The Polynesian., 1841-07-24
Vol. C.-NO. q.

h'I' WHICH IL ICuuNtu lOuT uUu Il IlaII
hours iahour TO recoye. The extreme
difficulty OF this operation induced the
undersigned English commissioner to have
a trench dug on the left side of the vault.
and TO d"mo!ish the corresponding side
wall. and Thus arrive at the coffin in case
the upper bed Of cement should oppose
too great resistance but this cement
having been entirely removed at 8 o'clock
IN the morning, the trench was abandon
ed, after havii . been dug TO the depth of
5 feet. Immediately under this bed of
cement we discovered covering of ma
son-work 8 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 5
feet deep. forming, as we afterwards
found. the covering of the sarcophaous.
iIjIs latter mason-work having been care
iai|y removed. everything was ready at
half ,as 9 o'clock TO open the sarcopha.
rus. Dr. GuiIlard then purified the tomb
by spri"kling chloride of lime over it.
AS soon as lhe flag which covered the
coffin was removed by orders of the un-
dcrslgned English commissioner, and that
The coffin was discovered, all the rersous
Vroscn, took OF their hats. The Able
Coqueccau sprinkIed holy water and re-
cited the He Pro)undis.
The uIdcrsg gned commissioners then
descended 10 examine the coffin. which
was found quite perfect, except a small
portion o! the lower part, which, although
it rested or foundation of granite was
slightly dccaycd. After some further
sanatory precautions were taken, an ex-
press was sen, TO the Governor TO an
nounce the progress of the works. The
coffin was then Withdrawn and placed un-
der tent prepared to receive it, and tie
chaplain raised the body according to the
rites of the Catholic church. The under
signed commissioners then descended
into the sarcophagus, which they found
in perfect state of preservation, and en-
tIrely to correspond with the official de-
scription of the burial. Towards IL
O'Clock the undersigned French commits
sioner having been assured that his Ex-
celIency the Governor had authorised the
opening of the cenins, the exterior wood
en- coffin was carefully removed, when a
lcaden coffin was discovered in good pres
cryaion, which was placed in the coffin
brought from France. His ExceIency
the Governor, accompanied by the officers
of his staff, then arrived at the tent whcr
the upper part of the lead coffin was re-
moved with the greatest care, when a
wooden coffin appeared in good preserm-
ton, and answering the description given
by persons present at the funeral. The
cover Of the third coffin having been re-
moved a tin coffin, slightly rusled, was
perceived, which was removed with the
greatest precaution by the Doctor and
Napoeon's body was exposed to view.
His features were SO little changed that
his face was recognized by those who had
known him when alive. The different
articles which had been deposited in the
coffin were found exactly as they had
been placed. The hands were singularly
well preserved. The uniform, the orders,
the hat, were very little changed. His
entire person presented the appearance
of one lately inferred. The body was
not exposed to the external air longer than
two minutes at most, which were neccssa-
ry for the surgeon TO take measures to
prevent any alteration according TO his