Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-19
JOACHIM IlUHATo
FROM the FRENCH OF merry, By rRs. ST. s.NoH.


| JOACHIM MDHATo
FROM the FRENCH OF merry, XRs. ST. sINoH.
At the mansion of the Comtesse de Ii
pano, at Florence, as soon as the piano
ceased to accompany the airs of Bellini,
that is to say, generally about midnight,
the intimate friends of the family would
draw together in circle, and relate tales
and adventures until morning There was
an incxpressib,e charm in these reuntons
The saloon was still in disorder from the
ball Or the concert, but the dancers or the
artists had disappeared. The music was
scattered upon the desks !; the card tables
displayed taeir fading lamps, with their
four vacant armchairs; to so much joyous
hustle, succeeded a quiet, familiar conver-
sation; coffee was served together with de-
licious watlcs, stamped with the arms of
the Queen, AMI prepared by the former
cook of Madame Dubarry. No one tho't
Of sleep during these delightful morning
soirees. The Comtesse de Lipano used to
say, "Three hours of sleep are enough for
me; it is good habit that owe to my
brother the emperor And the guests
took pride in conforming to habit which
came to them thus directly from Napoleon.
On leaving the palace, we often saw the
CLEAN of the dawn upon the black colorado
of the offices, and upon the dome Of San
Spirito The Comtesse frequently related
to US charming narratives, with that half
French, half Italian grace, which never
forsook her. The illustrious dame had
witnessed SO many dramas, so many festl-
walls, so many misfortunes, that she never
was at loss when she deigned to furnish
her contingent to this traffic in anecdotes.
One night the circle was closely grouped
about her armchair; the noble dame had
promised US something new, and her voice
faltered with emotion her calm and beau
tiful face was evidently agitated by some
sad remembrance Our silence seemed to
question her respectfully, and she began:
"At the time when Italy was French,
a sedition broke out in one of our regi-
ments that was in garrison at Leghorn.
It was much more serious affair than a
common mutiny The Emperor appeared
extremely irritated when he heard the
news; he resolved to make severe exam
pie, and Joachim was charged with the
duty of furnishing the refractory regim iment.
The Emperor's orders were precise and
terrible he wished for no court martials,
but for the immediate execution Of the
culprits
"Joachim arrived at Leghorn, assem-
bled the regiment upon the public square,
and informed the soldiers that he had re-
ceived an order from the Emperor to pun.
ish them, and that he intended to do so.
The yehcmcnce of bis words, his impetu-
GUS and menacing gestures, above all, the
authority of his name, had already bro't
the rebcllious troops to submission. The
soldiers cast themselves at his feet; they
were humble and suppliant. Joachim was
moved; he was always kind-hearted; but
he had received his orders; he repressed
his emotion, and with anger burning In
his face, and in voice Of thunder, he &c
clared his purpose to decimate the regi-
mert.
"The CONSERVATION Of the troops was
rrsat. Is YOU can imagine. The regiment,
confined in the barracks, sent several
aeputations to Murat to implore his elem
epcv. Officers and soldiers swore to con-
front death in the first battle, beneath
the ewes f the Emperor. Mura' was for
long time inaexible, in appearance at least;
at last he seemed touched by their sub
mission. But the fault was so great, his
orders so percmptory, that be demanded
that three soldiers. chosen from among the
most mutnous, should pay with their
lives for the crime Of the regiment. The
three victims were soon designated; they
we're nut in irons, and their execution an
poupced for the following day. The regi-