The Second Funeral of Napoleon
Page: 11

the horses, and occasionally support the car when descending some
steep parts of the way, the places nearest the coffin were reserved
for the French mission. General Middlemore, although in a weak
state of health, persisted in following the whole way on foot,
together with General Churchill, chief of the staff in India, who
had arrived only two days before from Bombay. The immense weight of
the coffins, and the unevenness of the road, rendered the utmost
carefulness necessary throughout the whole distance. Colonel
Trelawney commanded in person the small detachment of artillerymen
who conducted the car, and, thanks to his great care, not the
slightest accident took place. From the moment of departure to the
arrival at the quay, the cannons of the forts and the 'Belle Poule'
fired minute-guns. After an hour's march the rain ceased for the
first time since the commencement of the operations, and on arriving
in sight of the town we found a brilliant sky and beautiful weather.
From the morning the three French vessels of war had assumed the
usual signs of deep mourning: their yards crossed and their flags
lowered. Two French merchantmen, 'Bonne Amie' and 'Indien,' which
had been in the roads for two days, had put themselves under the
Prince's orders, and followed during the ceremony all the manoeuvers
of the 'Belle Poule.' The forts of the town, and the houses of the
consuls, had also their flags half-mast high.

"On arriving at the entrance of the town, the troops of the garrison
and the militia formed in two lines as far as the extremity of the
quay. According to the order for mourning prescribed for the
English army, the men had their arms reversed and the officers had
crape on their arms, with their swords reversed. All the
inhabitants had been kept away from the line of march, but they
lined the terraces, commanding the town, and the streets were
occupied only by the troops, the 91st Regiment being on the right
and the militia on the left. The cortege advanced slowly between
two ranks of soldiers to the sound of a funeral march, while the
cannons of the forts were fired, as well as those of the 'Belle