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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 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