Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-23
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
MY IMPRISONMENT.

| MY IMPRISONMENT.
With this title the Harpers, of New York,
have published a handsome volume, translated
from the Italian by Thomas Roscoe, containing
memoirs Of sellco Pelico. da saluzzo. OF this
interesting volume the New York American, with
great truth observes:
This is book which in Europe should, like
the drum covered with the skin Of John Zsca, be
used to arouse every heart against expressions
such as it details, aud against the political insti-
tu,ions under which they could be perpetrated
with impunity. Here it will be eagerly perused,
as the interesting record Of undeserved suferings
endured with high minded constancy, and cheer
ed by unfaiins reliance upon the promises OF
the gospel 1t is beautiful instance Of the pow.
err Of the mind when rightly directed and finely
touched, to elevate the physical frame above
even such torments as this sun Of genius was sub.
! iected to- Pellico's crime was desire to i'm
prove, elevate and naionaliZe the feelings Of his
country men, to render Italians worthy OF their
iescent-and with this view he became the ed.
tor of newspaper. His journal was soon sup.
pressed by the Austrian Censorship, and he him.
self cast into prison, and that prison was "tne
leads" of the Duca palace at Venice. Our
readers shall see what sort OF imprisonment that
was:
My solitude, meantime, grew more oppressive.
Two sons Of the taller, whom had been 10 the
habit Of seeing at brief intervals, were sent t"
school, and saw them no more. The mother
and the sister, who had been accustomed, along
with them to speak to me; never came near me,
except TO bring NV coffee. About the mother
cared very little; but the daughter, though rather
plain, had something so pleasing and gentle. b"th
| 10 her words and looks, that greatly felt the
loss of them Whenever she brought the coffee,
& said, :. 1t was I ~ho made it;' always thought
| it excellent, but when she Observed, This IS
NV mothers making" it lost all its relish.
Being almost deprived Of human society, | one
day made acquaintance with some ants upon
my aindow; / fed them; they went away, ana
ere long the place was thronged with these lit
tie insects, as if come BY invitation. spider
too. had weaved noble edIfice upon my walls,
and often gave him feast of snats or Hes
which were extremely annoying to me. and which
| he liked much better than did.
got quite accustomed to the sight OF him; he
| wuu d run over my bed. and come and take pre-
cious morsels out of hand. Would to heaven
these had been the only insects which visited nv
abode. II was still summer. and the snats had
begun to multiply to a prodisious aud alarming
extent. The previous winter had been remar
bly mild, and after the prevalence OF the March
winds, followed extreme heat. 1t is impossible
to convey an idea of the insuiferable oppression
of the air in the place occupied. Opposed d.
rectly to noontide sun, under leaden ioof'
and with a window looking on the root of 81.
Mark, casting a tremendous rejection OF the
heat, | was nearly saffcated. had never con-
ceived an idea Of punishment so lntoerao'r;
add to which the clouds Of gnats, which spite OF
nv utmost Efforts. covered every article OF tur
uiture 10 the room, till even the walls and cell
ips seemed alive with them; and had some aP
preheusiun Of heing devoured alive Their bltes'
moreover, we're extremely Plainful, and wheh
thus punctured from morning I'LL night, only 10
undergo the same operations from day TO day.
and engaged the wholc time in killing and stay
inv. some IDEA cray be formed Of the state both
Of nv bod, and mind.
| felt the full force of such scourse, yet was
unable TO obtain change Of dungeon, III. at
length was tempted 10 rid myself OF my 'ie'
and had strong fears of running distracted
! But, thanks be 10 God, these thoughts were "o'
of long duration, and religion continued 10 sus
tain me. Ii taught me that man was eorh 10
suffer, and to suffer with courage; It taught me
10 experience a sort of pleasure IN my troubles,
to resist and to vanquish in the battle appointed
The more unhappy, said to myself. my lie
NAV become. the less will yield to nv 'ate'
even though | should he condemned IN the morn,
ing of INV life to the scaffold. Perhaps. without
these preliminary and Christening trials, might
have met death in an unworthy manner.
|