按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that this argument was in the course of debate between us；
straightway flung his furniture overboard and expressed a preference
for sinking his ship rather than yielding it to the etranger。
Nothing came of this wish of his； to be sure； but the intention is
everything。 Unlucky circumstances denied him the power； but he had
the will。
Well； beyond this disappointment； the Prince de Joinville had
nothing to complain of during the voyage； which terminated happily
by the arrival of the 〃Belle Poule〃 at Cherbourg； on the 30th of
November； at five o'clock in the morning。 A telegraph made the glad
news known at Paris； where the Minister of the Interior； Tanneguy…
Duchatel （you will read the name； Madam； in the old Anglo…French
wars）； had already made 〃immense preparations〃 for receiving the
body of Napoleon。
The entry was fixed for the 15th of December。
On the 8th of December at Cherbourg the body was transferred from
the 〃Belle Poule〃 frigate to the 〃Normandie〃 steamer。 On which
occasion the mayor of Cherbourg deposited； in the name of his town；
a gold laurel branch upon the coffinwhich was saluted by the forts
and dykes of the place with ONE THOUSAND GUNS！ There was a treat
for the inhabitants。
There was on board the steamer a splendid receptacle for the coffin：
〃a temple with twelve pillars and a dome to cover it from the wet
and moisture； surrounded with velvet hangings and silver fringes。
At the head was a gold cross； at the foot a gold lamp： other lamps
were kept constantly burning within； and vases of burning incense
were hung around。 An altar； hung with velvet and silver； was at the
mizzen…mast of the vessel； AND FOUR SILVER EAGLES AT EACH CORNER OF
THE ALTAR。〃 It was a compliment at once to Napoleon andexcuse me
for saying so； but so the facts areto Napoleon and to God Almighty。
Three steamers； the 〃Normandie；〃 the 〃Veloce；〃 and the 〃Courrier；〃
formed the expedition from Cherbourg to Havre； at which place they
arrived on the evening of the 9th of December； and where the
〃Veloce〃 was replaced by the Seine steamer； having in tow one of the
state…coasters； which was to fire the salute at the moment when the
body was transferred into one of the vessels belonging to the Seine。
The expedition passed Havre the same night； and came to anchor at
Val de la Haye on the Seine； three leagues below Rouen。
Here the next morning （10th）； it was met by the flotilla of
steamboats of the Upper Seine； consisting of the three 〃Dorades；〃
the three 〃Etoiles；〃 the 〃Elbeuvien；〃 the 〃Pansien；〃 the
〃Parisienne；〃 and the 〃Zampa。〃 The Prince de Joinville； and the
persons of the expedition； embarked immediately in the flotilla；
which arrived the same day at Rouen。
At Rouen salutes were fired； the National Guard on both sides of the
river paid military honors to the body； and over the middle of the
suspension…bridge a magnificent cenotaph was erected； decorated with
flags； fasces； violet hangings； and the imperial arms。 Before the
cenotaph the expedition stopped； and the absolution was given by the
archbishop and the clergy。 After a couple of hours' stay； the
expedition proceeded to Pont de l'Arche。 On the 11th it reached
Vernon； on the 12th Mantes； on the 13th Maisons…sur…Seine。
〃Everywhere；〃 says the official account from which the above
particulars are borrowed； 〃the authorities； the National Guard； and
the people flocked to the passage of the flotilla； desirous to
render the honors due to his glory； which is the glory of France。
In seeing its hero return； the nation seemed to have found its
Palladium again；the sainted relics of victory。〃
At length； on the 14th； the coffin was transferred from the 〃Dorade〃
steamer on board the imperial vessel arrived from Paris。 In the
evening； the imperial vessel arrived at Courbevoie； which was the
last stage of the journey。
Here it was that M。 Guizot went to examine the vessel； and was very
nearly flung into the Seine； as report goes； by the patriots
assembled there。 It is now lying on the river； near the Invalides；
amidst the drifting ice； whither the people of Paris are flocking
out to see it。
The vessel is of a very elegant antique form； and I can give you on
the Thames no better idea of it than by requesting you to fancy an
immense wherry； of which the stern has been cut straight off； and on
which a temple on steps has been elevated。 At the figure…head is an
