The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-16
INSTANTANEOUS.
ESCAPE FROM rnE lVooIslTioN.

The following highly Interesting and ro'
mantle story is irons a ffeuch work en-
Y,tled q" Historical sketch of The primer
ME Political aud Military Events, prodac
ed BY the Revolution IN Spain, by Nj
LOU. Julliann--publshc NJ PATS Ia 1871,
Thr Spanish Captain Nahalen, 4 native
OF CadiZ, and particularly known Tor his
zeal in propaealing secret associations, had
hegnn il, 1917 To disseminate their liberal
nrinciples among the inhabitants Of the
s.ity Of Alurcia, where he Was ~ garrison.
ais dr,oiion 10 this subject could mol long
remain unpublished: he was soen deuoune
ed. aud conducted 10 prison. lis papers
which had been seized, proved that he had
been IN correspondence With all the secret
societies Ia the kiagdom. Being thus con
-rted of TN crihes at once, the local nu
thuriiies considered The matter too impof
tsni 10 be- submitted 10 their decision, and
TauAalea VAS transported, under nu
uerns escort, to the prisons OF Madrid, Il
committed In one of the most obscure
dungeons IN the nqui.iIiou. Preparations
were made for his trial but rs he had de
clared from the frat moment of his arrest,
that he would give 40 answer Ia the char
ges against him, unless in presence of the
King, aud this resolution having been sey
cral linics reported 10 the king, Nanhdien
Was MT length brooght before hun.
go Not at all affected by the fortunes he had
undergone in his captivity, nor by The oil
most certain prospect uf speedy and cru
81 death, instead Of lnplOring the favour of
ferdinand, he devoted the brief interview
10 presenting him with picture of the ru
inous situation 10 which he had been rrdu
ced By his ministry. He decltred to him
that Mi Spain WAS in fact flied with secret
societies ; that persecutions,lm imprisonment
ard scsTolds were vainly employed for
their dest,ucti n, that no human power
could succeed IN attempting 10 defeat their
Object HAT the persons Of whom the So
cirties were composed had never propns
ed any prof. et against the life OF the king,
DOR even against his faok or dl6uily; thai
Ia placing Tim on a throne supper ed BY
tie la -, and by the love and confidence
Of the people, his 1wrr would have been
raised TO the highest degree OF stability /;
IN snort, that in order Ia secure = happy
result il might perhaps be snth'lrn II the
king would, OF nj own frr" chuice, adopt
the spirit Ot those very -socletlcs, place
himself at their head lie demanded Of
him 10 require from the Court OF Rome,
The revocation of the ceusares she had
pronounced against them above all thai
fr should reject tn" barrow 4 saugulndry
interest % his councillors and declared
that the king Of Spain would then have at
ms disposal an in'incihe army, which he
might indeed despair 10 reduce 10 serRtude,
but which, while il remained free, would
also be the more devoted ard the more
faithful
AT this kind of language, in wh.lh the
ministry were not accustomed 10 dead,
FERDINAND betrayed more surprise than ir
ritation. The character Of that prince has
appeared ia so inexpicabie a light, so con
trary in different situations Of life, that we
should be afraid To decide whether the
coudcseenRion with which he treated Van
halro was theencct OF compassion OF pro
found Discrimination. 1t is. certain, how
e,er. that he enqnired, with an appearance
Of the tenderrst interest concerning the |
nriyatiens he had suffered In prison and
at IearniHg hat he WAS accustomed 10 |
sun king tobacco, sent him case OF la |
-aoa seq ars from among those which had
been reserved for his own use. After such
marks Of Interest, 0nt would nave looked
for the cleneney 0c the prince aud the II |
heration of vanhalen; ba; the fact vas lar
9tuerni Sc VIII his iiiends were en- |
ieying the expectation of happy term
naiinn Ia the ff,ir, the ministers ot ferdi
nand pressed its decision with activity II
the infor nation was brought by httl'
airl, AN attendant in the prison, that the
greateet danger was Ia be apprehe pded To
vanhai-n. The child having caught n
few words,Sy accident of a conversation
which was going on, succeeded Ia hndins
her way tu small widow ly which hls
dungeon was lighted, informed hlm ut The
danges 10 which he tas exposed, and sup
piled him with paper and a pencii.
VanhA lrn was thus enabled To open n
correspond snee with his friends ~ lie city,
and inform them, that in spite oi the res
tfants under which he lsbonred, I'll.
rpeans Of escape wete in his power. lie
RECEIVED In reni4, that their arms and
their nul.e4 we're Al mis- ser,ine." \ gc,a
reward ,As the efprr Offered I" his inter
estios little messenger aud topographi
cal plan having been drawn OF the streets
in lhe nrighhonfhnod of the prison,a copy
of il was sent 10 Vt9haeu, on hich were
rrarked the places where his flends were
L, he posted. AN things being thus con
certed, il was necessary only to hS IN Il
moment f,r the execution of the plan. 1t
was 10 the winter the day had arrived;
the clock struck seven; aud the first de
fachnent Of his friends assembled at the
distance of few PAGES from tiIr rilHcipal
entrance of the prison. A man made his
appearance, dressed in night gown aud
slippers. In an instant they diss nised him
in a foreign uniform and led him away.
After taking several long turns through
the streets Of Madrid, in order TO battle n
pursuit, the fugitive was conducted 10 a
cafe retreat, where he found four thous md
franks in gold RENTED for him by the
generous Count of Montija, with passports