Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
Lights and Shadows Of Italian
I7crOism.
LAST DAYS OF MURAT, KING OF NAPLES

"a very aDle ara tiepuul tTdnsldtaOn Di
this great work of Colletta has been cou1
pleted by one Of our best writers, and the
| manuscript is for sale at the Literary Be-
reau, 205 Broadway;
The following touching account Of the
| landing of the brave Murat on the coast of
Naples after the loss of his kingdom, his
seizure ard execution. is taken from the
inimitable work Of Colleita, who was Mu-
rats General and Secretary of War. His
work is cmbellished with the charms of
romance and the dignity of history; and
filed with lessons of wisdom and exam
pies Of heroism:
After the battle of Waterloo and the fall
Of the French empire, conflicting rumors
were every where spread relative TO the
fate of King Murat Some declared he was
in Tunis, others in America. Some that he
had sccreted himself in France, or fed
from pursuit where chance directed him.
when King Fardinand was informed that
he had reached Corsica; and shortly after.
the news came that he had landed in Gala
bria as an enemy. Here he waited for for
tune to give the world new illustrations Of
her power. hurting to ruins the grand fab
rc she had erected from the dust. ard con-
founding the extremes Of happiness and
misfortune.
have related his reverse in the War Of
Italy, with his fight from the kingdom, and
that in Ischia where he remained a day, he
found refuge on board a small vessel which
was sailing for France. Traversing the
G ulf of G eata, from whose towers he saw
his flag waving, and thinking that his chill
dren wore wiihin those walls. his ma
tural impulse and long familiarity with
war urged him to enter the fortress, and
still struggle like desperate man, without
a hope Of saving his kingdom. But sew
cral ships closing the entrance Of the port,
he mournfully turned his prov tow ard
the west.
He arrived at Frejus on the 2sth of May.
and landed on the same coast that the Pris-
oner of Elba. two months before, and with
better fate, had touched. On the soil of
| France a thousand thoughts and recolec-
tons agirated him: the FIRST fruits of his
vslor. his hardships. his fortunes, his dia-
| dem. lis name; oil the other side the recent
events of the war of Russia, the anger of
Bonapartc, the inlrigucs with Austria and
! England, the alliance and the war against
France, abandonment and ingratitude-
Adversely had softened that proad spirit,
and fear prevailing over hope, he did not
dare to go on to Paris but stopped at Tou-
| Ion.
| He wrote letters to the minister Fouche,
who had been his friend in prosperity, and
said: "You know the motives and the cir
cumstances of the War of Italy; am now
in France, and | offer to the emperor my
arm. | have faith that it will please the
heavens to repair the misiortuues of the
king in restoring the fortuncs Of the cap
tain" Fouche presented the letter to Bo-
naparte, who asked wha, treaty of peace
he had signed with the King of Naples af-
ter the war of tho year 1914; thus recalling
his ;nluries in vindication Of himself Mu-
rat remained in Toulon respected by the
people, or perhaps, commlsserated for his
misfortunes, and from recollectons of his
former greatness or expectations Of new
fortunes.
That troubled reposc was soon after dis
turbed by the news of the battle of Wa
terloo. Toulon. Mines, Marseilles, were
torn by civil and religious furief; the par,l-
zaus OF ithe emperor were massacre9, and
the spoil divided. Murat kept himself
concealed and sent letters 10 Fouchc,
who little before. minister Of Bonaparte,
and now minister of Louis, had preserved
entire his authority and power with hostile
kings, amid the ruin of kingdoms. Murat
prayed him for passport for England,
promising to live as private man, subject
to the laws. Thus also he wrote to Ma
ccrani, who during his reign had been his
officer of ordinance; who had remained
faithful to him, and " hose genius and for
tune had made him known to the allied
sovereigns. But Fouchc made no reply,
and Maceran who.had incurred the sus-
rscion Of the police of France was imprl-
soned.
The lot of the unhappy NJ urat was eve
ry day becoming worse; he was hunted by
desperate men in Touon. and waylaid by
the Marquis Riviere. who having several
years before escaped punishment by his
favor. now ungratefully sought to render
death for life; he wrote letter to the King
Of France, neither naughty nor ahject, but
worthy of an unfortunate and fugitive
monarch, and enclosed at to Fouche, beg
eiag linn TO consign it TO the royal hands
The letter bore no date, for he would nei-
ther discover his retreat nor lie; he dated
| his note to the minister '.From Tie dark
abyss Of my prison." bpt he said nothing
else to excite compassion, stunning the
royal djspleasure.
He gained nothing by these supplica,
tons; the cunning minister made no reply
and the king was silent. Miserable and
desperate, he determined to find bis way to
Paris and con6de his fortune to the allied
sovcreigns. Recalling the diadem 4ha,
once pressed his brow, the spiendcrs ol
war, bis familiar conversations with those
kings, the hands so often extended in pied &c
of friendship and of fidelity. he hoped for
safety and noble reception. He did moi
undertake the journey by land in order tc
avoid the roads, still wet with the blood o
Marshal Bruno; but he chartered a vessc
to take him to Havre de Grace. whcnc,
without danger he could get TO Paris.
| He chose for the etnbarcation secluded
part Of the coas, at the dead OF night; bu
BY sou:e mistake or chance the vessel land
ed at saothcr place. After waiting ard
searching for dong time. he saw the day
was breaking. and he went wander ine
through woods and vineyards; he tortu
narcly found another asylum; he elndet
their snares, and at Hast or a snail boat b,
fed from FRANCE toward Corsica, that hos
pitable island, tae birth place of SC panl
who had in ether davs been his follower
in wars and on fields Of glory. Alter |
voyage of two Gays tempest arose, th'
small latine sails were furied, and for thir
i " hours his vessel was abandoned to III,