Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-01-21
no. 43.

the above particulars might have been more
full bat they were sufficient to show that
the preservation of the body was more COM
plete than circumstances Of the autopsy and
lnhumatlon warranted an xpectation Of
i Il then proceeds
This is not the place to inquire into the
causes which have to this extent arrested
the progress of decompostion; but there
is no doubt that the extreme solidity of the
masonr Of the tomb, and the care taken
in making and soldering the coffin in metal,
have powerfully contributed to this result.
However this may be, feared the effect
OF the atmosphere upon the remains, and
was convinced that the best means of pre-
serving them still longer, was 10 exclude
them fiom its action. | eagerly complied
with the desire of the Kings commission
er that the collins should be Immediately
closed. | restored the wadded satin to its
place, after having stepped it in kreosote,
and then caused all the wooden cases TO be
closely fastened as possible, and those of
metal to be hermeticaIly soldered. The
remains OF Napoleon are now in six collins
one of tin, a second of mahogany, a
third Of lead separated from that within
ny anu NHuSOo vi NoOu-thC Hitup
the sarcophagus of ebony-and the sixth,
the outer case of oak
The process Of opening the tomb COM
menced at half past IL O'Clock on the 10Th
of October, but in consequence of the
strength and soIidity of the masonry it was
ten O'Clock at night when the workmen ar
rived at the coffin A correspondent OF
the journal of Commerce has given a
graphic account of the solemn ceremony,
from which we take the following:
The coffin was raised to the surface un-
touched, sings and hooks having been
carefully introduced under its bottom and
sides, and it was afterwards taken to tent,
which had been pitched close by, for its
reception, at which moment, the priest read
a Iaconic prayer La Levee du Corps; a.
greeabie to the Roman Catholic forms.
When the coffin had been thus removed.
the Commissioners stepped into the cham.
Der, in which had rested this coffin for up
wards of 10 l-2 years, which chamber was
| as perfect and as dry as it was on the 9Th
of May 1921 The outside coffin ma
hogany) was separated and taken asnnder.
next to. which was one of lead in The highest
state Of preservation. Arrangements hav-
ing been previously directed by His Excel
Iency, in consequence of his indisposilion.
this leaden cotiin was hosied up and placed
within the salcophagus sent from, France
for that purpose. This done, the Governor
with the Staff made their appearance, to
witness the opening ofthe innermost coffin.
The upper surface of the leaden coffin was
then carefully removed, when another ma
hogany one was discovered in most ex-
celient state. The lid of the inner one.
immediately ncxi to the remains Of Napo-
leou, made Of sheet lin, specifically cor
roded, was next lifted. Then appeared a
white satin enveloping the body. which
satin was by the surgeon himself removed,
and the mortal remains of the Great De-
ceased were exposed TO view, TO several
who knew him and several who knew him
not. The features of the Corsican Lieu.
tenant had 10 all appearance suffered but
very little, for they were readily recognized.
Articles, pictures, SC, &c, which had
been placed around him within the coffin.
appeared as they were on the day OF inter-
nlent.
Napoleon's hands were in the same po-
si,ion and place in which his faithful Ber-
tfand had, nearly twenty years before plac-
ed them, aud looked in high state of pre-
servalion. His order, his uniform, his
cooked hat, which has never been idenil-
fed with his person, were but very lntle
injured by The hand of time, and the whole
wore the air of a very recent deposit but
part of the satin appeared TO have Inslnuat-
ed Itself into the skin Of the face. Two
minutes only elapsed for this exposure,
winch was chiefly to afford the Surgeon
time TO use certain preven,ives TO further
decomposition. The tin coffin was then
closed and soldered, the mahogany one
secured, and the leaden one soldered. The
other Ieaden one within and belonging TO
the sarcophagus sent from France, was
likewise so,dered and sealed, when the sar-
cuDhagus was locked and the KEY then
handed to Comte de Chabot, the French
Commissioner, by Captain Alexander. tn"
English Commissioner. This sarcophagua
after some tormalilies oc expression be-
tween the Commissioners, was then p'aceo
on the hea,se and covered with the pail "a
verv rich one made of crimson velvet} an"
between three and four o'clock the process
sion moved from the tomb.
Manv knock al random on the wall with
the hammer, and fancy they hit The nail Oh