The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-12
THE BODY OF NAPOLEON.

The latest Partisan Journals contain the official ac
count OF the disnierment of Napoeons remains, and
their removal on board the frgate Belle Pouie under
the supervision of Prince de Joinvile ASST, ted by
Count Rohan Chabo and Captain Alexander, com
mlssoners appointed the by France and the other
by England, TO superinlend the exhumaton
The body appeared to have suffered little change in the
twenty years which has passed since il was inhumed
The three cofiinsof which the exterior one was ma
hogany, the second lead and the third and last mahoo
any-hasing been cut through, and the white satin
sheet which covered the body removed the form and
features of the great departed lay exposed TO the view
Of group OF his old and faithful followers who were
permitted to be present, and OF many who now c,zed
upon them for the first time The features were 81
perfect, and retained so completely their natural firm
and character, that General Gourgaud involuntarily
exclaimed on beholding them, Bon Tres bon p
The process rerbai, drawn up by DR. Guilard su,
geon Of the Belle Pouie after reei,inc the precau,ons
used in opening the lids Of the several collins con-
tnucs thus
Something white which appeared 10 have became
detached from the lining, covered, a. il with i Thin
game, all that the coffin contained The cran;nn,
and forehead, which adhered strongl, Il the sa,in
were particularly stained with it, but very lule ,yos
seen on the lower part Of the face on tl hands
The toes The body of the Emperor wa, in an easy
position, as when it was placed in the coli i the mn
per members were laid at length the left am and hand
resting on The le thigh the lower limbs we're sliobt
~ bent the head little raised rested ON cushion
The yolumnous skull, the high and broad forehead
presented themselves, covered with hard aid yellow
tegumenis closely adherng TO them. Such eunearea
also the contour OF the orbits the upper edges II which
We're furnished with the eyebrows. Under DE eve
lids were still TO be distinguished the ocular ,,loi.s
which had lost very little oftheir volume or form IT,
eyelids We're completely closed adhered TO the mba-
cent parts and were hard under the pressure Of The
finger Some eyelashes be seen on their eloes
Inc bones OF the nose and the tegument which Gov
cred them, were well preserved; the tubes and ms
trs alone had suffered HI. an. -
tegumenis of this part Of the face were remarkable for
Their soitness TO the touch and their wheness
those OF the chm were slightly blue tint they had
borrowed from the beard which had grown after death
4 he chm itself had undergone no change and sill
preserved the peculiar type of the face OF Napoleon
he thin lips were parted and three Of the incsiyc
teeth, very white, appeared under the upper p which
was little raised towards the left. The hands were
perfect not having undergone the least change. Al
though the JOINTS siii the skin preserved that
peculiar color which only To he found in the b,,ny
man. The nails Of the fingers were long and adhe.
rent and very white The legs were in boots bu, in
consequence OF the opening OF the seams the last four
toes were out each side The skin of tbesc tocs
was OF dead white, ana furnished with nails The
anterior region OF the thorax was much dcprcsse1 in
middle, and the sides OF the belly hard and sunk All
the members covered BY the clothing appeared 10 have
preserved then shapes. pressed the lcfi arm which
found to he hard and diminished in thickness As
TO the clothes they appeared with hcit colors a hat
the uniform Of the horse chasscnrs OF the old op,,d
was to he recognised by the dark green OF the coat and
" bright rcd iac,ngs. The grand GORDON OF the Ic-
gion OF honor was the wais;coai and the white
nicecnes were partly covered Ivy the hat which was
placed on the thighs. The cpaulcttcs the star and
other decorations attached the breast had LOST their
hn'haney and turned black The gold crown Of The
cross Of officer OF Legion of Honor had alone pre-
served ITS polish Vases Of silver appeared between
the legs, ono surmouned by eagle which rose above
the knees; they were found entire and closed As
there were adhcsions between these vases and tie
parts they touched, ! uncovered them a little ihe
Kings commissioner 10, thinking i righ, thai they
should I've removed for the purpose Of closer cxanns-
ton
The proces rerbai goes 10 state that the abovo
particulars might have been more full but tbey were
sufficient To show that the preservation Of The BODY
was more complete than circumstances of The autopsy
and inhuma,ion warranted an expectation Of Ii then
proceeds;
hs Is not the place to inquire into the causes
which have 70 this extent arrested the progress Of de-
composition; but there is doubt that the extreme