Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-07
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
THE GALLEY SLAVES OF FRANCE.
FROM A RECENT PUBLICATION.

There are few books more interesting than VI
doco's Memoirs. | own they possessed my INA
,;n,iion strongly for the time. and proved the
S;,,n.ll;,g cause which drove me into those unvi-
s;,ad scenes of foreign life, the Criminal Court.
cha, of the Police CorrectiOnelle and the prisons
Aboye al. my attention.i if not Interest," was drawn
70 those unhappy beings, forcats or galley slaves,
whose lot, though unseparated from their parent
so;I. is still far more to be cOmmlsserated than
that of our expatriated convicts.
About a mile d, slant from one OF the southern
barriers of Paris. a palace was built during our
Henry the Sixth's brief and Precarions posses
.;on of French royalty, BY the BishoP of Win
chester. TWAS known by the name OF Winches-
,sr. of which, however, the French kept CONT
nually clipping and changing the consonants un.
I'll the Ansio-Saxon Winchester dwlndled INTO
the French appelIation Of Bicere. The Bishops
old palace was treated as unceremonlousiy as his
name. being burnt in some OF the civil wars But
there is this advantage in sumptuous editlce,
that its very ruins suggest the thought and sup
DIV the means Of rebuilding 1t. b'cetre. accord
;noly. reared its head, aud is now struggling
mass Of building, containing madhouse, poor
house, hospital, and prison.
Tn see il is a matter Of triiing difficulty, ex
cept on one particular day-tha' devoted to the
riyet,ins Of the chaihe. A surgeon, however,
helonSins to the establishment. promised to pro-
cure me admission, and on receiving his summons,
I started one forenoon for Bcetre. Mortifylng
news awaited my arrival.
The convicts had plotted general insurrec-
ton and escape, which was to have taken place
on the preceding night. II had been discovered
in time, however. aud such precautions taken, as
completely prevented even the attempt. The
chief of these precautions appeared in half re-
siment Of troops, that had blvouacked all night
in the square adjoining the prison, and were still
some living, some lettering about. Strict orders
had been issued. that no strangers should be all.
miIted to witness the ceremony OF rivetting; and
the turkeys and Saolers. in appearance not vet
recovered from the alarm Of the preceding eve
ming, refused to listen TO either bride. menace,
or solicitation. 1t was confoundedly veXatious.
Whilst expostulating, with the turnkey. l caught
a glimpse through barred window Of the interl-
or court, athwart which the chains lay extended,
whilst in one rallied OF even from this the con-
victs were crowded. marching round and round
--precaution forbade their remaining stili-and
u,tering from time TO time such yells and impre-
cations as might deafen and appal Mohawk.
shave caught glimpse at least" Thought |,
a we were unceremonously turned out.
NV friend, the surgeon, babe US. however. not
Jespair When the mau Of influence arrived he
houed to prevail; and in the mean time he led us
?, view the other curiositles of Blcetre. There
MA, the well, the kitchen, the anatomical theatre
The courts were crowded with aged paupers.
WIN each we'll knew that his carcase would I'M
derso what laceration the scalpel OF my friend
and his comrades chose 30 infiict upon 1t. But
the thought seemed not to affect them so much as
it did Us. Methought the business OF di>secfing
dead subjects might have been carried on more
remote from the living candidate; but | was
wrong, for mystery and secrecy always beget
fear.
The mad house was another curiosity. IL con
tains many whose brain the revolution OF July,
1850. had turned One man. ine youth. had
travelled ON foot from distant part OF the king
dom, to she'd his blood as sacrifice to the me-
mnry of Napoleon. He gave his last franc to
obtain admission within the pillar ut the Place
Veudome, and when there opened the veins OF
both his arms, crying out, 81 offer the blood Of
the brave to the names OF Napoleon." His roll
iny black eye was now contrasted with lace
pale as death. lie had lost so much blood that
lew hopes we're entertained of his recovery.
But BIZ Tar the most curious patient ot the mad.
house, was young man who imagined himself to
be a woman. tie was handsome, but not lent
nine IN appearance. duOitu u
with which he was grati6ed. Rags Of ali cOlors
we're hi, delight; and he had made precious col
lection His coquetrv was evident; and he an
suered pcr,inen,Iy all questions, never beilyins
at the same time his i>ed opinion, that he was
endowed with mai,len's charms.
We looked over the book oi reports, and found
seve6.eights of the female patients To have be-
come deranged trem love; whilst. with the majo-
rity Of the males, the hallucination proceeded
from disappointments Of ambition Surprised,
could make out no case of religious maniac;
glad. could discover none Of a student.
We now returned to Vaccinations for the pur-
pose Of entering the forbidden prison. Aprons
were handed US, not unlike BARRIERS. They
were surgeons aprons, always worn BY those of
the establishment when on duty. Might not then
the BARRIERS aprons be tradition OF the barber
surgeonss refrained from asking the question
Mt company. The scheme was, that we
should pa'a for Carabns-such is the nickname
French stuo.ats in chirugery--and in this qua
MY demand admission. The Cerberus of the pri-
sou snnned at the deceit, but wearied and anus
Cd 9NSur opportunities, he actually opehed the