Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-02-05
The Remains OF Napoleon.

OF the removal Of the great EmPeror's body
from its grave in ST. Helena, on board the ing
ate Belle Poule, additional particulars of inter-
est are given in the suhjolned report OF Count
Rohan Chabot and Captain Alexander, The
French and English Commissioners appointed
to superiniend the exhumRaion. -.,.r.
After mentioning the persons who entered
within the enclosure the report proceeds as fol-
lows: n e..., .s,t.<4, t.s,a
ave first removed the iron railing that sur
rounded The tomb, together with The strong lay
ers of stone on which it was fixed; and the COW
ering of the tomb fee, inches by s feet
inch composed of three slabs, set in second
edging of masonry was then removed. This
was done by half past one. We then found
rectangular wall forming the four sides of the
vault l | feet deep, and feet by 4 feel inches
in The area. This vault was filled with earth TO
within inches Of the top. After having dug
into this earth for feet 10 inches, we found
LAYER of Roman cement adhering firmly all over
the surface, and Theoretically fastened to the
sides of the walls, By three o'clock this layer
having been completely laid bare, the comnlis-
sioners descended imo the tomb and verified
that it was perfectly intact and without any IN
jury in any part. a...a
q The layerof cement having been cutthrough,
ii was found TO contain another layer, lOinches
thick, in blocks of stone fastened together with
iron stancheons, which we were not able to get
removed until after four hours and half work.
The extreme difficulty ofthls operation decided
the English Commissioners on cutting trench
on the left of The wall, III order to arrive at the
coffin, in case of,ihe upper layer offering too
strong a resistance for further efforts which
were made simultaneously to pierce through.it.
But the layer having been entirely removed by
about eight O'Clock, the works ofthe lateral were
abandoned. Immediately under the layer thus
demolished we found strong slab feet I'D
inches, long. 3 fee, wide and 8 inches thick,
forming the covering of the interior sarcopha-
gus containing the cnffin. This slab, perfectly
sound was surrounded by an edging of blocks
of stone, and Roman cement strongly fastened
10 the wall of the vault. This last piece of ma
sonry having been carefully removed, and Two
bolts having been fixed on the slab, every thing
was ready by half past nine for opening the sar-
cophagus. nD Dr.. Guillard then purified the tomb
by sprinklng chIoraie of lime about it, and the
slab by order of the English commissioners,
was raised by means of crane and lodged on
the edge Of the tomb. g: a3t a.... l.s-.
As soon as the coffin was visible, all present
uncovered their heads, and the Able Coquereau
sprnkIed holy waier and recited the De Pro-
funds.-The commissioners then descended 10
inspect the coffin, which they found we'll pre-
served, but small portion of the lower part,
which although it was on strong slab that
rested on blocks Of stone, was slightly dscayed.
Some sanitary precauton having been again ta-
ken by the Surgeon, an express was Sent off
10 his excelency the governor 10 inform him oi
the progress of the operation and the coffin was
drawn up by hooks and cords, and carefully
transported beneath tent raised for its recep-
1lion. AT this moment the amoner received The
body according to the rites of the Catholic
Church. The commissioners then inspected
the sarcophagus which was certified to he in a
prnper state of preservation, and entirely con-
lormable to the official descriptions of the burial
Toward H. the French commissioner had as
sured himself that his excellency the governor
had authorized the opening ofIhe coffin. Con-
formally 10 the arrangements made, we removed
with precaution the first coffin inwhich we found
a coffin in lead in good preservation, which we
placed in that which had been sent from France
His exceliency the governor, accompanied
by his staff, Lieutenant Middlemore, his aid-de-
camp, and secretary, and Capt. Barnes, Major
of the place, enteredihe tent TO be present at
the opening of the inner coflins. 'aa ..6 80
The upper part of the leaden coffin was then
cut and raised with the greatest precaulion;
within ii was found cchin Of wood in a very
good state, and corresponding TO the descrip-
tions and recollecIions of the persons present
who had assisted al the burial. The lid of the
third coffin having also been raised, theR was
found lining ofGn slightly oxodysed. which
having also been cut through and raised, allow
ed us 10 see sheet Of white satin; this sheet
was raised with the greatest precauion by the
hands of the doctor only, and the entire body OF
Napoleon appeared The features had suffer
ed So liIIe to be Immediately recognized.
The different objects deposited in The coffin
.werc, remarked in the exact position where they
had been placed; the hands were slngulary
well preserved; the uniform, the orders. the hat,
but little changed, the whole person in fact
seemed to indicate a recent Illumination. The