Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-07-16

aM. M LAVALETTE.
"l4th May, 1921.
From late. London Paper.
London, May4.
MR.. KEPpEL cRAvEN's TOUR.
The work of Mr.. Keppel Craven on the
Southern Provinces of Naples, has now
been some time before the public. We
present to our readers an extract of ex-
IRENE interest, and relating to an event,
of which it will scarcely happen to any
other traveller to witness the parallel
History indeed, presents few such occur
rences. Perhaps it may bring to the re-
collection of the classical reader, the
dreadful story in Livy, of the destruction
inflicted on themselves, or each other by
the chief persons of Capua, when they
were in danger of falling into the hands
of the Romans (whom they had deserted)
after the retreat of Hannibal to Car
thage:-
1.-THE road from Lucera to Fuggia is
almost repetition of that from Toja to
Lucera; but it crosses no stream; & one
solitary undertaking path over ten miles
of perfect level ground without tree, bush
or house in sight brought me to the capt.
tai of Capitanata, which has gates, but no
walls, the houses being so irregularly
scattered about it, that it is difficult to fix
precisely where the town begins. could
find no lodging at the numerous Inns
which displayed their signs Oh each side of
me, but were already filled by the arrivals
for the ensuing fair; SO that | had pene-
trated some way into the city before there
appeared any chance of my being accom-
modated at all; when, just as | had turn
ed oat of a street, or rather square, n
which l had observed some troops drawn
out as for a parade, a sudden volley OF
mus.etry, which took for the crash of a
building falling, followed by a general
flight of the inhabitants, uttering cries of
terror and dismay, arrested my attention
soon after, gentleman hurrying by, de-
sired me to alight, which did, though
utterly unable to guess the motive of this
advice; while second as strenuouslyr re
commended my remounting my horse &
galloping away.
"The first idea that dsrted across my
mind was that of an earthquake, and a
number of persons, rushing at once out of
an adjoining house tended to confirm it.
walked on, in vain addressing the flu
gitives who passed me in every direction,
till boy took my horses bride, and led
him through some obscure streets to an
inn, at the skirts of the town, where we
took refuge in room on the ground floor,
into which my servants and the guide, to-
gether with all the horses and myself en-
tered as if by one common instinct. but
still ignorant of the cause of alarm. The
cries of several women tearing their hair,
and the incoherent acclamations they ut
tered, among which ] could only distin-
guish the word brigands, at last led me to
conjecture that party of banditti had
forced their way into the town, and were
engaged with regular troops. The door
had been carefully barricadoed at the mo-
ment of our entry; but through the small
win lows several soldiers were observable
lurking about in parties, with their mus
kets ready, and at times dragroon pass
ed in full gallop, apparently engaged in
pursuit. These circumstances, and oc-
occasionally musket shots confirmed my
suspicious; but that gang of robbers
however daring and desperate, should
have made an attack at midday on a
large city respectfully garrisoned, seemed
so improbable that l continued in a state
of doubt, till the son of my hostess made
his appearance; and after being repeated
ly kissed and wept upon, by his mother
and her dishevelled companions, he gave
me clearer insight into the affair by re-
lating, in an i'm -erfect manner, the de-
tails which were subsequently made
known to me from source more anthem
tic, and which are as follows:
1.-THE remains of the Vardarelli band
had presented themselves that morning
before the general commanding at Fog
gia; they formed, in fact, part of the
TROOPS l had seen, and were at the mo-
ment passed engaged in war of words,
which was soon waged with more deadly
weapons. 1t seems that the general, who
had received the intimation of their arri-
val, gave orders for them to be inspected
the instant that it took place. After they
had dismounted and given satisfactory
account Of their late proceedings, they re-
ceived directions to repair to Lucera, and
there await further commands This
mandate they positively refused to obey;
and long alteration took place between
them and an officer sent from the COM
mander's house, before which they were
ranged, TO demonstrate on the impru-
dence NOT To ga y femerifv of their haho