874 LIFE OF COLUMBUS. 



both father and son were removed to Hispaniola, and 

 interred in the principal chapel of the cathedral of the 

 city of San Domingo. But even here they did not rest 

 in quiet for when the Spanish section of the island just 

 named was, in 1795, ceded by France to Spain, a strong 

 solicitation was made by the latter that the ashes of the 

 admiral might be exhumed and translated to Havana, 

 in Cuba. The request was complied with ; and the ob- 

 ject carried into effect with a variety of solemn ceremo- 

 nies not unworthy of mention. On the 20th of Decem- 

 ber, in the year last named, a large number of the most 

 distinguished citizens and dignitaries of San Domingo 

 assembled in the cathedral : and in their presence a 

 small vault was opened above the chancel, in the princi- 

 pal wall on the right side of the high altar. Within were 

 found the fragments of a leaden coffin, a number of bones, 

 and a quantity of mould, evidently the remains of a hu- 

 man body. These were carefully collected, and put into 

 a case of gilded lead, about half an ell in length and 

 breadth, and a third in height, secured by an iron lock ; 

 the case was inclosed in a coffin covered with black vel- 

 vet, and ornamented with lace and fringe of gold. The 

 whole was then placed in a temporary tomb or mausole- 

 um ; on the following day, vigils and masses for the dead 

 were solemnly chanted; and a funeral sermon delivered by 

 the Archbishop of San Domingo. At four o'clock in 

 the afternoon the coffin was conveyed to the ship destined 

 for the transportation, with a civil, religious and military 

 procession, banners wrapped in mourning, chants, re- 

 sponses and discharges of artillery. The key of the cof- 

 fin was then formally delivered into the hands of the 

 highest Spanish authority present, to be by him given to 

 the governor of Havana. The transfer of the coffin it- 

 self was noticed by salutes, mourning-signals throughout 

 the shipping of the harbor, and by all the other honors 

 due to an admiral. 



On the arrival of the ship at Havana, January 15, 

 1796, everything was conducted with the same deep 

 feeling, and by similar circumstantial and solemn cere- 

 monies. The remains were conveyed to land in the midst 

 of a procession of three columns of feluccas and boats in 



