The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-05-14

THEFRENcH PoLITIoALs ExILEs.-Thetoi-
lowiug letter, containing some interesting par
ticulars, has been received from an officer
serving on board the steam-frigate Asmodee, at
Port Vendres;
On the 10th Of March the Admiral COM
manded US to sail forthwith for Port Fendres,
ID receive on board political cOnvicts sentenced
"a transportation. The Asmodee was at he.
post on the following day. Shortly afterward
! strong detachment Of troops, consisting oil IN
fansry and cavalry, brought Us 300 Of these un.
fortunate men who had resolved to annihllRte
society itself. There were many among them
with most sinister expression Of countenanee,
indicative Of the most IMMORAL nature and OF
readiness for any crime. There we're among
their ranks, however, and it pains me to say 50,
some young men who had hitherto hlled a
most honorable station in society. There was,
for example, the ex. Captain Lafontaine, dis
tinguished cavalry officer, whose age and eXps-
rience ought 10 have saved him from such errors.
Next, NJ. Pontie, handsome yo,mgman; OF a
most interesting appearance, a professor appa-
rently, a man Of talent, and then several veal
thy landed proprietors, whoWere about to be sep.
arated from their afflicted wives and children.
Among those Of the lower classes remarked one
named Mascle, whose countenanOe was express
siye Of energy cunning and audacity.
Like the majority Of his companions in ex-
lie, he was native Of the PyTenees Orientales,
and wore the Catalan costume. His ayowed
object in joining the insurrection, Of which he
wls declared one Of the chiefs, was to obtain
aiaa ni Madame ID, the most beautiful
H0man ID Perpignan, aud whose husband is re-
paied to Be worth several millions Of francs.
Our departure from Port Vendres was most
dramatic, aud, at the same time, most melan.
cholysaffair. When General Rambeaud, who
commands the Department, embarked the pris-
oners, he would not permit us to sail until he
had received further Instructions from Paris.
We consequently kept the unfortunate prison
srs on board in Port Vendres, for three long
days. And as our frigate lay close to the quay,
the approaches were thronged with women ut
tering shrieks capable Of rendiDg the most OBJ.
durate heart They were mothers, sisters, and
wives, trying to catch last glimpse Of all that
was dear to them. The wife Of Capt. Lafon-
tame, on being separated from her husband, fell
into a Convulsive fit She was carried away,
but she had scarcely reached fer home when
she expired--a dreadful example Of some Of the
evils oecasioned by civil war. AT length our
sailing orders arrived. 1t was nightfall on the
18th Of March. The moment was the more
trying, as it had been reported on the preeed
ing day at Port Vendres that the prisoners were
TO be released.
When the anchor to the frigate was seen to
rise, the crowd on the quay appeared to be struck
with mortal stupor, and again as if they were
acted on by an electric stroke, they rushed like
a torrent toward the entrance Of the port. Ir
an instant the jetty and the highest rocks run
ming into the sea appeared to us to be ConvereC
with men, women, and children, stretching thei
arms towards tie ship, thabat each moment
became more distant. They uttered the mos
piercing shrinks still calling on those who coulC
no longer hear them. | assure you it was
terrific scene. Never have assisted at a spec
tacle which has SO painfully affected me. Sucl
scenes cannot be forgotten, for it was humal
grief carried to the highest pitch, representet
on theatre of vast extent. On one side black
arid, desolate rocks: on the other, the Tranquil
azure sea, on which the last rays Of a spring su
gloS ed from eloudless sky. believe ther
would be an end to revolutions in France ii
were possible that all revolutionists, even th
most hardened, could be present as such a scent
AT o'clock in the afternoon Of the l7th {
March, that is to say, only Az hours after ou
departure, we landed those unfortunate men {
Bona, in Africa, whence they are to be sent fol
ward 10 Lambessa.