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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 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