232 ST. HELENA 



some years, and been in a state of ulceration some months. I was 

 in consultation and attendance several days, but he would not see 

 strangers. I was officially introduced the moment he died. His 

 face in death was the most beautiful I ever beheld, exhibiting soft- 

 ness and every good expression in the highest degree, and really 

 seemed formed to conquer. 



The following day I superintended the dissection of the body 

 (at this time his countenance was much altered), which was done 

 at his own request to ascertain the exact seat of the disease (which 

 he imagined to be where it was afterwards discovered to be) with 

 the view of benefiting his son, who might inherit it. During the 

 whole of his illness he never complained, and kept his character 

 to the last. The disease being hereditary, his father having died 

 of it, and his sister, the Princess Borghese, being supposed to have 

 it, proves to the world that the climate and mode of life had no 

 hand in it, and, contrary to the assertion of Messrs. O'Meara and 

 Stokoe, his liver was perfectly sound ; and had he been on the throne 

 of France instead of an inhabitant of St. Helena, he would equally 

 have suffered, as no earthly power could cure the disease when 

 formed. From North British Advertiser, May 2, 1873. 



Preparatory to the funeral the body was placed in a 

 leaden coffin in the dress in which it had lain in state, in- 

 cluding boots and spurs. This coffin was enclosed in two 

 others made of mahogany. The outer one had a plain top 

 and sides, with ebony round the edges and silver head- 

 screws. Pursuant to military orders for conducting the 

 ceremony with the honours usually paid to the remains of 

 a general of the highest rank the left side of the road, from 

 Longwood gate in the direction of the burying-place, was, 

 on May 9, lined with troops of the garrison ; the Royal 

 Artillery were on the right of the whole ; then the 20th 

 Regiment, the Royal Marines, the 66th Regiment, the St. 

 Helena Artillery, the St. Helena Regiment and on the left 

 the St. Helena Volunteers. 



(The instructions to Sir George Cockburn had provided 

 that in case of the death of Napoleon his body was to be 

 taken to -England, but it seems that counter orders were 

 subsequently sent to Sir Hudson Lowe, and Napoleon 

 had requested that in the event of his dying at St. Helena, 

 he should be buried in the vale where his grave was made.) 

 The coffin was placed in a car drawn by four horses ; the 

 whole of the funeral procession passed along the front of 

 the line of troops, the band of each corps playing solemn 

 music. As the procession cleared each company it was 



