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〃Some days after quitting St。 Helena；〃 says that document； 〃the
expedition fell in with a ship coming from Europe； and was thus made
acquainted with the warlike rumors then afloat； by which a collision
with the English marine was rendered possible。 The Prince de
Joinville immediately assembled the officers of the 'Belle Poule；'
to deliberate on an event so unexpected and important。
〃The council of war having expressed its opinion that it was
necessary at all events to prepare for an energetic defence；
preparations were made to place in battery all the guns that the
frigate could bring to bear against the enemy。 The provisional
cabins that had been fitted up in the battery were demolished； the
partitions removed； and； with all the elegant furniture of the
cabins； flung into the sea。 The Prince de Joinville was the first
'to execute himself；' and the frigate soon found itself armed with
six or eight more guns。
〃That part of the ship where these cabins had previously been； went
by the name of Lacedaemon； everything luxurious being banished to
make way for what was useful。
〃Indeed； all persons who were on board agree in saying that
Monseigneur the Prince de Joinville most worthily acquitted himself
of the great and honorable mission which had been confided to him。
All affirm not only that the commandant of the expedition did
everything at St。 Helena which as a Frenchman he was bound to do in
order that the remains of the Emperor should receive all the honors
due to them； but moreover that he accomplished his mission with all
the measured solemnity； all the pious and severe dignity； that the
son of the Emperor himself would have shown upon a like occasion。
The commandant had also comprehended that the remains of the Emperor
must never fall into the hands of the stranger； and being himself
decided rather to sink his ship than to give up his precious
deposit； he had inspired every one about him with the same
energetic resolution that he had himself taken 'AGAINST AN EXTREME
EVENTUALITY。'〃
Monseigneur； my dear； is really one of the finest young fellows it
is possible to see。 A tall； broad…chested； slim…waisted； brown…
faced； dark…eyed young prince； with a great beard （and other martial
qualities no doubt） beyond his years。 As he strode into the Chapel
of the Invalides on Tuesday at the head of his men； he made no small
impression； I can tell you； upon the ladies assembled to witness the
ceremony。 Nor are the crew of the 〃Belle Poule〃 less agreeable to
look at than their commander。 A more clean； smart； active； well…
limbed set of lads never 〃did dance〃 upon the deck of the famed
〃Belle Poule〃 in the days of her memorable combat with the 〃Saucy
Arethusa。〃 〃These five hundred sailors；〃 says a French newspaper；
speaking of them in the proper French way； 〃sword in hand； in the
severe costume of board…ship （la severe tenue du bord）； seemed proud
of the mission that they had just accomplished。 Their blue jackets；
their red cravats； the turned…down collars of blue shirts edged with
white； ABOVE ALL their resolute appearance and martial air； gave a
favorable specimen of the present state of our marinea marine of
which so much might be expected and from which so little has been
required。〃Le Commerce： 16th December。
There they were； sure enough； a cutlass upon one hip； a pistol on
the othera gallant set of young men indeed。 I doubt； to be sure；
whether the severe tenue du bord requires that the seaman should be
always furnished with those ferocious weapons； which in sundry
maritime manoeuvers； such as going to sleep in your hammock for
instance； or twinkling a binnacle； or luffing a marlinspike； or
keelhauling a maintopgallant （all naval operations； my dear； which
any seafaring novelist will explain to you）I doubt； I say； whether
these weapons are ALWAYS worn by sailors； and have heard that they
are commonly and very sensibly too； locked up until they are wanted。
Take another example： suppose artillerymen were incessantly
compelled to walk about with a pyramid of twenty…four pound shot in
one pocket； a lighted fuse and a few barrels of gunpowder in the
otherthese objects would； as you may imagine； greatly inconvenience
the artilleryman in his peaceful state。
The newspaper writer is therefore most likely mistaken in saying
that the seamen were in the severe tenue du bord； or by 〃bord〃
meaning 〃abordage〃which operation they were not； in a harmless
church； hung round with velvet and wax…candles； and filled with
ladies； surely called upon to perform。 Nor indeed can it be
reasonably supposed that the picked men of the crack frigate of the
French navy are a 〃good specimen〃 of the rest of the French marine；
any more than a cuirassed colossus at the gate of the Horse Guards
can be considered a fair sample of the British soldier of the line。
The sword and pistol； however； had no doubt their effectthe former
was in its sheath； the latter not loaded； and I hear that the French
ladies are quite in raptures with these charming loups…de…mer。
Let the warlike accoutrements then pass。 It was necessary； perhaps；
to strike the Parisians with awe； and therefore the crew was armed
in this fierce fashion； but why should the captain begin to swagger
as well as his men？ and why did the Prince de Joinville lug out
sword and pistol so early？ or why； if he thought fit to make
preparations； should the official journals brag of them afterwards
as proofs of his extraordinary courage？
Here is the case。 The English Government makes him a present of the
bones of Napoleon： English workmen work for nine hours without
ceasing； and dig the coffin out of the ground： the English
Commissioner hands over the key of the box to the French
representative； Monsieur Chabot： English horses carry the funeral
car down to the sea…shore； accompanied by the English Governor； who
has actually left his bed to walk in the procession and to do the
French nation honor。
After receiving and acknowledging these politenesses； the French
captain takes his charge on board； and the first thing we afterwards
hear of him is the determination 〃qu'il a su faire passer〃 into all
his crew； to sink rather than yield up the body of the Emperor aux
mains de l'etrangerinto the hands of the foreigner。 My dear
Monseigneur； is not this par trop fort？ Suppose 〃the foreigner〃 had
wanted the coffin； could he not have kept it？ Why show this
uncalled…for valor； this extraordinary alacrity at sinking？ Sink or
blow yourself up as much as you please； but your Royal Highness must
see that the genteel thing would have been to wait until you were
asked to do so； before you offended good…natured； honest people；
whoheaven help them！have never shown themselves at all
murderously inclined towards you。 A man knocks up his cabins
forsooth； throws his tables and chairs overboard； runs guns into the
portholes； and calls le quartier du bord ou existaient ces chambres；