Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-19

been removed bed of 10 II inches Of masonry Of
hard stone exposed 10 view, strongly secured 'y
iron clamps, and well ccmen:ed. Nearly i've hours
were expended in accomplishing this part OF the woik,
which at time the English commissioner thought
he would be able to accomplish and ne therefore
saw Fl, 10 orders 10 clear away the exterior EARN
and taking down the North size nf lie vault
in order TO effect to the chamber IN which
law the remains of the Great Deceased but by eight
O. clock the object (whout this operaton) being finally
accomplished, he gave directions TO desst. At this
time the workmen had got TO the depth oil nearly SIX
feet.
When this masonry had been finally removed, there
was found Immediately under, Portland stone slab
about hala foot thick fee; seven and halt inches
Ing, by three feet wdc covering and forming the up
per surface of the chamber. All around this was as
perfect as it the day 1t was land lntn 'nsse
slabs in order to raise them, holes were drilled ny
means Of chses and rings put IN, SO as 10 nj
them out. 1t nearly ten Clock and Ut, Gun.
lard purified the tomb with certain preparations ne had
previously got ready The slabs we're then i'fted 10
the surface Of the earth with tackles fastened 70 spars
and put at the side of the vault and as soon as Napo
Icons coffin came into sight, the French chaplain
sprinked holy water En- Bene) all over the tomb and
then read psalm ode ProfnndIs, at winch moment
all persons present out Of respect took OIL their hats
The commissioners, with their wonted watchfuness,
AGAIN descended into the vault, when they found the
coffin of Napoleon sound us 1t was on the hrst day Of
its deposit there, with the exception only OF small
part OF the bottom which slightly decayed. II must
several small stone pillars cquidstant from each other
so place., that the soakage from the adjoining hill might
pass off without njurng the chamber. This proved 10
be an excellent precautionary measure The Cover
nor being unwe at Plantation House, having given
Captain Alexander orders to proceed thus far without
his etherelore, having got to this extent, an
officer sent to report progress. In the mean tne
precautionary measures were adopted by the surgeon
The coffin raised to the surface untouched, sings
and hooks having been carefully introduced under ITS
>.,tt, and ~ nh rFQ
which had been pitched close by for lis reception, at
which moment the priest read aconrc prayer (la Le-
wee du Corps agreeaby 10 the Roman Catholic forms
When the coffin had been thus removed, the Com
mssoncrs stepped into the chamber, in which bad rest
ed this coffin for upwards of ~ IL years, which cham
Der was perfect and dry it on the 9TH May
1921. The outside coffin (mahogany) was separated
and taken asunder, next to which was one OF lead
in the highest state of preservation. Arrangements
having been previously directed by His ESceency,
in consequence Of his indsposon,-this leaden cot-
fin was hoisted up and placed within the sarcopha-
gus sent from France for that purpose. This done,
the Governor with his Staff made their appearance,
10 witness the opening of the inncrmost coffin.
The upper surface, of the lcaden coffin was then
carefully removed, when another mahogany one
was discovered in most excellent state The I'D Of
the inner one, immediately next The remains OF Ma
poeon, made Of sheet tin, specifically corrodsd, was
next lifted Then appeared white satin enyelopng
the body, which satin by the surgeon himself
ceased exposed TO view, to several who knew
him, and several who knew him not. The features
of the Corscan Lieutenant had, to all appearance,
suffered but very little, fer they were readily re-
ccrnized. General Gourgaud on beholding them, ex-
claimed, "Good. very good =! And the several artl.
cles picturea &c, &c, which had been placed
around him within the cnn, appeared they were on
the day of intermcnt. Napoeons hands were in the
same position and place in which his faithful Bertrand
had nearly twenty years before placed them and looked
in nj XII IS order. his uniform,
his cooked hat which has been identified with his
person. but very little injured by the hand .! tine,
and the whole the air OF very recent deposit: hni
part of the satin appeared TO have nsnuated Itse'i INTO
the skin of the face Two minutes only elapsed for
this exposure which chiefly to afford the Surgeon
time TO Use certain prcventvcs to further dccomposi
ton The tin coffin then closed and sodered the
mahogany secured, and the leaden one soldereG-
The other leaden within and belonging TO the sar-
copharu sent from France was Likewise sodercd and
sealed when the sarcophagus locked, and the key
then handed to Comte de Chabot, the French Comms-
soner, by Captain Alexander, the English Commits
sioner This sarcophogus after some formalities of
EXPRESSION between the Commissioners, was then
placed the henrse and covered with the PAIL "a very
rich one made of crimson yelvci,) and between and
! q clock the procession moved from the tomb in the
following order:
St. Helena Militia.
Detachment OF H. NJ DIST Regiment.
Drums and flies, militia, playing the Portuguese hymn
Liable Coquercau in full rooes with book, pre-
ceded By two boys (enians de Choeur) carry
ing crucix and censor.
The hearse drawn by four horses with drivers in deep
mourning, containing the mortal remains OF
NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,
Escorted on each side by 10 Royal Artilerymen)
The Pail borne by Lieut.. Gen. Comte Bertrand,
Lieutenant General Baron Gourgaud,
Monsr. LIE Baron de Las Casas,
Monsr. Marchand.
ST. Helena Militia with drag ropes.
Monsrs ST. Dennis Archambault Perron and Noverrex,
The Comte de Chabot, as chief mourner attended
by Captains Guyer and Chauser.
Monsieur Arthur Bertrand, followedb by
Monsieur Coursot, "a former servant of Napoleon,)
Captain Doret and DR.. Guillard.
Civil Naval, and Military authorities at ST. Helena
according TO rank
The Reverend Mr. Helps military Chaplain,)
Inhabitants of the Island in mourning.
The Honorable Colonies Trelawney and Ilodson
His Honor the Chief Judge and Queens Advocate.
Several gentlemen and ladies' passengers in vessels
then lying in the Roads)
His Excellency the Governor and his Staff
The procession passed into the town to the place Of
embarkation through the ranks of the militia and the
DIST regiment, resting their arms reversed, who
lined the Main street TO the wharf.
At the moment it left the tomb the firing Of minute