The National Register. — London, England, 1815-12-31 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER: DEC. 31 . have nee'n guilty of negligence; the second is suspected of hav ing the prisoner's escape.--( Journal des Debars.) DESCRIPTION OF M A RIE CHAMAND DE LAVALETTE. Aged 4:i years, born at Paris (the Department of the Seine), in height 1 metre, 68 centimetres, hair and eye-biows grey, high fore head and bald, brown eyes, large nose, small mouth, round chin, round visage, pitted with the smallpox. A letter horn • 'ount Angles, Minister of Police, orders all householders, &c. in Paris, to give in,within twesrty-four hours, a declaration of al! the persons lodging with them without being furnished with regular permission (titres.) A 1 I those, without exce t ‘tion, in whose houses criminals pursued by justice shall he found, and who shall not have made their declaration within the time prescribed, subject themselves to the penalties of A rt. 248 of the Penal Code, and of the law of the , 29th of October last. PARTS. DEC. 23.-It seems that nothing has yct been disco vexed relative to the escape of M. Lavalette. His wife, it is said, is still at the Conciergerie.—(Journal de Paris, Dec. 23.) —sp.— PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. The following is a private Letter from Paris, Dec. 20 " The Duc de Raguse has been long the friend of Lavalette. I informed you, in a previous communication, of his eflbrts in his behalt. lie gave yesterday another, perhaps, indiscreet proof of his attachment, but which generous minds will readily find an excuse for. An order was given to the gardes du corps, since the affirmative judgateut pronounced by the Cour de Cassatton, not to sutler Madatuede Lavalette to penetrate into the interior of the Thuilleries. The Due de Raguse presented himself yesterday at the grand stair-case with the unfortunate Lady. '('he sentinels informed him of their consigne. Ile in treated—they were inexorable.—Well, said the Duc, I take all the consequence on myself; I may be wrong, but my brave comrades dames can never be inhuman. Madame de Lavalette was fainting on his arm. The Duc was their C - Jptain, and they suffered them to pass. It was thus they reached the private Cabinet of his Majesty, and both threw themselves at his feet. The Due declared that this favour, this act of Royal clemency, would be the noblest and should to the sole co-m -yensation he would ever require for all his past services ;and the mute grief of Madame de Lavalette was more heart-rending and eloquent than even the animated supplications of friend ship. Judge of the distressing position the King was placed in, to 1e thus taken unawares ; judge how deeply he must have been afflicted at his ministerial engagements preventing his giving way to the natural impulses of his benevolent feelings—engagements that placed him in the impossibility of complying with the request of a faithful warrior and a despairing wife." A Paris letter of the 23d inst. says,—" Just previous to the Ring's going to mass, no person is permitted to enter from the great staircase into the Salle des Marechaux, through which he passes from his own apartments to the chapel. At this moment a Gentleman and Lady, in mourning, presented themselves to the national guard who was on duty at the door, and wanted to go in. They were prevented. •` )o you know me ?" said the Gentleman.—" I have not that honour," replied the guard; " but my eiders are to admit no one."—" Call your Officer," said the other. " He is in the guard room, and it is impossible for me to suit my post. l —" Pray then call out one of the garde du corps from the hall." The national guard knocked at the door, and one of the King's guard came out.—" Can I not go in ?" said the Gentleman.—" it is impossible," replied the Offi cer. " Do you know who 1 am ?" said the former. " I have the honour to know you very well, Marechal," added the garde du corps, " but 1 also know that no one is permitted, to enter at this door now." The Marechal then took the Officer aside, and after about a minute's conversation, he, the Officer, and the Lady, went into the hall. The Officer, who was the Marquis de Bartillac, left the Marechal in the hall, andwent into the adjoin ing room ; and while he remained there, there seemed to be some thing in agitation. W hen the same Officer came back, he addres sed hi niselfto the Marechal, who was Marmont, and said, "Mare chal, it is impossible for you to remain."—" Have you received girders to turn me out ?" replied he. Indeed you must not re main."