The number of French vessels that arrive every year at this island, almost solely for the purpose of visiting and weeping over the grave of him who formerly ruled France, and at one time almost held the destiny of the world in his grasp, is considerable. At this period of our visit, several French vessels, consisting of a brig of war, and others, were lying in the anchorage; and on the road to Longwood, parties of the crews of the several vessels were seen, and vehicles and horses of all descriptions were in requisition to convey the male, female, and infantile arrivals of that nation, to visit the reposing place of all that is mortal of “Le Grand Napoléon,” and to see the residence, or rather the prison, of the late emperor. To view this place, in its present degraded state, used as stables and barns, ought to cause an Englishman to blush at the want both of the finer feelings and generosity of his nation towards the departed greatness of the ex-emperor, whose terror terminated with his death. And who would not feel for the visitors of a nation who idolize his memory, when they view a spot, so sacred to them, so degraded by us? What their sentiments are at the time, none but those who feel like them can imagine. I cannot refrain from quoting an American author, who makes the following observation when on a visit to St. Helena. “Who has not admired the power of genius that raised him to his glory? Who did not feel some sympathy, at least, in the depth of his fall? Who did not commiserate him in the distance and desolateness of his exile? And who, with the vivid impressions of the wretchedness and discomfort of his captivity, forced upon them by the scene in the midst of which we now were, would not be disposed to believe every charge of unkindness and oppression that has been preferred against his keepers? However different the state of the establishment might have been when inhabited by Napoleon, all the associations of a visitor, with his situation during the time, take their colour from what is seen; and the rooms should have been preserved in the condition in which they were left, or the whole should have been razed to the ground.” CHAPTER XII. Tomb of Napoleon—The willows—Contrasted feelings of the French and English visitors to Buonaparte’s grave—Fish—Sail from St. Helena—Island of Ascension—Frigate birds—Shark sucking a Pilot Fish—The Sargasso weed—Condition of the Crowned pigeons—A swallow captured during migration—Temperature—Arrival at Gravesend.