Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-21
SATURDAY. MORIH1l1a0 MAY ga0 1885,

| snort, that In orQer 10 secure nappy
result, it might perhaps be sufficient il
the King would, of his own free choice
adopt the spirit of those very societies
and place himself at their head. He
demanded Of him to require from the
Court of Rome, the revocation Of the
censures she had pronounced against
them; above all, that he should re-
ject 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 to
servitude, 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 situa-
tons Of life, that we should be afraid
to decide whether the condescension
with which he treated Van-halen was
the effect of compassion or of profound
discrimination. 1t is certain, however,
that he enquired, with an appearance
Of the tenderest interest concerning the
privations he had suffered in prison;
and on learning that he was accustom-
ed to smoking tobacco, sent him case
Of Havana segars 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 & the libel alton ofVan-haleD;
but the fact was far otherwise. While
his friends were enjoying the expecta-
ton of happy termination to the al
fair, the ministers of Ferdinand press
ed its decision with activity, and the
information was brought by a little
girl, an attendant in the prison, that the
greatest danger was to be apprehend-
ed to Van-halen. The child having
caught a few words by accident of
conversation which was going on, sue.
ceeding in finding her way to small
window by which his dungeon was
lighted, informed him of the danger to
which he was exposed, and supplied
him with paper and pencil.
Van-halen was thus enabled to open
correspondence with his friends in the
city, and inform them, that in spite of
the restraints under which he Iaboured,
the means of escape were in his power.
He received in reply, that "their arms
and their purses were at his service"
A great reward was therefore offered
to his interesting little messenger; and
a geographically plan having been drawn
of the streets in the neighborhood of
the prison, copy Of it was sent to
Van-halen, on which were marked the
places where his friends were to be
posted. All this being thus concerted,
ii was necessary only to fix on a mo-
ment 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 al
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 in
slant they disguised him in foreign
uniform and led him away.
After taking several long turns thro'
the streets of Madrid, in order to battle
pursuit, the fugitive was conducted
to a safe retreat, where he found four
thousand franks in gold, RENTED to
him by the generous Count of Month
10, with passports provided for his de-
parture 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 military service.
The secrecy with which this affair
was conducted is the more remarkable,
and the more honorable to the charac-
ter and patriotism of the Spaniards, be-
cause, that from the moment when it
was decided that Y an-haleE should re-
main few days in Madrid, to avoid
the search which was known to be ma.
king 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 ola single act OF indis-
erection, and indeed, without causing a.
ny apprehension to the fugitive or his
friends. We do not believe that histo-
ny can furnish more noble example
Of confidence, or one which was more
justified by the event.-lt was during
the interval which Van-halen spent in
Madrid, in expectation OF an opportu-
nifty to leave the country, that he re-
counted 10 many of his friends who
were continually visiting him, the par
ticulars of his escape; ard they are al
once so romantic and so well authenti-
Gated, that we cannot withhold them
from cur readers.
When he had obtained from his lit.
tie friend, the prison girl, precise de-