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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 the troops； the 91st Regiment being on the right
and the militia on the left。 The cortege advanced slowly between
two ranks of soldiers to the sound of a funeral march； while the
cannons of the forts were fired； as well as those of the 'Belle
Poule' and the 'Dolphin；' the echoes being repeated a thousand times
by the rocks above James Town。 After two hours' march the cortege
stopped at the end of the quay； where the Prince de Joinville had
stationed himself at the head of the officers of the three French
ships of war。 The greatest official honors had been rendered by the
English authorities to the memory of the Emperorthe most striking
testimonials of respect had marked the adieu given by St。 Helena to
his coffin； and from this moment the mortal remains of the Emperor
were about to belong to France。 When the funeral…car stopped； the
Prince de Joinville advanced alone； and in presence of all around；
who stood with their heads uncovered； received； in a solemn manner；
the imperial coffin from the hands of General Middlemore。 His Royal
Highness then thanked the Governor； in the name of France； for all
the testimonials of sympathy and respect with which the authorities
and inhabitants of St。 Helena had surrounded the memorable
ceremonial。 A cutter had been expressly prepared to receive the
coffin。 During the embarkation； which the Prince directed himself；
the bands played funeral airs； and all the boats were stationed
round with their oars shipped。 The moment the sarcophagus touched
the cutter； a magnificent royal flag； which the ladies of James Town
had embroidered for the occasion； was unfurled； and the 'Belle
Poule' immediately squared her masts and unfurled her colors。 All
the manoeuvers of the frigate were immediately followed by the other
vessels。 Our mourning had ceased with the exile of Napoleon； and
the French naval division dressed itself out in all its festal
ornaments to receive the imperial coffin under the French flag。 The
sarcophagus was covered in the cutter with the imperial mantle。 The
Prince de Joinville placed himself at the rudder； Commandant Guyet
at the head of the boat； Generals Bertrand and Gourgaud； Baron Las
Cases； M。 Marchand； and the Abbe Coquereau occupied the same places
as during the march。 Count Chabot and Commandant Hernoux were
astern； a little in advance of the Prince。 As soon as the cutter
had pushed off from the quay； the batteries ashore fired a salute of
twenty…one guns； and our ships returned the salute with all their
artillery。 Two other salutes were fired during the passage from the
quay to the frigate； the cutter advancing very slowly； and
surrounded by the other boats。 At half…past six o'clock it reached
the 'Belle Poule；' all the men being on the yards with their hats in
their hands。 The Prince had had arranged on the deck a chapel；
decked with flags and trophies of arms； the altar being placed at
the foot of the mizzen…mast。 The coffin； carried by our sailors；
passed between two ranks of officers with drawn swords； and was
placed on the quarter…deck。 The absolution was pronounced by the
Abbe Coquereau the same evening。 Next day； at ten o'clock； a solemn
mass was celebrated on the deck； in presence of the officers and
part of the crews of the ships。 His Royal Highness stood at the
foot of the coffin。 The cannon of the 'Favorite' and 'Oreste' fired
minute…guns during this ceremony； which terminated by a solemn
absolution； and the Prince de Joinville； the gentlemen of the
mission； the officers； and the premiers maitres of the ship；
sprinkled holy water on the coffin。 At eleven； all the ceremonies
of the church were accomplished； all the honors done to a sovereign
had been paid to the mortal remains of Napoleon。 The coffin was
carefully lowered between decks； and placed in the chapelle ardente
which had been prepared at Toulon for its reception。 At this
moment； the vessels fired a last salute with all their artillery；
and the frigate took in her flags； keeping up only her flag at the
stern and the royal standard at the maintopgallant…mast。 On Sunday；
the 18th； at eight in the morning； the 'Belle Poule' quitted St。
Helena with her precious deposit on board。
〃During the whole time that the mission remained at James Town； the
best understanding never ceased to exist between the population of
the island and the French。 The Prince de Joinville and his
companions met in all quarters and at all times with the greatest
good…will and the warmest testimonials of sympathy。 The authorities
and the inhabitants must have felt； no doubt； great regret at seeing
taken away from their island the coffin that had rendered it so
celebrated； but they repressed their feelings with a courtesy that
does honor to the frankness of their character。〃
II。
ON THE VOYAGE FROM ST。 HELENA TO PARIS。
On the 18th October the French frigate quitted the island with its
precious burden on board。
His Royal Highness the Captain acknowledged cordially the kindness
and attention which he and his crew had received from the English
authorities and the inhabitants of the Island of St。 Helena； nay；
promised a pension to an old soldier who had been for many years the
guardian of the imperial tomb； and went so far as to take into
consideration the petition of a certain lodging…house keeper； who
prayed for a compensation for the loss which the removal of the
Emperor's body would occasion to her。 And although it was not to be
expected that the great French nation should forego its natural
desire of recovering the remains of a hero so dear to it for the
sake of the individual interest of the landlady in question； it must
have been satisfactory to her to find； that the peculiarity of her
position was so delicately appreciated by the august Prince who
commanded the expedition； and carried away with him animae dimidium
suaethe half of the genteel independence which she derived from
the situation of her hotel。 In a word； politeness and friendship
could not be carried farther。 The Prince's realm and the landlady's
were bound together by the closest ties of amity。 M。 Thiers was
Minister of France； the great patron of the English alliance。 At
London M。 Guizot was the worthy representative of the French good…
will towards the British people； and the remark frequently made by
our orators at public dinners； that 〃France and England； while
united； might defy the world；〃 was considered as likely to hold good
for many years to come；the union that is。 As for defying the
world； that was neither here nor there； nor did English politicians
ever dream of doing any such thing； except perhaps at the tenth
glass of port at 〃Freemason's Tavern。〃
Little； however； did Mrs。 Corbett； the St。 Helena landlady； little
did his Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand Philip Marie de Joinville
know what was going on in Europe all this time （when I say in
Europe； I mean in Turkey； Syria； and Egypt）； how clouds； in fact；
were gathering upon what you call the political horizon； and how
tempests were rising that were to blow to pieces our Anglo…Gallic
temple of friendship。 Oh； but it is sad to think that a single
wicked old Turk should be the means of setting our two Christian
nations by the ears！
Yes； my love； this disreputable old man had been for some time past
the object of the disinterested attention of the great sovereigns of
Europe。 The Emperor Nicolas （a moral character； though following
the Greek superstition； and adored for his mildness and benevolence
of disposition）； the Emperor Ferdinand； the King of Prussia； and our
own gracious Queen； had taken such just offence at his conduct and
disobedience towards a young and interesting sovereign； whose
authority he had disregarded； whose fleet he had kidnapped； whose