Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-09-24
THE GALLEY SLAVES OF FRAME

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correspondents OF the London Times In n letter "A,
edat Toulon gives the following account Of the
there, formerly well knosn under the name of galley
II not TO be expected thai one can sneak Of oIo,
without snying word of the ey slaves or forcats-
There are in the arsenal and yard 500 who do all the
he"Ny Work, They drag the materials about aud some
are employed in saving timber The worst are attached
IN couples 10y heavy chains passing around the anel,
and waists, and linked together The better behaved are
allowed TO 20 sngly, roned ia the same wAy With the
exception OF the connecting chain They are clothed In
eoafse canvas trousers aud shirts branded with their
numbers and woolen jacket. Those who are condemn
Ell Tor e, wear long woolen pcakless can some
thing like nishcap with the ton ,ut Off and ,n,d.
square. On the top of the cap il Tin plate with the
number OF the wsrer punched ont. The convicts who
are condemned fora number OF years are distinguished
from the Others hy red caps and thosr who b.y ha.
more than to the Bagne BY yellow sleeves 10 tber
jackets Their faces close shaven bronzed by exposure TO
the SUM- and brutaized by crime are fearful 10 bbol
aud their rcpulsive appearance i heightened nv ba L
being noched short in lines running round the head IN
order to facilitate recognition should they
Al night they lie down inclined lengths Of ,l,pl
ing, without maitrass or covering in taent;ss q.
thTtes, and iron rod is through the ler ,ba,
OF -aeh, so.that no Que move without the rest
Their food consists of brown bread not all nb,,t.
our soup and hareos ct eves, beans No wine or 10.
bacco il aloSed but the convicts are nerrni,ted IN
ceive LOT month from their friends Ni,h which they
may purchase any eatahle they please TIN. gre,t-, ~
most degrading punishment which also mus, a., -
greatest obstacles TO refornation il claiming the men in
couples Youths over Is may be seen chained To old
r-le.p Mi a.
cohpagnons de chaine Separated until free
dom or d-ath removes of them In spite of the iii
eous costume and revolving appearance. of the tor,,,s
there were some who still exhibited traces or tlir ,
r osil'hs whose gentility speak pierced through
'tir convict garb one ia particular standing nearly
N 'tt hSh, aud who inteutly watched the arrival of
"onnhed French soldiers from Italy, struck me on ac.
count OF III" perfect and grace with which a.
moved bowing 10 the guardians passing bv althoupb
hs actions were accompanied by the horrid ,ankng of
his chains "
IN Of my viz al. 4 IL.
among the fOrf,ts Colonel de Cercy who commanded
rs'"'tt Al harsciles IN ls"l who charged with the
sA''inoa "i the coup dsiat ia this town who was
o>t llth,y convicted of sscOrgHcrs Cap an Doineau
'h'i iun bureau Arab convicted of having cousp;rad
n murder an Arab chief Lieutenant lie Mercy convicted
q" having unfairly and with premetaton slain another
officer when psy in a due the chief army acroont,r,
lslei coustube,l who to the Crimea tho tvo
managers OF the Bank of Touon and six Athes (,,J
h're are more who manage TO keep their former calling
secret An eminent painter i chained To a dsngusb
ei member Of the Paris bar, and between them tbey
"eep TIE accounts of department Of the prisons
while OF la"y'rs and notaries there no end Among
te ioTcs are men of all nations Of all ranks in ri
"iy we contribute our quota, one-sn Eurlisbu,r
Nho waS arrested Caais with forged notes in bia no.
e,s'"h ana "ho there "a every reason To believe was
Ess OF any criminal intention. He has recently been
brought 10 ToulOn from Rochefort; i consu,nntiy ~
not allowed TO wear flannel although permitted To DO s
IN h"cneioTt There IL alsO a hazy rumor of a British
peer ~ tie realm being among tue forcats but as no
one has him, IL mas be dismissed a. d, 80,
To the present Government OF France Is due the merit
9i endeaVorns 10 deal with the great social evil the
haynes Nherc vice SaguatS, aud grows more hideous
10 be again let loose society. Penal settlement. bay
been formed in Africa and French Guiana to which som,
81 the eoHYcts have been removed Toulon i row H.
"hiy Basnr; tho-e OF Rocheiort and Brst have been
abolished but still the work goes on very s!oaly Tbrec
TG"e have been shipped on, yet 9r places arr near
il al filled Up 10y arriyals
M0'co''T u would appear that the foscat. caan5, be
legally compelled To 60 unless they choose They ve,
'odehed 30 hard labor in the doci-ysrds and arsena
'' ' >1' anu not 10 transportation To coax them to
=" abroad they are promised that their arrival they
ali h' relieved oi their chains and allow ed the free ~,
d tAeir Hhs Bat, 80 gTeat i the dread OF I~mbeSs,
N"H 'Nenh', and the craven fear O ceatl that they pr
'' TIE letters and horrer u Ghr Bagu~ Toulon 10 com.
= 1n' "f thcr guardians characterized them ,;s c
~ f'''' r. rnaas soHf 81 iarLss iis Jsr s osrir
All these as>a>suS and thieves, bad they are fear
leEth.b