Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-01-16

were made simultaneously TO pierce through it. Blu,
the layer having been entirely removed ly about 6
o'clock, the works Of the lateral trench were aban,
doned Immediately under the layer thus d,molish.
ed, we found strong slab 6 feet "a inches long 8
feet wide and five inches thick, forming the nte,ior
sarcrphagus containing the coffin. This Slab rer-
fecly sound was SUR ounded by an edging of blocks
of stone, and Roman cement strongly fastened TO
the wall Of the vault. This last piece Of masonry
having been carefully removed, and two bolts hav-
ing been fixed on the slab every thing ready
by half past nine for opening the sarcoph gs. DR..
Guillaid then purf' the tomb hy sprinkling cilor-
ate of lime about it; end the slab, by order Of the
English Commissioners was raised by means of o
crane, and lodged the edge Of the tomb.
"As the coffin visible, all present I'M
covered their heads and the Abbc Coquerau sprink-
led holy water and reci,ej the "Dc Pi Piofundis" The
Commissioners then descended to inspect the coflin
which they found well preserved; but a small por.
ton Of the lower part, which although it was
strong slab that rested on blocks Of stone, was
slightly decayed. Some sanitary precautions hav-
ing been again taken by the surgeon, an express
sent off TO his excellcncy the Governor, 10 inform
him of the progress of the operation, and the coffin
was drawn up by hooks and cords and carefully
transported beneath tent raised for its reception.
AT this moment, the Almoner received the body ac-
cordng to the rites of the Catholic Chuich. The
Commissioners then inspected the sarcophagus,
which was certified to be in perfect state Of pres
crvaiion, and entirely ccnformable to the official de-
scriptions Of the burial. Toward | !, the French
Commissioner had assured himself that his excel.
iency the Governor had authorz the opening Of
the coffin. Conformable to the arrangements made,
we removed with precauton the first coffin, in
which we found coffin in lead in good prcserva>
ion, which we placed in that which h d been sent
rom France. His excelcncy, the Governor ac
ompanied by his staff, Lieutenant Middlcmorc, his
id de camp and secretary, and Capt. Barnes. major
# the place. entered the tents TO be present at the
,pening of the inner cofiins.
"The upper part Of the le1den coffin was then
Ut and raised with The greatest precauton within
was found coffin of wood, in very good state,
nd CORE ponding to the descriptions aud rccocc-
of the persons present, who had assisted at the
uraI. The lid of the th d coffin having en-
cd, there found lining of tin slightly cxyd
ed, which having also been cut through and ia sed,
lowed us TO sheet OF white sIn this sheet
as raised wi h the greatest precdution by the hands
the doctor only, and the entire body of Napoleon
pcaied. The features had suG red so little as to
Immediately recognized The different objects
posted in the coffin were remarked in the exact
sitions they had been placed; the hands
IRE sngularly well preserved the Uniform, the Or
=, the hat but little changed the whole person,
fact, seemed to indicate recent inhumaon.-
body remained exposed to the air for only, at
st, the two minets necessary for the surgeon to
the measures prescribed by his instructions in
20 preserve it from all fur her alteration"