The Polynesian., 1841-07-24


brought me no new instructions, imme-
diately y occupied myself in executing the
orders had originally received. Nj, first
care was TO put NJ. de Chabot, the Kings
Commissioner, in communication with Gen
eral Mlddlcmorc, governor OF the island.
These gentlemen having settled according
to their respective instructions, the man
ner OF proceeding to the eXhumation OF
the remains Of the Emperor Napoleon. and
their translation Oh board the Belle Poulc.
October l3 was fixed for the execution of
their plans. The Governor charged him
self with the cxhumation, and all that was
to take place within the British territory.
|, by the order of October -. copy OF
which | hereto annex, regulated the hon
ors to be paid on the 10Th and 18th b,
the division under MY command. The
French merchant ships. the l}onne Amie.
Captain GaIlet, and Indicn, Captain Tru-
quelI, eagcr rendered their assistance.
At midnight on the 18th the operation
commenced in the presence of the French
and English commissioners, Nj. de Cha
bot and Captain Alexander, of the Royal
Engineers. The works were directed by
the latter As Nj. de Chabot renders to
the government a circumstantial account
of the operations to which he was wit
ness, conceive that am dispensed from
entering into the same details, and shall
content myself with saying that at ten in
the morning the coffin was found in the
grave. After having raised it in fact, it
was opened and the body was found in
an unhoped-for state Of preservation. At
this solemn moment, at the sight of the
easily recognized remains of him who had
done SO much for the glory of France, the
emotion was deep and unanimous. At
halt-past 3 o'clock, the guns of the fort
announced to the ships and vessels in the
roadstoad that the funeral procession had
commenced its march towards James
Town. The militia and the troops of the
garrison preceded the car, which was COW
cred with pail, the corners being borne
by Generals Bertrand and Gourgaud. and
Messrs. De Las Cases and Marchand, the
authorities and crowd of the Inhabitants
following. The guns of the frigatc hav-
ing answered those of the fort, she con-
tinucd to fire minute guns. From the
morning the yards were slung and the
flags hoistcd half-mast high, as signs of
mourning. in which the foreign ships and
vessels Joined. When the procession APP
peared on The quay, the English troops
formed double line, through which the
car passed slowly to the shore At the
waters edge, where the English lines had
terminated, had collected all the officers
of the French division, waiting, in deep
mourning and heads uncovered, the ap-
proach of the coffin. When within
twenty PAGES Of us, it stopped, and the
governor advancing to me, delivered mp
to me, in the name Of his government,
the remains of the Emperor Napoleon.
As soon as the coffin was lowered into
the boat of the frigate, prepared to receive
it, the general emotion was again renew
ed-the dying wish Of the Emperor Ma
poleon began to be accomplished-his re-
mains reposed under the national flag
All sign of mourning was from that time
abandoned the same honors which the
Emperor would have received had he been
living were paid to his mortal remains,