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expressions of mutual good…will。 Orders were sent out to St。 Helena
that the corpse should be disinterred in due time； when the French
expedition had arrived in search of it； and that every respect and
attention should he paid to those who came to carry back to their
country the body of the famous dead warrior and sovereign。
This matter being arranged in very few words （as in England； upon
most points； is the laudable fashion）； the French Chambers began to
debate about the place in which they should bury the body when they
got it； and numberless pamphlets and newspapers out of doors joined
in the talk。 Some people there were who had fought and conquered
and been beaten with the great Napoleon； and loved him and his
memory。 Many more were there who； because of his great genius and
valor； felt excessively proud in their own particular persons； and
clamored for the return of their hero。 And if there were some few
individuals in this great hot…headed； gallant； boasting； sublime；
absurd French nation； who had taken a cool view of the dead
Emperor's character； if； perhaps； such men as Louis Philippe； and
Monsieur A。 Thiers； Minister and Deputy； and Monsieur Francois
Guizot； Deputy and Excellency； had； from interest or conviction；
opinions at all differing from those of the majority； why； they knew
what was what； and kept their opinions to themselves； coming with a
tolerably good grace and flinging a few handfuls of incense upon the
altar of the popular idol。
In the succeeding debates； then； various opinions were given with
regard to the place to be selected for the Emperor's sepulture。
〃Some demanded；〃 says an eloquent anonymous Captain in the Navy who
has written an 〃Itinerary from Toulon to St。 Helena；〃 〃that the
coffin should be deposited under the bronze taken from the enemy by
the French armyunder the Column of the Place Vendome。 The idea
was a fine one。 This is the most glorious monument that was ever
raised in a conqueror's honor。 This column has been melted out of
foreign cannon。 These same cannons have furrowed the bosoms of our
braves with noble cicatrices； and this metalconquered by the
soldier first； by the artist afterwardshas allowed to be imprinted
on its front its own defeat and our glory。 Napoleon might sleep in
peace under this audacious trophy。 But； would his ashes find a
shelter sufficiently vast beneath this pedestal？ And his puissant
statue dominating Paris； beams with sufficient grandeur on this
place： whereas the wheels of carriages and the feet of passengers
would profane the funereal sanctity of the spot in trampling on the
soil so near his head。〃
You must not take this description； dearest Amelia； 〃at the foot of
the letter；〃 as the French phrase it； but you will here have a
masterly exposition of the arguments for and against the burial of
the Emperor under the Column of the Place Vendome。 The idea was a
fine one； granted； but； like all other ideas； it was open to
objections。 You must not fancy that the cannon； or rather the
cannon…balls； were in the habit of furrowing the bosoms of French
braves； or any other braves； with cicatrices： on the contrary； it is
a known fact that cannon…balls make wounds； and not cicatrices
（which； my dear； are wounds partially healed）； nay； that a man
generally dies after receiving one such projectile on his chest；
much more after having his bosom furrowed by a score of them。 No；
my love； no bosom； however heroic； can stand such applications； and
the author only means that the French soldiers faced the cannon and
took them。 Nor； my love； must you suppose that the column was
melted： it was the cannon was melted； not the column； but such
phrases are often used by orators when they wish to give a
particular force and emphasis to their opinions。
Well； again； although Napoleon might have slept in peace under 〃this
audacious trophy；〃 how could he do so and carriages go rattling by
all night； and people with great iron heels to their boots pass
clattering over the stones？ Nor indeed could it be expected that a
man whose reputation stretches from the Pyramids to the Kremlin；
should find a column of which the base is only five…and…twenty feet
square； a shelter vast enough for his bones。 In a word； then；
although the proposal to bury Napoleon under the column was
ingenious； it was found not to suit； whereupon somebody else
proposed the Madelaine。
〃It was proposed；〃 says the before…quoted author with his usual
felicity； 〃to consecrate the Madelaine to his exiled manes〃that
is； to his bones when they were not in exile any longer。 〃He ought
to have； it was said； a temple entire。 His glory fills the world。
His bones could not contain themselves in the coffin of a manin
the tomb of a king！〃 In this case what was Mary Magdalen to do？
〃This proposition； I am happy to say； was rejected； and a new one
that of the President of the Council adopted。 Napoleon and his
braves ought not to quit each other。 Under the immense gilded dome
of the Invalides he would find a sanctuary worthy of himself。 A
dome imitates the vault of heaven； and that vault alone〃 （meaning of
course the other vault） 〃should dominate above his head。 His old
mutilated Guard shall watch around him： the last veteran； as he has
shed his blood in his combats； shall breathe his last sigh near his
tomb； and all these tombs shall sleep under the tattered standards
that have been won from all the nations of Europe。〃
The original words are 〃sous les lambeaux cribles des drapeaux
cueillis chez toutes les nations；〃 in English； 〃under the riddled
rags of the flags that have been culled or plucked〃 （like roses or
buttercups） 〃in all the nations。〃 Sweet； innocent flowers of
victory！ there they are； my dear； sure enough； and a pretty
considerable hortus siccus may any man examine who chooses to walk
to the Invalides。 The burial…place being thus agreed on； the
expedition was prepared； and on the 7th July the 〃Belle Poule〃
frigate； in company with 〃La Favorite〃 corvette； quitted Toulon
harbor。 A couple of steamers； the 〃Trident〃 and the 〃Ocean；〃
escorted the ships as far as Gibraltar； and there left them to
pursue their voyage。
The two ships quitted the harbor in the sight of a vast concourse of
people； and in the midst of a great roaring of cannons。 Previous to
the departure of the 〃Belle Poule；〃 the Bishop of Frejus went on
board； and gave to the cenotaph； in which the Emperor's remains were
to be deposited； his episcopal benediction。 Napoleon's old friends
and followers； the two Bertrands； Gourgaud； Emanuel Las Cases；
〃companions in exile； or sons of the companions in exile of the
prisoner of the infame Hudson；〃 says a French writer； were passengers
on board the frigate。 Marchand； Denis； Pierret； Novaret； his old
and faithful servants； were likewise in the vessel。 It was
commanded by his Royal Highness Francis Ferdinand Philip Louis Marie
d'Orleans； Prince de Joinville； a young prince two…and…twenty years
of age； who was already distinguished in the service of his country
and king。
On the 8th of October； after a voyage of six…and…sixty days； the
〃Belle Poule〃 arrived in James Town harbor； and on its arrival； as
on its departure from France； a great firing of guns took place。
First； the 〃Oreste〃 French brig…of…war began roaring out a
salutation to the frigate； then the 〃Dolphin〃 English schooner gave
her one…and…twenty guns； then the frigate returned the compliment of
the 〃Dolphin〃 schooner； then she blazed out with one…and…twenty guns
more； as a mark of particular politeness to the shorewhich
kindness the forts acknowledged by similar detonations。
These little compliments concluded on both sides； Lieutenant
Middlemore； son and aide…de…camp of the Governor of St。 Helena； came
on board the French frigate； and brought his father's best respects
to his Royal Highness。 The Governor was at home ill； and forced to
keep his r