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decked with flags and trophies of arms; the altar being placed at

the foot of the mizzen…mast。  The coffin; carried by our sailors;

passed between two ranks of officers with drawn swords; and was

placed on the quarter…deck。  The absolution was pronounced by the

Abbe Coquereau the same evening。  Next day; at ten o'clock; a solemn

mass was celebrated on the deck; in presence of the officers and

part of the crews of the ships。  His Royal Highness stood at the

foot of the coffin。  The cannon of the 'Favorite' and 'Oreste' fired

minute…guns during this ceremony; which terminated by a solemn

absolution; and the Prince de Joinville; the gentlemen of the

mission; the officers; and the premiers maitres of the ship;

sprinkled holy water on the coffin。  At eleven; all the ceremonies

of the church were accomplished; all the honors done to a sovereign

had been paid to the mortal remains of Napoleon。  The coffin was

carefully lowered between decks; and placed in the chapelle ardente

which had been prepared at Toulon for its reception。  At this

moment; the vessels fired a last salute with all their artillery;

and the frigate took in her flags; keeping up only her flag at the

stern and the royal standard at the maintopgallant…mast。  On Sunday;

the 18th; at eight in the morning; the 'Belle Poule' quitted St。

Helena with her precious deposit on board。



〃During the whole time that the mission remained at James Town; the

best understanding never ceased to exist between the population of

the island and the French。  The Prince de Joinville and his

companions met in all quarters and at all times with the greatest

good…will and the warmest testimonials of sympathy。  The authorities

and the inhabitants must have felt; no doubt; great regret at seeing

taken away from their island the coffin that had rendered it so

celebrated; but they repressed their feelings with a courtesy that

does honor to the frankness of their character。〃





II。



ON THE VOYAGE FROM ST。 HELENA TO PARIS。





On the 18th October the French frigate quitted the island with its

precious burden on board。



His Royal Highness the Captain acknowledged cordially the kindness

and attention which he and his crew had received from the English

authorities and the inhabitants of the Island of St。 Helena; nay;

promised a pension to an old soldier who had been for many years the

guardian of the imperial tomb; and went so far as to take into

consideration the petition of a certain lodging…house keeper; who

prayed for a compensation for the loss which the removal of the

Emperor's body would occasion to her。  And although it was not to be

expected that the great French nation should forego its natural

desire of recovering the remains of a hero so dear to it for the

sake of the individual interest of the landlady in question; it must

have been satisfactory to her to find; that the peculiarity of her

position was so delicately appreciated by the august Prince who

commanded the expedition; and carried away with him animae dimidium

suaethe half of the genteel independence which she derived from

the situation of her hotel。  In a word; politeness and friendship

could not be carried farther。  The Prince's realm and the landlady's

were bound together by the closest ties of amity。  M。 Thiers was

Minister of France; the great patron of the English alliance。  At

London M。 Guizot was the worthy representative of the French good…

will towards the British people; and the remark frequently made by

our orators at public dinners; that 〃France and England; while

united; might defy the world;〃 was considered as likely to hold good

for many years to come;the union that is。  As for defying the

world; that was neither here nor there; nor did English politicians

ever dream of doing any such thing; except perhaps at the tenth

glass of port at 〃Freemason's Tavern。〃



Little; however; did Mrs。 Corbett; the St。 Helena landlady; little

did his Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand Philip Marie de Joinville

know what was going on in Europe all this time (when I say in

Europe; I mean in Turkey; Syria; and Egypt); how clouds; in fact;

were gathering upon what you call the political horizon; and how

tempests were rising that were to blow to pieces our Anglo…Gallic

temple of friendship。  Oh; but it is sad to think that a single

wicked old Turk should be the means of setting our two Christian

nations by the ears!



Yes; my love; this disreputable old man had been for some time past

the object of the disinterested attention of the great sovereigns of

Europe。  The Emperor Nicolas (a moral character; though following

the Greek superstition; and adored for his mildness and benevolence

of disposition); the Emperor Ferdinand; the King of Prussia; and our

own gracious Queen; had taken such just offence at his conduct and

disobedience towards a young and interesting sovereign; whose

authority he had disregarded; whose fleet he had kidnapped; whose

fair provinces he had pounced upon; that they determined to come to

the aid of Abdul Medjid the First; Emperor of the Turks; and bring

his rebellious vassal to reason。  In this project the French nation

was invited to join; but they refused the invitation; saying; that

it was necessary for the maintenance of the balance of power in

Europe that his Highness Mehemet Ali should keep possession of what

by hook or by crook he had gotten; and that they would have no hand

in injuring him。  But why continue this argument; which you have

read in the newspapers for many months past?  You; my dear; must

know as well as I; that the balance of power in Europe could not

possibly be maintained in any such way; and though; to be sure; for

the last fifteen years; the progress of the old robber has not made

much difference to us in the neighborhood of Russell Square; and the

battle of Nezib did not in the least affect our taxes; our homes;

our institutions; or the price of butcher's meat; yet there is no

knowing what MIGHT have happened had Mehemet Ali been allowed to

remain quietly as he was: and the balance of power in Europe might

have beenthe deuce knows where。



Here; then; in a nutshell; you have the whole matter in dispute。

While Mrs。 Corbett and the Prince de Joinville were innocently

interchanging compliments at St。 Helena;bang! bang! Commodore

Napier was pouring broadsides into Tyre and Sidon; our gallant navy

was storming breaches and routing armies; Colonel Hodges had seized

upon the green standard of Ibrahim Pacha; and the powder…magazine of

St。 John of Acre was blown up sky…high; with eighteen hundred

Egyptian soldiers in company with it。  The French said that l'or

Anglais had achieved all these successes; and no doubt believed that

the poor fellows at Acre were bribed to a man。



It must have been particularly unpleasant to a high…minded nation

like the Frenchat the very moment when the Egyptian affair and the

balance of Europe had been settled in this abrupt wayto find out

all of a sudden that the Pasha of Egypt was their dearest friend and

ally。  They had suffered in the person of their friend; and though;

seeing that the dispute was ended; and the territory out of his

hand; they could not hope to get it back for him; or to aid him in

any substantial way; yet Monsieur Thiers determined; just as a mark

of politeness to the Pasha; to fight all Europe for maltreating

him;all Europe; England included。  He was bent on war; and an

immense majority of the nation went with him。  He called for a

million of soldiers; and would have had them too; had not the King

been against the project and delayed the completion of it at least

for a time。



Of these great European disputes Captain Joinville received a

notification while he was at sea on board his frigate: as we find by

the official account which has been published of his mission。



〃Some days after quitting St。 Helena;〃 says that document; 〃the

expedition fell in with a ship coming from Europe; and was thus made

acquainted with the warlike rumors then afloat; by which a collision

with the English marine was rendered possible。  The Prince de

Joinville immediately assembled the officers of the 'Belle Poule;'

to deliberate on an event so unexpected and important。



〃The council of war having expressed its opinion that it was

necessary at all events to prepare for an energetic defence;

preparations were made to place in battery all the guns that the

frigate could bring to bear against the enemy。  The provisional

cabins that had been fitted up in the battery were demolished; the

partitions removed; and; with all the elegant furniture of the

cabins; flung into the sea。  The Prince de Joinville was the first

'to execute himself;' and the frigate soon found itself armed with

six or eight more guns。



〃That part of the ship where these cabins had previously been; went

by the name of Lacedaemon; everything luxurious being banished to

make

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