Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-01-16

Aiis ot INdpoAcnn nom thcir tOmo AT ~. lclenS ~ Al
gwen VA the report OF Conni k'6au Cnahoi aud Cap G
Alexander. the French am English csmrn ss:cn .
srs rppointed To -uperutend the elimination. enfr
Mentioning tho persons who entered within the ele.o
sur the report proceed. IS follows
I'VE hrsi 70 moved the IRON railing that surf u ricd
the tern = iogether w.th The strong layers al stones on
which It was fixed; and the covering o. the tomb IL
feei . inches by : feet | inch. composed ofihrss slnhs
set tn ssecond edging ol m ,S,nry. was then removed.
This was done 10y halt past one. We then found "a
Rectangular wall forming The four sides ofa vault III
feet deep aad 5 foei o; 4 feet 3 inches IN the area
Tn's vault was filled With eauh ID within 4 inches OF
The top. Alter having dug into thus earth Tor 6 feet 10
inches. We found u layer of Roman cement adhering
FIRMLY all over the surface ard hermetieally fastened
to the sides OF the walls BY three O'Clock. this layer
having been completely laid bare, the commissioners
descended into the tomb. aud verified that IL was per
ieetly intact and without any injury in any part.
The layer oil cement having been cut through. ~
was found 10 cover another layer. ten inches thick. in
blocks of stone fastened together with iron sIancheons.
which we were not able to get removed until alter
four h'urs AMI q half work. Thu extreme difficulty
of this operation decided the English commissioners
on cutting n irenth On The left of the vault. and on
Knocking down The wall. in order to arrive at the coE-
hn, m case of the -srper layer offering too strong a re-
sistance TOR farther efforts. which were made simulta-
nsously TO pierce through IT, But the LAYER having
been entirely removed by about eight o'clock the
works Of the lateral trench were ubanbonedl lmme-
diatcly under the layer thus demolished we found a
stro"e slab 6 feet Iches long. 3 icetwide and , Ia
ches thick. forming the covering cf the interior ssr
~coPhagus containing the coffin. This slab, perfectly
s1und. was surrounded BY mn cdging ofblocks of stone.
and Roman cement strongly fa-tsned 10 the wall Of
tho vault. This last piece of masonry having beea
carefully removed, and two bolts having been fixed on
The slab, every thing was ready by hali-pa.t nine for
opening the sarcophagus. Dr.. Guillarl then purified
the tomb by s~prinklIng chloTate OF lime about il. aud
the slab, by order " The English commissioner. VA.
raised by means Of a crane, and lodged on the edge OF
the tomb.
As soon as tho coffin was visible. all present unco-
vered their heads. aud the Able Coqucroau s%prinklcd
holy water and recied the DE prntundis. The 'om.
missioners hen descended To inspect the coffin. which
they found well preserved. bot n small portion of The
lower part, which, although II WAS on n sirong slab
that rested Ga blocks efs'one, was slightly decayed.
some sanitary precautions having been again taken
by the surgeon, an express was sent off To hms excel
eDcy the governor 10 inform him Of the progress oi
the operation, aud the cDlin was drawn 90 by hooks
and cords. and carefully transported beneath a tent
| raised for Is reception. At Tins moment. the almoner
received the body acccriingly &C. the rites OF the Cath
Ole church. The commissioners then Inspected the
sarcophagus. which was certified 10 bs in a proper
state Of preservation. and entirely comfurmable 10 the
official descriptions of the burial. Toward IL, the
French commissioner had assured himself that his ex
cellency the governor had authorised the opening OF
The collin. Continually To the arrangements made
we removed with pre-auiIon the first coffin, m whirl
We found a cOffn in lead ia good preservation which
we placed in Ihut which had been sent from France
His E1cell0ncy the Governor accompanied by his
staff, Lieutenant Mildlemore. his aid.de-camp an,
secretary. and Can't. Barnes. m,ior of the nIa,e cn,.,
oil the tent 10 DC present nj the upening of the inneI
collins,
The upper part of the leaden coffin was then cu
and raised With The greatest precaution; within il wa
found q coffin of wood, in very good state. and core
pondinp Ia IN. desrripuuus md rec,Iloct >, ~ "a.
? persons present who had assisted at The burial. Tn,
lad of the third coffin having bccn raised. there wa,
bound a lining OF I'm slightly oNydised. which havin;
also been cut through asi raised; allowed IA 10 . a
sheet of white sstIn, this sheet was raised with ,L,
greatest precaution by the hands of the doctor only
and the entire body vi Napoleon appea ell. The Sna.
lures had suffered so liule as To be immediately Ic.
eognised. The different objects deposited m the coffin
were remarked in the exact positions where they ha,
been placed, the hands were : ngularIy well prr,crib
ed; the unir rm. the orders. the hat. but little change
tae whole person. ia fact, seemed To Indicate a recru
inhumaiion. The bndy remained exposed to The nj
for only. al most, the two minutes necessary for IN,
surgeon TO iske The measures press ribbed by his ins,rac
tons, in order to preserve it from all farther alt.ra
ton.
The last, and enc Of the mos; :r,esesilns Of The do
cuments, i. the process verbal of the Oh ming OF rbe
sofihs, drawn up bY Dr.. Gujllard. surseon-mni1r q
the Belle Ponle. This report, after relating the prc.
cauIions monIioled above win ch were taken in open.
ing the lids uiihs several cuff ~. continues as fpllows
Something white, which appeared To have become
detached from the lining, covered, rs IL with n Thin
game. all that the coAln contained. The Uranium and
forehead. which adhered strongly To the satin. were
particularly stained with IL. but very little was seen
on the lower part Of the face. OIL the hands, or on the
iocs. The body OF the Emperor was ia an easy posi-.
sion. As when IL was placed Ia The coffin the sppei
members were laid at length. the leI arm and hand
resting on the left thigh. the lower limbs were slightly
bent. The head a htle raised rested on a cushion
The yolumnIous skull, the high aud broad forehead
presented themselves covered with hard and yellow
~IegumenIs closely adherIng 10 them. Sach appeared
also the contour OF The orbits the upper edgesof which
were furnished with The eyebrows. Under The eyeltdt
were stu to be distinguished the ocular CODES, which
mad lost very little OF their volume or form. The eye
nos were completely closed adhered to the %suhgacenl
paris ana were nara under The pressure oiihe finger
some eyeiashes were TO DO seen on their edges.