazette

ST. HELENA.

From a London paper of Dec. 25.

Extract of a letter from the Marquis de Montchenu, commissioner of the King of France to his friend M. Prieur, Knight of St. Louis, Director of the Posts at Angouleme.

St. Helena, July 22, 1816.

You cannot form an idea of this isle: all that you have read or heard of it makes it a paradise when compared with the reality; its aspect is still more tedious in the interior—you see only ragged mountains, destitute of vegetation, of a height varying from 50 to 1600 toises; a single plain, which is that where Bonaparte resides. One meets here & there a few stunted trees; nothing but potatoes are cultivated, and that in small quantity: a single town in which there are about 70 houses, & not a village; some cottages which are dignified with the name of country houses, about a tenth of which are habitable. Some very fine roads, uniformly bordered by frightful precipices; no practicable paths. Such, my dear sir, is the abode of your friend who, besides, is ignorant of the language of the country; and if he should know it, would not be much better for it. If you commiserate me, then regret that you did not accompany me. We want every thing; every European has things you know. To all our wants must be supplied from England, or the Cape of Good Hope, which is 60 leagues off. Coals for the kitchen come from England, for the Island produces no fire-wood. A few days ago some bullocks arrived from the Cape; out of 25 embarked, 11 died on the passage. A small sheep costs from 2 to 6 louis; a fowl, very tough, from 10 to 15 francs, according to its size; bread which is the cheapest article, 3 sous per loaf; a pair of shoes from 18 to 20 francs.

Having thus detailed to you my miseries, I will now talk to you of Bonaparte, of his situation and guard.

The garrison consists of about 2500 men, with 500 and odd pieces of artillery, and about a score of mortars. It occupies the rooms of the Lieutenant Governor, situate upon the only plain in the Island, called Longwood. The plain is surrounded on all sides by horrible precipices, and there is but one road by which you can reach it. On this plain has been established a camp, occupied by the 53d regiment and a park of artillery: it is besides lined with posts of troops. Bonaparte and his followers have the liberty of walking or riding within this circle; he must be accompanied by an officer in uniform, who must not quit him a single step, and this same officer lodges in the house, and must know what he is doing the whole of the day: the other persons in his suite are accompanied by an orderly officer, and the valets by a non-commissioned one. The Governor is made acquainted hourly with whatever passes by means of telegraphs, erected throughout the Isle, so that in a minute he knows whatever is passing, or in two minutes, when he is making his rounds or on horseback, and in case of any thing happening the whole island would be under arms in 3 or 4 minutes.

Such are the precautions by land; those at sea are of a different kind; there are always at least 2 frigates at anchor, while 2 brigs are sailing night and day round the island: and from six o'clock in the evening to the same hour next morning armed boats patrol along the base of the mountains which border the sea and surround upon all sides: at night, that is after 6 o'clock, all boats belonging both to individuals and the shipping must have returned, and if a boat makes its appearance it is fired upon. After nine o'clock, no one can move out without having the password, without fear of being shot, or at least arrested. No foreign vessel can come on the coast; they are announced by signal the moment they are perceived, and a dollar is given to them who first spies them, which may be done nearly six miles at sea. Ships cannot bear in close to the island in one night, especially on a coast so dangerous; and add to which, that the breakers are so strong that one is sometimes several days without being able to come close in without danger.

You perceive, my dear friend, that escape appears physically impossible; that even if the governor wished to favor it, the admiral must also be in the plot. If even, in spite of all these precautions, the admiral were to allow two or three boats to approach in a favorable night which would be exposed to a very dangerous fire, what would happen then? All the roads are guarded, the rocks are nearly impracticable, and there is not a point where ten men without arms and with stones only, which are in abundance, could not stop a thousand men well armed.

The other day, while making a reconnaissance with the governor, it appeared to me that a point of landing defended by 36 pieces of cannon and a very strong post, could be better protected, because one of the flanking batteries was a little too much elevated, I found a point where the rock would admit of being levelled a little, so as to admit the erection of a small battery of four pieces that would brush the very surface of the water. They are now at work upon it. Nothing passes or is done without my being informed of it: so that you may re-assure your good people of Angouleme, to be perfectly easy, you will never see him more, I answer for it, as long as I am here. At night every man must be in his home, without leaving it. The house is surrounded by sentinels, with orders to fire instantly. I hope, however, not to die here, unless it be of hunger or ennui; in that case every month of my residence will surely be counted for some years of purgatory. See my friend what a means of salvation you have neglected.

You may copy my letter, and circulate it. It will cheer up the timid, and intimidate the disaffected. The style is perhaps too negligent but I have not time to correct it, as a ship sails immediately for Europe.

(signed) MONTCHENU.