The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-04 00:00:00

NARRATIVE OF ONE OF THE PRISONERS.

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NAPLES, Nov. 28.
For some time I have sent you such reports of the
state of the English engineers now in confinement at
Salerno as have ooaed through the walls of a prison.
I am able to state upon incontrovertible authority
that my reports, so far from exaggerating, have
failed to give the true aspect of affairs. The treat-
ment of our fellow-countrymen has been as bad as it
could be. My last letter informed you that a de-
mand had been made by our Acting-Consul for per-
mission for himself and Mr. Parks to visit the pri-
soners. On the 24th it was obtained, and on Wed.
nesday, the 25th, both these gentlemen went to
Salerno. The following is the report of the
latter gentleman, and I give it as nearly as
possible in his own words, for it is • tale
so revolting to humanity, that it requires
neither addition nor ornament. At La Cava, the
British Vice-Consul joined the party, and they pro-
ceeded to Salerno, where they had an interview with
the Procurator-General. Some conversation took
place on the subject of two letters, which were al-
leged to have been found on the person or in the
cabin of the prisoners, and the Procurator said that
he was prepared to go on with the case, considering
that he had proofs of their guilt. Previous to the
visitors going to the prison, an official suggested that
it would be better, as Parks was in a nervous condi-
tion, that he should be first advised of the arrival of
his father. A man, therefore, was sent in for that
purpose, but instead of reporting correctly, ho said
that Watt's father had come. "On entering, there-
fore, the room in which they were confined," Parks
lays, " I saw Watt standing quite pale and
immoveable. I was frightened at his appear-
mace, but I bad no time to think of him, for
my son rushed into my arms and swooned. I laid
him on the bed and tried to encourage him, and he
revived, but immediately he swooned again. I then
said to the consul, 'My ion was never subject to
this; his nervous system must have been much in-
jured.' " Parks then gave the following statement
of facts to his father, "and my son," he said, "has
been always truthful ; I will guarantee what be
says." "On the night" said the son "on
which the rebels rase on board the Cagliari

I was on deck with the captain. A num-
ber of men, dressed in red, suddenly ap-
peared. ' What is the matter,' I said, and then
turning to one of the men, I asked, ' What are you
after? ' You will soon know,' was the reply. I
went and spoke to Watt, saying that some-
thing serious was on, and told him that
we must prepare for the worst. A letter
was given to me, which, as it was dusk,
I could scarcely read. It contained menaces against
our livesif the machineeywam not kept inperfect order
and we did not do our duty. I managed to decipher
it, and read it to Watt. I was followed down by five
or six men, armed with pistols and diggers. They
remained below whilst another guard was placed
above. On passing near Admiral Lyons's fleet there
were fears entertained that we might signal them,
and additional precautions were taken, for we were not
permitted to come up. When we approached Sapri
we were told that we must join the revolutionists ;
but we answered that we were not fighting
men, and that our duty was to manage the
vessel. Later in the voyage, on seeing the
Neapolitan vessels, the rebels thought that
they had been betrayed, and counselled
together to murder paesengers and crew. Eleven
were about to do so, bat at this moment one of their
number fell down in an apopletic fit. It was re-
garded as an interposition of Providence; all fled
to the boats. Some of the rebels came to me
(Parks), and asked how much coal we had on board.
I told them a leas quantity than we really had, and
the answer was, that I must make it, together with
the wood, last so many hours, or we should be mur-
dered. We were returning to Naples when we were
captured. Our intention was to deliver ourselves up
and state the whole case, for we had not coal
enough to enable us to escape had we been disposed
to do so. A Neapolitan officer came on board, and!
delivered to him the letter which I had received
from the rebels. Ile said, ' You had better keep it
Ire your exculpation.' I went down and made a
sweet copy of it, and then gave the original to the
Aar. This copy was left in my cabin in the hurry
el my arrest and removal. Whether this was the
esoond of two letters spoken of I know not. I am not
aware of any other letters. It was said that a letter
directed to Watt. sad written in a female hand, was
found; but Watt was only the substitute of New-
castle, who was kept at home by sickness, end the
former did not know any length of time beforehand
that he would have to go. On arriving at Naples
all, excepting ourselves, were handcuffed, and were
taken to prison. We were taken into our
cell and stripped naked, whilst other pri-
soners were looking through the iron bars which
separated them from us, laughing and joking at oar
expense. I was enraged and disgusted with the
government which could permit such indignities.
We were examined and cross-examined with regard
to the letter or letters on which the accusation against
us is hued, till my mind was in an awful state of con-
fusion. When they saw that nothing could be
made out of us, they led us round chambers and
cells fearful to look upon, and said that if any guilt
was proved against us we should be put in there.
Finally we were confined in a separate cell, so damp
and dark, that Oodknows how we kept our health—
the only window that there was was high up in the
walL There was an abominable system observed in
our cell—in one corner of it was placed a tub,
or half-butt, in which to perform the necessities of
nature. During the hot summer weather the stench'
was insufferable, and we were compelled to pay for
the removal of it every night. Our prison fare has
been a soup that we could not drink—bread so hard
and bad th►t we could not digest it, and beans ; in
fact, we were compelled to seek far money for our
support, and it was supplied from various sources,
though, on several occasions, it was rejected by the
authorities. At oar earnest entreaty we were put
into another oell ; and at length we were moved down
to Salerno to await our trial. We were handcuffed,
and that severely, and bound by ropes round the
arms so tightly to each other that our flesh was
black and blue for flee days after." Watt, who
is a strong map, with much feeling, was
very indignant. He himself conferees that
in his fury he attempted his life with
his razor on arriving in his cell. Blood flowed from
the wound, and Parks, who was in a nervous state,
fell to the ground in a swoon. The captain of the
Cagliari wrested the razor from his band, and thus
saved him. " With regard to the health of the two
engineers," says Mr. Parka, " though it would be
what might be called generally good, I see that it
has suffered a great shock. My son is not what he
was ; he his been bled in consequence of his nervous
sensitiveness, and the doctor of the Bey of Tunis, who