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Northern Star (1837-1852), 18th September 1852, Edition 1 of 2, Page 14

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      Untitled Article

      A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE . At the moment when I arrived with my guard on the platform , a division of ordinary detenus were repairing to their ilormitoiy . We stopped to allow them to pass . This circumstance caused a little event , which , although puerile in itself , lias , nevertheless , left such a pleasing remembrance , that I aannot resist the p leasure of mentioning it , be it only to show how a thousand little sensations are capable of distracting the mind of a sentimental prisoner . I was , as I have said , waiting mi the Saut-Gauthicr , to allow the ordinary detenus to pass . Naturally I turned to the side on which I could see the laud , ind mounted upon the parapet to enjoy the beautiful prospect which this place offers . What was my surprise when , my jontemplation being broken by a slight rustling beside me , I found myself , on turning roniid , face to face with a beautiful girl , who was seated ^ within a foot of me , on the parapet . Her fet black hair , her dark and sparkling eyes , with a complexion like that of a Spaniard , and a bright and supple figure , formed in her person an ensemble Ml of resolution , and which , nevertheless , did not exclude an air of gracefulness and reserve . She wore a blue gown with white dots . A red silk neckerchief covered her shoulders ' , and from her neck was hung a little gold cross . She saluted me , and accompanied her salute with a smile so sympathetic , that , had it not been for fear of appearing

      presumptuous , I would have begged her—was it only for the incredibility of the thing , in the midst of our cenobitical lifeto allow me to imprint a kiss upon each of her beautiful eyes . However , I confined myself , with a smile , to compliment her , and to thank her for her bravery in thus daring to approach a frightful prisoner like me . I returned distracted to my cell , without failing to ask my guard who that beautiful girl was . She was , he toldfme , a villager . 1 did not ask him her name , as I preferred giving her one borrowed from the colour of her gown . She still bears that name ; and although one little pleasing in its euphony , it forms one of the most picturesque of neologisms , which , I am sure , she will never feel

      burdensome We conclude our extracts with the following samples of MONARCHICAL ATROCITY . Noel Martin and Roudil suffered more than any of the others , in consequence of their extreme youth , from the fatal effects of solitude , the want of exercise , and the insufficiency and unwholesomeness of the prison diet . To all these tortures , which were the objects of their protestations and curses every day , was added a crowning act of indignity . Noel Martin had found means of making known to Barbes that he was in want

      of a small sum of money . Barbes , always so fraternal , hastened to satisfy this request , by causing , by a written order , the sum to be placed on the register of our young companion . Under pretence of his instructions , which forbad any communication between any of us , the director , Theruier , had the impudence to cause to ba inscribed on the service book that sum as coming in the shape of a loan from him . Noel Martin did not notice the alteration of the name until after having signed it . Immediately ; however , he tore up the leaf on which he had put his signature , saying that he was the debtor of Barbes , but that at

      any pnee lie would not appear to be the debtor of his jailor . This act of legitimate susceptibility rendered Noel Martin liable to I know not what disciplinary punishment . This only caused farther recrininations on his part . Meanwhile arrived the chaplain , who , in a voice at once persuasive and menacing , said to Noel Martin that thereiccre chains and dungeons for Mm , if he did not hioio how to respect his chiefs . At the word chiefs , employed to designate his jailors , and accompanied by menaces , Noel could no longer contain himself . " If you had come here , "

      said he to the chaplain , " with the sentiments of a true minister of religion ; if you had come to bring to me—to me , who am still so young—words of consolation and patience , I should certainly have listened to you , if not with entire deference , at least with all possible attention . But when , forgetting the duties of your ministry , you come here with a threat in your mouth—when you constitute yourself the interpreter of my executioners , 1 reply to you : * Assassin of the inquisition , respect a soldier of the cause of the people ; hence , disciple of Loyola ! Yoii dishonour Christ , if the religion of Christ could

