The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-13
Litter from Charles Brace, describing mis- IPris-
onxneat and Liberation.


Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Boieinl
VEAsA, July s, 1881.
NEssRs. EpIToRs: My last letter. you may reeohsct,
carried The of my imprisonment as lar as e hs'
examination BY tue Austrian eou'i,.s.sa u Win mi.
QUESTION, Il deserves more 10 po oaheu' WIN this
examination | saw how litie naa 70 nope ',om c'hei
the Justice or mercy OF the authorizes mere II was eyi-
deni ihev were determined 10 fasen conspiracy upon
me and thew smoke OF proofs" which, ii they really
could be produced would be fatal to was possible
they had suborned witnesses or perhaps some OF my
MANY letters OF introduction contained reasonable ex-
pressions which would be twisted into the proofs OF
blot | knew how many brave man had gone before
these secret military courts 10 Hungary 70 come ,o a,bs
the gaows or the dungeon. From all ! could game,
from my comrades ia The same cell, The dudHoI mere, ~
was at once the State prosecutor and the lause, sa
second JeDriss except with much more sk'i anu
ment in his cruelty More prisoners had been sentenced
by this to death than by any other secret ouut o
Hungary. There were men men ~ ,he p,,so n,
peasants-who had been lying there for hree or iour
months ,eifLon euea tauing had hearing! ! saw,
too mos. plainly, that the auditor would De very glad IN
deed 10 convic an dnr'Gaone OF una, 'auon ~n,cn
had so heartily welcomed Tue 'ey parry nc ""S sen
AS may be med. with such thoughts pressing
me- went TO my cell that night after the examination.
gloomy and hopeless enough The sudden contrast with
the happy, free life which had Just been eading-a
Journey the most interesting and ch in experience which
walls, with only few inches space 10 look al the
pleasant country bad been travelling over
thought. too OF how much had probably lost The
best years OF my lie TO be spent in the dull weary prison
The plans and hopes which had formed for future years
all suddenly to be broken off, and myself alter long
e return 70 my DoI haaS
see again. or meet after long years OF separation and
change! had known lately OF young man, from one
OF the best families in Hungary who had come forth from
three years imprisonment IN an Austrian PRISON fu-
matte, and felt sure even years solitary confinement
would do the with me.
Still, with all these gloomy thoughts came the burning
OF indignation at such injustice. The noble sym
pahies OF my counymen were to be revenged so meany
on me! This AS AUSTRIAN reprissl felt glad within
hat At sut | Suc
And was strong in the consciousness OF the sympathy
OF great nalon if act OF injustice or violence should
be performed against There arose, too as is nau
raj under such unprovoked wrong, logged determ
nation to resist and. whatever came, 10 hight out the
matter step by step went over in my mind every ques-
ton and answer of the examinations and thought the
time might have changed much for the better
Still bad nothing to regret had come before the
court without know ing the accusation and had answered
everything honestly and truly AS | have since con-
cuded, however acted ON the whole judiciously as
could, and any other proceeding would have made no
possible ground OF proof against me- and prepared my de-
fence accordingly
Still, il was plain my only hope could from with
out, and my first step be 10 get some news of my
situation 10 MIR. McCuiJy in Vienna. How TO do this
was question, as was very closely watched and all
my writing material Of every kind had been taken from
me. The mode which adopted will relate hereafter
In the midst of my reflections, voice led me 10 The
key hole OF the next roomthe friendly voice which
had heard on my first night
Friend, are you gooniy!"
"No," said |, % not at all !"
How does it stand with your caseP'
Bad-though it is all susplcon-no proofs"
"Frend Do you not know the House of Austria needs
no proofs! Suspicion rs enough -
felt within myself the man was right though an
With my heated brain, and the nnumerable 1eas in the
room, did not sleep hour that night still the
ing light seemed TO bring hope with il. and rose deter
mined TO take my Imprisonment cheeriully possible
For few days was kept closely IN the room, with my
two companionson!y going out TO my various eXamina
lions The room was a moderately large arched cham.
her surh ono in he nj midi nr in
castles any where in Europe used for State prisoners Ii
dirty and dark, and the only window guarded by
iron bars. the iron network and beyond the outside
by boarding. ill within six inches OF the top II had
probably always been used Tor dungeon, even in the
middle ages, when the castle was in lis glory We were
held safely enough within it but 10 any accomplished
prIson BIRD it would have been mere sport. The bars
were loose--we had already made gap the net work
and cut hole in the boarding. SO that with one or two
good steel saws and rope, man would have been out
once despite the sentines However, made at
tempt and only used the window TO look out at the blue
mountain away Oft in the distance, and the bright sunny
fields and vine hills near by My companions were good
fellows enough bu, decidedly stupid.
II curious illustration OF the talent in languages
which these nations here all possess that one OF them
the Walach-though common soldier, and by no means
intelligent man, spoke Latin, Hungarian, German,
little French and Italian something OF Polish. and Rus
sian, besides his own language The Waachlan tie had
served first in the Austrian army, and afterwards like
thousands OF the Hungarans had deserted and joined his
countrymen IN Their struggle he was imprisoned, &C
Coding TO his account for bearing false passport
During these lew days my examinations continued,
though nothing Of any great importance appeared them
| was surprised and more as how perfectly
frivolous the proof Yet the questioning OF the
ditor, and his examination OF my papers, the most
exact conceivable Not the smallest fragment OF waste
paper before him which he did oveg and
and question in regard TO, lest II should contain
some sign OF conspiracy. One long religious essay
which had was peculiarly suspicious. IL had been
written very huredly and then left among other papers
that, with all my efforts before the court, could
ind either beginning end 10 It, My i'll success with it,
and his inability TO read IT, increased his suspicion and
the unfortunate document carefully marked with red
ink as dangerous object!
Even my pocket Testament was detained for a week
Tor fear IT might conceal some evidence of a plot An
obliged TO sign as correct The answers, too which
made at each examination were written down the
time by the clerk, and then read to and also
given me for my signature
Il inexpressble disad Vantage 10 me. through it
all, that was allowed interpreter so that all my de-
fence must be in German. The quick answers, which
often telling than arguments. were very much
mpeded by speaking IN foreign language, and my
whole defence clogged and cramped Ii gave. too the
opportunity to The auditor 10 bropbedt and out-,aik"
me- which he skilIuy used and also TO color my an
writing them down, and it was not easy Tor
them. This disadvantage, not that il particularly
affected the eentence-or that already determined
but would give better defence for themselves in
there should be trouble the mailer afterwards.
While the examination lasted bad inclination to
talk 10 any and wake the hour after hour
occupied IN my own thoughts Alter il over, and
the matter seemed settled tor the present began think
oil how had best pass my time, and ] was glad
enough 10 get into conversation with the others.
In q lew days was allowed to walk out with the
fpfa hon "A Il L.,