—" Tell me," repeated Marmont, " have you been or dered to turn me out?"—" Certainly not," replied the Officer. " but yet I cannot permit you to stay."—" Then," said th e other, " I will not go !"—" Marechal, you have not kept your promise to me," said the Marquis de Bartillac. and turned upon his heel. " The King, Monsieur, Madame, and the usual escort, now entered the hall in their way to the chapel. The Lady who carne with .Mai mont, and who was Madame Lava!ette, now rushed forward, seized the hand of the King, and, falling ar his • feet, exclaimed, " Pardon, pardon, Sire!" The King could not refrain from tears. But, after looking very severely towards Marmont, he said to Madame Lavalette, " I had hoped, Ma dam, to have been spared this painful scene. In thinking you could save your husband, you have done you• duty. But 1 must also do mine, as a King." He then disengaged himself • and passed On, evidently much distressed. Madame Lavalette then attempted to get the Duchess d'Angouleme to intercede; but, overcome by the potency of her feelings, she fainied on the floor, and was carried out of the hall. The whole of this scene had such an effect upon the Duchess d'Angouleme, that she was ill and fainting for near two hours, and did not recover the shuck of it for some time." LONDON PRISONS. REPORT of the COMMITTEE of the HOUSE of COMMONS. • ECONOMY OF THE FLEET PRISON, Abstracted from the evidence of Nicholas Nixon, Esq. the Deputy and sole Acting Warden. Mr. Nixon has been in the office of Deputy Warden 26 years, and since 1801 has solely transacted the business, as Mr. Eyles, the Warden of the Fleet, then became, from his very great age and in firmities, incapable of acting any longer. Mr. N. resides perma nently within the prison, save sometimes in summer he leaves town for about a week or ten days. At those periods the (1!:ty of the office is performed by W. Woodrotfe, his clerk, who has a salary from him of loot. per annum, and has besides a fee of 10s. bd. on each inquiry into the qualities of securities taken on persons going into the Rules. The other officers within the prison are, three turnkeys, one watchman, and one scavenger; they are all paid by Mr. Nixon. The turnkeys are paid one guinea per week each, and they each have a room within the prison rent free; part of these are partitioned off by the turnkeys, and with a bed, are occasion ally let to the prisoners.—They have in point of fact no fees. The watchman also acts as crier to the prism, in calling for and bring ing down prisoners to inquirers. He is paid ios. 6d. a week for hie duty as watchman. He farther acts as a scavenger in keeping the staircases and prisons clean ; for this he is allowed some additional emolument, and also for lighting the lamps in the prison galleries —This person is a prisoner, and has a room in the prison. He i; found perfectly competent to the performance of these duties His duty as watchman, within the prison, is not severe. Mr. Nixon enjoys no salary, his remuneration is entirely from fees and perquisites, hut these do not accrue to him as Deputy Warden, but from his additional offices of Clerk of the Papers and Chief Turnkey. The average amount of his fees on these, for the lase three years, is about 8101. Us. 4d. per annum. By an arrangement with the Chief IVarden, on his declining to act, he also receives the fees of that office, out of which he (Mr. N.) pays him 5001. per annum, in monthly payments. The average nett amount of the Chief Warden's fees for the three last years, is about 15611. 15s. 4d. per annum, after defraying the expenses of the prison; and this amount, after deductinr , the annuity of 500/. to the Chief Warden, remains with Mr. N., who, however, is liable to the Chief Warden for all escapes that may take place, The whole, on the above ave rages, tbrms an income of between 18001. and 19001. a-year. The out-goings of the Prison consists in all manner of taxes—these on the dwelling-house and prison amount to about 3681. ; payments to the Chaplain and Clerk 401.; Servants wages 313/. ; Scavenger and Watchman about 43/. ; and Lamps, Candles, and Coals fur the Prison, Office, and Lodge, about GOl. per annum. Mr. Nixon also, out of his own emolument as Clerk of the Papers, supplies the Office with books, stationary, &c. Nothing can be publicly sold within the prison without the autho rity of the Warden or his Deputy. The beer and ale coming into the prison and sold at the tap, is on the credit of the Deputy; no brewer would trust any of the prisoners. The licence for selling vine kas been many years disceatinued. The sale of all skArituoits .0%r%1