Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-03
Mashinyton Sentinel
From the Paris Correspondence of N. Y Herald |
Funeral Obsequies of Marshal st. Arnaud.


am writing at a hotel which commands
noble view of the Place dc la Concorde-thal
place, on every stone Of which is written his
tory Of France, which generations yet unborn
will read with wonder and establishment. Tn,
great central area which, as il we're, terminates
the boundary of more modern Paris from thai
part OF the metropolis on the north bank OF the
seine, consecrated more particularly to the
SOUVENIRS OF the ancient days of France-th,
Faubourg st. Germain--the Place de la Con
corde is a kind Of neutral territory, where thu
population of either quarter assembls on State
occasions such as the decapitation of king o.
queen, the marriage of the grandson of an at
torney metamorphosed into an emperor, or, a
on this occasion, the funeral procession of
Marshal Of France.
The mortal remainso of lie Mareschal de Saint
Arnaud arrived on Saturday at the station o
the Ciemia de fer de Lyon. and on the Who'll,
OF Sunday were deposited in chapel elabo
rately Illuminated after the manner of the Ro
man Catholic Church. At ten o'clock this
morning procession of unusual magnifcence
even for France, which excels in such matters
set out with the body from the station. 1t.
course was through the Rue de Lyon, thu
Boulevards, the Rue Royale, the Place de la
Concorde, the Bridge de la Concorde, the Quai
dOrsay, the Esplanade Of the Invalides.
That might form more correct estimate
of the feeling Of the population, half an hour
before the cortege set itself in motion / rode
my horse through the centre of the streets ap
pointed for its passage. was curious to oh
serve what kind of feeling might be manifested
in the Faubourgs and Boulevards, where a few
weeks later, some three years ago, the hero OF
Alma was pouring fire and slaughter on the
citizens Of Paris. There would have beer
nothing unprecedented in the fact of greai
victory III which the arms of France had beer
made to recover their ancient prilliancy, hav
ing effaced all unpleasant recollections of civil
bloodshed. The great Napoleon himself owed
his appointment to the army of Italy, so i'm
perishable associated with his renown, to the
cannon which he planted on the steps of St.
Roch, and from whence he mercilessly swept
down a turbulent mob, headed by the famous
Sections of Paris; and when he returned DER
laden with the laurels Of victory, the people
rose en- uasse to welcome him. / cannot say
/ observed anything akin to this in the exter-
nal attitude of the numerous spectators, who
thronged the highways on this occasion. There
was the usual curiosity to witness rather novel
spectacle, which was to be got up with unac,
customed magnifcence and splendor but as
for sympathy or for any of that stirring of the
heart which bids unwonted tears, there was
none.
The marshal's anteeedents were, on the con-
trary, canvassed with bitterness and accri-
mony was scarcely prepared for, and which
the decency Of his latter days and his recent
illustrious victory in no way softened. ST. Ar,
maud, in fact, BY the most charitably disposed,
was looked upon in life as a mere adventurer,
who might as well have ended his days like u
Iafa Shal If he
pire and there is In man an innate sense OF
right which viii not allow him to consent that
success absolves all. ! heard, regret to say,
anecdotes Of his life related that redounded but
little to his credit; and when his military ser
vices were spoken of, it was in bypocritical
spirit, which seemed not disposed to place the
marshal by any means in the first rank of
Frances worthless For the first time since
the revolution of 1913, which consigned the
family to perpetual exile, heard frequent al
fusion to the house of Orleans, in connection
with the funeral Of that Inflated prince whose
accidental death may be said to have sealed
the fate of his line. So popular was the char
acter of the late Duke of Orleans, and SC
shocked was the public mind by the cruel &C
cident which deprived him of life in all the
prime of manhood aud fullness of beauty, thai
10 this day hard features and strong minds, al
belt unused TO the melting mood, shed tear:
when the subject Is required to, and the con.
trast which the present funeral offered, not
withstanding all the gorgeous panoply and dis
play that surrounded it, to that occasion of In
tense public sympathy seemed touchingly t.
recall the circumstance to the popular mind
aud expressions of character anything bu
agreeable to the imperial ear we're rife in men,
mouths.
Al. -, Ill.
length along the Rue Royale and entering on
the Place de la Conc5rde en- route to the Inva
hdes.
The band OF the fourth regiment Of Chas
seurs q cheval, precedes it, and with its glo
rious music holds captive the attentive ear. Th,
place is crowded, but not TO such an extent a
10 prevent a tolerably free passage for all.
Then follows the FIRST general Of division
and FIRST general Of brigade Of the army o
Paris. and their officers of staff; next squad
ron Of light cavalry, with colonel and the i'm
perial eagle; then two squadrons Of cuirassers
with colonel and the standard after which
colonel commanding battery Of artillery wit
It's standard and music; then a battalion O
chasseurs then battalion of light infantry
with It's banner and band; afterwards bal
talon Of an infantry regiment Of the line, wit
its colonel, drdpeau and music; then genera
Of brigade OF the imperial guard, followed b
two squadrons Of guides, with the lieutenant
colonel and standard. Next came two com
panies OF foot Chasseurs Of the guard, with tn
chief OF battalion and trumpets; then bat
taJon Of one Of the regiments Of voltigeurs
Ia garde, with their colonel and band, march
ing with that flying step which constitute
their popularity, and with which they accom-
plish six miles an hour with comparative ease
then follows the staff Of the minister-ofwar
the Mareschal commandant-in.chief Of tn
army of Paris, and his staff, general and supe
rior officers, not having commands, who bav
Joined the cortege, and then the funeral CAT
surrounded by Korte, Regnault de Saint Jea
dAnglesly, Levesseur, de la Rue, generals @
division, who on horseback sustain the corner
OF the pail the aides-decamp Of the deceased
the war horse Of the marshal the empty car
riage Of the marshal; guard equerry OF the EN-
peror; the carriage Of the clergy, and Of th
Marshal family; the carriages Of the emperor
the first containing the Duke Of Cambacere:
grand master Of ceremonies; General Rolin
adjutant general Of the palace the Marquis Q
srd,,ion raot, ~ he nrdnonca 4