      be responsible for your cruelties , and your crafty lies . " And unable to constrain himself , he repeated to Eoiidil , from the window , in a loud voice , the details of what had passed , naturally accompanying his recital with new protestations , Eoudil took upon himself the consequences of the position of Noel Martin , by paraphrasing , in the same tone of voice , the words of his friend . The jailors concluded with their unique argument . An order of mise au cachet was given by the director . But nothing could daunt , or in the slightest degree

      intimidate our two young and brave companions . With right and justice on their side , they resolved to resist , and to yield only to force . Accordingly , they barricaded their doors , which were , however , soon burst open . Until then , considering the merciless orders they had received from high quarters , and the fatality of their position , the conduct of our jailors could be easily comprehended . But it is here the horrible begins . When their entrenchment had been carried , and they possessed no longer any means of defence , Noel Martin still refused to

      go where they desired to conduct him . Accordingly , they dragged him away by main force . When they reached the chapel , which they were obliged to cross in their way to the part of the edifice in which the dungeons are situated , the chief guardian , Tnrgot , who was particularly odious to all the prisoners , in consequence of his insolence and stupid vanity , would have amused himself at the expense of our young friends . Noel Martin shot , like an arrow , from the hands of his conductors , in the direction of this man . In a moment , ten blades were out of their scabbards , and Noel Martin was struck down

      by a blow from a sabre , which made a wound in his loins of more than eight inches in length . This wounding in the hack a young man exasperated and without defence , was all the more cowardly and barbarous that , whatever his intentions towarcis the man might have been , he certainly could not have done him the least harm , inasmuch asTurgot was incomparably stronger than him , and , besides , there were present ten guards the weakest of whom could alone have paralysed all the movements of Noel Martin . Another atrocity followed . Drenched in his blood , Noel Martin was dragged to a dungeon , where instead of his state abating the rage cf liis persecutors , ' he was trampled upon and covered with braises . He was then chained hand and foot ; and it was m this state , on a little straw in the corner of Ms dungeon , that his wound was dressed , of which ho " nevertheless , recovered , thanks to his youth , and the natural strength of his constitution . Soudil and Noel Martin were in their dungeons . We were still ignorant of the horrible cercumstance of the sabre-vround received by the latter , for it will be readily believed , that it was not from our jailors we received the intelligence . The simple notification of their being put in a place of punishment had given rise to a fermentation m our minds , and still painfully occupied them , when

      Untitled Article

      another grave event , which took place in our own quarter , occurred to disturb anew our solitude . I have said > that in the short conversation we had at intervals through our doors , we were not always able to understand , or be understood by the Pole . For nearly a month we had remarked a certain incoherance in hi p language ; but attributing the foolishness of his words to his difficulty of expressing himself in French , as well as to our distance from him , we did not at first attach to them any ^ new and greater importance . Nevertheless , towards the beginning of February , we began to be seriously alarmed on

      learning that the Pole had fallen into an extraordinary silence , which he never broke except to complain of imaginary evils . Fearing an attack of mental alienation , we immediatel y informed the director of our apprehensions ; and he replied * that ho would cause the physician to make an examination of the state of our companion . Things were thus , when on the 14 th of February our comrade Delsade , hearing a fall , which seemed to him extraordinary , called a guard , and bid him see what Austen was about . No sooner had this man entered the cell than lie rushed out again , informing us , in his trouble and

      agitation , that our unfortunate companion had stabbed himself in the breast with a knife , which , however , had fortunately glanced aside . This fact once known to us , the director , who arrived soon afterwards , followed by the inspector and the physician , could not , however much he might desire it , conceal from us the real state . of affairs . The physician at length declared that he believed him to be labouring under the commencement of mental alienation . I would in vain attempt to paint the consternation that this frightful certainty caused us . That of his death would have affected us less , for can there be

      anything more lamentable than to be deprived of reason , and is not such a state to be at once a living being and a corpse ! We represented to ourselves , as for ever broken , the noble nature of that son of Poland , with his tall and graceful figure , his long , fair hair , pale and thoughtful features , and his blue eyes ' sometimes depicting melancholy , and sometimes animated with a singular martial ardour . We recalled his heroism at the Grenctat barricade , where he fell pierced with twenty bayonets , an heroism acknowledged by our enemies themselves in their accounts of the combat of the 12 th of May , and the recital of which moved even the judges of the Luxembourg , wholisten

