The place stood in need of repairs, which might occupy two months. His
orders were not to let the French quit the vessel till a house should be
prepared to receive them. He, however, undertook, on his own
responsibility, to set them on shore the next day.

On the 16th, after dinner, Napoleon, accompanied by the Admiral and the
Grand-Marshal, Bertrand, got into a boat to go ashore. As he passed, the
officers assembled on the quarter-deck, and the greater part of the crew
on the gangways. The Emperor, before he stepped into the boat, sent for
the captain of the vessel, and took leave of him, desiring him at the
same time to convey his thanks to the officers and crew. These words
appeared to produce the liveliest sensation in all by whom they were
understood, or to whom they were interpreted. The remainder of his suite
landed about eight. They found the Emperor in the apartments which had
been assigned to him, a few minutes after he went upstairs to his
chamber. He was lodged in a sort of inn in James Town, which consists
only, of one short street, or row of houses built in a narrow valley
between two rocky hills.

The next day the Emperor, the Grand-Marshal, and the Admiral, riding out
to visit Longwood, which had been chosen for the Emperor's residence, on
their return saw a small villa, with a pavilion attached to it, about two
miles from the town, the residence of Mr. Balcombe; a merchant of the
island. This spot pleased Napoleon, and the Admiral was of opinion that
it would be better for him to remain here than to return to the town,
where the sentinels at his door, with the crowds collected round it,
in a manner confined him to his chamber. The pavilion was a sort of
summer-house on a pyramidal eminence, about thirty or forty paces from the
house, where the family were accustomed to resort in fine weather: this
was hired for the temporary abode of the Emperor, and he took possession
of it immediately. There was a carriage-road from the town, and the
valley was in this part less rugged in its aspect. Las Cases was soon
sent for. As he ascended the winding path leading to the pavilion he saw
Napoleon standing at the threshold of the door. His body was slightly
bent, and his hands behind his back: he wore his usual plain and simple
uniform and the well-known hat. The Emperor was alone. He took a fancy
to walk a little; but there was no level ground on any side of the
pavilion, which was surrounded by huge pieces of roc