Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-29
OF ACHILLE MU-
RAT

RAT.
The following curious anecdote made its
first appearance in an English form, in this
country, in the columns of the New York
Mirror. 1t was translated from the Courier
des Flats Unis.
We may mention the name of prince as
having been, for time at least, connected
with the New Orleans bar Nj. Achille
Murat, son of the ex-king of Naples, made
his debut as an advocate there, and showed
himself a remarkable man, if not an orator.
With singularity, however, belonging to
his character, he never appeared at the bar
a second time, and has since quilted the
town and the country. We may, however,
mention an anecdote of his stay there, which
rests on. the authority Of his mother, the
Princess of Llpona.
While Italy was province ofthe empire,
mutiny broke out IN the garrison of Leg
horn, of so furious a character as to excite
in high degree, Napoleon's Indignation
He was no friend of insubordnation and
resolved to crush it in the bud, and make
terrible example of the culprits. Achille
Murat was charged with this painful duty,
and set off for Leghorn without delay
When he arrived there, the insurrecton had
spent itself, and shame and remorse succee-
ded temporary forgetfulness. However,
the Emperor's orders were strict, that pun
ishment-be inflicted. Murat therefore cal
led the soldiers together, and after reproach-
ing them bitterly for their offence, required
that the ringleader Of the mutiny should be
given up, otherwise ten men out of the bat
talon would be drawn by lot, and shot
The soldiers hung their heads, and profess
sed themselves ready for any punishment the
Emperor might inflict upon them, but beg
ged the General not to force them to turn
informers against their comrades. Murat
could not YIELD and the ten whose names
we're drawn, were about to be carried off,
when three soldiers stepped to the front, and
avowed themselves the instgators of the re-
volt. There was so much shame and con-
triton expressed by the Uieur mOuStdcheS,
that Murat was deeply moved. He stood
silent awhile, then ordered the three GRIM
nals to be taken to prison, to be shot the
next morning.
That same night when everything was
quiet except the measured step of the patrol,
and the cry of sentines OH the walls, Mu-
rat was seated in his apartment, while be-
fore him stood three grlzzed veterans, cap
in hand, weeping like children 1t was not
death the heroes of Arcola and Marengo
feared-it was to be disgraced-to die the
death of traitors; they wept, not for their
fate, but for their crimes!
| " Listen p said Murat. "I believe you
are really sorry for what you have done, and
! want to save your lives. Tomorrow, at
day-break, you will be led out to execution,
outside the city. will take care there shall
be no spectators. The platoon will fire on
you with blank cartridges, and you must fall
down and remain motonless, till they march
off the ground. A trusty man will be ready
to put you into close carriage; vessel
sails tomorrow for America, on board of
which you will embark Here is purse of
gold for each of you. Will you promise to
behave yourselves?
Everything happened as he had arranged
it, and Napoleon thanked Murat for having
taken the lives of only three of his soldiers.
The circumstances remained a secret until
1880, when Prince Achille Murat walking
in the suburbs of New Orleans, was caught
in a shower. He sought shelter in the near
est house, a small and plain one; man and
wife, with their children, were the only ill.,
habitants. The man had an austere, yet
good-natured face, and that stlffish walk
which an old soldier can never get rid of.
The prince remarked that the host eyed him
fixedly, and seemed strangely agitated-
The prince, on the other hand, sitting by the
humble hearth, cast his eyes around the
room with the idle curiosity of man who
has nothing to do. He rose, for he saw on
the walls some coarse engravings of Napo-
Icons Generals and battles. Above them
we're placed, under laurel crown, two por-
traits of Murat, as general and as king
"Have you ever served France p asked
the prince.
eyes, sir" answered the host, not with
out some embarrassment.
"Where land under whom p
"ln Italy, under General Murat."
The son of the soldier-king held out his
hand to his fathers old comrade "Your
name, my brave fellow %
"Cfaude Gerard might ask, sir--"
81 am Achilles Murat."
1T is true, then, and my eyes did not
! deceive me You are the son of my Gen.
eral, of my King, and my savior, If am
now alive, if have wife and children, l
! owe it to him alone and thereupon the old
soldier told the story we have sketched
down, often interrupting it with blessings
and EXPLANATIONS of gratitude.
The prince, whose singular character and
aversion to society, never, while he remained
in America, found any roof more welcome,
and visited none oftener, than that which
covered the poor and humble abode of his
fathers companion in arms.
A FARMERS BARoMETER.-A writer i'm