      , ing to his noble and manly language , half French , half Polish , could not help manifesting some interest in him . But what was never suspected was the treatment to which he was subjected ^ Under the pretext of giving him a cell lighter and more airy , he was subjected to a still more rigorous isolation , in order the better to assure themselves if his mental alienation was reed , or only feigned .. This so-called suspicion lasted seven months ; and it was only at the end of that time , when his disease had been aggravated by the prolongation of the cause which had produced it , that he was transferred to the lunatic asylum of Pontorson .

      This Austen was a iioblo soldier of the cause of humanity . In 1831 , when hardly fourteen years of age , he took arms for the cause of his courihy . Wounded at Prague and at Ostrolenka , and having been one of those who escaped the battle and capture of Varsovia , he at last reached France , after suffering innumerable hardships . Accounts received subsequent to the period at which Martin Bernard ' s book was written represent his condition to have , boon considerably

      ameliorated by a residence of some years in his native land . It would be well for British Democracy if some of our selfstyled " leaders partook more of the high spirit of the nobleminded exile , who has here given us an account of his longyears of suffering , of his never-dying hopes for the future , and of his presages of the ultimate triumph of that holiest of causes to which he has devoted everything , " ease and competence , " and even life itself . If they did , we would not have such need

      to complain of the apathy of the masses , who are discouraged by our cause having been cursed with unprincipled demagogues and the ignoble ambition of selfish men . The issue of part 2 of this work was prevented by Bonaparte ' s infamous coup d ' etat . We shall return to its interesting and ablywritten pages when the arrival of happier days for Franco enables the author to continue its publication .

      Untitled Article

      THE THEATRES . OLYMPIC . The new Comedy entitled The Master l ' assiori , &t this theatre , has met with decided success . The plot , though not deep , is good , and tho interest is sustained without flagging to the end . The scene opens in Bradford , in Yorkshire , in 1780 . Mildred Ansley , tho daughter of a rich merchant ' s clerk , is about to b'j married to Caleb , another of the merchant ' s clerics . Old Jacob perceiving that his daughter dues not love this Caleb , and auspectinc the truth , that she luw rather set her affections upon Randolph , the merchant ' s son , hurries forward Ivor marriago , ami gets Randolph sent on a mission until it shall have taken placo . But the ru-ht previous to the marriage he returns , agonized at the thought of losing for ever Mildred , who has been

      brought up with him as a sister , and whom he liuds he loves to distractionthe jealous bridegroom discovers his secret visit , accuses him with improper intimacy with Mildred and departs , never to return . Randolph solicits the lmnrt of Mildred , and , with tho consent of the parents of either , they are married . The struggles between love and filial duty in the daughter and pride and paternal affection on tho . part of old Jacob , were excellently potirtrayed . Tho acting of Mrs . Bavtlett , Mr . Farren , and Miss Lucy Rafter , deserves especial mention . By the revival of Midas , the managers have brought the gods themselves to aid in providin" - amusement for the public . To the Master Position and Midas , _ add The Waterman , and the laughable farce of 1 <\< M Coach , and you have a bill of faro which must satisfy even the most exacting . Miss Gordon as Tom . Tug was inimitable . That lady ' s singing alone will amply reward a visit to tho Olympic .

      STRAND . The "African Opera Troupe" continue ; to draw crowded houses . The enthusiastic applause received by the " sereiuuiers " ia a good criterion of the satisfaction they give . The novelty of the week was the appearance of Pell as Luvj Long , and has sufficed to keep the house in convulsions Tho managers announce a series of "Nigger Farces" which , we doubt not , will prove eminently success ! ul . '

      Untitled Article

      A Pbeaciier Surtmsed . —¦ Last Sabiiath there occurred rather a curious scene in the parish church of Campsie . The Bev . Mr . Park , of Cadder , proceeded to the pulpit to officiate for the Kov . Thomas Mon . ro , the minister of the parish . Mr . Park had-gone through the usual routine of singing , prayer , &c , and had just given out the test , and was commencing his discourse , when a woman got up , and , at the top of her voice exclaimed-- ' Gae hame wi you , sir , an' learn your lesson—fa slight pauso ) -gae hame , I say , an' loam your sermon , afore ye come here . W ere nac accustomed wi' a man reaclin' a

      sermon tae xis-we can read ane at hainc oursel ' s . Gae hame-( loudej than before , accompanied with a stamp of the foot)—gae hame an' learn your lesson , like a skuleboy—gae hame sir " She went oil in this strain for some time , and it is said Mr . 1 ark looked unutterable things .

