Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-24
From a Paris Correspondent.

IL CHAlN OF u ALlIEY oLAV Eo
The punishment of crimes is managed here
in a much more impressive manner than in I'm.
gland; the severity of the English criminal code
seems to aim at the ex,irpaiion rather than the
reform of the unsound members OF society; II
public punishments can ever deter from the
commission Of crime, they must certainly owe
their moral influence to some other clrcum-
stance than their frequency, In this country,
the treatment Of the condemned is always cal
culated to make deep impression on the at
tentive portion of the community. For several
days the departure of the train Cor chain. as II
is called) of galley slaves, was talked OF at the
Bicetre; on Monday last the intelligence was OF
fetal. Those who were to compose it were sum-
moned, and were all assembled in a court stu
ated in buildings there lay the dresses of coarse
grey cloth, which they are obliged to put on,
preparatory to the Journey; each of the criml-
nails dressed himself as he was called forth. Ac-
cordng to the rules Of the establishment, the
hair of the criminals ought TO be cut close, so
as to render it more easy to recognize them in
case Of escape but they had all taken care TO
anticipate this part of The preparation, avoiding
thereby the humiliation Of submitting their
heads 10 the hands of stranger. Shortly after
the criminals lett their ranks, and advanced to-.
wards the middle Of the court, where there is
placed an anvil, and close to il large wooden
chestyin which is kept those irons, which from
time immemorlal have served succeSsiveiy 10
all who have been condemned to forced labor.
Arriving two BY two at the foot OF the anvil,
they are married, as they express 1t; that Is,
they are placed on their knees, and III that po-
sition they are fitted with cravats (for sothey
call, by way of dersion, the iron trlangles nth
which thew are attached by the neck.) Until
the moment when this triangle Is fastened, the
wretches laugh and Jest, and endeavor TO main
tain sort of forced merriment; but dead ST.
lence and sort Of terror Immediately take
place when set under the blows OF the hammer
which ri, cts their. letters The slightest mo-
ton might prove fatal TO them; they are thus
attached in couples TO chain Of from twenty
to thirty men, and consequently can no longer
move except in body. This operation lasted
two hours on Monday, when rs were equipped
for the march. They we're divided into three
bands. the first and second consisted Of the
most turbulent; those who were more peacea-
bic or more feeble composed the third; the
bands then placed themselves on the benches
w ich surrounded the court, and the officers
Withdrew. AS soon as those wretches were re-
truly be called dismal spectacle; one would
suppose that in the midst 'of so dreadful cap
tivlv, and menaced by such future, The hui
man being would inevitably sink under the
weight Of grief; but, alas those wrelches, |
whose lives were for the future to be de-
voted to servl,ude and infamy, appeared as if
they had met together 10 celebrate iestlv al
Three amongst them, and only three. seemed
aware Of The extent of their misery; these were
the only individuals among them, as learned,
who had received any nstruction;he rest main
tanned noisy mrih, amusing themselves with !
coarse tests and pleasantrles on their dress and
situation.
On sudden, the first band, at the sugges-
ton of criminal named Boucher, who is con-
demned to for life, prepared for march.
All rose on signal given by the chief, and
dragged the chain with difficulty; the weight
which each supported was - lb,, with the ex
ceplon of Boucher and Girard his companion,
who were each loaded with "a pounds at the
least; this precautlon was taken with them on
account of their having several times effected
their escape from prison An old man IN the
chain, moving slowly, f." Come cried youth
of eighteen, who was chained by his side,
you are asleep, old gentleman; we are not yet
at our journeys end" The first column makes |
the round Of the court; it is quickly followed
by the second, and then by the third, which
obeys the orders Of the other two.
Immediately after they sit down, by The orders
of Boucher, round the chest placed in the mid
die of the court, and prepare TO play " hunt the
slipper" when an old soldier, arriving In haste,
Aourishes his cane, and makes them all rise
Surprised at this measure, asked the reason OF
it. The old gentleman replied, "lwo and
thirty years have watched this sort OF rabble;
| have conducted 20 the ga!leys more than thlr'
ty thousand Of them, and am much too old to
be taken by their tricks. They were collected
here for the purpose Of carrying off the niles
and other Instruments In the chests, with winch,
during the night, they would cut their irons;
but if they stir, this, he cried (hourlshlns his
cane), will soon bring them to order. ne
criminals seemed at length 10 grow tired OF
their forced gaiety; they sat down on the bench
ss. and many Of them fell asleep About five
o'clock priest arrived, accompanied by two
voung men. They brought some assistance TO
hose who had been abandoned by their fami
lies. The venerable eccleslastic, who was lis
tened to by all with attention, conversed long
time with Du;ree: this was a young man of
TWO aid twenty; his mother was III a state OF