The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-17 00:00:00

AN ADVENTURE WITH BRIGANDS.

The following (which we find in the Wolter-
hoopoe Chrostels) is extracted from a letter from Mts. Har-
per, the lady mentioned by our Roman correspondent in the
letter printed in Totedey's Exprws, in being, with her
!instead, of the party of travellers who were lately pillaged
by brigands while on their way fern Civil,* Vecchia to
Rams:

" Rome, Dee. I, 1867.
"Well, we reached Civita Vecchia from Leghorn; sad
sow as we are approaching the Holy City, "mew naturally
expect government and some hmesty under an accts.
• but now commences our tale of trouble.
WhiCime 'board the steamer we bad received much
good Med= from an Irishmen, who helped no with
his Italian, explained the Roman money, quarrelled
for eas with the boatman (a most swell set)
and, in short, did us no end of little k
He proved to be an American Roman catholic bishop ; with
him were Dr. Whitehead, Vice-President of the Maynooth
College, and two other Irish-American priests—a youth
coming to Rome for education to enter into priest's orders,
sad a young man named Blake, cousin to Dr. Whitehead,
and grandson of Lord French, a fine spirited fellow. This
party and ourselves leaded and pared through the Customs
together; and what a scene of extortion that la from begin-
ning to end—it is perfect robbery. Here again the bishop
helped use,
and when we could not Moenplaces in the diligence,
was so good-natured as to let us J there in a large entre-
e-um, which wee only intended to hold seven, but with the
addition of ourselves it was forced to contain eight. You
will remember the party whom I have sevendly named.
'•We had four horses, and had to go fifty-six Km= miles,
each of which is a furlong leas than an English mile.
The driver (an Italian) promised to get into Rome at
eleven o'olock ; we left at noon, but be let everything peas
us, walked up hill, and walked down, and no talking would
make him go hater. At last, about 4.30 o'clock, he drove
up to the half-way house, took out the horses without per-
million, and stayed until about 8.16. Thua we had only
am half our journey by daylight. We had not
left this place mere than half en hour hre we were
upon by sin or seven brigands; each man had a lefts on,
• pistol, and a dagger : one waa motioned a few yank die-
tent on • bank, with hie blunderbuss levelled at the
the whole of the time, so that had rveistanoe bees on=
could have riddled ne through and through. Blake, who
was by the driver, showed fight, but waa immediately 'truck
down by • bludgeon, and left for dead ; Henry (Mr. Har-
per, the writer's Duebend] and one of the priests sat out-
side behind the driver : a wretch began striking him until he
threw him his purse, and got down to have his watch and chain
torn off, with • dagger at his throat. Meanwhile the other
wretches had got hold of the bishop, and, with two daggers
and a pistol at his head, he had to give up his ring of office,
gold croon and chain, watch and chain, bag of one hundred
sovereigns, everything; and Dr. Whitehead and the youth
shared the game treatment. Two horrid fellows came to me
in the carriage (I never got out), tore open my shawl, felt
my lingers for rings, and would have taken my wedding
ring and guard, only I had on • tight-fitting glove. I cried
out ' C'eet lone, efte tom,' and they not knowing perhaps
but what the mien may hare stripped me, left me, finding
ohlrtuy puree. My watch, chain, and cameo brooch I had
(ball in joke), at the road-aide inn, put into my secret
pocket, which I any under all my clothes, and so they are
saved. The brutality of these villains can only be imagined
by those who mw it; had there been any resistance, they
would have shot us down like so many dogs, or more
likely, because more quietly, have stabbed or other-
wise murdered us; bet not one of us had any mama of
Odom*, and so we gave up all willingly for oar lives.
They carried away 3001. in gold, and 1501. more in watches,
chains, and jewely. Our loas happily is not considerable,
as Henry, at the ion, had mere-tad his money in his boots,
se • precautionary measure, leaving only about Ws. in value
In his purse ; but not believing for amoment that we should
be attacked. We all had perfect presence of mind at the
time, and it seems wonderful to me when reviewing the
whole scene—a some of horror—the real sang
_livid that I
felt. The terror came sfterwards, when they were fairly
gone; and the poor youth wee placed in my arms in the
carrier,. Thank Ood it proved that he was only stunned
by the blow of a bludgeon upon the left temple; he was
not deed. I poured some brandy and water into his mouth ;
at last some went down, and after a while he showed gigue
of returning ooixeciousnese. It was affecting to see Dr.
Whitehead's joy over the poor led, and sorrow, too, for
his arm was lumbago, and we feared • ball had entered his
left shoulder. He is heir, as I understand, to 12,0001.
a-yew, and Dr. Whitehead had taken charge of him on this
his Mot tour abroad. .

Just oonceive your feelings in having yet twenty miles to
go, through the most cut-throat country possible, totally
uninhabited ; the chance of being attacked by another piety,
sad having nothing left to give. My specific I need not say
was prayer; most earnestly I prayed to be spared another
attack
that night, and I felt an answer of pesos and grew
calm. I veritably believe that the sight of another man at
the carriage door would have killed me, and not me only,
for our nerves were so utterly unstrung. Dear Henry eat
by the driver, and I inside, so that we could not com-
municate. Ile hoe a mad bruise as one arm, and
two on sue leg, otherwise he is well. I verily
believe that the shock bat done him good. I have beta on
the didier sit day with narrow excitement, as it was only
this time last night we were attacked. To-morrow I darmay
seal find me all right.
This morning the bishop went to Cardinal Antonelli, the
Secretary of State, and gave information of the &Heir. One
of the judges took down his deposition, and all has bean laid
already be the Pope. This is the fourth robbery on that
spot this raoath, but now • bishop having been robbed has
made a stir. It was • grand tiling having him with na We
expect to hereto appear to-morrow to give separate evidence.
The driver is in prison se an accomplbe, as it appears that
he has before been engaged in a similar thing. • • • •
One don not know bow to go to Naples, for els dlsset
road from Rome to Naples is infested as much in be Omits
Vecchia.
I must close now. This letter mem theobtesnt, bat I
write under much excitement. It is quite • new episode is
oar lives, brigands, bishop, and Popo."