The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-02


 ure on the grave burghers Of Carni0le. hut they knew the activity of NapOleon's ven- 1 geance too well to talk of hesitation with the populace it was altogether different af- fair, aud their rejoicing at the defiance was 1 all but treason Ofthe cOnquerOr. The King of the nOuntains' was an effective name, e,and the habitual taste of the German for forest wonders found its supreme indulgence in in- ] venting attributes and adventures for this mys- teriOus monarch.
 War, and of an it's kinds insurrectiOnary war, is fitted to take hold upon the popular inauguration: Its secrecy, its sudden eAplo- | sions-its sudden extinctiOns in one quarter l to spring up like eOnAagratiOn in anOther--- even the personal intrepidity, intelligence and dexterity, required in its solitary and hazard ous enterprises, throw romantic and super stitiOus interest about it. that gives a power ful impulse to the imagination. "King Ofthe Mountains" had none of the established indo- fence of the throne; he seemed even to have the faculty of of heinz every where at once -The arrival of couriers soon ceased totally, or occurred by permission of his invincible majesty; and the letters were generally open and accompanied by some remarks, some times burtcsque and sarcastic, and sometimes I conveying intelligence of the most disastrous nature from France. The peasants brought provisions to the city only under the pass ports of his majesty the traders and travel f lers were compelled to advertize in the Lay bach Zeitung, before they set out, on their route. with declaration that they were not going to France; in short, his majesty's de- termination to extinguish all intercourse with the land of tyranny, was expressed in the most un6iplolnatic distinctness and absence of cere- mOny.
 The French authorities, however. now set themselves actively to resist the public feeling and, as the first step ordered the printer of the Zeitsng to jail, with declaration, that the first merchant or traveller suspected of compromising with "the banditti," should follow the printer. This had its effect for a few days, and the advertisements were stop ped. Buta BOlognese jeweller, who had come to the fair of Idria, and after lingering impa- tientIy for some weeks in the city, was anx- ious to realize the produce on the other side of the TyrOl, had not left Laybach half a German mile when he was met by party of armed peasantry," who ordered him back. They took nothing from him, and when he offered them money refused it, stating that they were paid by their own "sovereign;" and ordered merely to prevent any mans go-
 ing through his territory without his passport. Some other attempts had the same result; until at length the French commandant deter mined to take the field against the unseen u- surper. He gathered about five hundred troops Ofdferent arms and called out the Burgher-guard to make up his .army.s But the citizens had long since settled their minds on the point, and they one and all, discoyer-> ed so many personal reasons for objecting to a mountain campaign, that M. le Colonel de o0fh1 sv~Ra snls- obliged to compromise the affair, and leave the whole of the gallant Burgher-guard flor the defence of the gates and the ditches. |. The colonel was a bold fellow,a vieur mous- tGche, who had served from the time of Mo- reaus march into Swabia, and was soldier all Over.-The idea that his communications should be interceptedby mountain thief,a pediar, goat hunter," was at once int0llera- bIe and ludricrous; and he promised the civ- il council, that before twelve hours over thev should see the "robber" with rope round his neck. For the purpose of more com plete surprise, the expedition was to wait tin night fall. About seven in the evening pa- trOle which had been ordered to search in the market peasants as they pass out ofthe gates flor the honest Carniolans were strongly sus- pected of carrying on the correspondence of the disafected within and without,l brought in an old seller of eggs, in whose basket they had found some gunpowder. This was of course cOntraband of war, and the peasant was brought to head quarters. A further search discovered letter to the Mountain King" He was extremely de- crepid, and so deal, that he could scarcely be made to understand that court martial was about to be held upon him. His Carnolian jargOn was eqnally lost upon the Colonel. To shoot him, however, required some more consideration. Trial was impossible. with a man destitute of all faculty ofexphnation, or understanding; his age rendered him harm less; and cruelty might have irritated the country people (wh0 had crowded back on his seizure,) and deprive the city its provisions Finally as the best alternative, it was de- termined to make use of the old man as guide to the haunt of the insurgent chief. This, however. he positively refused to be under fifty pleas ofignOrance, feebleness and fear he was at last induced to give way,was seated on baggage mule, with bayonet at his back and was marched out with. the troops. The peasantry hung their heads. with no very measured expressions of wrath at the hoary traitor but as the French nev- CT condescended to know any language but their own, all this was lost upon them.-- Night fall-the expedition proceeded--and the old man and his ass were put in front ofthe column watched by half dozen Chas-