Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-13
Nero and his Mother.

( Nero and his Mother.
The following extract from De Quin-
cey's work called "The Caesars" will be
read with varied emotion-the cruelty Of
the Emperor Nero, has passed into a pro-
verb:
"For certain reasons OF state, as Nero at.
tempted to persuade himself, but in reality
because no other crime had the same at
fractions of unnatural horror about 1.-THE re-
solved to murder his mother Agrippina.-
This being settled, the next thing was to
arrange the mode and the tools. Natural
ly enough, according 10 the custom then
prevalent in Rome. he first attempted the
thing by poison. The poison failed: for
Agrlppina, anticipating tricks of this kind,
had armed her constitution against them,
like Mithridates; and daily took potent an
tidotes and prophylactics. Or else (Which
IS more probable) the emperor's agent in
such purposes, fearing bis sudden repen-
tence and remorse on first hearing of his
mothers death,or possibly even witnessing
her agonies, had composed poison Of in
ferior strength. This had certainly occur.
red in the case of Britannicus, who had
thrown off with ease the first dose admins
tered to him by Nero. Upon which he had
summoned to his presence the woman en-
ployed in the affair, and compelling her by
threats to mingle more powerful portion
in his own presence, had tried 1t success
lively upon different animals until he was
satisfied with its effects; after which, I'M
mediately inviting Britannicus to BAN
quet he had finally dispatched him. On
Agrippina, however, no changes in the'poi-
son, whether of kind or strength, had any
effect so that, after various trials, this
mode of murder was abandoned, and the
emperor addressed himself to other plans.
The first of these was some curious me-
chanical device, by which false ceiling
was to have been suspended by bolts above
her bed and in the middle of the night,
the bolt being suddenly drawn,a vast weight
would have descended with a ruinous de-
struction to all below. This scheme, how
ever, taking air from the indiscretion OF
some amongst the accomplices, reached the
ears of Agrippina upon which the old lady
looked about her too sharply to leave much
hope in that scheme: so that also was a.
bandored. Next, he conceived the idea OF
an artificial ship, which, at the touch of a
few springs, might fall to pieces in deep
water. Such ship was prepared, and sta
toned at. suitable point. But the main
difficulty remained, which was 10 persuade
the old lady to 60 on board. Not that she
knew in this case ,cho had been the ship
builder, for that would have ruined all but
it seems that she took it i'll to be hunted in
this murderous spirit, and was out of humor
with her son; besides, that any proposal
coming from him, though previously indif-
ferent to her, would have instantly become
suspected. To meet this difficulty. sort
of reconciliation was proposed, and very
affectionate message sent, which had the
effect of throwing Agrippina off her guard
and seduced her to Baie for the purpose OF
joining the emperor's party at great BAN
quet held in commemoration OF solemn
festival. She came by water IN sort of
light frigate, and was to return in the same
way. Meantime Nero tampered with the
commander of her vessel, and prevailed up
on him to wreck it. What was to be done
The great lady was anxious to return to
Rome, and no proper conveyance was at
hand. Suddenly it was suggested, as if by
chance, that ship of the emperor's. new
and properly equipped, was moored at a
neighborIng station. This was readily ac-
cepted by AgrIppina: the emperor accom-
panied her to the place OF embarkation, took
most tender leave of her, and saw her set
sail. 1t was necessary that the vessel should
get into deep water before the experiment
could be made and with the utmost agita-
ton this pious son awaited news of the re-
suit. Suddenly messenger rushed breath
less into his presence, and Mortified him by
the joyful information that his august moth
er had met with an alarming accident but,
by the blessing of Heaven, had escaped safe
and sound, and was now on her road TO
mingle congratulations with her affection
ate son. The ship, it seems, had done its
office the mechanism had played adinira-
bly,; but who can provide for every thing
The old lady, it turned out could swim like
duck and the whole result had been to
refresh her with little sea-bathipg. Here
was worshlpful intelligence. Could any
mans temper be expected to stand such
continued sieges' Money and trouble, and
infinite contrivance, wasted upon one old
woman, who absolutely would not, upon a.
ny terms be murdered Provoking it cer-
tainly was; and of man like Nero it could
not be expected that he should any longer
dissemble his disgust, or put up with such
repeated afronts. He rushed upon his sim
Pile eongratulating friend, ,swore that he had
come to murder him, and as nobody could
have suborned HIM but Agrippina, he Or
dered her off to instant execution. And,
unquestionably, if people will not be mur.
dered quietly and in civil way, they must
expect that such forbearance is not to con-
tinue for ever aud obviously have them
selves only TO blame for any harshness or
violence which they may have rendered
necessary"
os- All funerals in Paris are performed
by one chartered, registered company
They have got privilege, concession, a
monopoly, from the government. If you
die in the Catholic religion. nobody else
can bury you. They have an Office that is
open fourteen hours out of twenty-four
they own five hundred black horses, eighty
hearses of various sizes, Zone expressly for
giants,) drivers, mourneis, bier-carriers,
carpenters, drapers, without number; they
have shields and arrfiotial bearings ready