The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-20

inc tWo INST ueHberate, CAUTIOUS, Dut uetefmln-
ed; the last, naughty, furious, and bloody
minded each of them considering the plot in
which they were engaged as a means Of crafty
ing envy and private revenge more than the
| probability OF It's success; but all devoted 10
their leader by strong personal attachment and
considerable pecuniary obligation.
After many consultations, the conspirators
considered the means they possessed as fully
adequate 10 the object in view and determined,
if possible, to dispatch the two Dorias without
further delay; as the vigilance, abilities, and
patriotism of this family were the chief obstacles
| 10 their design.
For TINS purpose, they were invited to pub
lie entertainment at the Fiesco palace; thus, a
man OF rank, education and considerable moral
recttude, who, few months before, would have
started at injurng fellow creature in the slight
est degree, was stimulated, by thirst for power
to stain his threshold with the blood of the vene
rable fathers OF his country, and, under the guise
OF hospitality, to commit assassination. sud-
den illness Of Andrew prevented the execution
Of this part other plan.
Flesco thought il necessary to discover the
conspiracy to Paul Pansa, the friend and tutor
of his youth, respectable for his age, his learn
| ing, and integrity, hoping that he would join
and assist their counsels
| Pansa replied, that from the alteration in his
looks, manners, and mode Of speaking, and from
his associating with persons of inferior rank and
doubtful reputation, he had long suspected that
| a dangerous enterprise was in agitation, that he
had forborne from delicacy, friendship and re-
spect, 10 enter on the subject; but, although he
would not betray, he could not participate in the
| undertaking.
The good old man conjured him, by the no.
nors Of his house, by his friendship, by his be-
lief in that holy religion, whose maxims it had
been the business of his life TO inculcate and inn
press on his mind by those locks which were
grey in the service of his family, and, lastly, by
his love for Eleanora; not to throw away the
real and certain happiness he possessed for chi
merlcal and hazardous expectations; which, IT
they succeeded, could not elevate him TO stua-
ton more splendid, honorable, and happy, than
that in which he was already placed; but, if they
failed, would be productive Of death, nfamy,
and confiscation TO all concerned.
That, to many of his associates, bankrupts in
| fame as well as fortune, and looking only to
what they could get in general plumber, mas
sacre, and confusion, such considerations were
| useless; but that men like himself and a few
others, who had something to lose, would do
well coollv to weigh the consequences and ha-
| zard OF so momentous and irretrievable step;
neltiei argument nor entreaty could prevail on
4 Flesco, and the worthy veteran departed from
his palace in tears.
The evening of the next day was fixed for
executing their purpose, and cannon fired IN
|
he was ready to cooperate.
An entertainment having been announced,
many guests repaired 10 the palace, which they
| found crowded with strangers and armed sol
diers the persons invited, being conducted to
| spacious saloon in remote part Of the building,
found the leader and principal conspirators as
sembed, when Fiesco thus addressed them:
| The hour length approaches when you have
| il in your power TO relieve Genoa from the yoke
of tyrannic and naughty nobility; in less than
an hour our portion will be honorable death, or
the recovery and establishment Of our freedom
on glorious and eternal basis this is the feast
to which have invited YOU
| The younger, Doria has, for several years,
been endeavoring to secure to himself and fami-
| " absolute power; in order more completely to
deceive, and that your chains may be indissolu-
| bly, regretted, he would establish dcspotism I'M
der the forms of republic; considering me as
one determined to oppose his designs, he has
resolved to assassinate me, but have hitherto
been preserved by Providence from his stiletto,
for the purpose Of restoring you to liberty.
You are grievously oppressed by arrogant
| task masters, whose pride and hardness of heart
will increase, should the Doria family succeed
in their wishes.
If we succeed in the undertaking to which
you are called, will Immediately restore the
popular government; so well planned are our
precautions, 'and so effective the means we have
taken, that success and easy victory may be pro-
nounced as certain.
The city guards an artiicers are wholly de-
voted to my will their number is nearly three
thousand; these, with two thousand OF my own
vassals, and the same number from the Duke of
Pacentia, wait only for my orders.
Our designs are profound secret; the enemy
is off his guard, the danger, the difficulty, the
expense and anxiety have been mine; TO share
in the glory, to rescue yourselves from slavery,
and enjoy the blessings offer, is your portion.
But, as wish no man to engage who cannot
cheerfully cooperate with hand and heart, should
any person present be averse TO the business in
question, let them retire to tower which adj
joins TO my palace, where they shall remain in
safety till the short struggle is concluded, when,
pledge my honor, that they shall return unmo-
Tested to their families.
The guests, who had been invited, as they
imagined, to an entertainment, were motionless
and silent but when they had recovered from
the surprise naturally excited by SO unexpected
proposal, they declared, with the exception Of
only two citizens, that they would support the
count with their lives and fortunes: the compa-
nv then partook of hasty repast, while to each
Of them his post and duty were assigned.
hard painful task, still remained for Fl
esco; the fever Of ambition had not extinguish
ed love; he repaired to the apartment Of Flea
nora, to which he had invited his friend Pansa
for the evening, hoping that his interesting con-
versation and agreeable manners would prevent
her from observing what passed for, with de-
gree of cruel kindness, he had notyet given her
any intimation of the conspiracy.
Supporting, as far as he was able, the aglta-
ton in his breast, he communicated, in few
words, to the trembling Eleanora, the business
of the night. Terrified and distracted, she
rushed into his arms, conjuring him, by every
tender Tie, to abandon his enterprise.
The thunder Of the cannon fred by Verrina
shook the palace, and prevented further words
tearing himself from the friend he loved, and
from the wife he adored. Fiesco returned pre-