Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-01-21
HOTEL DES INVALIDES.


thing capable of producing more striking
effect.
HOTEL DES INyALIDES.
The great court Of the Hotel had n
striking effect when ono first entered,
and cast hasty coup d'Gil around one.
The amphilheatre Of steps that descend
ed from the gallery to the ground, the
black trappings hung round the upper
gallery and the general effect of the
archways covered with lestoons and gar
lands, were imposing. In the interior OF
the chapel the whole system of the en-
bellishments had been the same. The
coup d'1il was thanks TO the
splendid vista Of the chapel, and taken
rs a whole, and as piece Of scenic cl-
feet, vas fine.
The great altar which generally sep.
aratcs the long line Of nave from the
dome had been removed, and from the
entrance TO the other extremity of the
dome, the view was an uninterrupted one.
The space under the dome, arranged as
"a chapelle ardente, was filed with a
blaze of lights that hung in lustres o,
lined the walls, until the extremity Of
this part of the chapel looked like one
great wall Of fire. in the midst was
erected the cataialGue upon which the
coffin was to be placed; and stands, hung
with black drapery rose tier above tier
for the reception of all the different corps
de Petat, the members of the two Cham
bers, and the Royal Family. Along the
nave the archways below and above had
been filled with trbunes for spectators,
anC were decorated with black velvet
draperies, studded with the different Ma.
poleonic embleins.
1t was near two when signal seemed
to be given and the Archbishop of Paris
attended by other bishops, by his clergy,
and an immense body of priests, of all
variety of Catholic pomp, advanced to-
ward the nave but it was only false
alarm, and they again retired Tho can.
delabras, however, which were arrang-
ed along the nave, had been long light
ed with their blue, red and white flames,
and were beginning to burn dim. The
crowd was evidently more impatient than
reverent. The people began to turn to
one another with faces of some alarm,
lest something hdd happened, for the
cannon had again and again given those |.
assembled within the chapel to under
stand that the body must be near at hand
when at last the entrance Of the sailors
who had borne the coffin from the great
gate Of the first court Of the Invalides to
The second court, Of the decorated non
commissioned officers cf the National
Guards and line, Of the Nielle Garde, all
That remained Of it, that had accom-
panied the remains Of their great master
TO his last home in France, of the depu- /
tatlon Of Polish officers who had served |
in the campaigns of Napoleon, all of
whom had formed part Of the process.
SION, proclaimed that the body had nrriv-
ed at the inner court. 4
The Archbishop and hi, magnificent
lraln Of clergy again started after delay,
20 meet the coffin and perform the rites
Of absolu'ion at the church entrance, and /
after delav OF impatient but silent ex-
pecta,lon, the funeral procession entered
headed by the train Of priests. Before
he coffin walked the Prince dc JoinviIIe
who had accompanied the body to its
final destination. had heard the KIM 4
loud voice called out 81. .e /
Roi !" but | did not see his majesty pass
in the funeral train and presume tha,
after performing the reception Of the body
at the entrance he found his way to his
appointed scat during the mass by anoih-
er passage. AS the coffin advanced,
borne upon the shoulders Of 80 non-com.
officers appointed for Iha, pur-
,ose, accompanied at each end by Gen.
Bertrand and tho marshals, who occu-
ned each corner, covered with the fune-
al pail, with the imperial crown reposing
Ibove, there was an evident thrill, an Y
evident electric emotion, which pcrvadcd
he crowd that lined the passage. The
I'D lnvalidcs, who occupied the first
ank, were deeply moved, as he whom
hey had for the most part oboycd with
uch Icryor Dnd enthusiasm in I,,,. vv,,,