Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-08-12
MATEo FALCONE-A sronr OF ConsloA.
From The Revue de Paris.

Translated for the New York Americana
In leaving Porto VecchIo and going into the coufl-
try, the ground rises rapidly, and after u slow and
difficult progress through crooked plths obstructed
by great fragments OF rock and intersected by ra-
vines you arrive III about three hours upon the Dor
der OF an extensive DlrQHts Copsc. This is the
home of the Corscan shepherds and of outlaws. The
Corslcan peasant, IN order TO the expense of
manure, sets fire to the woods-taking his chance,
and indifferent too of its extending; lie is certain at
any rate, of good harvest upon the soil thus enrich
ed by the ashes of the trees that grew on it. The
grain gathered, the wood springs up thick and matted
from the roots left III the ground and this enanpled
copse wood It is, which in few wears grows TO the
height of seven eight feet that is called reaouis;
anu 1t rs only with axe In hand that it is possible
to make way through this Wilderness and sometimes
1t Is so dense that the wild goas themselves cannot
penetrate IL. If you have killed a man, hy to the
maquis Of Porto Tecchio, and with good gun pow
der, and ball, you may live there i'll safety not for
getting brown cloak with hood, TO serve both for
covering and mattrass The shepherds will sell YOU
milk and cheese and you need fear nothing from the
pursuits of justice, of the relations of the deceas
ed, unless 1t be when you obliged 10 90 down into
the town TO renew your store OF ammunition.
Mateo Falcone, when l WAS in Corsica in I3-
lived in house within half league of this n,aquis
lie was man. for that country, rich; and living no
Dly-that Is to say without dong any thng-from
the produce OF ms iocks, which his nomadic shcp-
nerds led from mountain TO mountain. When saw
him, about two years after the occurrence arm about
TO relate, he appeared about fifty years old at the
utmost Picture to yourself small but robust man
~,
thin hps, large and quick eyes and a complexion of
the color of your boOttops His expertness as a
shot was deemed extraordinary, in that country
OF good shots for Instance Mateo if he fred even at
l@o PAGES at goat, would at pleasure strike il in
tho head or behind the shoulder In the noht equal
- well as In the day could he shoot; ard this crcunI-
stance little incredible to whatsoever has not tray.
e!ed IN Corsica, was related to me Of hin at eighty
PAGES lighted candle was placed behind a transpa-
rent piece ~ paper as big plate he took aim the
candle was eXtlngulshcd, and yet in the most COM
pete darkness he would three times out Of five hit
Lic paper. VIVA such a surprising merit, .1IateO
hdtcone had not faed to acquire great rcputatjon
lie was repnted a good friend and dangerous enc
my; IN oth respects kind and charitable: he lived in
peace with all IN the district Of Porto Peccio 1t was
whispered Of him. however that al Corl1 whore no
married his wife, he had got rid very unceremonious-
~ ofa rival who was not less formidable in love than
war; at least to MaeO was ascribcd certain muskct
shot, which despatched that rival, he was quietly
shaving himself before a small glass banong nm al
his window. This affair having blown over 6faicol
married. Ills wife, Giuseppe, brought him at first
three daughiers-at which ne was fIrous-and final
~ son, whom he named FOrtuattD he was the hope
oI the family, the iahertor of the nane The dsuGh
tors were well married.; the father could rey in
OF need, upon the Pognards and the bunderbusscs
%! ms sons-In-laW: the was only ten years old
DuI he evlnced already the most promising dsnosi-I
.on9' n certain day IN autumn .nateO went off on
Jy with his wife to visit of his ocis I'm cleared
spot OF the Mtquisj little Fortunate wished TO 90 too
bnt the place was too far besides, somebody must re-
tatneT. Te-I
urc, refused 10 take hun wc shall see n ne had not
roson TO regret his refusal. He had already been
gone several hours, and little Fortunate was trauouil
y stretched ON the grass looking at the blue noun
tains and thinking that next Sunday he would 90 10
town to dine with his uncle, the FCao0gaIe when bis
modtatons we're suddenly interrupted by the rcnort
oi gum lie aprang ny, and looked toward the
pam whence The alarm came other shots were heard
al unequal Intervals and gradually nearing his nosi
ton, tn ~ the path leading from the plain ~ the
house Of JuaieO, man suddenly appeared wearing
pointed cap like that of the mountain inhabitants ,,
"a long beard, covered with rags and drap0ng bir,
sell slowly along with the support Of his 9u5 lie
had just received shot in The thigh. This was an
o"ifqo, who having left his hiding place at nrht toI
go don To The town 10 buy powder had fallen bv tho
way into M 1m1U5Cadc Of UOiiigueTs. After vigo.
Tgus defence hy had succeeded ~ making his escaIo
closely pursued, md keeping up running fire from
Fock to Tock. But he had gained only little Oh the
soldiers aud his wound rendered II impossible
iot nun TO roach thc mrYVy before he would be over
taken lie approached Fortunate and said TO him
- You arc the son Of MatcO Falconc. Yes am
Hlanetto SampierO. | pursued by the yellow
colars--(the unliDTn was brown coat with a vel.
lpw coilar)--cOnccal I'VE, for / can 90 40 farthoJ.
This the Of any one who through his proper,v
aanee and dependents influence aud indeed
sor of agstracy district PieUa Tire Corscans
divided sccoFdng 10 old CUSTOM into FIVE castes viz. (u
is9ten Got whom 8agafoos- Sg6rs) Crpo.
80