The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-06

Il
which appeared 10 be occasionally used
for passing round the gate, and which
brought Us within what my be consid-
cred the outer wall, which, however, is
formed not by raising the earth, butir
removing it from within.
Prompted more by curiosity than
prudence, we descended this path look
ing sharply about us, to observe if any
one was i'll sight. Seeing no one, we
concluded il could be no great harm if
we advanced little further. To our
great surprise, we found the second and
third gates, the latter, the main gate,
which led to the second ditch. open, and
not without some quicker papitatons of
heart, we venmed on, still descending,
till we found ourselyers within the third a.
inner rampant, nj the foot of The massive
stone, walls which constitutes llis abode of
horror for state criminals. Silence and
gloom pervatded the place, since, for
some years, there have been no political
transgreSSors, whose dement's have been
OF SO aggravated and dangerous char
acter, as to require confinement in this
terrific dungeon. Sill, rs il may be at
some future time, convenient again to
make use of it, the Prussian Govern
ment allows no one to approach nearer
than the outer wall, both to increase the
terrors OF the place, and to prevent such
knowledge of it from getting abroad,
as to render it less secure as a place of
confinement. But on the latter ground.
there seems little occasion for apprehcn-
sion.--Only small openings are taken
up to admit the light in the principal
buildings, and shore, I'll recollect right
tar above the bottom of the ditch, SO
that leap from them would be danger
ous, If not impracticable. We walked
with hurried pace around the buildiugin
the ditch, which was dry, looking now
and then at the small portion of the sky
which was visible above, and again seek
ing hasty glance at the prison walls,
and the steep bank of earth ON the op-
poslte side of the ditch. We noticed
the sluIcc, from which, if necessary, the
ditch might be filled, also the sunken
cells which are without the principal
building IN the opposite bank, numbered
from the keepers house, low brick
building which is partly in the ditch, and
partly i'll the bank itself, into these cells,
was mdistinct view tohueh the passa-
ges for light and air, (tor windows they
cannot be called which are simple III
tersticcS in the wall Of perhaps an inch
IN diameter, though there are several of
themln the same cell. On the extdrior
OF the principal building is a rough plais-
ter; ITS height, as near as can Judge,
90 feet, its circumference $50 or 800.
From its decay and desolate appearance,
ii seems well fitted to be the abode of
despair. Were ii not the attempt has
succeeded, escape would be pronounced
npractlcable, without the corruption of
the whole guard. When we came round
again to the opening through which we
had descended, We made rapid retreat
through the gates and over the bridges,
almost surprised to find ourselves safe
"ooN' Blouhd, ana SUI more surprised M
our own temerity in making the descent.
The scene was entirely new to
my guide as well as to myself: he had
before applied TO the authorities for per-
missions TO visit the prison, with an En-
glish gentleman, but il had been refused
and his risk in making the attempt, was
nnquestionably much greater than mine.
A man, who was at work near the spot,
seemed to eye us with some scrutiny,
when he saw the direction from which
we came, but he said nothing, and we
had no disposition to wait 10 be qucs-
toned. But did not breath quite free
~ till | was entirely beyond the pre-
cincts of this terrific prison.