Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-02


unsupported, and babe adieu to the Lazarists and
his honest father, who came out speedily to seek
him, and was not little annoyed to find only
his coat and wig.
With that coat and wig, Cartouche left home,
father, friends, conscience, remorse society," be-
hind him. He discovered like great number
of other philosophers and poets, when they have
committed rascally actions) that the world was
all going wrong, and he quarrelled with it out
right. One Of the first stories told Of the illus
trious Cartouche when he became professionally
and openly robber, rebounds highly to his Gre
dit, and shews that he knew how to take advan-
tage of the occasion, and how much he had i'm
proved in the course of very few years expert
ence. Ills courage and ingenuity were vastly adj
mlred by his friends SO much so, that, one day,
the captain of the band thought fit to compliment
him, and vowed that when he (the captain) died,
Cartouche should infallibly be called to the CON-
handkerchief. This conversation, SO flattering
to Cartouche, was carried on between tie two
gentlemen as they were walking, night, on
| the quays by the side of the Seine. Cartouche,
when the captain made the last remark, blush
| ugly protested against it, and pleaded his ex-
treme youth as reason why his comrades could
never put entire trust in him. ''Psha, man. ~
said the captain, 'thy youth is in thy favor; thou
wilt live only the longer to lead thy troops to VIC
toly. AS for strength, bravery, and cunning,
vert thou as old as Methuselah, thou couldst
| not be better provided than thou art now. at
| eighteen" What was the reply of Monsieur
Cartouche He answered, not by words, but
by actions. Drawing his knife from his Cir
die, he instantly dug it into the captains lief.
side, as near his heart as possible and then, sez-
| ing that imprudent commander precipitated him
violently into the waters of the Seine, to keep
company with the gudgeons and the river-gods.
When he returned to the band, and recounted how
the captain had basely attempted to assassinate
him, and how he, on the contrary, had, by exer-
he ut
one OF tho society believed word of his history;
but they elected him captain forthwith think his
excelleney, Don Rafael Maroto, the pacfcator of
Spain, is amiable character, for whom history
has not been written in vain.
Being arrived at this exalted position, there is no
end of the feats which Cartouche pertormed and
his band reached to such pitch of glory, that if
there had been hundred thousand of them in
stead of hundred, who knows but that new
dynasty might have founded; and ssLouis Dominic,
premier Emperor DIES Francais, - might have per-
formed innumerable glorious actions, and fixed him.
self in the hearts of his people, just other
archs have done, hundred years after Cartouche's
DEATH
story similar to the above, and eqtlally moral,
is that of Cartouche, who, in company with two
other gentlemen, robbed the eoehe, packet boat,
from Meun, where they took good quantity of
booty,-making the passengers lie down on the
decks and ritng them at leisure. s.Th money
will be but very little among three whispered
Carouche, to his ghbor, the three conquerors
were making merry over their gains; elf you were
but to pull the trigger of your pistol in the neigh
borhood of your comrades ear, perhaps it mi ght
go of, and then there would be but two OF us to
share" Strangely enough, as Cartouche said the
pistol did go off, and No. persisted. ssGive him
another ball. said Cartouche, and another
fired into him. But no sooner had Cartouche's
comraae discharged both his pistols, than Car
touch himself, seized with a furious indignation,
drew his: "Learn, MONSTER, cried he, ssnot to be
so greedy OF gold, and perish, the victim of thy
disloyalty and avarce!'' So Cartouehe slew the
second robber; and there is no in Europe who
can say the latter did not crit we'll his punish
ment.
l could fill volumes, and not mere sheets of pa
per, with tales OF the triumphs Ut Cartouche and
his band; how he robbed the Countess Of o.,
going to Dion, in her coach, and how the Countess
fell in love with him, and faithful to him ever
after; how, when the lieutenant Of police offered
reward Of hundred pisloles to any one who
would bring Cartouche before him, noble Mar
guess, in coach and six, drove up to the hotel Of
the police; and the noble Marques, desiring to
Nj. de la Reynie matters OF the highest mo-
ment, alone, the latter introduced him into his pr
vate cabinet; and how, when there, the Marques
drew from his pocket long, curiously shaped dag
ger 'sLook at this, Monsieur de la Reynie, )" said
he; "this dagger is poisoned'
els it possible?'' said NJ de la Reyne.
GA prick of it would do for any man. said the
Marques.
'sYou don't say sop said M. de la Reynie.
81 do, though; and what is more,'' says the Mar
guess, in terrible voice, s'if you do not instantly
lay yourself fiat the ground, with your face to-
wards it, and your hands crossed over your back,
or if you make the slightest noise or cry, l will
stick this poisoned dagger between your ribs, as
sure as my name is Cartouche!''
AT the sound of this dreadful name, NJ. de la
Reynie sunk inconnently down on his stomach,
and submitted to be carefully gagged and corded;
after which, Monsieur Cartouche laid his hands
upon all the money which was kept in the lieuten-
ants cabinet, Alas and, alas! many stout bailif,
and many honest fellow spy, went, for that day,
without his pay and his victuals!
There is story that CartOuche orce took the
diligence to Lille, and found in it certain Able
Potter, who was full of indignation against the
monster of Cartouche, and said that when he
went back to Paris, which he proposed to do in
fortnight, he should give the lieutenant of police
some information which ould infably lead to the
scoundrel's capture. But poor Potter was disap-
pointed in his designs, for, before he could fulfil
them, he was made the victim Of Cartouche's cru
city.
A letter came to the lieutenant of police to state
that Cartouche had travelled to Lille, in company
with the Able de Potter, Of that town; that on the
reverend gentemans return towards Paris, Car
touche had waylaid him, murdered him, taken his
papers, and would come to Paris himself, bearing
the name and clothes of the unfortunate able, by
the Lille coach, on such day. The Lille coach
arrived was surrounded by police agents, the mon
ster Cartouche there sure enough in the abbe's
guse. lie was seized, bound, flung into prison,
brought out to be examined, and, on examination,
found to be no other than the Able Potter himself
1t is pleasant to read thus of the relaxations of
great men, and condesoending to joke like the
meanest of us.
Another diligence adventure is recounted of the
famous Cartouche 1t happened that he met, in
the coach, young and lovely lady, clad in widows
weeds, and bound to Paris with couple of ser
wants. The poor thing the widow of rich old
gentleman Of Marseiles, and was going to the cap
tal to arrange with her lawyers, and to settle her
husbands will. The Count de Grinche (for the
fellow passenger was called) quite as candid
the pretty widow had been, and stated that he
lin int h..r,