Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-01-28
THE REMAINS or NAPOLEON.

han Chabot and Captain Alexanier, the French
i and English commissioners appointed to supern-
! tend the exhumatiou. After mentioning the per-
sons who entered within the enclosure the report
proceeds follows:
"We first removed the iron railing that
surrounded the tomb, together with the
strong layers of stones on which ii was
fixed and the covering Of the tomb III
| feet inches by feet inch, composed
Of three slabs, set IN a second edglng OF
masonry, was then removed. This was
done by half past one. We then found
rectangular wall forming the four sides
of vault Ii fee! deep, and feet by A
| feet inches in the area. This vault
was filled with earth to within inches Of
the top. After having dug INTO this earth
| for feet 10 inches, we found a layer of
Roman cement, adherlng firmly all over
| the surface and Dramatically fastened TO
1.-THE sides Of the walls. By three o'clock,
this layer having been completely laid
bare, the commissioners descended into
/ the tomb, ana verified that il was perfect
~ intact and without injury in any part.
The layer OF cement having beef cut.
through, it was found TO cover another
layer, ten inches thick, in blocks Of stone
| fastened together with iron stancheons,
which we were not able to get removed
until after four hours and half work. -
The extreme difficulty OF this operation
decided the English commissioners on cut
ting trench on the left OF the vault, and
in knocking down the wall in order TO mr.
rive at the coffin, in case of the upper lay.
err offering too strong a resistance for far
Their efforts, which were made simultane-
ously to pierce through it. But the layer
| having been entirely removed by about
eight o'clock, the works of the lateral
trench were abandoned. Immediately
| under the layer thus demolished, we found
a strong slab feet 7 ] inches long, 3 feet
wide and inches thick, forming the co.
vering of the interior sarcophagus con-
tanning the coffin. This slab, perfectly
sound, was surrounded by an edging of
blocks of store, and Roman cement,
strongly fastened TO the wall of the vault.
| This last piece Of masonry having been
carefully removed, and two bolts having
! been fixed on the slab, every thing was
ready by half past nine for opening the
sarcophaeus. DR.. GuIlord then purified
the tomb by sprinkling chlorate Of lime
about it, and the slab, by order ofthe Eng.
fish commissioner, was raised by means
Of crane, and lodged on the edge Of the
| tomb.
| AS soon as the coffin was visible, all
present uncovered their heads, and tho
Able Coquereau sprinkltl holy water and
recited the De Profunds. The commits.
sioners then descended 10 inspect the cot.
! fin, which they found well preserved, but
small portion Of the lower part, which,
although it was on strong slab thai! rest.
ed on blocks Of stone, was slightly decay
ed. Some sanitary precautions having
been again taken by the surgeon, an ex-
press was sent off TO his excelency The
governor, to inform him of the progress
of the operation, and the coffin was drawn
up by hooks and cords, and carefully
transported beneath a tent raised for its
reception. AT this moment, the almoner
received the body according TO the rites
| of the Catholic church. The commits
sioners then inspected the sarcophogus,
which was certified to lie in proper State
Of preservation, and entirely conformable
To the official descriptions of the burial
| Toward |, the French commissioner had
assured himself tina, his excellency the go.
vernon had authorised the opening Of the
coffin. Conformably tothe arrangements
made, we removed with precautlon the
| first coffin, in which we found "A coffin IN
lead in good preservation, which we plac-
cd in that which had been sent from
France. His Excelency the Governor,
accompanied by his staff, Lieutenat Mid
dlernore, his ad-de-camp and secretary,
and Capt. Barnes, major Of the place, en-.
tered the tent TO be present a, the opening
OF the inner coffin.
The upper part ofthe loaden coffin was
then cut and raised with the greatest pre-
caution; within it was found a coffin Of
wood, in very good state, and correspond
ing to the descriptions and recollecloDs Of
the persons present who had assisted at
the burial. The lid of the third coffin
having been raised, there was found lin
ing of tin slightly oxydised, which having
also been cut through and raised, allowed
US to see a sheet Of white satin; this sheet
was raised with the greatest precaution,
by the hands of the doctor only, and the
entire body Of Napoleon appeared. The
features had suffered so little as to be inn
media,ely recognised. The different OBJ
jects deposited in the coffin were remark.
ed in the exact positions where they had
been placed; the uniform, the orders, the
hat, but little changed the whole person
in fact, seemed to indicate recent inhu-
nation. The body remained exposed TO
the air for only, at most, the two minutes
necessary for the surgeon to take the
measures prescribed by his instructions,
in order to preserve it from all farther al
teraton.
The last, and one of the most interesting Of the