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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 irreverence； and no character； however great； at whom
he does not sneer。〃
Ah； my dear！ you are young now and enthusiastic； and your Titmarsh
is old； very old； sad； and gray…headed。 I have seen a poor mother
buy a halfpenny wreath at the gate of Montmartre burying…ground； and
go with it to her little child's grave； and hang it there over the
little humble stone； and if ever you saw me scorn the mean offering
of the poor shabby creature； I will give you leave to be as angry as
you will。 They say that on the passage of Napoleon's coffin down
the Seine； old soldiers and country people walked miles from their
villages just to catch a sight of the boat which carried his body
and to kneel down on the shore and pray for him。 God forbid that we
should quarrel with such prayers and sorrow； or question their
sincerity。 Something great and good must have been in this man；
something loving and kindly； that has kept his name so cherished in
the popular memory； and gained him such lasting reverence and
affection。
But； Madam； one may respect the dead without feeling awe…stricken at
the plumes of the hearse； and I see no reason why one should
sympathize with the train of mutes and undertakers； however deep may
be their mourning。 Look； I pray you； at the manner in which the
French nation has performed Napoleon's funeral。 Time out of mind；
nations have raised； in memory of their heroes； august mausoleums；
grand pyramids； splendid statues of gold or marble； sacrificing
whatever they had that was most costly and rare； or that was most
beautiful in art； as tokens of their respect and love for the dead
person。 What a fine example of this sort of sacrifice is that
（recorded in a book of which Simplicity is the great characteristic）
of the poor woman who brought her pot of precious ointmenther all；
and laid it at the feet of the Object which； upon earth； she most
loved and respected。 〃Economists and calculators〃 there were even
in those days who q