Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-09-07
From the London Mirror.
DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF SUR
PRISE.

PRISE.
The dangerous effects of surprise are
we'll exempiified in Duuont's narrative
of his return from slavery at Algiers to
France. after Lord Exmouth's expedi-
ton. He was accompanied by friend,
and on their approach towards home,
they were attacked by thieves. who, be
says Robbed Etienne and myself,
not only of our money. but the tw par.
cells containing our wearing apparel
Fortunately, on proceeding to the next
village, the inhabitants took little
pity 90 Us. and whai with the assistance
we received there, as we'll as in one or
two other towns along the road, we ma
naged to arrive at Lyons in tolerably
good spirits, Having passed part Of
the day in looking at tho principal
streets and buildings 10 the above city.
Etienne conducted me towards dark to
the heuse of his parents, who kept an
inn. He entered, without making him
self known, and ordered sapper for two
persons. On serving the soup and
boulle, Etienpe called for roast fowl:
upon which his mother examining US
more attentively, observed, you are
travellers, l perceive, and perhaps not
aware that provisions are dear My
companion, with his hat slouched, and
turning his back to the old lady, That's
of no consequence to you. madam, give
what 10 ordered. and we'll pay for it,
Il beg your pardon, SIR rejoined his
mother, Il am wrong, but didn't ex-
actly know the state of your purse.'-
This short dialogue was followed by
the fowls being brought 10.
We continued to eat very slowly, in
order to wait for the nights coming in,
when E'ienne asked, whether we could
have beds No. answered his moth
or, all my beds are occupied; And
this young lady, replied the son, point.
ing to his sister, who served at table,
HAS she got q bedP How! if my chill
dren have not beds, who is to have
themp' Then am not your SON. ex-
claimed Etienne, raising bis voice and
discovering his coun.enaDce. At these
words, and this movement Of the stran.
ger, the poor woman seemed TO feel q
violent oppression, turned pale, aud
fell senseless on the floor; the daughter
instsstly ran to inform her father, who
was in the next coffee house. Etepue
few to the assistance OF his poor moth
err; the servants cried aloud, and could
not help weeping with them. The ia.
Their came in soon after but Madame
EtienDe was DO more Her daughter
took the event SO much to heart, that
she Immediately retired to bed. and
never left it again, having died after an
illness Of two days. The father, dis.
trscted by this double loss, sustained
BY the recovery Of bis SOD, could not
support it, and only survived sight
daysl
Finally, E.ienne, the cause of this
sad tragedy was seized with raging
fever, for bis health had never been
properly restored, and followed the fate
Of his parents ip week after the death
of bic father. ] Jaw them all perish,
and pever left the bed Of my poor COM
rade, who received all the attentions l
could bestow, and even died in my arms
This was one Of the most dreadful
trials that had ever overtaken me in
life. What picture, for one who was
on the point Of looking after his own
family, after an absence of more than
thirty seven years! ] had also formed
The plan OF taking them by surprise,
before this catastrophe occurred, and
sending letter, 10 which my adveu.
lures were to be given under feigued
name; bot was quickly cured of that
within, by the frightful calamity that