Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-09-30
ration Of his host, that he would join

him.
" No one who had ever bchcld the
stately figure and alfahle countenancc
of king Joachim, could forget him :
aud our host who though lie had ne
YER seen him, had yet seen his por-
trait in the Marshars saloon at the
Thuillerirs, as we'll as on Gains OF the
Grand Dutchy of Berg. and the King
dom of Naples.-and had also heard
OF his being then in the vicinity, as
well as of the persecution to which he
hail been subjected, soon recognized
in his guest the person of the king
when with profound respect and tears
in his eyes, he begged the kingto par.
don the familiarity into which he had
been bctray cd; assuring him, that he
would readily risk his life to preserve
him. aud that bis house. his fortune,
and his person were all at the kings
disposal. At this moment. the old
nurse, who was assiduously engaged
at the fire, hearing the masters re-
spcctful and passionate address. from
which she learnt the rank Of the per-
sonage for whom she had been exer-
prcising her culinary skill was seized
With an universal tremor; and i'll
throwing herself at the kings feet. o.
vcrturned the frying pan and its con-
| tents into the fire.
The king remained concealed in
the house of This worthy gentleman for
several days, when some Circumstance
made it necessary that he should be
removed. Another country house was
provided, which was then unoccnpicd
and a naval officer. whose name |
shall not mention, was intrusted with
the secret. An old woman whose f.
deity could be depended upon. was
left in the house towait upon the king,
while the naval officer. and an asso-
ciate named -. were employed in
occasionally attending upon his per-
son, in bringing him necessaries and
refreshments from the ncighbouring
town, and in guarding against any
circumstance which might menace the
kings safety.
In The mean time, King Joachim's
enemies by no means relaxed in their
excrtions 70 take him. The report
of his having gold and jewels to an
immense amount about his person. not
little contributed to increase their
activity. The good old woman, who
was employed tSwait on the king,
was indelatigablc in her attention.
She constantly kept watch during the
night, whila the king reposed. and
would never retire To rest bnt in the
middle ofthe day. when there was no
danger of surprise +; his Faithful! Com
av0 Il GbSer alton '' - 10" '''"". ="
i" 1t would appear, however. that
something 4ad led to a suspicion of
the kings retreat for, at midnight,
on the 18th Of August, a party of 60
mcs, headed by one Mocau. son of
the general of that name, repaired to
the villa in which the king was con-
cea!cd. The house being placed upon
an eminrncc. it would have been diff
cult tn approach it in the day, without
discovery /; but. aided as thi, party
: was by the darkness of the night.
they made quite sure of taking their
victim by surprise, which must inc,i-
tally have happened if these impru-
dent assas,inI lad not provided them
selves with a lantern. The old dame.
who was most fortunately watching at
window that looked towards the
path which the ruffians were ascend
ing, was alarmed at the appearance
of the light; and immediately ava
king the king. who was slecping in
his clothes with his arms beside him,
apprized him of his danger. He in
staHtly covered himself with his great
coat. seized his poinard and two pair
of holster pistols, slipped out at
back door, aud concealed himself un-
der the thick foliage of tile vines. at
about so yards distance from the
house. The old woman fastened the
door after him, whilst the gang sur
rounded the building. She had the
presence Of mind to make some DELAY
in opening the door, under the pre-
tence of requiring time to dress her.
self. In a few moments she disposed
Of the kings mattress, and set all to