Recollections of the Emperor Napoleon,during the first three years of his captivity on the island of St. Helena: including the time of his residence at her father's house, ''The Briars''. By Mrs. Abell.
London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1844.
First edition. 8vo, publisher's cloth, gilt-illustrated on front board, blind stamp illustration on back board; illus. title, pp. xii + 244 + 16 (publisher's ads); lithographic frontispiece and five wood-engraved plates, as called for on the 'directions' slip. Spine faded, inner hinges strained, frontis. loose, some foxing throughout.
The remarkable story of the friendship between Napoleon and thirteen-years old Lucia Elizabeth "Betsy" Balcombe (1802-71), daughter of the Superintendent of Public Sales for the East India Company on St Helena and owner of 'The Briars', Napoleon's residence before Longwood was ready. She helped him learn English and kept him amused in exile and he allowed her to call him 'Boney'. Their relationship caused the governor much consternation: he suspected her of smuggling secret messages out of Longwood House. In 1818 the family left St Helena (possibly recalled because of this friendship) and Betsy married Edward Abell in 1821.
[Ref: 48148] £190.00
First edition. 8vo, publisher's cloth, gilt-illustrated on front board, blind stamp illustration on back board; illus. title, pp. xii + 244 + 16 (publisher's ads); lithographic frontispiece and five wood-engraved plates, as called for on the 'directions' slip. Spine faded, inner hinges strained, frontis. loose, some foxing throughout.
The remarkable story of the friendship between Napoleon and thirteen-years old Lucia Elizabeth "Betsy" Balcombe (1802-71), daughter of the Superintendent of Public Sales for the East India Company on St Helena and owner of 'The Briars', Napoleon's residence before Longwood was ready. She helped him learn English and kept him amused in exile and he allowed her to call him 'Boney'. Their relationship caused the governor much consternation: he suspected her of smuggling secret messages out of Longwood House. In 1818 the family left St Helena (possibly recalled because of this friendship) and Betsy married Edward Abell in 1821.
[Ref: 48148] £190.00