      Untitled Article

      Louis Napoleon and the fish-fags . —Tho editor * Reformer of Hamburg has been fined 50 marks and co-b * ^ cariacature of Louis Napoleon , representing his dom ; Or a maintained by the fish wife ' s of the Halle . Ul on as The Madcap who recently leapt from the Kiagara S sion Bridge , and received some severe injuries , is nearl ™ 8 ? 611 " vered , and is determined to risk his life again by feL ^ Jec ° - Niagara falls . ' * ^ % An irritable tragedian was playing Macbeth , and hrl td kill Duncan , when there was no blood for the Thane tl off his hands in . " The blood ! the blood !" exclaimed lie t ? P agitated property man , who had forgotten it . Tho ° however , not to disappoint the audience , clenched lris Su attor « striking the property man a violent blow upon the nose \ ^ washed his hands in the stream of gore that burst fron / ft ? re-entered with the usual words— "I have done the deed n ? thou not hear a noise ? " ' Ul ^

      A Dealbrik Relics . —When Alexandra Dumas visitedPe not long since , tile porter exhibited the stick of Voltaire whiM ? saidiie had religously preserved since the death of ' th 0 man , but how , " owing to the necessities of the times , '' he f ed he must part from the precious relic , and finall y ' oniielT offering it to the traveller for a louis . " I replied , " says Dm ' "it was too deal * , for eight years before he had sold the Hitt ^ h it to a friend of mine for nine and twenty francs ! 11

      What did maby say ? - — In one of the American courts k i there was along aud learned discussion as to whether a witt should be allowed to answer the question , " What did \\ ^ savj ? " Three judges gave ^ long and elaborate opinions in ?' affirmative , and the question being repeated , the ansuov ne "Not a word . " Mvas A Definite Answer . — " Pray , my good man , " said a jml to an Irishman , who was a witness on a trial , " what cliil n between you and the prisoner ? " " Och , thin , plase your worsT " says Pat ' " sure I sees Phelim on the top of a wall . p & J ^ says he—what says , I—what , says I—here , says he —\ yi K . /' says I—whist ! says he—hush says I ; and that is all I kilo '*!' boiititplase your worship . " Paddy was dismissed .

      Ah old lady , remarkable for her confused ideas of meaning of of words , thus described a clear summer evening :-- " it ^ asbeautiful bright night—the moon made everything as MtVcork ! " ° An English lady on arriving at Calais , on her way to make a grand tour , was surprised and somewhat indignant at behMevni ed for the first time in her life " a foreigner . " You mistake madam said she to the libeller with some pique , " it is you uhc are foriegners ; we are English . "

      A Genuine Yankee Story . —The "New Hampshire Telegraph ' has an amusing annecdote of a worthy D . D . of Massachusetts who is wondrous fond of a joke . The choir of his church had recently purchased a bass viol , the use of which was not altogether agreeable to their pastor . One hot Sunday a bull Jot into the church yard , and interspersed its meal with " sundry bdlowings . The clergyman paused , looked up at the sinjnWseats with a grave face , and said : — " I would thank the musicians riot to tuiie then- instruments during service time : it annoys me \ ery much . " The people stared , and the minister went on , " Boo-woo-woo , " went the bull , as he passed to another green spot ^ The Doctor again addressed the choir— I really doVisli the singers would not tune their instruments while I am preaching , for , as I have already remarked , it annoys me very nnieli . ' The minister had not proceeded far before another " ' lioo-w

      woo-woo " came from Mr . Bull , when the parson paused once more , and exclaimed— " . 1 have twice already requested the musicians in the gallery not to tune their instruments during sermon time I now particularly request Mr . Letavor that lie will not tune his double bass viol , while I am preaching . " An Eastekn Stoky . —The Trieste Gazette says :-A remarkable affair has occupied public . attention at Seinfm within these few days . Upon the report that Fazli Pacha had left for Constantinople by the steamer , and that his harem \ vould follow him .

