Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-06-09
tE,ou. thv Paris Observer &, u
LIE DtisNIER JOUR D'UNs CONDABINE--
Cite LAST DAY or a PRISONER CON
\ i

y from the CLAIMS Of the piece its, the work has
rSti through three ciitious III less than many
nr,,t!is. 1t is conceived in "a style new to French
literature. but familiar TO that of England No
lrc,ich'tn las como 81 near TO nature in its
9ny; indeed. .ay epoch before tie present. it would
have been deemed Inbred 20 Go so; and there is
an oatcry against the author, for cruelty agita;ing the
is'iings o his readers. Hitherto such works have
been forbidden the realms of taste, FOR the reason
mat tic sli!ng OF blood wSs baiiished from the
Fvcnca stamc-.aut undoubtedly the person who
would take plcas;irc iii frequcDtng executions must
nc g.icyolrsly in Of excitement; while the
nerves well strung, and the blood circulating i'll
'vh1Sonic currents is disposed to disturb the
coarse VI his well uSncd satisfaction by severe
tlnrct. 1t is only Notwithstanding who rct;ucfs
galvanic application Of this kind. liz this morbid
state, however, i'll certain countries and III certain
states ri civilization found and the analogous
epoch la literature happens when writer's brood up
tn tn, horrible events oi life, imagine themselves
SURROUNDED u: tten cXag@cratc their proper ;;Os and
DEEPEN their cpnius5, anil when readers touni
WHoarc greedy OF t!icsc picturcs-wlcn the world
loves to have its feelings narrowed up, and inlrcs
its tavorite authors BY the measure of their over
oil ugonzing The French nrc Rot yet arr at
tbs point but they are III full march towt:is it.
lie lIn.adtc spring ,lnwcver, of this last effort OF
NJ Hugo e. writer wft1n, by the by, we 1--we an eX-
trcic admiration Tor in his quality 0fpuc0 has bc,:n
thc !'cr'isa ot the eInors OF Vdocu. 1t Is written
in tire ven ot that persons remarkable prison scenes
hugo, like SidocG has occasionally lighted up the
uarkncss ofhis picture by tho uril flash Of dungeon
wth's tnnc IS frequently IN that litter ana sarcastic
Vein OF Jncularty which speaks Morc plainly ofdcnp
suffering and utter despair than the more direct ey-
preston oIanguiSl But we c,ill proceed to enable
our readers tou!gc in part IL! themselves. 1t opens
tlnIs:
sBicetre
,Ccjmitnacd To de,lh,
For five weeks have TdweIt alone with this idea;
rs presence has chilled snc it has bent ME down uu-
der It's weight.
(lie proceeds To compare his former state of mind
itiihs present condition Aller which he Cues on
l INV iyoiv isi in c,r;,,
~ dungeon. My soul is in the dungeon of an idea;
horrible, hloot an mpacablc idea; have but one
thought, ole corsction, certGinty--Condcnatdf TO
dGu,h!
''Wmrevcr do, it is always there, this internal
ttSought like lcaden spectre at my sidc alone and
falou driving off ali distraction and laying upon rue
rs ICY hand Ehen would turn away my head or shut
my eyes. 1t slides all forms into nv mind il isl the
burden Of Ill hear; and mixing tsclfup with every
speech addressed to 1t slips the grating ofmy
dungeon, 1t besieges when awake, and when
sleep 1t watches my conrusive SAUNDERS ard reap
i'earsiy my dreanis."
''itwas line day in August.
Ny trial had lasted three days--threr days mad nv
DdlI and crime attracted crowd of Spectators who
settled down the benches OF the court like crows
ABOUT corpse-hree days did all this pllantasragoria
of1udge5 witnesses, lawyers, prosecutors, pass and
e pass before my eyes one while grotesque at auo-
timer sangnlnary, always dark and fatal. The two
frst nights could not close my ewes from anxiety
and alright: on the third, was overppwered with
WEAKNESS and fatigue. At midnight had left tie lu-
y celebrating. They brought me back to the straw
7: my dungeon and, fell Immediately into profound
:iccpa sleep of oblivion. This was the first reposc
: mad had for many days.
Il was still in the depth Of this deep sleep when
ley came to awake inc. This time was not to be
scs'd by the heavy step Of the iailor the trambing
OF MS nailed shoes the lingng of his bunch Of keys
nor yet by the harsh arrit OF the bolt; he was o.
biiged to put his mouth 10 my car, and his rough
6and on my shoulde-sGct up, saw I opened
my eyes and sat upright in alright At this mo-
nnnt caught sight of patch Of light On the roof
ct the adjoining gallery, the slit in nv dun
geon wall: this was the only sky was perm tied 10
havca glimpse Of, and well does the prisoner know
how to rccugrizc the by the yellow reflection of
his rays-Fnc day, said to the turnkey. 1t was
some time before he answered me- if he were con-
e:dering whether 1t was worth while however with
IN effort, he nuttered surly, very likely
81 sat still, haY asleep, my eyes fixed upon the
Giided patch OF sun on the roof my features relaxing
into snIle-llcrc IS fine day repeated Yes
answered the )nan, 'thcy waiting FOR YOU
These few words, ike the string which checks
'irc fight Of tie poor bird i'll the hands of mischie-
Tous hoy, brought inc back TO the reality with VIC
3ence.r All of sudden saw again, as in flash of
lightning: the gloomy asszn court before ne, the
!ifseshUe bench, Judges i'll their blood-colored gar
Tncnts the three Of witnesses with their stupid
fccs, tire %o gcndarmcs ut each end of nv bench:
!aIcicd TIC oack robes rusfng about me, and the
busy htcof icads below i'll the shade, and tho fixed
stare of the jurOrs upon my conncnacc and who
ard watched vhle had been sleeping.
Il got UP; my teeth chartered, my bands trcnbed
aid could NOT Jay hold odny clothes ,ny legs we're
weak nj the first slept staggered like porter under
lis buFdcn zoo ircavy for him. However, fJiowcd
II iailrr.
"'ikn two g"ndarrrs waiting FOX nc at the
''a"e o: my cell. They put the ilaDdcuffs--thcy
'rc fastened ~ an intricate lock. which they closed
FTfih cGTe lc' item 10 as they pleased it was una
eaine aPon mactu2.
eve crusscd ne inner court. The fres! air vi
:nrnine revived me. l raised my head the sky vas
r'lc and TIC rays OF the sun, intercepted by
:iro !pty csnncs traced grcat angles Of light upon
he 20? Of The high prison walls We asceBdcd Il
"Iadng siaircas"; we travcfscd gallery, then ano-
!ier, then third: at Inst a low door was opened
i3rc warm air mingled with tic hum, met me as
'tercd i was the breath OF the crowd In Tire bah Of
assizo. Ieuterce