The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-07
Letters from Mrs. B. In Europe.

.Cheyal,cr Vfkof IN Prtson-His Appearance-H's
Folly-Ms Lies-His Crtmes, aud has Punish
ment.
Here am at Genoa, where I arrived the other
day. having left Paris to try change of air, and to
get rid of all its acasseries and dissipation was
absolutely over-fatigued ~ continual parties and
Increasing invitations. day or two after my ar
rival permission was obtained to see the prison, and
went, accompanied by my sage and venerable
Mentor, and with some other company. could not
repress my curiosity to see the well known American
Cheyalier, who is confined within its walls, the only
American who has special and legitimate title of
nobility, conferred upon him by reclamation at the
original suggestion of the New YORK HERALD. By
the BY it is curious that your joke should have had
such extensive run as to give this title for con-
slant and serious appendage to the unfortunate
diplomatist, as he styles himself.
The poor Chevalier looks just the same as ever,
with the exception of being little cast down. He
has, he told me, bedroom and parlor with SER
want to wait upon him. He is dressed, as usual,
perfectly like gentleman, and altogether is not SO
much to be ptied as many other chevaliers who
snuff the free air. Of course, we only were admitted
to see him at the entry room or public reception par
lor He has yet eleven months to be in, having been
condemned to fifteen months imprisonment, for an
offence which, by the account | have seen of it in
the Police Tribunal, if he had been tried for it in
England or America, would have been treated rs
joke, and thoroughly laughed at. The lady herself
who was nominally the prosecutor, acted, | have
been informed against her will, and at the dctation
of the English Consul here, who for some nexplicable
cause never having known Wikof before, took
most nvoterate hatred against him, and exerted all
his powers to have him condemned From the Off
cal account of the trial. published in Italian though
Wikof is certainly not without blame-on tho con-
trary, though he acted very mprudently and fool
lshly--yct the lady herself is quite much to blame
as himself. They had known each other for fifteen
years. She is, like him, an American born. Her
letters betray a warm affection for him. She had
promised him marriage repeatedly, and then
peatedly drew back, till finally she refused to see
him. At last he got her, by mannuvrc, into
private room, in Genoa-there he played off the part
of dying lover; tried to get her to marry him; got
her to sign promise to do SO; and then, after the
farce had been carried for hours, he dropped
it, and let her 60, unframed and unhurt. She
stopped with him voluntarily at the last, eat
hearty good supper with him. and then they walked
out together, in the most endearing manner. And
it is for this he is in prison-an offence which they
call sequestration gather all this from the official
account, which gives all the testimony in full, and
from the judges sentence, which, as it CATER re-
view of all the facts) passed condemnation upon
him. you may be sure is not at all in his favor. The
Chevalier himself asserts that it is the English 60
yernment which detains him. There is certainly
much that is complicated and rather mysterious
about the matter, which cannot pretend to under
stand unravcl.
am not disposed, however, to take the part of
Wikof. Everybody knows have no cause to do
so; but justice to an American in misfortune, and
to the truth it appears by the publication Of his
enemies, obliges me to say what have said. OF
one thing am convinced, that though he ought not
perhaps to be in for what he is, yet he richly de-
to be in for what he is not in for. and that is
for drawing the long bow to an enormous stretch
and telling lies without conjunction In fact, as
have been crcdbly informed, he is really shut up
for lying, and for the worst kind oflyng viz, talk
ing and Dragging about ladies with an unbrdled
tongue, of whom he had no right to talk at all.
have learned that the first cause Of the lady turn
ing against him, and breaking off the intended mar
riagc, originated from his Boosting to her of his
great Importance with certain great man in New
York (who must be nameless), and asserting that
the aforesaid gentleman had offered to engage him
(the Chevalier) to accompany his wife to Russia, for
poor lady swallowed this big tale with all its absur
dities and improbabiities; and supposing he had
the power and the influence, which he boosted seri-
ously of possessing over other ladies, who Qor she
had never seen the LADY, she heard were younger,
and perhaps she suspected might be fairer than
herself she broke OF with him in violent
fit of jealousy. Hence his present situation,
that he richly deserves his fate, and wish that
Ill, cha all at lad; and Inns
falsely of their power and proves with them and
their husbands, may be treated like him, and have
at least fifteen months of it. They often cause sor-
row and misery, not for few months, but for years
and for life Miss Gamble herself, the lady he ope-
rated upon. related to my informer the above fact
as being the first thing which led her to reject
him. So you see the Chevalier is in for his own
vanity and for his lying about New York ladies,
and think he richly deserves it on this score. He
is also in for the crime of ingratitude for the per-
son of whom he told such monstrous fb, is the
very person to whom he is indebted for the honora
bic title which he bears in the world, which has
made him SO much known, anu gives him such dis
tinction.
The sun is shining beautifully; must go out and
take my morning walk; it is lovely climate, and
the promenades are delightful. Yesterday went
some miles out Of the city to the fine gardens of
Count Palanchim, situated upon high mountain.
They the glory of Genoa, and cost several mil
hons Of dollars; but there fine natural gardens
and mountain walks as this, without costing cent.
III. \. II.
PARIS, April z, 1852.
The Spring Fashions Loagcdanps IN Paris
Politics--C Chit Chot--Tro CaratgndcS---Ihe
aert Presidency an the United States. :
! told you, when last wrote, that it was to be my
last letter but have told you that so often, that
fear you will not believe me any more. This. how
ever intend to be the last, as cannot keep from
giving you description of the famous Longchamps
the annual spring exhibition of Partisan cqui-