North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-09-25
JOURNAL
OF A POLITICAL PRISONER.
[ Translated for the North American. ]

(coEcLupgp.)
That same evening we were told that those
70 be exiled, we're to leave in the course
ofan hour, and they consequently made
some hasly preparations for their journey
20 Bermuda. However it was not so; and
The next morning we saw the ordinance oil
The Special Council and Lord Durham's
Proclamation, by which the following
gentlemen only were banished To Bermuda,
viz; Drs. Wolffed Nelson, Mason and
Gauvin, Messrs. Bouchette, Des Rivieres,
Marchesseaut, Viger and Goddu. The
following gentlemen who were then in the
States were out-awed and prohibited from
returning TO the Province, under pain of
death, viz: l.. ]. Papineau, Drs. O'Calla-
ehsn, Nelson x Cote, L. Duvernay X E.
+. Rodirr all members of the Provincial
Parliament; also Messrs. Louis Perrault, L.
Gsrnon, George Cartier, Ryan senior,
RYAN junior, LIS. Gauthier, II. S. Brown,
DR.. Joseph Davignon, p. p. Desmarais
sbd Reverend Messire Eft. Charter By
this ordinance and proclamation the doors
Of the as are open TO the other prisoners
under certain conditions, and the other
refugees are at liberty To come back TO the
Province Our unfortunate brethren in
misfortune who are 10 be cyiled, are al.
lowed TO see their friends and relations.
Some Of them have not the good fortune
to see their wives, their children, or their
mothers. during the short interval which
precedes their departure; and as they have
no reason to believe that their exile shall
noibe for life, the parting under these cir
eumslances is heart-rending. All the State
prisoners have made a collection among
themselves, which amounts to 1894, at the
same time the friends OF the cause are maxi
ing subscription which, it is said, a.
mounts to $4,000.
The time for leaving is at last arrived.
Dr.. w. Nelson and Mr.. Bouchette adj
dress us individually in language full OF
most noble, elevated, and patriotic senti-
ments, which could have been uttered only
by noble and high-minded men. They
are oItentlmes, during their speech, inter-
rupted by the cries and the sobbings of
their itllow.countrymen.
We now bid final adieu to these vic
TINS OF despotism, as brothers, who, in oil
PROBABILITY we shall never see again. Our
Tears are mingled with theirs, and orr
feelings are Undesirable. In conformity
10 Their orders, the eight chosen martyrs
are now proceeding down stairs, where
The Sheriff is to put them under military
guard.
Two large covered carriages have arriv-
ed IN the yard oil the jail to take them 10
Inc Steamboat. Several companies OIL
cavalry and infantry are under arms in the
yard and outside Of the walls, and also on
0oaFd Oh the Steamer, where no passengers
are received. The whole population oil
we City animated by opposite feelings, are
% the wharves, and in the streets; they
even illl all the avenues leading to The Jail. |
ihe state prisoners station themselves in |
'oe'r 'ron-grated windows, from whence
'asy can view the departure Of their un-
fortunate brethren. At last these noble
victims come out Of jail, and with an air
'Aa cannot be expressed, they show us
Naelf hands bound with irons. A cry off
Indignation that could no, be well suppress
'ea' is heard from the windows. AT the
zane time the Steamboat which had stop
pea al the wharf Of the new Market, comes
So"a aud waits for the banished at the
"hsu OF the Horse-boat some distance be.
low The Jail. The mounted Hussars pre-
.sn' The crowd from going to that place.
= &c Two carriages leave, escorted by the
"O'safs' and on their way our friends