Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-03-30
rom Inc JsinOcFatIc Review
AMERICA vESPUCCI-A HEROINE.


AMERICA vEsPUCCI-A HEROINE.
Tac circnms tances which have led this inter
estilfy :oung stranger to shores-if ii is no
m'saPPlicaiion OF the word to designate her a
a stranger, though tho soft accents of her na,iv
Tuscan are yet the only language familiar L
her hps-may be thus briefly stated
Alter spending, like most of the Young Italia,
Iiadies OF rank, fourteen wears of her youth in
conVen, for her education the convent of lie Sig,
more della Quiete, IN the ensirons OF Florence
she was introduced into the midst Of the briilian
society of the capital and cour, of the Crane
Duke of Tuscany, at the age of seventeen. Sh,
was placed by her parents IN the service of the
Grand Ddtchess, s'demoiscle de compaenie-
or maid of honor. There she was of course sur
rounded with all the seductive Influences of Eu
ropeau aristocratlc ie in the midst of the SPLEEN
doris and iuxuries Of the Pitt Palace Her mint
had, however, aIready--by It's own self-derivea
lnP<!ees, il would SEEM for it was certainly
entirely at variance with all the natural bias oil
such an education and such pnsiton-taken Il
decided direction in the mov enent of liberal ideas
which is the leading charac teriste of the age
and which in country has exercised stronger
influence upon the Imagination Of ardent youth
than in Italy. Possessed Of rare natural talents
highly accomplished by reading and cultivation.
with remarkable force Of character, vivacty ot
imagination, and energy of will, it will no,
be & subject of surprise, that during the agita-
tons that were fermeniing IN the north of Italy
immediately after the French Revolution, she was
one at the few females whose social disposition and
personal qualities gained them admission to the
secret societies which were conspiring TO rid Ita-
ly If the dominion of foreign despotism and TO
unite the whole OF that beautiful and unhappy
land under single sovereignty, which might "a
gam restore II TO a rank amidst the family of ma
tons. But we are not aware Of any others whose
ardor carried them beyond tho private machina-
nor nj cor tn fha E,tI 80
ana blood.
II the attempted rising of August, 1892 and
in the engagement with the Austrians on the
ba.sks OF the Rimini, in which it will be remem-
bercd by our readers that young Louis Bonaparte
toah part, she conducted herself with great gal
Iantry, and received severe sabre stroke on the
back OF her head. from Austrian iragoon Ito
wh2m, however, though namoIess, tho Justice
ought TO be done to state that he did not know
her to be woman; and in her fall to the ground I
ler right arm was broken by the weight of her
morse falling upon it, Though suspected her dis /
yuised Participa in this affair could not be
we'd, and after her recovery from her wounds
h3 spent two years in her fathers house in Flor
,ace. though under vigilant surveillance This
esuited IN the InterceptIon of letter TO her, as
ecretary of one of the sections of the society of
&c Jeane Halie,'' which made it apparent that
,T-~y. t-1It -
e,ray her associates, or to quit Florence ir;tain
trenfy-four hours. Her choice between these
wo alternatives docs not need TO be stated. She
ound a present ASYLUM under the protection of +
he Queen of the French; and it is under the au-
picies of the French flag, and the highest guar
ntees of the geuuineness If her title to Ameri-
an sympathy and friendship, in all points of views
f character, conduct, family, and position, the,
he is now here, in the country TO which she had
lways looked her natural homo of refuge ane ,
rejection. Her letter to Congress, already be-
,re the public, presents her TO that body ,
nd to the country with elegance and elo-
uence TO which we can add nothing further, to
lpport her simple and disuified appeal to the :
encrous magnanimity of the gt eat nation, Chris s
med to her own language, by the ances- G
II who has bequeathed TO her, to it, his i'm r
erishabic name.