The owner of The Briars at this time was an Englishman named Balcombe, who was in the service of the government. Besides his servants his household consisted of his wife, his daughters Jane and Betsy, in their early teens, and two little boys much younger. They formed a happy, contented household, living a simple, quiet life, and though the parents were sometimes homesick, the children were very fond of their island abode.
One evening in the middle of October, 1815, the Balcombe children were having a merry time with their parents, when a servant, entering, announced the arrival of two visitors.
"It is the captain of the Icarus," said Mr. Balcombe, turning to his wife, "and another naval officer."
"The man-of-war that came in to-day?" asked one of the children. "We heard the alarm sound from Ladder Hill."
"Yes, yes, my dear." Then, turning to a servant, "Show them in."
As the gentlemen entered the room, it was plain that they had something of importance to communicate.
"Sir," said the senior officer to Mr. Balcombe, after the first greetings, "I come to tell you that the Icarus is sent ahead of the Northumberland to announce that the Northumberland is but a few days' sail from St. Helena."
"Yes," responded Mr. Balcombe politely, wondering why this announcement should be made so seriously.
"Sir George Cockburn," continued the other, "commands the Northumberland, and in his care is Napoleon Bonaparte, whom he brings to St. Helena as a prisoner of state."
Mr. Balcombe started to speak; his expression was one of annoyance. He was not fond of practical jokes. His wife leaned back in her chair, gazing incredulously at the speaker. The children laughed. The officer's story was too absurd. Then one of the little boys began to cry. In their play the older children were in the habit of frightening the others with the name of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was alarming to hear that the terrible Napoleon was to come to live on their peaceful island.