Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-19


ment still remained confined in the bar
racks.
"In the middle Of the night, Joachim
directed the three soldiers to be brought
before him; a sergeant, in whose prudence
he could confde, led them into his pres
ence.
"sYou will be shot tomorrow said
Murat. The soldiers burst into tears. Pre-
pare for death, and fall like brave men ;
it is the only way to wipe out all memory
of your crime. 1 charge myself with the
duty of transmitting your last farewells,
your last regrets, to your fathers and
mothers. Your families did not merit
children such as you. Have you thought
of your mothers! Speak 3" Scbs stiaed
their voices. 'Those poor women would
have been proud and even happy if you
had fallen in battle with the Austrians ;
bnt to die thus, unfortunate men! Go !
1 will send you priest TO afford you
the last succors Of religion. Think
upon France and your God; from this
moment you belong no more to this world
"The soldiers cast themselves at Joa-
chim's feet, not to ask for mercy, but for
his pardon, before death. AS they were
leaving the apartment, Joachim recalled
them. Listen! he said: IF l should
grant you your lives, would you live hence
forth like honest men?
"No, we wish to die,' replied one Of
the soldiers; eve have deserved death;
let them shoot US; it is just
"'But if 1 do not wish to have you
shot? cried Joachim, wherefore would
you die, when l would have you live? l
have never given the word to fire, except
at the enemy, and can not bear to give it
against those who are my brothers, al
though guilty
"Aud Joachim wept like woman
he, the braves. Of men! Was he not,
Mes,ieurs 2"
And we wept also around the armchair
of the Comtesse de Lipano, who spoke so
touchingly Of her heroic husband.
After i pause she continued her nara
tive:
"sListen to me-. said Joachim, in a
mi!der tone. you are great culprits, but
l am glad to find that you have energy OF
character; you will second my project
well 1 grant you your lives, but 1t Is
necessary ,ha. you should tomorrow be
thought dead by all the world, above all,
by your regiment. Tomorrow, near night
fall, you will be led out of the Pisan gate,
upon the glacis; you will receive the Ere
Of platoon, at twenty PAGES distant, aud
you will fall dead; at this moment the
last file of of your regiment will pass across
the place of execution; the obscuri'y OF
the evening will favor the deception. A
man, of whose fidelity I am assured,
will place you upon tumbrel, and trans
por, you to the cemetery. HIRE you will
find change of clothing wherewith to dis
cuise Yourselves as sailors, and q thousand
francs will be counted out to each of you
YOU will remain concealed for few days
in an inn, which will be pointed out to
YOU; in two or three days an American
vessel sails for New Orleans there you will
90 to pass your days, andlive like honest
men-do you hear? You will be taken on
board as soon as the wind is favorable.
Be prudent, and follow my advice exactly.
Go; will take care Of your families.
1.-THE soldiers bathed Mura,'s feet with
their tears, and repeated, again and again,
that they would do as he had directed
them.
"All passed as Joachim had arranged it.
A severe example was given to the rcgi-
ment; but there was no blood spilled, and
the Emperor, happily deceived, thanked
Murat for having sacrificed but three lives
to the demands of discipline. The Empe-
ror was never informed of the generous
stratagem which my husband resorted to
in this affair; it was for long time Sc
cret between myself and few faithful
friends, who have never betrayed 1t.
There is now no indiscretion in divulg'ng
it, and do it therefore for your sakes."
After this narrative Murat's widow, too
deeply moved to prolong the conversation,
retired to her apartment. We likewise,
much affected, kept silence. Every eye
was turned upon the magnificent portrait,
painted by lie Gros. 1t represents King
Murat, in striking attitude, galloping
along the shore Of the bay of Naples.
Mount vcsuvius, belching flames, rises in
the background. Murat and VesuSius
two volcanoes, face to face.
The conclusion Of this narrative was ro-
counted to me, several months afterwards,
by person very intimate with the impe-
rial family. 1t is like the romantic de-
,,a,, nf 4 DRAMA which seems to