immense gold eagle； and at the stern is a little terrace； filled
with evergreens and a profusion of banners。 Upon pedestals along
the sides of the vessel are tripods in which incense was burned； and
underneath them are garlands of flowers called here 〃immortals。〃
Four eagles surmount the temple； and a great scroll or garland； held
in their beaks； surrounds it。 It is hung with velvet and gold； four
gold caryatides support the entry of it； and in the midst； upon a
large platform hung with velvet； and bearing the imperial arms；
stood the coffin。 A steamboat； carrying two hundred musicians
playing funereal marches and military symphonies； preceded this
magnificent vessel to Courbevoie； where a funereal temple was
erected； and 〃a statue of Notre Dame de Grace； before which the
seamen of the 'Belle Poule' inclined themselves； in order to thank
her for having granted them a noble and glorious voyage。〃
Early on the morning of the 15th December； amidst clouds of incense；
and thunder of cannon； and innumerable shouts of people； the coffin
was transferred from the barge； and carried by the seamen of the
〃Belle Poule〃 to the Imperial Car。
And； now having conducted our hero almost to the gates of Paris； I
must tell you what preparations were made in the capital to receive
him。
Ten days before the arrival of the body； as you walked across the
Deputies' Bridge； or over the Esplanade of the Invalides； you saw on
the bridge eight； on the esplanade thirty…two； mysterious boxes
erected； wherein a couple of score of sculptors were at work night
and day。
In the middle of the Invalid Avenue； there used to stand； on a kind
of shabby fountain or pump； a bust of Lafayette； crowned with some
dirty wreaths of 〃immortals；〃 and looking down at the little
streamlet which occasionally dribbled below him。 The spot of ground
was now clear； and Lafayette and the pump had been consigned to some
cellar； to make way for the mighty procession that was to pass over
the place of their habitation。
Strange coincidence！ If I had been Mr。 Victor Hugo； my dear； or a
poet of any note； I would； in a few hours； have made an impromptu
concerning that Lafayette…crowned pump； and compared its lot now to
the fortune of its patron some fifty years back。 From him then
issued； as from his fountain now； a feeble dribble of pure words；
then； as now； some faint circles of disciples were willing to admire
him。 Certainly in the midst of the war and storm without； this pure
fount of eloquence went dribbling； dribbling on； till of a sudden
the revolutionary workmen knocked down statue and fountain； and the
gorgeous imperial cavalcade trampled over the spot where they stood。
As for the Champs Elysees； there was no end to the preparations； the
first day you saw a couple of hundred scaffoldings erected at
intervals between the handsome gilded gas…lamps that at present
ornament that avenue； next day； all these scaffoldings were filled
with brick and mortar。 Presently； over the bricks and mortar rose
pediments of statues； legs of urns； legs of goddesses； legs and
bodies of goddesses； legs； bodies； and busts of goddesses。 Finally；
on the 13th December； goddesses complete。 On the 14th they were
painted marble…color； and the basements of wood and canvas on which
they stood were made to resemble the same costly material。 The
funereal urns were ready to receive the frankincense and precious
odors which were to burn in them。 A vast number of white columns
stretched down the avenue； each bearing a bronze buckler on which
was written； in gold letters； one of the victories of the Emperor；
and each decorated with enormous imperial flags。 On these columns
golden eagles were placed； and the newspapers did not fail to remark
the ingenious position in which the royal birds had been set： for
while those on the right…hand side of the way had their heads turned
TOWARDS the procession； as if to watch its coming； those on the left
were looking exactly the other way； as if to regard its progress。
Do not fancy I am joking： this point was gravely and emphatically
urged in many newspapers； and I do believe no mortal Frenchman ever
thought it anything but sublime。
Do not interrupt me； sweet Miss Smith。 I feel that you are angry。
I can see from here the pouting of your lips； and know what you are
going to say。 You are going to say； 〃I will read no more of this
Mr。 Titmarsh； there is no subject； however solemn； but he treats it
with flippant