His heart was placed in spirit, and in his military uniform the
body lay in state on the two following days, the Star of the Legion
of Honour on the side, and a crucifix on his breast. The room was
draped in black, and there were in attendance Count and Countess
Bertrand, Count Montholon, the priest, physician, and servants.
“ Preparatory to the funeral, the body was put into a leaden
coffin, in the dress in which it had lain in state, including hoots and
spurs. The leaden coffin was enclosed in two others, made of
mahogany; the outer coffin had plain top and sides, 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 a direction towards the burying place, was,
on the 9th May, lined with all the troops of the garrison; the
Royal Artillery 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 body, in a car drawn by four horses, and the whole of the
funeral procession, passed along the front of the line of troops, the
hand of each corps playing solemn music. When the procession
cleared the left of the line it was followed by the troops, until they
took up a position upon the road above the burying place; and at
the moment the body was lowered into the grave three discharges
were fired from eleven pieces of artillery.”*
Thus, in a pretty little green verdure-clad valley, situated below
H u t’s Gate, and distant somewhat more than a mile from Longwood,
was Napoleon buried. I t is said that, when alive, he frequently
resorted to this secluded spot, and, from a clear little spring of water
which bubbled up through the moss-covered bank, had the water for
his own use carried to Longwood, and that in accordance with his
own expressed wish it was selected for his grave.
Sir Hudson Lowe left the Island on the 25th July following,
Mr. Thomas Henry Brooke assuming the temporary government,
and the troops which had been sent to the Island in consequence of
Napoleon’s residence were at once removed. The Island, as a
watering station for East India traders, being of the utmost
importance at this time, the lower wharf in Jamestown was much
* Brooke’s History of St. Helena, 1824.