Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-22

moro OF tnlS, lie auucu, u! stNcIc toUt:
except to draw from it vengeance which
shall strike a santary terror upon this coun-
try oftreachery.'
An hour after, n whole regiment de-
tatchmcni of calvary, and a tram of artillery
were on their march. The General and
Victor marched Il, the head Of this column.
The soldiers, informed of the massacre Of
their comrades, were filled with an unexam-
Piled fury. The distance that separated the
town of Menda from the headquarters was
traverscd with "A miraculous rapidly. On
the route the General found whole villages
in ruins. Every one Of these miserable ham
lets was reduced TO ashes and their inlhbi-
tants decimatcd. BY some inexplicable ia
tally. the English vessels had remained ~
ing to, without advancing,& so that the town
Of Menda was surrounded by the French
troops, with scarcely u blow struck. The
inhabitants, seized with CONSERVATION, and
seeing themselves destitute Of that aid which
the appearance Of the English sails had
seemed to promise them, offered TO snrren-
der at discretion. By one of those acts of
self devotion which have not been rare N
the Peninsula, those concerned in the as
sassina,on of the French, forcscring, from
the well known cruelty Of the General, that
Menda would probably be given TO the
flames, and its whole Formulation put to the
sword, proposed to the General to Give in
formation against themselves. lie accepted
their offer, adding to IT the condition that all
the inhabitants of the castle, from the lowest
valet 10 the marquis, should be delivered
into his hands. This capitula'ion being
agreed upon. the General promised to par
don the rest of the people of the town, and
to prevent his soldiers from sacking or set
ting it on fire. An enormous contribution
was imposed on it, and the richest inhahi-
tan,s surrendered themselves as prisoners TO
guaranty its pavment, which was to be con-
summarized wihiu twenty -f,uI huns.
The General having taken every prccau
ton necessary for the SAFETY of his troops.
and provided for the defence Of the country,
refused to billet his soldiers in the houses.
He cncamprd them, and then ascenled 10
the castle, of which he took military passes
sion. All the members Of the family of Lee
games, consisting of his wife, two daughters,
and three sans, together with the servants,
were placed under careful guard and pnlon-
ed. The General ordered the prisoners to
he shut up in the saloon in which the ball
had taken place. The windows of that
apartment embraced view of the terrace
that overhung the town. The staff was cs-
'ahllshcd in a nrghborne gallery, where the
General first held council of war on the
measures to be taken to oppose the landing
of the English.
After having despatched his add ramp
TO Marshall Nry, and given orders for tie
erection ef batteries on the coast, the Cen
eral and his staff turned their attention to
the prisoners. Two hundred Spannlds
whom the Inhabitants had delivered up, were
Immediately shot upon the terrace. After
this military execution, the General CONF
manded as many scallolds to he planted on
the terrace as there we're persons in the sa-
loon, and the cxrculioner of the town to be
brought to the spot.
Taking advantage Of the interval to elapsr
before the service of dinner for the staff in
the gallery of the castle, Victor Marcland
went to see the prisoners. Presently he re-
turned to the General.
Il come he sad, in voice Of strong
emotion, 10 ask fIvors.'
you = answered the General, with "A
tone of bitter irony.
ALAS y replied Victor, they are mcan-
choly favors. The marquis, seeing the scat
folds placed there, has INDUCED the hope that
you would for his family, change that mode
of death. He enreats you tina, the mobiles
may be decapilated.'
Be it So said the General.
They ask, also, that the consultations OF
religion be afforded Them and that they may
: be released from their bonds. They prom>
Use 10 make no attempt to escape
CONSENT said the General; bat you
will be answerable for them
The old man, moreover, offers you the
whole of his fortune, if you will pardon his
young son.
Indeed i replied the chief; 'but his
fortune already belongs to King Jose.' lie
paused. A scornful smile wrinkled his brow,
and he added: II will even 90 beyond their
wishes. guess the importance of the last
request. Very well. Let him purchase the
pcrpetuation of his name; and let Spain
preserve forever the memory both of their
truachery and their punishment. grant a
pardon, and the whole of that fortune, to
W MS SoilS SUdII perform IIIe OIL
flee of the execulioner. Begone, and not a
word more on the subject =
Victor remained lhunders,ruck.
The dinner was served. Al the officers
seated at table, satisfied the demands of a
hunger sharpened by fatigue. One only OF
their number was wanting from the circle
it was Victor Marchand. After a long hest
taion, he proceeded TO the apartment ia
which we're mourning the proud family Lee
games. He entered. He cast mournfn
glance over the spectacle now presented by
that saloon, where, the evening before, he
haze been seen the gay and brilliant heads
of the two young girls and the three youths,
whirling in the stream of the waltz. lie
sl,uddered as he thought that they we're soon
to roll to the ground, severed by the sword
of the headsman. The father and the moth
er, the three sons and two daughters, plnion-
to gilt sofas, remained in "A state of perfect
molionlessness. Eight servants were stand
inn in ell ,,;, 4, ala ,; h,,Is hn,,d kol \