malady would not allow him to take possession of it.

In the evening the Prince dined with his staff and the members of the commission at Government-house. All the civil and military authorities of the island were invited. On Saturday the 10th, the pilgrimages from the roadstead to the tomb recommenced. There were no willowbranches remaining. The skeleton of the one which had been uprooted by the wind was carried away in the mass we divided it aboard. We also carried away all the flowers and plants which grew about the tomb, as well as the leaves and branches of all the neighbouring trees-nay, the very briars, fern, and green turf, we took with us. When we had stripped the grave of every thing like vegetation, we returned to seek basketsful of the earth. More than a thousand bottles were filled with the water of the sacred source. Each one amongst us wished to baptise his children or those of his relatives with this water. With the same intent we carried away with us a vast quantity of St. Helena salt. The worship of relics was never carried to a more extravagant pitch. It was a species of delirious fanaticism. At length the Prince, in unison with the local authorities, was obliged to take measures to prevent the complete devastation of the spots adjacent to the tomb. We were received by the inhabitants of St. Helena with the most cordial kindness, and the most friendly and prompt hospitality. They sought to beguile the tediousness of our sojourn, which was rendered almost wearisome by the wretchedness of the weather. This, however, was the commencement of the spring at St. Helena, and corresponded with the first days of April in France. On Sunday the 11th, M. Las Cases and some of our officers went to visit Briars, a pretty spot about a mile from the town. tained the permission to accompany them. The emperor sojourned more than seven weeks in this spot after he had left James Town, and before he went to fix his residence at Longwood. At present Briars is inhabited by Lieutenant-Colonel Trelawny, commandant of the artillery, an excellent and worthy man, who treated M. Las Cases and our officers with the greatest politeness. The pavilion, so well de

I ob

scribed in the memorial of St. Helena, still exists. I recognised the little garden where the emperor was wont to walk, and the vine which sheltered it. M. Las Cases shewed us, and I touched with respect, a small wooden scat on which he loved to sit. The garden is indeed there; but Toby, the Indian gardener, has been dead for many years.

On the evening of Monday the 12th, the French officers were invited to dinner by the English officers of the 91st regiment, the artillery, and engineers. The chairman was Lieutenant-Colonel Trelawny; the vice-chair, Captain Blackwell. There reigned throughout the evening the greatest politeness and good-fellowship. After divers toasts, a Frenchman proposed the following:-" To the indissoluble union of the two countries." This sentiment was received with a thunder of applause. The night of Wednesday the 14th had been fixed on for the exhumation. Here I ought to inform you that it was not in my power to be personally a spectator of this act. That which I tell you I learn from the officers, and from the plumber, Héroux, called as a witness in that quality. It was foreseen that these labours would be long and difficult. At ten o'clock in the evening MM. de Las Cases, De Chabot, the Abbé Coquereau, &c. &c., left James Town, wending their way up the mountain through a piercing cold wind, accompanied by small rain and fog. The moon at first shone forth brightly, but anon became dimmer as she silently glided on in her course over the crest of those bluish clouds which partially veiled her progress. At length there was a total darkness, and now all nature seemed to lend herself to the religious mourning of our countrymen. Arrived at the summit, we perceived at the bottom of the valley an uncertain light. These were the lamps prepared to light the workmen. From time to time our people passed before pickets of English soldiers which had been posted on the spot since sunset. At twelve o'clock our people arrived be fore the sacred spot. The commissaries of the two governments successively called on the persons who were to be witnesses of the solemn act about to be accomplished. On

the part of France there were M. de Rohan Chabot, Commissary of the King of the French; M. Las Cases, Member of the Chamber of Deputies; General Gourgaud; M. Marchand, one of the testamentary executors of the emperor; General Bertrand; his son, Arthur Bertrand, the Abbé Coquereau, and two choristers; MM. St. Denis, Noverray, Archambauts, Pierron, old servants of Napoleon; MM. Guyet, Charmet, and Doret, naval officers; and last, though not least, the Sieur Héroux, working plumber. On the part of England there were Captain Alexander, deputed by the Fort of St. Helena; the judge of the island, Sir W. Wilde; Lieutenant-Colonel H. Trelawny of the artillery, Colonel Hodson, and Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Seale of the militia. There were besides Mr. E. Littehales, an officer of the English navy, and Mr. C. Darling, who had formerly presided at the inhumation of the body of the emperor. The persons named to direct and execute the work were next admitted. At a quarter past twelve these labours commenced. It had been previously averred that the monument had remained intact, and was never opened. The first operation was to remove with care the geraniums and other flowers which grew around the tomb. The Prince had asked for these in order to distribute them amongst us all, officers as well as sailors. The next operation was to remove the iron railing, with the layer of stones affixed. The profound silence which reigned all round was only interrupted by the voice of Captain Alexander, who gave briefly his orders. Meanwhile the fog thickened. The lanterns now burnt more dimly; and as they were now our only light, they disclosed vaguely athwart the cypress and weeping willows the pale and meditative looks of the spectators. The workmen, placed between the latter and the light, passed and repassed like shadows. Now were heard the redoubled strokes of the hammer against the iron railings, which was responded to from afar off by the sentinels on the distant heights.

