Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-20

bv whom the Councils of Sovereigns
are directed. He, received her solici-
tations with kindness and indulgence,
he appIaudeds and expressed his admi-
ration of the generosity Of her conduct:
To the request of joining her husband
in prison, he Immediately acceded; but
with respect to the more material SUBJ
iect of her entreaties, he used these
remarkable expressions: With respect
TO his liberty, it is a complicated g6av
upoa ,chich my hands are bound.
aOf the truth Of this declaration OF
the Emperor having been conveyed in
these words, hold up my hand, ana
am ready to produce the incontroyer-
tible testimony of the interesting person
to whom they were spoken. This fact
thus authenticated, ] defy his majesty's
ministers to contradict; and upon this
fact appeal to the House, whether /
am not warranted in the assertion /
have made, that Lafayette is not the
prisoner of the Emperor OF Germany.
Before I state what strikes me as the
irresistible inference from this fact,
perhaps the House may be DESTROYS OF
learning the sequel of the melancholy
tale have been relating. This incom-
parable woman, having th9s obtained
the Emperor's consent to be admitted
into the prison Of her husband, hasten
ed to Olmutz, the place Of his conhne-
ment. 1t should seem that the favor
she had obtained was, by some persons
of authority in the Imperial Court,
considered as too great an indulgence
10 have been granted; for, upon her ar
rival, no means were left uninterrupted
to dissuade her from her virtuous pur-
pose.
can officer proposed to the imme-
diate guard Of the dungeons, to ac-
quaint her, that her husband having
attempted his escape, was subject to
the utmost rigor which the severe re-
gulations of these prisons prescribed ;
that before she took the final resolution
of immuring herself with him, it was
Just to apprize her that she could not
exempt herselffrom them. These me-
naces were not capable of shaking the
hrmness Of mind like hers; but it is
truly painful to relate, that these mena-
| ces have been carried into the strictest
execution. What scene must the
reunion of this unhappy family have
presented under the circumstances in
which they met! In her interview with
the Emperor he had assured her, that
she would find her husband treated
with lenity and indulgence. 1t is me-
lancholy to reflect, that monarchs, in
absolute governments, should so often
be made the instruments of oppression
of which they are themselves uncon-
scious Having received these assuran-
ces, what must have been her feelings,
when she found her husband sinking
| under the aggravated seventies Of his
| imprisonment Emaciated, debarred
the sight Of every human being, ex.
cept his merciless jailors, deprived Of
the benefit of fresh air, though laborins
under a pulmonary complaint, which
made it necessary for him! When she
learned, that the first change of raimen,
he had been allowed, was in conse'
quence of her arrival, when the tattered
rags, which scarcely covered his body,
were exchanged for garb of the coal>
sest materials; an indulgence, however
not given without the insult Of inform
ing him, that the coarsest materials
had been purposely sought, as such a
lone he was worthy to be clothed with
For the treatment she herself was to
expect, what must have been her sensa
tons, when her request, that herself
and her daughters might be allowed
an attendant of their own sex, was pc.
remptorily refused! BY the rigid laws
of the prison, strictly enforced, it is on
ly during daylight that any prisoners
are permitted to be absent from their
respective cells; consequently during
these dreary winter months, their limo
cent and unoffending daughters, by a
solitary confinement OF sixteen hours in
their own dungeon, purchased the per-
mission of devoting the remaining
eight, to the duty of consoling their
unhappy parents. 1t may perhaps, be
thought, | know, indeed, it has been
said, that these are exaggerations, UNI
worthy of credit; that such enormities
should appear Incredible, ! am not sur
prised but that they are literally true
| have, from evidence incontrovertible,
the fullest conviction. But why should
we disbelieve these instances of barba-
rity, when they are equalled, if not sur
passed by others, of which the public
is in possession of authentic proof p
Whatever trials the fortitude of fe-
male mind may resist, the delicacy ola
female frame is not formed to encoun-
ter so rude treatment accordingly we
find that the health of this unfortunate
lady has suffered under it severely. For
the benefit of medical advice and assis-
| lance she netitioped tn he allowed. for