Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-08-26

chalk, or peat earth, 1.-The vast block of
marble or granite il had detached without
being able to remove, around which thou.
sand ever-changirg cataracis added roar 10
roar, cascade TO cascade the trunks of
trees il had uprooted, of which the still To-
liage branches emerging from the water
were agtated by the winds, while the roots
were bulieted by the waves; fragments of
the very banks clothed with yerdure, and
driven like floating islands against the trees,
as the trees were driven in their turn against
the blocks of granite ;--all this, these muir
murs. clashings, ard roarings. confined be.
tween narrow and precpiious banks, inl.
pressed me with wonder and admiration
And this torrent was the Clusone
Skirting IFS shores, pursued the course
OF the stream into one Of the four valleys
retaining the name Of Protestant" in the
memory of the vaudois who formerly took
refuge in their soIitudes. ThTe, my tor
rent lost its wild irregularity and its hun
dred roaring voices were presently subdns-
ed. Its shattered trees aud islands had been
deposited on some adjacent level; its col
ours had resolved themselves into one and
the material of its bed no longer distinguish.
able on the tranquil surface. Still strong
and copious, it now flowed with decency,
proprie'y, almost with coquelry: affecting
the airs Of a modest rivulet as il bathed the
rugged walls Of Fenesirella.
Il was then visited Fenestrella, a large
= town celebrated for peppermint water, and
the fortress which crowns the two noun
tans between which il is situated, commu.
lnlrafInO tvtfb oa,k h..
but partly dismantled during the wars Of the
Republic. One OF the forts. however, was
repaired and refortihed when Piedmont be.
came Incorporated into France.
In this fortress Of Fenestrella, was
Charles Veramont. Count de Charney, in.
carceraied, on an accusation Of having at
tempted TO subsert the laws Of government.
} and introduce anarchy and confusion into
the country.
: Estrhnged by rigid Imprisonment, alike
from men Of science and men OF pleasure,
and regreltng neither.-renouncing with
! out much effort his wild projects Of polti.
, cal regeneration, bidding forced fare
well to lis fortune, by the pomps Of which
he had ieen undazzled, Ito his friends.
. VINO were grown tiresome, and his mistress
es, who were grown faithless; having for
E. his abode. instead of a Psineely mansion, .
5 hare aud gloomy chamber the gaoler of
: Charney was now his sole attendant, and his
+. ihbittered spirit his only companion.
{ But what signiied the gloom and naked
4 ries Of his apartment The necessaries Of
I, III we're there. and he had long been dis.
: gtsted with its superhuiiies Even his gao
k le gave him no offence. II was only his
own thoughts that troubled him
: Yet what other diversions remained for
Q b. solilude-but selfconference Alas !
}, nole Nothing Ground him or before him
u Do WEAKNESS and veKalion or spirit, All
c correspondence was inieFdicied lie was
}, allowed no books, nor pens nor paper for
such was the established discipline at Fem
u estrella. A year before, when the count
: was intent only on emancipping himself
IRON the perplexi,ies of learning, this loss
i might have seemed gain. But now, a book
i would have afforded friend TO consult. or
a an adversary 10 be confuted Deprived Of
o every thing, sequestered from the world.
n Charney had nothing left for il, but 10 be.
e come reconciled TO himself, and live in
y peace with that natural enemy, his SOUL
For the cruelty with which that unsiIencea.
u Ole monitor continued to set before him the
= desperateness Of his condition, rendered
e Cancellation necessary. His case was in
- deed hard one A man TO whom nature
5 mad been so prodigal, whose cradle society
J. had surrounded with honours end priyi.
e leges, he to be reduced to such abiect in.
significance The to have need of pity and
p protection, who had faith neither in The on.
e ls,ence of God nor the mercy Of his fellow.
o creatures
: Vainly did he strive TO throw off tbi.
" highiiul consciousness, when in the solitude
/. OF MS reveries it alternately chilled and
i scorched his shrinking bosom and once
more, the unhappy Cbarney began 10 cling
!, Tor support TO the visible and material
world, now, alas how circumscribed a.
: round him. The room assigned 10 his use
! was at The rear of the citadel, in a small
" building raised upon the ruins of a vast and
= strong foundation, serving formerly for de.
. ience, but rendered useless by new sys.
T. TEN of fortiication.
- -Four walls, newly whitewashed. so tina,
. he was denied even the amusement of ne.
I rlsing the lucubrations of former prisoners
his predecessors; table, serving for his
n meals; chair, whose insulated unity re.
n minded him, that no human being would
n ever sit beside him there in friendly con.
" verse; trunk for his clothes and linen a
r little sideboard Of painted deal, half worm.
= eaten, offered singular contrast 10 the rich
mahogany dressing case, inlaid with silver
i, standing there as the sole representative Of
= his former splendours. A clean, but mar.
= row bed, window curtains OF blue cloth Ia
: ! mere mockery, for, thanks to the closeness
OF his prison bars and the opposite wall rs.
ing at ten feet distance, there was little 10
I lear from prying eyes or the importuna,e
y radiance Of the sun). Such was the com.
= plenent OF furniture allotted to the Counl
y de Charney.
Over his chamber was another. wholly
!, unoccupied; he had not single compan.
. ion IN that detached portion Of the for,resa
The remainder Of his world consisted in
!, a short, massive, winding stone staircase,
!. descending into small paved c,uri, sunk
!. into what had been moat N the earlier
days OF the citadel, in wbet narrow space
lie was permitted to egjoy air and exercise
during two hours OF ,he day. Such was the
laaI- a u