Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-01-25
NAPOLEON FUNERAL CEREMONIES.


initted to stop long enough to enable the author
tiles to visit the remains. Preparations were made
for the ceremony on an expensive SCALE n TIL
umphal arch was erected over the suspension
bridge, pyramids and various other structures
were erected, colored with violet colored cloth.
The military turned out in great numbers, and
900 persons assembled. The Dorado, which
bore the remains, passed under the triumphal
arch, the coffin being placed on the fore deck, Gen.
Bertrand and Prince de Joinville standing at the
head. The twelve other steamboat, passed slow
ly up the river at the side of the arch. The Do
rade stopped about 90 minutes, while the Arch
bishop gave the dissolution. Every thing was
conduc ted with the greatest order. The weather
was extremely cold. The funeral train proceeded
thence slowly up the Sem 3, stopping Mt various
places and arrived at St. German Oh tho 18th.
On the l4th of Dec, the funeral procession had
reached ST. German, where it was received with
great ponp and ceremony. The procession adj
vnnced to CCurbevoie, where it arrived ut about
half past three IN the afternoon The weather,
wlsleh had been Tor several days damp and foggy,
cleared mp, but became Intensely cold. Notwith-
standing the severity of the weather, scores of
thousands Of the inhabitants of Paris repaired to
the envrons, to witness The passage Of the pro-
cession.
| The flotilIa arrived ut Courbevoie at half past
three o'clock. Five battulions of soldiers were
Stationed, under arms, the left bank of the river
which was covered 10y an immense multitude, who
| 1t was found impossible to land the coffin until
the next morning. On each side of the river,
steamers were stationed among them was one
adorned with aurels and immorteites, on the deck
of which arose monumental tomb, which had
been prepared by the inhabitants of Neuilly and
sent down to meet the convoy us far as Asnleres.
sln the front and rear were four tripods, throwing
6ut flames and round the tomb were engraved on
escucheons, the names of the principal victories
of the republic and the empire.
| The decorations on the quay, and at Inc head
ofthe bridgeof Neuilly, could not be completed
| i'll time for the ceremony. The wind was so
piercing cold, that the worknen unable TO
raise to the top of the rostraf column of Notre
Dame de Grace, bill OF the world six feet in d-
ameter and huge engle which was TO crown the
whole the column was TO have been upwards OF
so feet in height, but owing to the cold, the au-
thorities ordered the work he suspended, and
the column remained mere skeleton Its base
only presented The following inscription, contain
Ing the last request of Napoleon. 81 wish my
ashes to repose the banks of the Seine" The
wharf contracted for the landing of the coffin,
was terminated by an open Grecan temple lOC
feet high. A colossal statute of The Empress
Josephine was erected at the extremity of HE
bridge of NcuiIy on the road leading to the Chat
ecu Manaisou, where it will be remembered, was
the residence of that princess.
Marshal SouIt and the other dignures sent
from Paris to meet the cortege, went on board the
Dorado pay their respects to the Prince de join
vile. The Duke de Nemours soon joined them
there and they passed part of the night on board
the steamer The boats were all Illuminated du-
ring the night. the Prince de Joinye remained
on board, and but few of the men were permitted
to land Sergeant liubart, however, was one OF
the few who were allowed TO go on share. This
man had never left the Emperor, dead or alive
r Aher the 'lecease of Napoleon hetook upon him
sell the charge OF guarding the tomb, and lie has
piousy fulfilled that duty since the 9Th Of May
1921. On landing, he surrounded by all the
generals and embraced by them in presence of the
troops. lie wore the uniform of the Grcnadiers
of the Imperial Guard, and the Legion of Honor
Before dawn, the next day, the population OF
Paris poured out in streams the avenue to Neu-
= lily was soon occupied by at least four or five
. hundred thousand persons. The troops OF the
t National Guard arrived and drew up the
y ground allotted to them on both sides Of the ave-
S me. Several thousand persons got into boats and
crossed over to one of King Louis Philippes
e Islands, from whence good view of ihe landing
: of the remains could be had.
The clergy of COurbevoie went on beard the
d Dorado, and prayers were read the body
= Orders then given for the landing and all
e The assistants preceded by the clergy went on
d shore, the coffin carried by "a seamen, followed
e the procession. The artillery fired salute of 81
J. rounds, and the body was landed amid the accla'
e nations of the people. This was the first place
If where the remains had touched French ground.
n After n short time had been spent in the Grecian
u temple, during which prayers were chaned by
o the clergy, the precious remains were taken up
= again by the seanen and carried TO the trumphal
= car This car was truly magnificent, the base
II rested on four massive gilt Wheels was twenty
l. five feet long and six feet high this was decora-
= ted with groups of gen, eagles, the cipher OF
e the emperor slrmounted with crowns, &C. The
pedestal placed upon upon il was eighteen feet
e long and seven feet high, and was richly orna-
l. mented and hung with gold and purple cloth. On
Al this pedestal stood Ia caryalides larger than life,
Is supporting with their heads and hands an i'm
j. mense shield. The shield was in gold of an elon-
If gated oval formand loaded with asces of javelins
The sarcophagus, of an antique form, was raised
l. above the shield In the centre of rich cushion
lay the sceptre, the hand of Justice aud the impe-
n rial crown studded with jewels The whole,
7. which was about fifty feet high, was dawn by I6
e black horses yoked by fours the horses acre rich
J. y caparisoned, in the manner of the tournament
horses of the middle ages, their names adorned
ID with tresses and plumes, and were led by Wallets in
the livery of the Emperor. At eleven O'Clock the
n hearse lett Courbevoie, paused awhile near The
;, statue of Josephine, and then commenced It's
n march. AT the head of the procession was the
Gendarmerie of the Seine, the Municipal Horse
j. Guards Detachments of Lancers Infantry OF the
;. Line, and Military and Civil Companies too MI
H. merous TO he here specified. In this procession
s. the war horse of Napoleon was led, 10y groom'
dressed in the Imperial livery. The 500 sailors
~ who accompanied The remains of Napoleon from
ST. Helena, formed the escort, and surrounded the
IN car The National Guards and troops of the line
Is, who were stationed along the course of the pro-
H. cession formed into the line after the passage q,
the car and closed the procession. The cortegt
IN halted at the Barriere dc i'Elore. The weather
was excessively cold the thermometer at O'Clock
49, in the moraing being % p below zero, (Fahren
ly het) One of the most striking objects in The
Champs Elysees was number of masls which
of SIN nuabt ba Iriu m "a rel
40 feet high, aud from their tops ioaied immense
IS lr-coloied pennanls, surrounded by black Grape
si- each hearing the OF one or other of the ar
el- mics of the republic or empire, such "rhe Ar
my of the Rhine The Army of Italy," &C.
vn Immense crowds of people filled every square