The Second Funeral of Napoleon
Page: 7

mutilated Guard shall watch around him: the last veteran, as he has
shed his blood in his combats, shall breathe his last sigh near his
tomb, and all these tombs shall sleep under the tattered standards
that have been won from all the nations of Europe."

The original words are "sous les lambeaux cribles des drapeaux
cueillis chez toutes les nations;" in English, "under the riddled
rags of the flags that have been culled or plucked" (like roses or
buttercups) "in all the nations." Sweet, innocent flowers of
victory! there they are, my dear, sure enough, and a pretty
considerable hortus siccus may any man examine who chooses to walk
to the Invalides. The burial-place being thus agreed on, the
expedition was prepared, and on the 7th July the "Belle Poule"
frigate, in company with "La Favorite" corvette, quitted Toulon
harbor. A couple of steamers, the "Trident" and the "Ocean,"
escorted the ships as far as Gibraltar, and there left them to
pursue their voyage.

The two ships quitted the harbor in the sight of a vast concourse of
people, and in the midst of a great roaring of cannons. Previous to
the departure of the "Belle Poule," the Bishop of Frejus went on
board, and gave to the cenotaph, in which the Emperor's remains were
to be deposited, his episcopal benediction. Napoleon's old friends
and followers, the two Bertrands, Gourgaud, Emanuel Las Cases,
"companions in exile, or sons of the companions in exile of the
prisoner of the infame Hudson," says a French writer, were passengers
on board the frigate. Marchand, Denis, Pierret, Novaret, his old
and faithful servants, were likewise in the vessel. It was
commanded by his Royal Highness Francis Ferdinand Philip Louis Marie
d'Orleans, Prince de Joinville, a young prince two-and-twenty years
of age, who was already distinguished in the service of his country
and king.

On the 8th of October, after a voyage of six-and-sixty days, the
"Belle Poule" arrived in James Town harbor; and on its arrival, as
on its departure from France, a great firing of guns took place.
First, the "Oreste" French brig-of-war began roaring out a
salutation to the frigate; then the "Dolphin" English schooner gave