The Tragedy of St. Helena | Page 3

itself the depository of the Emperor's
ashes, and that it would deliver them up to France as soon as the latter
Government should express a desire to that effect. The two Counts
immediately applied to the French Ministry, but without result. On May
1, 1822, a further letter was sent to Louis XVIII., by the grace of God
King of France and Navarre, concerning the redepositing of the ashes
of Napoleon, Emperor, thrice proclaimed by the grace of the people.
On the accession of Louis Philippe to the throne the rival parties were
each struggling for ascendancy. The glory of the days of the Empire
had been stifled by the action of the European Powers and their French
allies, but the smouldering embers began to show signs of renewed
activity, and a wave of Napoleonic popularity swept over the land.
Philippe and his Ministry were not indifferent to what was going on,

and in order to distract attention from the chaos which the new
condition of things was creating, the plan of having the "ashes" of the
illustrious chief brought to the country and the people whom he "loved
so well" was suggested as a means of bringing tranquillity to France
and security to the throne.
M. Thiers, the head of a new Ministry, entered into negotiations with
the English Government, and M. Guizot addressed an official note to
Lord Palmerston, who was then Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
This precious communication is embodied in the following
document:--"The undersigned, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of the French, has the honour,
conformably to instructions received from His Government, to inform
His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Her Majesty the
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, that the King ardently
desires that the mortal remains of Napoleon may be deposited in a tomb
in France, in the country which he defended and rendered illustrious,
and which proudly preserves the ashes of thousands of his companions
in arms, officers and soldiers, devoted with him to the service of their
country. The undersigned is convinced that Her Britannic Majesty's
Government will only see in this desire of His Majesty the King of the
French a just and pious feeling, and will give the orders necessary to
the removal of any obstacle to the transfer of Napoleon's remains from
St. Helena to France."
This document was sent to the British Embassy in Paris, and the wishes
of M. Thiers and his Government were conveyed in orthodox fashion to
the British Foreign Secretary by the Ambassador, in the following letter,
dated Paris, May 4, 1840:--
"MY LORD,--The French Government have been requested, in several
petitions addressed to the Chambers, to take the necessary steps with
regard to the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, in
order to obtain an authorisation for removing the ashes of the Emperor
Napoleon to Paris. These petitions were favourably received by the
Chambers, who transmitted them to the President of the Council, and to
the other Ministers, his colleagues. The Ministers having deliberated on

this point, and the King having given his consent to the measures
necessary to meet the object of the petitioners, M. Thiers yesterday
announced to me officially the desire of the French Government that
Her Majesty's Government would grant the necessary authority to
enable them to remove the remains of the Emperor Napoleon from St.
Helena to Paris. M. Thiers also calls my attention to the fact that the
consent of the British Government to the projected measure would be
one of the most efficacious means of cementing the union of the two
countries, and of producing a friendly feeling between France and
England.--(Signed) GRANVILLE."
So that this King of the French and M. Thiers realise, after a quarter of
a century, that the hero who was driven to abdicate, and then banished
from France, did defend his country and make it illustrious, and that the
removal of his ashes to France was the "most efficacious means" of
cementing the union of the country that forsook him in his misfortune
with the country that sent him to perish on a rock. His ashes, indeed,
were to produce a friendly feeling between these two countries. What a
burlesque!
Napoleon's motto was "Everything for the French people." He seems to
have predicted that after his death they would require his "ashes" to
tranquillise an enraged people. Of the other contracting party he says in
the fifth paragraph of his will:--"I die prematurely, assassinated by the
English oligarchy and its deputy; the English nation will not be slow in
avenging me."
Well, it is requested that his ashes shall be given up to France so that
peace may prevail. And now follows the great act of condescension:--
"MY LORD,--Her Majesty's Government having