Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-09
Translated fom the French fortho Boston Traveller.

! long the Eastern coast, have admired the picur-
csque beauty of the landscape, especially in the in
terva which separates Ancona from Rmini. On
the sides and summit Of one of those rich and YER
dant hills, which seem to have detached themselves
from the Apprentices to battle their feet in the Adrl-
attic and from which may be deserted the city where
Dante has made us witnesses of the tragical end Of
the celebrated Francisco no less than seven Con-
vents might be counted before the first French Rev
olution The several Fathers were skilful, as is
well known in the choice of sites and points of
view. 1t is common, at the present day, TO say in
appreciation of the position of villa, that "it is sit
uatcd like Convent"
These converts were suppressed at the time Italy
was united by Bonaparte to the French Empire,
but were soon repeopled after the restoration. At
the present moment they are in very llourishing
condition and afforded agreeable resort, in their
seasons of leisure, TO the devotees of the central
houses. However as the property of such monas-
tic establishments was sold at the time of their
suppression, and as the Congress Of Vicna imposed
upon the Pope the obligation to respect sales alrea-
DIV effected the old costers have not all been res
tored to their primitive destination. The repeated
invitations given to the purchasers, by the Holy
See, 10 resign their claims. have not been general
W complied with. Some Of those old monasc
residences have accordingly remained in private
hands and the felicity OF their position has caus-
ed them 10 be metamorphosed into delightful villas.
The country scat of the countess B*"** is of this
number,-lhc same which Lord Byron occupied
| for six months with the fair GucCloli. Madame
B##*a had been for some time engaged IN making
improvements in her villa. The solidlty and thick
ness of the walls, the yaulted arrangement of the
halls and corridors had only very gradually given
place TO more modern constructions. At length 1t
was determined to oidce the last vestiges of its
monklsh architecture.
| The aborers were at work demolshing a mas
sive piece of masonry, which seemed to have no
to It,ti,p in two
cellar. All at once they were surprised at the hal
low and sonorous sound made by their hammers
striking upon the wall. Doubtless, thought they,
here the hiding-placcs so much talked OF, where
the treasures of the Convent were deposited at the
time of the French conquest The Countess's
Superintendent is informed of the discovery. He
urges the workmcn his eyes pierce the wall quick
err than the points Of their pics; already he sees
gold, silver and precious vessels rolling at his feet;
the cry" hands offs just ready to escape his
lips.
An enormous stone rives way and there is de-
serted within the wall sort of cell two feet wide
and five high, in the shape Of an inverted funnel
the point of which, lost in the vault, was directed
towards the floor of the old relectory. 1t was
empty A second cell exactly like the first offered
nothing better to the eager curiosity Of the labor
crs but two Others the last discovered, more than
repaid their long impotence, if they did not satisfy
their cupidity. Two skeletons presented them
selves to the horror struck eyes of the spectators
The tunics in which they we're envclopcd were en-
w wv rY, VIZ ' III - L ., ~
oi;l or,' ~ 'rto n, lLtIs ,i
.; ~ , W i'"' isd b,o L,, ~, l;
in those horid sepnchrcs.
The report Of this discovery spread with rapldy,
and the curious Of the neighborhood focked ca
eio conor1i,,ol ,,ar, roars ,ror;a,,s w., ,,.,
monks and como inns f5r 3s was ernn.,sed hmm.
isLoJ occnrTod "a o,ar,, r,ind FF
A. tho limo his via was in rossos,io, IF tho
monks vounr rrl of the neighborhood sn6denlv
| disonncorod nd M ,roco of bor could no c,vnJ
One everino Tho sacriston nc ,s,ol oIfor sar,,o
closed the doors If the convent chanel witbont Oh
SERVING neasont who had f,llen osleen IN o,o IS
the confessionals When the latter o;yoto !, was
ton late IN call with safety the puorl;on c,Io
and he rcs9nod himself TO- whit peacoahI, for b;s
deliverance until the following dav. Ue occor-
dinghy made ARRANGEMENTS to mass ms comCortahIv
as nossihlo tho remainder of the NIGH, Rut ir:t
ne he was on ,bc noint of go,ng TO sIcon lbe Ioor
of the sacristv openinp'disturbed him. TURNING
with ofriqbt towards The spot whence tho nois9o
onooir55 ~ ,oi,od t,, I,or,s ti e. LIS;
lono in one hand and an iron bar in ibo other
and the second DRAGGING alone undor lis arm, ~
woman who made bn feeble nttemns ot rosis,o 'rr
At this sight the blood of the unfortunate peasant
ran cold. lie held his breath, for he well UNDER
stood that the least notion which should reveal his
presence, would be fatal to HIN
When they reached the nave. the two monks
stopped He who held the lamp and the bar set
! them down. and the other let fail his burden with
its whole weight upon the floor. Tbev were not
long in raising one of those LARGE slabs which nro
fused to cover tombs in the Italian churches. The
goo placed uDon her mouth diJ not wholly stiAe
\ The cries of tho wrot,hed woman whom tb3v wnro
roipp TO bury alive Allhough bor hands wero
closely tied and she was evidently far advanced in
pregnancy, She succeeded in rai:in@ herself mon
her knees pnd berTod n'orc, 81 log owocUt;onprs
ne Houhs Held CouIsel together Tor moment
and seemed to hesitate as to what they should do.