Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-06-01

tnem; above all, that he should reject
the narrow and sanguinary interest OF
his councillors and declared that the
king of Spain would then have at his
disposal an invincible army, which he
might indeed despair to reduce 10 SER
Vltude, but which, while it remained
free, would also be the more devoted
and the more faithful.
At this kind of language. in which the
ministry were not accustomed to deal,
Ferdinand betrayed more surprise than
irritation. The character of that prince
has appeared in so inexplicable light,
so contrary in different situations of life,
that we should be afraid to decide
whether the condescension with which
he treated Vanhalen was the effect of
compassion or of profound assimilation.
1t is certain, however, that he inquired,
with an appearance of the tenderest in
terest, concerning the plivations he had
suffered in prison and on learning that
he was accustomed to smoking tobacco,
sent him case of Havana cigars from
among those which had been reserved
for his own use. After such marks of
interest, one would have looked for the
clemency of the prince and the liberia
ton of Vanhalen but the fact was far
otherwise. While his friends were en-
joying the expectation of happy ter
minatlon 10 the affair, the ministers of
Ferdinand pressed its decision with &C.
tivity; and the information was brought
by little girl, an attendant in the pris-
on, that the greatest danger was TO be
apprehended to Vanhalen. The child
having caught few words by accident
of a conversation which was going Nn,
succeeded in finding her way TO small
window bywhich his dungeon was light
ed, informed him of the danger TO which
he was exposed, and supplied him with
paper and pencil.
Vauha!en was thus enabled to open a
correspondence with his friends in the
city, and inform them, that in spite Of
restraints under which he labored, the
means of escape were in his power. He
received in reply, that 6 their arms and
their purses were at his service" A
great reward was therefore offered to
his interesting little messenger; and a
typographical plan having been drawn
Of the streets in the neighborhood of
The prison, "a copy oft was sent to Van
halen, on which were marked the plac-
es where his friends were 10 be posted.
All this being thus concerted, it was
necessary only to fix on moment for
the execution of the plan. Ii was in
the winter the day had arrived; the
clock struck seven; and the first de-
tachment of his friends assembled at
the distance of a few PAGES from the
principal entrance of the prison. A
man made his appearance, dressed in a
night gown and slippers. In an instant
they disguised him in foreign uniform
and led him away.
After taking several long turns through
the streets of Madrid, in order to battle
pursuit, the fugitive was conducted to
a safe retreat, where he found four
thousand francs in gold, RENTED for
him by the generous Count Of MontDo,
with passports provided for his depart
ure from Spain. He passed out of the
kingdom into Portugal, and thence to
England, after which he took the route
to Russia, where he entered into the mil
itary service.
The secrecy with which this affair
was conducted, is the more remarkable
and the more honorable to the character
and patriotism of the Spaniards, because,
that from the moment when it was de-
cided that Vanhalen should remain a
few days in Madrid, 10 avoid the search
which was known to be making in the
environs of the city, all the members of
the secret societies being Informed Of his
escape, desired to see him, and did in
fact see him, without the occurrence of
a single act of indiscretioD, and, indeed,
without causing any apprehension TO
the fugitive or his friends. We do not
believe that history can furnish a more
noble example of confidence, or one
which was more justified by the event.
1t was during the interval which Va
halen spent in Madrid, in expectation of
an opportunity to leave the country,
that he recounted to many ofhis friends
who were continually visiting him, the
particulars of his escape; and they
are at once so romantic and so we'll au-
thenticated, that we cannot withhold
them from our readers.
When he had obtained from his little
friend, the prison girl, precise descrip-
ton of the e.lifice which he had only
passed through very hastily at his intro
duction, he requested ofthe jailor to be
supplied with some medicine which he
pretended TO want, and desired it might
be brought to him at the hour he had
fixed for his friends to wait for him.
The jailor appeared at the time APP