Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-12-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE vENDEEAN's STORY,

THE VENDEEAN'S STORY. .,3 s,,
The royalists had retired from the siege of
Nantes, a city which was held by the represent
tatives of the French Convention. Although
the people of this devoted city, had remained
quiet during the siege, although they had taken
no part in the horrible war of the Vendee--yet
it was decreed that it should suffer the fortunes
of revolutionary tribunal-that its wealthy
and quiet citizens should be massacred by hum
ireds, because, in the significant language of
the day, they were "rich and aristocratic. p
Carrier. man whose name should be associa-
ted with those Of Marat and Robespierre, was
commissioned by the legislators OF Republican
France to pour out upon the devoted cities OF
the Veudee, the full walls of republican wrath.
Nantes suffered most severely. Its very streets
ran with blootl--aud the tranquil bosom of the
Loire bore witness of many a foul and mid
night murder
We had lain long in prison. The world
SCENE to have forgotten US. 1t was only
when our surley keepers bestowed upon us
their curses, with the miserable susteuance
which we were compelled TO partakc of. that
the horrible monotony OF our confinement was
broken. We indeed knew nothing of all that
was going on around, and our fears could me-
yer have equaled the frightful reality Sepa-
rated from our families-alike ignorant of their
.ate and our own destiny, hope at length de-
serted us, and we we're silent in despair.
We--vsre at last reused by the entrance of &
republican oficer-one Of the guards of Car.
rier. L had noticed him before my confinement
and marked him as would some dangerous
serpent The impress of the demon was upor
his countenance. had seen him once, wher
group of pleasant farm houses were bursting
into flames and the work of destruction going
on, writing his sacred visage into smile.
had never seen such smile before. 1t told o
dark and hateful passions-of emulation like
that which an Internal spirit might be supposed
TO feel when some new victim is consigned Il
the unquenchable fire of torment.
He told us he had orders to conduct us from
the prison. Eager questions were made a
20 the design of his command. He made n,
reply, but commanded the door of the dungeon
10 be thrown open. We passed out--many
with a Joyful hope of speedy release. and tn
enjoyment of their home. A band of soldier
received us and conducted us into the open air
1t was a beautiful night Of moonshine. tn
soft light rested on the hills around us, silver
ing the pointed roofs and old spires that stoo
up among them. The broad sheet of the Loir
Law before us, like vein of silver upon
ground of emerald. Nantes-the once ric
and beautiful metropolis of the Vendee, wa
# silent as sepulchre. Black smoke curled u
at intervals into the moonlight, from the smou
dering ashes Of fallen dwellings. The hand
the spoiler had been there, the tide of REVOLT
tionory madness had gone over the fairy CT
in mingled wave,of fire and blood.
We reached the waters edge. A low, da
hulled vessel lay ready to receive us. &C
board, traitorr said the officer who guarded
thither. sYou are destined for Bellisle.'
marked his features as he spoke. The sar
Internal smile was playing upon them-h
more fiendish--more revolving than ever.
Bellisle Law at the mouth of the Loire. L
outline Of its fortress was just visible, grima
ragged, towering to the sky. Ghe revolutie
AIRY banner was Tapping about it, like bird
evil, lowering about its destined prey.
we were hurried on board the vessel. VIII
to our astonishment was already crowded W
prisoners like ourselves. The young and be-
tiful and high-born of both sexes were the
There were many, familiar faces in that gro
seen dimly in the lamplght-proud men ;
lovely women, whom had known in hapF
hours-but there was no look Of recognit
given or received: every one felt the press
of some unshared and peculiar anguish
our meeting was in silence, broken only by
thick sob and passionate burst of tears.
A light hand fell upon my shoulder, an
voice to whose tones my spirit would have
snonded from the very threshold OF ctern
announced my name. started at the sou