The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-04-21

Baid the stranger +" take your money, but
bewcre how you return to a country, the
government (which you despised."
A Genoese painter, at work in church,
uuarrelled with some Frenchmen,who made
use of very abusive expressions against the
Government. The following morning the
artist was carried before the Inquisitors of
the State, and interrogated with regard to |
the persons with whom he had disputed on
the preceding day. The terrified prisoner
fastened to clear himself. protesting that he !
had said nothing offensive to the Govern /
ment. Suddenly a curtHin was drawn aside |
and he beheld the two Frenchmen strang
led Half dead withlerror,he was dismissed
with an Injunction to avoid speaking of the
Government in future either good or evil.
Not unfrequently persons were sacrificed
by the lnquisitors to the most unfounded
jealousies. On the return of Venetian
Z squadron, dispute arose between the peo-
pie and sailors, and dangerous rio. ensu-
ed. The Magistrates in vain atte mpted to
stop the effusion of blood, till at lenrth an
officer. who had formerly commanded iashe
fleet, and who was much beloved w the
sailors, interiered. and by his influence sue
ceeded in calming the tumult. The repu
tation he acquired by this act excited the
alarm of the Inquisitors. He was secretly
seized, and never afterwards seen. In the
same manner Venetian, who during a time
of scarcity, distributed Germ to the poor, was
committed to the cells of a state prison.
THE BURNING OF THE HUMAN BoDY BY
-HABIrUAL DRUNKENNESS. Many curious
articles of this aro given in tho history of
intoxicating liquors contained in the third
volume of Dr.. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopg-
dia. La these cases. the body became so
saturated with spirits, that it took FIRE
either spontaneously or by the proximity of
fame. which otherwise could have produced
noiajnry. We extract the foowing:-
Mary Clues, aged so, was much addicted
to intoxication. Her propensity to this was
such, that for about a year scarcely day
passed in which she did not drink at least
half a pint of rum or anhisseed water. Her
health gradually declined; she was attack
ed with iaundice, and was confined to her
bed. She still continued her old habit of
drinking. One morning she fell on the
floor; and her weakness having prevented
her getting up, she remained so till some
one entered and put her to bed. The fol-
lowing night she wished to be left alone.
A woman, on quitting her, had put coal
on the FIRE, and placed light on chair at
the head of the bed. At five in the morn
ing smoke was seen issuing through the
window, and the door being broken open,
some flames which were in the room were
soon extiDgnished. Between the bed and
the chimney were found the remains of the
unfortunate Clues. One leg and thigh
were still entire, but there remained moth
lng of the skin, the muscles, or the viscera
The homes of the Uranium, the breast, the
spine and the upper extremities, were en-
tirely calrined. The furniture had sustained
little injury. The side of the bed next to
the chimney had suffered most the wood
OF It was slightly burnt, but the feathers,
clothes, and covering, were safe. Moth
ing except the body exhibited any strong
traces of fire.
Grace Pitt, aged about 60, had habit of
coming down from her bed room half dress
Ell, to smoke pipe. One night she came
down as usual. Her daughter, who slept
with her, did not perceive she was absent till
next morning, when she went down into the
kitchen, found her mother stretched out on
the right side, with her head near the CRATE,
having the appearance of log of wood
consumed by fire, without an apparent
flame. The fptid odour and smoke which
exhaled from the body almost suffocated
some of the neighbors, who fastened to the
girls assistance. The trunk was in some
measure incinerated, and resembled hea2
OF Goals covered with white ashes. The
head, the arms, the legs, and the thighs,
had also participated in the burning. This
woman had drank large quantity of
splrituous liquor. There was no fire in the
crate, and the candle hail burned entirely
cut in the candlestick which was close 10
her. Besides, there were found near the
consumed body the clothes of child and
paper screen, which had sustained no
injnry. The dress of this woman consist
ell of cotton gown.
lie Cat relates another instance. which
occurred in l749. Madame lie Boiseon.
eighty years of age, exceedingly meace,.
who had drank nothing but spirits for
several years, was sitting in her elbow
chair before the fire, while her waiting
maid went out of the room for few minutes.
On her return. seeing her mistress on fire.
she Immediately gave an alarm, and some
people having come to her assistance, one
of them eRieavoTed 10 extingush the flames
with his hand, hut they adhered to it, MS if
1t had been dipped in brandy. Water was
thrown on the lady in abundance, yet the
fire appeared more violent, and was not ex-
tinguished till the whole flesh had been
consumed. Her skeleton, exceedingly black k,
remained entire in the chair, which was
only little srorched
The combustion is almost always general,
hut sometimes is partial the feet, hands,
and top of the head, are the only parts
that have been preserved. Although a
ne-y LARGO quantity of wood is neeessarv
Tor turning corpse. this kind or burning
occurs without infaming the most combus.
tlhlc substances. The presence of air is
shown not be necessary AMI it rs found
that water. instead of exiinguishing the fire,
only gives it more activity. When the
fame has disappeared, the combustion con-
tinues within the body.-LondOn paper.