Washington sentinel., 1856-05-15

PIRATE; and as the laws of the empire require
that all those condemned, in whatever part Of
the country they may have received sentence,
should pass through Moscow on their way to
Siberia the traveller, who may have chanced
to be there during the weekly gathering, will
have little difficulty in recognizing facts in the
following account.
On reaching that city, they are allowed a
brief rest in the conyictprison, their daily jour
neys being so calculated that the separate
bands all arrive there from divers directions
each Saturday night. After resting throughout
the ensuing week. during which term they are
relieved of their chains, they are despatched in
one common band on the second Monday after
their arrival; but, ere their departure the Gov
ernment appoints committee of prison autho-
rites to control the jailors, and to see that they
| do not nse unnecessary harshness. These mem
bers are also empowered to hear statements
from the prisoners, and, in many cases, to
/ grant redress. Such interferences do not, Of
course, extend to the quashing of legal pro-
ceedings, but merely to the prisoners comfort,
his health, or perhaps some last wishes re-
specting his family. The excellent Slazy,
| physician to the prisons, was some years since,
constantly present on these occasions, and was
| one of the warmest philanthropists ever known.
| His exertions on behalf of those unhappy con-
vcls were incessant his labors, evidently those
of a love that made him deem no sacrifice Of
| time or comfort too great. He was German,
| from Cologne, and as keen Roman Catholic
| as that Jealous city ever sent forth; and it
would be well for mankind if half the world
only possessed as much Of the true Christian
spirit as this worthy philanthropist.
Sparrow's Hill-for SO is the place named,
from which the doomed band departs stu
ated at some distance from the city, and is not
a prison, as might be imagined. but consists of
a number of log-huts, united by strong
wooden wall, and in the interior divided into
two or three courts, each strictly guarded by
! sentinels. In the first of these, both sexes
are to be seen mingling indiscriminately, and
all dressed alike in long loose greatcoats, made
of a kind of gray cloth: the only distinguish.
ing mark is, that the men have halftheir heads
| shaved, whilst the women retain their long
hair-a privilege also granted to the men as
regard their boards; which decoration is the
pride and delight both of the merchant class
and peasantry. They are led thence into
second court, where their names are registered;
as also their crime and history. Here they
make their petitions some soliciting leave to
travel by the side of brother, fellow exile
poor consolation that, of being together in
disgrace; but the boon, if granted is hailed
with the greatest Joy. A woman will also some.
times petition to accompany her husband but
only in rare cases in this permitted. According
to the laws of Russia, she may marry again,
| for the banishment of the husband cancels
marriage-bonds as completely as death but if
her prayer is granted, government pays her ex-
penses, and she assumes the convict dress,
though not the fetters
| The children of convicts, after five years of
IL IL Ok
various proprietors in the Territory are not
4 disposed to relax, as the boys, at least, serve
ultimately SO far as to furnish the conscription
for the army.
The examination past, the exiles are led to q
third court, where fetters are placed upon the
whole band. This is most cruel and brutal
| affair. The letters consist OF couple of heavy
iron rings, one for ench ankle, united by chain,
not adapted to the size Of the person and his
| length of stride, but Of one unvaryipg length,
| about two feet This is connected, by means
of links from four to five inches long, with
another chain fastened round the waist. The
ropes round the ankles are not fastened by a
4 paddock, so as to be removed at night but are
riveted by the executioner, who drives an iron
bolt through the ridges, and by strong and
careless hammering-for he often misses the
| mark, and strikes the fesh-Aattens the bolt at
both nd, in such way that removal is impos-
sibe except by means of the file: and with these
chains, the poor weary foot-sore wretches are
to walk every step Of journey which takes
them only few days short of six months
Meanwhile sergeant stands by, who must an
swer for their security with his own life, as be
takes charge Of them during their pilgrimage;
and he sees them properly secured and fast
ened together in fours by the wrists. AT the
head Of the line stands little table, covered
with copper coins, from which every man re-
ceives in advance certain part of his daily
allowance; government giving each for his
maintenance forty-eght kopecks-a fraction
less than fve.pence day--and to each woman
permitted to accompany her husband, half that
sum. This ceremony over, the gates are
thrown open, and the world ceases to exist for
them 1t is surprising TO witness the calm
bearing, the sad but resigned looks of that
melancholy assemblage. Hope is now dead;
and in its place a dim vague glimmer appears
| in the distance of life, to which they look,
| perhaps more with a dreamy curiosity than
with any active feeling of terror or despair.
The gates thrown open, the exiles are hand
| cd over to strong guard, employed exclusively
on this duty, and each soldier loads his gun in
their presence; there is also a mounted escort,
with spears, the commander Of which carries
long whip, TO laSh the caNaich0e INTO oruer
and they move on, the males first, then the
carts, and, lastly, the females. Their days
| journey is from % to 25 verts, from l43 to
| l6a miles Englsh.) Persons of rank are not
treated otherwise than the lowest serf, noble
men being compelled to march the dreary
journey on foot, and as heavily chained as the
viest felon. Political prisoners are undoubt-
edly treated more harshly than even the most
ferocious criminals; and although, during the
contest with Poland, there may have been ex.
aggerated accounts published in England as to
the numbers banished, there is not the slightest
doubt as to the cruelty exercised on all who
we're so. During their short rest at Moscow,
they were linkechtogether like felons treated
by their jailors like brutes. The Times, many
years ago, gave touching account of facts
which have been since confirmed. One hun
dred and 6fty Lithuanian mobiles we're mon
toned as having been met barefooted and
chained on their march to Siberia--their sem
tence being, that they should be put as common
soldiers into the regiments OF the Caucasus,
| Orenberg, and Siberia. The two Young Counts
/ TvcL oI,rnet cb,Idron were on locdad