this island has much of that appearance which induced,madame Bertrand to term it the birth-place of the demon of Ennui; but the interior is not destitute of beauties, for there are many very pleasing spots situated in its different valleys.

One cannot help, in contemplating the calm tranquillity which reigns about Longwood (now the peaceful habitation of the greatest agitator of the world), being forcibly struck by the great mutability of human affairs.

Bonaparte had for a considerable time past been very retired and difficult of access, but he was perfectly disposed to see lord Amherst; and on the day previous to our departure his lordship rode out there, accompanied by the gentlemen of his suite. He was introduced by Bertrand with not a little form, and had, as well as Mr. Ellis, a very long private conversation previous to the introduction of the other gentlemen, who in the mean time were attended by generals Bertrand, Montholon, and Gourgaud, in the next room. At last they also were ushered in; and a ring having been formed by the marshal round the principal personage of the group, Lord Amherst presented to him first captain Maxwell, to whom he bowed very civilly, and said his name was not unknown to him; observing, he had commanded on an occasion where one of his frigates, La Pomone, was taken in the Mediterra

nean.

"Vous étiez très mechant-Eh bien! your

government must not blame you for the loss of the Alceste, for you have taken one of my frigates." He said he was very happy to see young Jeffery Amherst, and good-humouredly asked him what presents he had brought with him from China, and so forth.

The author of this narrative he interrogated about the length of time he had served, and whether he had been wounded; repeating the last question in English.

Proceeding next to Mr. Abel (who was introduced as naturalist), he inquired if he belonged to the royal society, or any of the public institutions, or was a candidate for that honour; asking if he had been happy, in this voyage, in making any discoveries in natural history, which could add to our stock of knowledge on that subject. Whether he knew Sir Joseph Banks, whose name, he said, was a passport in France; and his wishes always attended to, even during war.

Mr. Cooke's name induced him to ask if he was a descendant of the celebrated navigator; observing, "You had a Cooke, who was, indeed, a great man." He requested to know, on Dr. Lynn being presented, at what university he had studied." At Edinburgh" was the reply.-" Edinboorg!" he repeated; and went on to interrogate him whether he was a Brunonian in practice; or if he bled and gave as much mercury as our St. Helena doctors.

Mr. Griffith, the chaplain, was next introduced, whom Buonaparte termed l'aumonier, and pronouncing, also, in English, clair-gee-man. "Well, sir," he continued, "have you found out what religion the Chinese profess?" Mr. G. replied it was somewhat difficult to say; but it seemed a sort of polytheism. Not appearing to understand the meaning of this word, spoken in English, Bertrand remarked "Pluralité de Dieux."" Ah! pluralité de Dieux," said he; "do they believe in the immortality of the soul?" "I think they have some idea of a future state," was the reply. "Well," said Buonaparte, " when you go home you must get a good living; I wish you may be made a prebendary, sir." Proceeding to Mr. Hayne, he also questioned him in some general way; and having now completed the circle, and said something to every body, he very courteously bowed to each of the party as they retired, who all felt much gratified at the opportunity of the interview. Although there was nothing descending in his manner, yet it was affable and polite ; and, whatever may be his general habit, he can behave himself very prettily if he pleases. He is by no means so corpulent as is usually represented, and his health appears to be excellent. Longwood, from its situation, ought certainly to be highly salubrious. On the 2d of July we sailed from St. Helena, touched at the island of Ascension on the 7th, and, on

the 12th, crossed the line, and got into our own hemisphere. Our passage homewards was extremely favourable, on the 16th of August making the land, and the next morning brought us to Spithead, from whence we landed once more in our native isle; not merely with the common feeling of happiness which all mankind naturally enjoy on revisiting the land of their birth, but with those sensations of pride and satisfaction with which every Briton may look round him, in his own country, after having seen all others.

END OF THE NARRATIVE.

APPENDIX.

NO. I.

ON our arrival at Portsmouth, a court martial (as is usual in the navy) was held on board the Queen Charlotte, to inquire into all the circumstances attending the loss of the ship, and into the conduct of the officers and men on that occasion; composed of captain sir Archibald Dickson, bart. president; captains Alexander, Dacres, Meynell, and Hickey; Moses Greatham, judge advocate; when, after Captain Maxwell's interesting narrative, detailing the facts relative thereto, having been read, and a number of witnesses examined on the various statements contained in it, the court pronounced the following sentence, after the usual preamble :

"Having maturely and deliberately weighed and considered the whole, the court is of opinion, that the loss of his majesty's late ship Alceste was caused by her striking on a sunken rock, until then unknown in the straits of Gaspar. That captain Murray Maxwell, previous to the circumstance, appeared to have conducted himself in the