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which had been prepared at Toulon for its reception。 At this
moment； the vessels fired a last salute with all their artillery；
and the frigate took in her flags； keeping up only her flag at the
stern and the royal standard at the maintopgallant…mast。 On Sunday；
the 18th； at eight in the morning； the 'Belle Poule' quitted St。
Helena with her precious deposit on board。
〃During the whole time that the mission remained at James Town； the
best understanding never ceased to exist between the population of
the island and the French。 The Prince de Joinville and his
companions met in all quarters and at all times with the greatest
good…will and the warmest testimonials of sympathy。 The authorities
and the inhabitants must have felt； no doubt； great regret at seeing
taken away from their island the coffin that had rendered it so
celebrated； but they repressed their feelings with a courtesy that
does honor to the frankness of their character。〃
II。
ON THE VOYAGE FROM ST。 HELENA TO PARIS。
On the 18th October the French frigate quitted the island with its
precious burden on board。
His Royal Highness the Captain acknowledged cordially the kindness
and attention which he and his crew had received from the English
authorities and the inhabitants of the Island of St。 Helena； nay；
promised a pension to an old soldier who had been for many years the
guardian of the imperial tomb； and went so far as to take into
consideration the petition of a certain lodging…house keeper； who
prayed for a compensation for the loss which the removal of the
Emperor's body would occasion to her。 And although it was not to be
expected that the great French nation should forego its natural
desire of recovering the remains of a hero so dear to it for the
sake of the individual interest of the landlady in question； it must
have been satisfactory to her to find； that the peculiarity of her
position was so delicately appreciated by the august Prince who
commanded the expedition； and carried away with him animae dimidium
suaethe half of the genteel independence which she derived from
the situation of her hotel。 In a word； politeness and friendship
could not be carried farther。 The Prince's realm and the landlady's
were bound together by the closest ties of amity。 M。 Thiers was
Minister of France； the great patron of the English alliance。 At
London M。 Guizot was the worthy representative of the French good…
will towards the British people； and the remark frequently made by
our orators at public dinners； that 〃France and England； while
united； might defy the world；〃 was considered as likely to hold good
for many years to come；the union that is。 As for defying the
world； that was neither here nor there； nor did English politicians
ever dream of doing any such thing； except perhaps at the tenth
glass of port at 〃Freemason's Tavern。〃
Little； however； did Mrs。 Corbett； the St。 Helena landlady； little
did his Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand Philip Marie de Joinville
know what was going on in Europe all this time （when I say in
Europe； I mean in Turkey； Syria； and Egypt）； how clouds； in fact；
were gathering upon what you call the political horizon； and how
tempests were rising that were to blow to pieces our Anglo…Gallic
temple of friendship。 Oh； but it is sad to think that a single
wicked old Turk should be the means of setting our two Christian
nations by the ears！
Yes； my love； this disreputable old man had been for some time past
the object of the disinterested attention of the great sovereigns of
Europe。 The Emperor Nicolas （a moral character； though following
the Greek superstition； and adored for his mildness and benevolence
of disposition）； the Emperor Ferdinand； the King of Prussia； and our
own gracious Queen； had taken such just offence at his conduct and
disobedience towards a young and interesting sovereign； whose
authority he had disregarded； whose fleet he had kidnapped； whose
fair provinces he had pounced upon； that they determined to come to
the aid of Abdul Medjid the First； Emperor of the Turks； and bring
his rebellious vassal to reason。 In this project the French nation
was invited to join； but they refused the invitation； saying； that
it was necessary for the maintenance of the balance of power in
Europe that his Highness Mehemet Ali should keep possession of what
by hook or by crook he had gotten； and that they would have no hand
in injuring him。 But why continue this argument； which you have
read in the newspapers for many months past？ You； my dear； must
know as well as I； that the balance of power in Europe could not
possibly be maintained in any such way； and though； to be sure； for
the last fifteen years； the progress of the old robber has not made
much difference to us in the neighborhood of Russell Square； and the
battle of Nezib did not in the least affect our taxes； our homes；
our institutions； or the price of butcher's meat； yet there is no
knowing what MIGHT have happened had Mehemet Ali been allowed to
remain quietly as he was： and the balance of power in Europe might
have beenthe deuce knows where。
Here； then； in a nutshell； you have the whole matter in dispute。
While Mrs。 Corbett and the Prince de Joinville were innocently
interchanging compliments at St。 Helena；bang！ bang！ Commodore
Napier was pouring broadsides into Tyre and Sidon； our gallant navy
was storming breaches and routing armies； Colonel Hodges had seized
upon the green standard of Ibrahim Pacha； and the powder…magazine of
St。 John of Acre was blown up sky…high； with eighteen hundred
Egyptian soldiers in company with it。 The French said that l'or
Anglais had achieved all these successes； and no doubt believed that
the poor fellows at Acre were bribed to a man。
It must have been particularly unpleasant to a high…minded nation
like the Frenchat the very moment when the Egyptian affair and the
balance of Europe had been settled in this abrupt wayto find out
all of a sudden that the Pasha of Egypt was their dearest friend and
ally。 They had suffered in the person of their friend； and though；
seeing that the dispute was ended； and the territory out of his
hand； they could not hope to get it back for him； or to aid him in
any substantial way； yet Monsieur Thiers determined； just as a mark
of politeness to the Pasha； to fight all Europe for maltreating
him；all Europe； England included。 He was bent on war； and an
immense majority of the nation went with him。 He called for a
million of soldiers； and would have had them too； had not the King
been against the project and delayed the completion of it at least
for a time。
Of these great European disputes Captain Joinville received a
notification while he was at sea on board his frigate： as we find by
the official account which has been published of his mission。
〃Some days after quitting St。 Helena；〃 says that document； 〃the
expedition fell in with a ship comin