按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to his Royal Highness。 The Governor was at home ill； and forced to
keep his room； but he had made his house at James Town ready for
Captain Joinville and his suite； and begged that they would make use
of it during their stay。
On the 9th； H。 R。 H。 the Prince of Joinville put on his full uniform
and landed； in company with Generals Bertrand and Gourgaud； Baron
Las Cases； M。 Marchand； M。 Coquereau； the chaplain of the
expedition； and M。 de Rohan Chabot； who acted as chief mourner。 All
the garrison were under arms to receive the illustrious Prince and
the other members of the expeditionwho forthwith repaired to
Plantation House； and had a conference with the Governor regarding
their mission。
On the 10th； 11th； 12th； these conferences continued： the crews of
the French ships were permitted to come on shore and see the tomb of
Napoleon。 Bertrand； Gourgaud； Las Cases wandered about the island
and revisited the spots to which they had been partial in the
lifetime of the Emperor。
The 15th October was fixed on for the day of the exhumation： that
day five…and twenty years； the Emperor Napoleon first set his foot
upon the island。
On the day previous all things had been made ready： the grand
coffins and ornaments brought from France； and the articles
necessary for the operation were carried to the valley of the Tomb。
The operations commenced at midnight。 The well…known friends of
Napoleon before named and some other attendants of his； the chaplain
and his acolytes； the doctor of the 〃Belle Poule；〃 the captains of
the French ships； and Captain Alexander of the Engineers； the
English Commissioner； attended the disinterment。 His Royal highness
Prince de Joinville could not be present because the workmen were
under English command。
The men worked for nine hours incessantly； when at length the earth
was entirely removed from the vault； all the horizontal strata of
masonry demolished； and the large slab which covered the place where
the stone sarcophagus lay； removed by a crane。 This outer coffin of
stone was perfect； and could scarcely be said to be damp。
〃As soon as the Abbe Coquereau had recited the prayers； the coffin
was removed with the greatest care； and carried by the engineer…
soldiers； bareheaded； into a tent that had been prepared for the
purpose。 After the religious ceremonies； the inner coffins were
opened。 The outermost coffin was slightly injured： then came； one
of lead； which was in good condition； and enclosed two othersone
of tin and one of wood。 The last coffin was lined inside with white
satin； which； having become detached by the effect of time； had
fallen upon the body and enveloped it like a winding…sheet； and had
become slightly attached to it。
〃It is difficult to describe with what anxiety and emotion those who
were present waited for the moment which was to expose to them all
that death had left of Napoleon。 Notwithstanding the singular state
of preservation of the tomb and coffins； we could scarcely hope to
find anything but some misshapen remains of the least perishable
part of the costume to evidence the identity of the body。 But when
Doctor Guillard raised the sheet of satin； an indescribable feeling
of surprise and affection was expressed by the spectators； many of
whom burst into tears。 The Emperor was himself before their eyes！
The features of the face； though changed； were perfectly recognized；
the hands extremely beautiful； his well…known costume had suffered
but little； and the colors were easily distinguished。 The attitude
itself was full of ease； and but for the fragments of the satin
lining which covered； as with a fine gauze； several parts of the
uniform； we might have believed we still saw Napoleon before us
lying on his bed of state。 General Bertrand and M。 Marchand； who
were both present at the interment； quickly pointed out the
different articles which each had deposited in the coffin； and
remained in the precise position in which they had previously
described them to be。
〃The two inner coffins were carefully closed again； the old leaden
coffin was strongly blocked up with wedges of wood； and both were
once more soldered up with the most minute precautions； under the
direction of Dr。 Guillard。 These different operations being
terminated； the ebony sarcophagus was closed as well as its oak
case。 On delivering the key of the ebony sarcophagus to Count de
Chabot； the King's Commissioner； Captain Alexander declared to him；
in the name of the Governor； that this coffin； containing the mortal
remains of the Emperor Napoleon； was considered as at the disposal
of the French Government from that day； and from the moment at which
it should arrive at the place of embarkation； towards which it was
about to be sent under the orders of General Middlemore。 The King's
Commissioner replied that he was charged by his Government； and in
its name； to accept the coffin from the hands of the British
authorities； and that he and the other persons composing the French
mission were ready to follow it to James Town； where the Prince de
Joinville； superior commandant of the expedition； would be ready to
receive it and conduct it on board his frigate。 A car drawn by four
horses； decked with funereal emblems； had been prepared before the
arrival of the expedition； to receive the coffin； as well as a pall；
and all the other suitable trappings of mourning。 When the
sarcophagus was placed on the car； the whole was covered with a
magnificent imperial mantle brought from Paris； the four corners of
which were borne by Generals Bertrand and Gourgaud； Baron Las Cases
and M。 Marchand。 At half…past three o'clock the funeral car began
to move； preceded by a chorister bearing the cross； and by the Abbe
Coquereau。 M。 de Chabot acted as chief mourner。 All the
authorities of the island； all the principal inhabitants； and the
whole of the garrison； followed in procession from the tomb to the
quay。 But with the exception of the artillerymen necessary to lead
the horses； and occasionally support the car when descending some
steep parts of the way； the places nearest the coffin were reserved
for the French mission。 General Middlemore； although in a weak
state of health； persisted in following the whole way on foot；
together with General Churchill； chief of the staff in India； who
had arrived only two days before from Bombay。 The immense weight of
the coffins； and the unevenness of the road； rendered the utmost
carefulness necessary throughout the whole distance。 Colonel
Trelawney commanded in person the small detachment of artillerymen
who conducted the car； and； thanks to his great care； not the
slightest accident took place。 From the moment of departure to the
arrival at the quay； the cannons of the forts and the 'Belle Poule'
fired minute…guns。 After an hour's march the rain ceased for the
first time since the commencement of the operations； and on arriving
in sight of the town we found a brilliant sky and beautiful weather。
From the morning the three French vessels of war had assumed the
usual signs of deep mourning： their yards crossed and their flags
lowered。 Two French merchantmen； 'Bonne Amie' and 'Indien；' which
had been in the roads for two days； had put themselves under the
Prince's orders； and followed during the ceremony all the manoeuvers
of the 'Belle Poule。' The forts of the town； and the houses of the
consuls； had also their flags half…mast high。
〃On arriving at the entrance of the town； the troops of the garrison
and the militia formed in two lines as far as the extremity of the
quay。 According to the order for mourning prescribed for the
English army； the men had their arms reversed and the officers had
crape on their arms； with their swords reversed。 All the
inhabitants had been kept away from the line of march； but they
lined the terraces； commanding the town； and the streets were
occupied only by