Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-07-31

conscience alone is not quiet"
Your conscience! have you any
great fault 10 expiatc :"
IA crimc,an enormous crime for which
my whole life has been a cruel and use t.
less expiation; a crime beyond pard on ~
A crime beyond pardon! there does
not exist any! The divine mercy is
greater than all the crimes of man."
But \ criminal, polluted with the
most horrible crime, what has he 10 hope
for? Pardon? There is none Tor me. "
Sc Yes. there Is" cried out the priest
with Enthusiasm; ito doubt il would
be more horrible bias 3hemy than your
very crime itself Religion stretches
out her arms TO repentance. James. il
your repentance is sincere. implore the
divine goodness IL will not abandon
you. Make your confession"
Thercupon the priest uncovered
himself, aud after pronoune;ng the sub
lime words. which open TO the pc ui,ent
the gates OF heaven, he listened to the
begear.
The son Of poor farmer, honoured
with the affection Of family Of high
rank, whose land my father cultivated,
VAS from my infancy welcomed at
the castle Of my masters. Destined
To be valet dc chambre TO the heir Of
the family, the education they gave me,
my rapid progress in study. and the be.
ne,oienoc Of my masters, changed nv
condition i was raised 10 the rank Of
a secretary. l was just turned of TWEEN.
tv-hve years al age, when the revolu-
ton first broke out in France; my
mind vas easily seduced by reading
the newspapers Of that pcriUd my am.
bi,ion made me tired Of my precarious
situation. | conceived the project of
abandoning for the camp the castle
which had been the asylum Of my
youth. Had followed that first im.
pulse, insratitudc would have saved
NE from a crime! The fury Of the rcvo.
iutionists soon spread through the pro.
v'noes; my masters, fearing 10 be ar
rested IN their castle. dismissed Nil
their servants. A SUN of money was
realized IN basic. aud selecting from
among their rich furniture lew arti i.
o'cs, precious for family Tccollections.
they went 10 Paris 10 seek an ASYLUM
IN the crowd. and find repose in the
obsourIty Of their dwelling, | fol
lowed them. as n child Of the house.
Terror rcigucd uncontrolled throuchou,
France, and nobody knew the place Of
concealment Of my masters. Inscribed
on the list Of emisrants. conlisca,ion
had soon devourcd their property; but
II was nothing 10 them, for they were
together. Tranquil and unknown. Ami.
mated by lively faith in Providence.
they lived M the expectation Of better
times. Vain hope. the only person
who could reveal their retreat, and
snatch them from their asylum, had the
basencss TO dcHounce them. This in.
former Is myself. The father, the mo.
Their, four daughters, angels IN beauty
and innocence, and "A young bow. of ten
years Of age. we're thrown togeih,, into
dungeon, and delivered up to the
horrors Of captivity. Their trial com.
menCed.
The most frivolous pretenccS were
then sufficient TO condemn the limo
cent; yet the public accuscrs could
hardly fiud one motive for pro.erutiou
against that noble aud ,irluous family.
\ man was found. who was the conf.
dant at their secrets and their most in
tlmate thoughts; he magnilied the most
simple circumstances Of their lives in
10 guilt, and Invented the frivolous
crime Of conspiracy. This caIumnia
tor, this false witness am he. The
fatal sentence of death was pas sod up.
on the whole family, except the Young
son, an unhappy orphan. destined 10
weep the loss IT all his kindred. and
TO curse his assassin. IL he ever know
hin. Resigned. and finding consolation
"a their virtues, that unfortunate fami.
iy expected death IN prison. AIMS.
take took pace IN the order Of the eye.
cutions. he day appointed Tor theirs.
passed over, and u nobody had med.
died With u. they would have escanrd
the scallUld, 1t beng tie eve ~ the
ninth Of IhcrmidOr. A man. INN,
tent 10 enrich himself with their spo'ls.
repaired 20 the revolutionary tribunal.
ana caused TIE error 10 be feCtiied his
zeal VAS rewarded with a diploma Of
cIVlsm. The order Tor their execution
was delivered immediately, and on
that very evening the fdgitrul jnstcs
81 these times bad its course. This
wicked lnformer, ! sm he. 81 the
close q the day, by torch light, The IA
tai cart transported that noble family
TO death! The father. ~ilh The impress
o. profound sorrOw on bis brow. press
ed N his arms his two youngest daurh.
tiers the mother. heroic aud chfIs
tan like woman. did the same with the
two eldest sod all mingling their 70.
collections. their tears and hopes, y ere
repeating the funeral prayers. The,
did not even once utter TIE name Of
their assassin. Is II was late. she eae.
cutloner. tired IT hi, taxi, had sntru,t
I'd q valet 9th this late execution.
Little accustomed 20 the horribls work.
the valet, on tie Way. begged the ASS
lance Of Passer-by. The latter COZ