Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-08-18

self. After short time the Emperor
withdrew, and the company separated.
Frogere retired to his apartment. lie
was any thing but happy in his mind.
His jest had fallen Hat; and such o
mishsP to a protested joker is a. scri.
Gus calamity rs the failing Of com
merciai speculation 10 q merchant. -
But to what strange cause could he at
tribute its i'll sucecsss The Joke was
good joke, there vas no denying il (;
and, were it otherwise, the Emperor
was not 80 squea,nish q critic but that
he had laughed heartily at many a
worse. lie thought. and thought. and
thought again: but since his cogita-
tions availed him nothing (hc being
still unable, with all his sagacity. to
discover ~hat could have occasioned
his faiiure.) he got into bed, and like
wise man IS he was, fell fast asleep.
IL was the middle Of Russian win.
ter. In the dead Of the night Frogere
was aroused by loud knocking at his
chamber door. He arose and ope ned
il. and, greatly to his astonishment. an
officer. accompanied by four soldiers
armed to the very teeth, entered the
room. Frosere having no reason to
expect such visit, naturally conclud.
ed that the officer Gan old acquain.
lance Of his. who had had the honour
Of being Of the Emperor's party on the
previous evening" had mistaken his
room for that of some other person.
Alas, he was speedily convinced there
, was no mistake, but that the untimeiy
aud alarming visit was indeed TO him /:
tho officer exhibited the Emperor's
warrant for his arrest. and immediate
Punishment to Siberia! The effect
produced on him by this terrible au-
nounccment may-to use a phrase less
remarkable for its novelty than for il.
convenience upon occasions Of this ma.
ture-" may be more easily conceived
than described. The idea Of a trip
to Siberia has shaken irmer nerves
than those OF poor Frogere. lie wept
he screamed-hc knelt--he tore his
hair. What crime had he committed
to draw down upon him so heavy q
punishment? Could he not obtain q
short delay? OF q day--a few hours
only-merely, then, till he could see
the Emperor that he might throw him
self at his feet ? His suppiications were
in vain: the Empcror's commands were
precise and peremptory: and ii ever
there YVES ah absolute monarch who al
lowed his mandate TO be triiled with,
certainly IL was not the Emperor Paul.
All thai the unfortunate man could oh
tain from the officer, Who was his
friend, was just sufficient delay TO en-
able him 10 .hrow small quantity Of
clothes aud linen into trunk, and hay
ing dono this, lac Was led forth. A
carriage. guarded by q sufficient strong
body OF cavalry, was in wailing-and.
more dead than alive, he was lifted in.
to it; a soldier, armed with brase of
pistols anal sabre drawn, taking his
scat on each side OF him. The officer
having seen that the windows Of the
carriage were carefully closed, so as
TO prevent the prisoners communicate
ing with any one without, headed the
cuvalcade, gave the word, and they
started. at brisk trot, on their formi-
dsble journey. How long they had
travelled gill they made their first halt.
he knew not, for he Was in total dark
ness, and his guards were dumb to all
his inquiries; they were strictly for
hidden To speak TO the prisoner, and
/ few Russian soldiers are SO much in
love with the knout, "a 10 disobey or
dcrs; but reckoning time by signs. and
grosns, and lamentations, it seemed
TO him an eternity. At length the
carriage sdoor vas opened. IL was
broad day; bot no was not long per.
mitted 70 enjoy tie blessed light Of :he
sun, for he was instantly blind. foided,
add 10 that state led into miserable
hovei. Here the bandage Was removed
from has eyes, and he found himself in
small room, the windows Of which
being closed, was dimIy lighted by a
solitary candle. Some coarse food was
placed on n rough wooden table, and
signs were made 20 him that he should
eat IL. But few hours sgohe was re
Yelling amidst the splendour aud en-.
lioying the Injuries ~ = pslace-princes
the partskeTs Of his pleasures, a mighty
potentate his boon companion. Now,
disgraced banished and forlorn man
wtetched shed for his resting place
his fare so little tempting, be would
not yesterday have offered u 10 a siarv.
ing mendicani! surrounded by faces
which, for the y npaihy he would have
.implored. struck hopelcssnesS down &.
the very bottom or bis heart ~ he did
bat look upon them; traveller on 4
heavy, dreary journey, which, Wher
enjed, 10 tongue should say to BIN
welcome : nor should his soul fcjoic,
~ be should utter. shefe will be ~
iwelling' Siberia! In that one wore
seemed to him 20 be concentrated az
Of human suffering; and as he WILDLY
paced the mud floor Of the comfortIesi