At

length the bars of the iron grate were riven, and M. de Chabot advanced and took the measure exteriorly of the tomb; three metres forty centi

metres long, by two metres forty centimetres broad. The next difficulty was to separate the stones which closed the entrance, and which were strongly fastened together by iron cramps. This, as well as the removal of the side-stones, was effected with difficulty. The head-stone was afterwards removed. Within eighteen inches of this spot we found a layer of vegetable earth which presented fissures, and gave way considerably under the spade; so much so, indeed, that we feared the coffin might be injured. This earth appeared humid. It was now half-past one o'clock. We, nevertheless, worked on in silence, and our labours manifested the greatest activity. The bed of earth removed, the workmen's tools struck against something hard, which we took for the stone immediately over the coffin; but, with the report of the inhumation in our hands, we read that there was a square wall, forming a sort of vault. To the depth of fifteen centimetres there was more earth, then fragments of flagstones joined together by bars of iron and pieces of basalt united together by Roman cement. This cement had become so hard, that it was necessary to employ the hammer and the chisel to disengage it. The labour was long and difficult, and lasted nearly five hours. The Abbé Coquereau proceeded to the spring to obtain the water necessary for the ceremony. Having retired into one of the neighbouring tents, he prepared himself for the great duty he had to fulfil. Our workmen were now beginning to falter in their task. At five minutes past five in the morning, the extreme difficulty of the operation induced Captain Alexander to cause a ditch to be dug on the left side of the vault, so as to weaken with a view to pull down the wall, and by this means come at the tomb. All these operations proceeded during a dark night, in wretched weather, with a freezing wind. The spectators and the workmen were well drenched with rain. Our efforts to penetrate the Roman cement were redoubled till daybreak. At eight o'clock in the morning we accomplished our purpose. We then perceived the tomb. Soon after we gained the interior, and found the flag-stones perfectly intact, fixed as they were to

first there was only perceived a sort of whitish tissue, which hid the inside and prevented the body from being seen. This was the wadded satin which, according to the custom of the Indies, formed a sort of lining within the coffin. The doctor laid hold of it by one of the ends, and drawing it towards himself, discovered the body of Napoleon.

Those who related to me this funereal scene did not essay to paint the emotion of all present. General Bertrand made an involuntary bound, as though he were about to throw himself into the arms of his emperor. Many sobbed convulsively; others were sad and silent; but every eye was moist. A species of light white gauze, detached from the lining, covered the face and body. The skull and forehead were more especially enveloped in this thin material; but there was little of it on the lower part of the face, on the hands, or on the cars. The body was in an easy and natural position, just as it had been placed in the coffin. The upper limbs appeared lengthened. The lower part of the arm and the left hand rested on the thigh. The lower limbs were slightly bent. The head reposed on a cushion. The skull was large; the forehead high and broad. The eyes had lost somewhat of their volume and their form. The eyelids were completely closed. A few eyelashes still remained. The bones and the integuments of the nose were well preserved; the lower part had alone suffered. The cheeks were plump, and soft and supple to the touch; their colour was white. The beard, which had grown since death, had given a bluish tint to the chin. The chin, not in the least altered in form, preserved the type distinctive of the face of Napoleon. The lips were separated, and disclosed three very white upper teeth. The hands, so peculiarly beautiful in life, were in a state of perfect preservation. If the articulations had lost their suppleness, the skin preserved that particular colour which only pertains to life. The nails were long, and of extreme whiteness. The legs were inclosed in boots; but, in consequence of the seam bursting, four of the small toes of each foot protruded. Their colour was of a heavy white.

The colour of the clothes had not in the least faded; and the uniform of the chasseurs of the old guard was in a perfect state. The grand cordon of the Legion of Honour was also perfect. The white trousers were in part hidden by the little hat which rested on the thigh. The decorations and the epaulettes were faded, and had lost their colour. The two silver vases, containing the heart and the stomach, were between the emperor's legs. Thus, in two minutes, a state of preservation appeared which none of us expected to witness. On the observation of the doctor, that the exposure to the air might cause a decomposition, the coffin was immediately closed. The English commission intimated to the French that the coffin would be borne towards the place of embarkation under the personal orders of the governor of the island, and that henceforth it would be at the disposition of France. M. de Chabot acceded to this proposition in the name of the King of the French. The Prince de Joinville now proceeded towards the quay of James Town, in order to receive the precious deposit from the hands of the governor. The coffin weighed 2400 lbs. The difficulties in traversing a wretched road with such a burden may be conceived. coffin was placed on a car with four wheels, drawn by four horses caparisoned in black. Beyond the canopy was the imperial mantle brought from France,-the corners of which were borne by MM. Gourgaud, Bertrand, Las Cases, and Marchand.

The

A picket of English troops preceded and followed the cortège, which with amazing effort arrived at James Town. There the funeral procession slowly defiled between two files of militia-men, who leaned forward, supporting themselves on the butt-end of their muskets, their heads inclining on their hands. All the avenues were filled with crowds of spectators. The forts and the vessels in the harbour alternately fired minute-guns; and the flags of the latter were hoisted half-mast high. The cortège continued its route between two files of soldiers (in the mourning posture described), extending to the place of disembarkation. There the Prince awaited the body under the protection of the tricolor