      a young man came from Belgrade to Seralin , and made his appearance before the authorities , stating that he was a Bosnian ; that five years before his sister had been torn from her friends , Mahommedanized , and made the slave of Fazli Pacha , ami us at that moment in his harem on board the steamer , flic sister at the time of her seizure was seven years of age ; the father was stripped of his possessions and murdered ; the mother compelled to conform to Islamism ; and he , the deponent , who refused to follow

      her example , was thrown into fetters , escaped , suffered great privation , reached Belgrade , and had since followed the trade of a smith . Subsequent inquiries enabled him to ascertain that his sister , who was now thirteen years of age , was a slave m l < azli Pacha ' s harem , and he now , therefore , craved the assistance of the court . This was granted , and lie was conducted to the steamer , with adequate protection , for the purpose of ideatiiymg his sister . The son of the Pacha , who accompaniedtl » harem , at first stoutly denied that the « irl was thereand tins '

      , refused to give her up , and asserted the non-responsibility of his lather tor anything which happened in Scvvui . In the end " commission was sent to Belgrade to Hurschid Pacha , to whom the whole affair was represented . This ruler decided that the girl should be brought to Belgrade , and there abide the issue ol the ligitation . The Senilin authorities , however , seeius ? that the chances were that she would again foil into the hands of a Moslem Pacha , determined to keep her in their citv until the receipt oi some superior order .

      Untitled Article

      GUIDE TO THE LECTURE ROOM . Literary Institution , John Street , Fitzrov Square . Friday cvenirf tio ^ iTr fi > U 9 th ™ ^ WviiisloSfi , ' Emigration in C «» « tiomuth the Gold Kegions of tho Earth ' by ^ sfflste " rCVlCAV ° ° ^^^ '' proparations for Oiff "*^ Lec ^ r ' ' Hisl 1 n ^ n ,-Sept . 19 th , [ 7 | J P . W . I' « M ^ rSriS f ° « i ? 3 ' Wol ) 1 ) or Street > Blackimrs Boad .-flcpt 19 * . W tharles Southwell will Lecture . C [] i rn ^ i " , * * ? ' Charles Street OldGarratt ) Ma » chester . - ~ S ept . tt 111 a . m . J , a Lecture . ' ' lT q kM Ontl ? r - tcrary Institut ion , Bethnal Grcen . -Sept . 20 tf ' , $ II . b . Evans' Emigration . '

      , Fv ov ° v ° S !" G ° , f C aml bailing Boom , 59 . Church Lane , WhitecteP '' Lvciy bunuay , Mouuay , and Wednesday 8 ) , a Lecture or Discussion . , Mv w ° t \\ f ^^ tlon Society , 4 , Gloucester Terrace . -Sei't . * ^* - Mi . ^ . I . Matsoii , ' Milton . ' " 0 ni ° nTwial ? I ' PhU l 10 t st « K * » Commercial Road East .-Sef ^ S . uinv " " ' ! arle r 8 Southwell will lecture .-Theological Discussion bunday evening [ 7 ] , Tuesday [ 8 ] . Thursday [ S ] , and Saturday [ 8 ] . Progressionist Hall , Cheapside , Leeds .-Sept . 19 th [ 6 iJ a Lecture- ^ Eclectic Institute , 14 , Garthland Street , Glasgow-Sep t . 19 IU W

      Itwic L-Imisenmits.

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      _ ^.^^- ^ Llaife Mtbf Straus.

      _ ^ . ^^ - ^ llaife mtbf Straus .

      Untitled Article

      — 90 THE STAft OF FREEDOM . September i § , jgg

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 18, 1852, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1696/page/14/