The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-05-30
THE DAILY DISPATCH
Monday Morning, May 30. Isa3.
From Galignsni's Messenger, May 5.
NAPOLEON'S TOMB.


| state OF the tomb OF the Emperor, will NOT he
wthout lnterest:-During the twelve wears
That the construction of the tomb of the Emna,
ror was in contemplation, variety of olans bad
been considered, and many of them. after hav
| ing been commenced, were afterwards .ban.
doned as not being suited to the pu,po,e in.
| tended. The crypt, which was frst formed
was found not TO be sufficiently large and deem
and the enlargement of it equired cons;dera
| BILE precautions in order not to endanoer 81 .
soiidity of the dome. The circular por,;co
| limiting the space, the centre of which was 70
ee occspied by the sarcophagus, had in ,bs
| hrst place been conceived without any snec;a
ornamentation, and was intended to be remar.
kaole Tor its extreme simplicity. 1t was then
thought that this construction, being of sucb
vast extent, ought to be ornamented with bas.
reiiefs representing the civil acts of the EN-.
pefor II was also decided that the pillars
supporting the circular entablature should be
o!namented with the representation of differen,
victories.
The sarcophagus, which is formed of Dor.
pnyry' Drought from Karchoka, in Finland. is
VI an imposing and severe form, and is com.
Fie'eiy nhished, and bears a most extraordina.
fy poiIsh: 1t is lined inside with Corscan
granite, In order that, lying in his coffin. the
liius'rious deceased may, as it were, repose on
ma,eliais ra brought from his ewn native SOIL
ne tomo Is raised on a foundation of granite
rom !he Vosges. The cover, which is SUP
pol.sa p:e, ~ woodwork, is brought as near as
possioie to the sarcophagus, and has onlv N
| be pushed on horizontally in order IN cover !,
| On entering the church from the South door
op the race Vauban, the Dome de Mansard Is
seen al one coup deli. In approaching near
ei 10 seen the crypt, surrounded with a ra,be,
MASSIVE Dalustrade. From the midst of mar,
oies OF extreme whiteness, stands nm in hold
feiief the sarcophagus reposing on n pavemen,
vi ihosaics OF extreme richness. Reyond the
crypt rises the high altar, surmounted by an
immense canopy all this part of the deeora-
, ions 10 composed OF colored marbles, which
| nave the most superb effect. The altar ia spr.
mounted by a statue of our Sovonr on ~.
cross, scuiptured by Nj. Triquetti. Sem; CIV.
GUAR staircases, turning to the right and left
| iead 10 the door OF another staircase, which
leads directly to the crypt,
| MS part OF the monument, which ia con
ceiVedi in grand proportions, is turned tovsrJs
| the nave of the church. On the sides of ,bs
door, which is in bronze, stand two figures n
old men, composed as caryatides. and bx
which 1t is intended to personify in some de-,
gree the military and civil glory of the Emne
| rer. Over The entrance are written the follow
ing lines, which express the last wishes of Ma
poleon "Je desire que mes cendres reposen
surIes rares de la Seine az mitieu du peupit
Francaise que jai tant amie." On the rieh
and left of the open space before the entrance
ofthe monument are the tomhs of Bertrand ani
OF Dnroc, worthy guardians of the man nbon
they so ieithfu!ly served The sarcopbsen,
bears no name inscribed on il, and it is tba
which surrounds IL which gives its signifca
ton to the tomb. The twelve emblemat;ca "a
| representations of victories, the names of hat
| Ties inscribed on the pavement, the bas.relief
intended TO call to mind the principal acts O
| imperial administration-this union of militia
fy and civil souvenirs, all equally glorious, apt
IN fhe centre the isolated tomb, such is wba
constitutes IN its ensemble the monument o
| the Emperor. "
The ten bas reliefs of the circular por,ic,
| nave been executed by Nj. Simsrt One -
them represents a figure in an an,;ope 49, .
having IN front two females, represent;ng n.
Roman and Gallican church, who are o;y;ns
'heIf hands to each other, and in the corner !.
man raising cross. Under this comnos;,;or
IS engraved the words, "Concor5at :, ~
other bas reliefs represent the Com das ns
complies, the university, central;sat;on RI. Ia
glon OF honor, the council of state, great nnbi;,
WORKS. commerce, manufactures, and the CoJs
| Napoleon. In the centre of the chamher Ill
Gu !ns onamoef oe fEpee or du Reliquaire. is
Kind OF cippus, having a comna,,man,' i .i
bronze in the form of a cushion. on Which =: III M
| De deposited the sword of Austeritz. and ,ha
interior of which will receive the bat Of ,he ,he
Emperor. his cross of honor and his crow, 'lo
10 the rig hit and left will be grouped the coiora
taken in the wars Of the empire. Ar tthe end
OF this funeral chamber, which will be lighted
by lamp, is the marble statue of Napoleon in
standing position. covered with the imper;aI
mantle, and holding sceptre and the globe
The public will never be allowed TO enter ,h;.
room, and the inside of it will only be viewed
through the grating of the door.