American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-10-24
From the Esculapian Register.
TORTURE.

Robert Francis Damens are informed from
history, in the year 1857, made an attempt to as
sassInatc The king Of France. Without entering
into details of what led him to the commission o
this crime we shall merely state the suffeTngs h,
was made to undergo. Whoever wishes detail o
The affair will find il in work of vols printed il
Paris 10 the same ear ;-an Epitorne of which NAV
be found in the Monthly Review, vol. 17,h, p. 81
from which our extracts are taken.
The prisoner was accordingly, Jan. II, 1887, re.
moved. under strong guard, from Versailles to
the Conciprgerie, where he arrived at 2 O'Clock in
The morning Of the 18th.
The interesting charge of keeping the prisoner
safe Tor Judgment, made every possible human pre-
caution 10 be taken against his escape by strength.
ening the prison. by posting centnels guards &c.
who patrole6 constantly the nigh, rounds. On the
inside of the Conciergerie, there we're centinel,
placed from the entry to the court in which stands
The tower OF Montgomery. At the bottom of this
lower was placed a small corps-d de quad Of twelve
soldiers who served to relieve the cenlincls Within
All along the stairs of the said tower, there were
also posted centinels at proper distances. In the
first story was the room in which Damisns was
confined. This room is round. and may be about
twelve feet broad, every way receiving light but
through two easements or false windows, from
eight TO nine inches in breadth. BY three feet in
height. These openings are secured with double
BAT and defended from the weather only by movea.
bic flames with oil paper There was 10 this room
neither chimney nor fire, but it was sufficiently
warmed BY stove placed in guard room beneath
it, and by the candles continually burning in the
roam. At first they used lallow candles but alter
wards by the advice Of the physicians, for the pre-
serving the whoesomeness of the air, they burnt
none but wax.
The bed of the prisoner was disposed as follows I:
the head OF the bed fronted the door exactly at the
distance OF three feet from the wall. The bed was
placed on a bed-stead about six inches from the
ground, end mattresses round, so as to project six
inches BEYOND the bed d.stead. The beds bead was
in the whole breadth raised three feet above the
bolster, and was likewise mattrcssed: being so con
trlved with springs, TO raise or lower according as
the convenience OF the prisoner should require it
In this oed he was fastened by an assembage of
strong leather straps, two inches and half broad
These straps kept his shoulders confined and were
on each side of the brG, made fast TO two rings sta
pied to the floor. Two other straps fo med lira-
ture for each of his arms, and were connected by
another placed on the breast bone and these two
branches formed sort Of hand cuff, that left the
hand and arm no liberty, but as directed TO the
mouth. These straps were likewise tied at their
ends, to two rings secured the first. Two straps
OF the same form also confined hsthighs, and were
tied IN like manner ); so that from each side of the
bed came three punches of straps Besides these.
tha, which was placed The breast de tsceudipp TO
the feet, formed sort Of surcingle, and was tied
at the foot OF the bed to ring the middle of The
noor: the strap too his shoulders was fastened
in like manner over the beds head, to a RING sta
pied in the floor like the rest. Under the arms
and hands o the prisoner was spread large carpe,