Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

late ftadtholder of Holland, hall receive a territorial indemnification; but neither in the vicinity of the Auftrian poffeffions, nor in the vicinity of the Batavian republic.

8. The prince of Naffau Dietz, ty of peace, or in confequence of the treaty to be concluded with the empire, fhall fuffer any lofs in territory or rights, particularly the electors of Mentz, Treves, and Cologa, the elector palatine of Bavaria, the duke of Wurtemberg and Teck, the margrave of Baden, the duke of Deux Ponts, the landgraves of Heffe Caffel and Darmftadt, the princes of Naffau-Saarbruck, Salm, Koburg, Lowenftein, Weftheim, and Wied-Runckel, and the count de Leyn, fhall receive proportionable indemnifica tions in Germany, which shall be fettled by mutual agreement with the French republic.

9. The French republic makes no difficulty to restore to the king of Pruffia his poffeffions on the left bank of the Rhine. No new acquifition fhall, however, be propofed for the king of Pruffia. This the two contracting powers mutually guarantee.

10. Should the king of Pruffia be willing to cede to the French and Batavian republic fome fmall parts of his territory on the left bank of the Meufe, as Sevenaer, and other poffefions towards the Yeffel, his imperial majefty will ufe his influence that fuch ceffions fhall be accepted and rendered valid by the empire.

11. His imperial majefty will not object to the manner in which the imperial fiets have been difpofed of by the French republic, in favour of the Ligurian republic. His imperial majefty will ufe his influence, together with the French republic, that the German empire will renounce all feodal fovereignty over the countries which make a part of the Cifalpine and Ligurian repub. fics; as alfo the imperial fiefs, fuch as Laniguiana, and thofe which lie between Tufcany and the ftates of Parma, the Ligurian and Lucchefe republics, and the late territory of Modena, which fiefs make a part of the Cifalpine republic.

12. His imperial majefty and the French republic will in concert employ their influence, in the courte of concluding the peace of the empire, that fach princes and ftates of the empire who, in confequence of the ftipulations of the pretent trea

13. The troops of his imperial majefty, twenty days after the exchange of the ratifications of the prefent treaties, fhall evacuate the towns and fortreffes of Meatz, Ehrenbreititein, Phillipfburg, Manheim Konigstein, Ulm, and Ingolftadt, as alfo the whole territory ap pertaining to the German empire, to the boundaries of the hereditary ftates.

1. The prefent fecret articles fhall have the fame force as if they were inferted word for word in the public treaty of peace this day figned, and thall in like manner be ratified at the fame time by the two contracting powers, which ratifications thall be exchanged in due form at Raftadt. ·

Done and figned at Campo Formio, the 17th of October, 1797; 25th of Vendemaire, in the 6th year of the French republic one and indivisible. (Signed) Buonaparte.

Marquis de Gillo,

Louis count Cobenzel.
Count Meerfeldt, maj. gen.
Count Degel nann.
CHAR

CHARACTERS.

Egyptian Mode of taking Repafts; from Sonnini's Travels in Egypt.

THE

HEY are feated, with their legs croffed, around a table with one foot, in form of a large circular tea-board, on which dishes are placed, without either table-cloth, plates, knives, or forks. They make with the right hand, the circle of the difhes, from whence they take fucceflively, and according to their tafte, little morfels with their fingers. The left hand, deftined for ablutions, is unclean, and muft not touch provifions. They fometimes transfer

greafe diftils from each fide of their mouths. The ftomach fends forth frequent fumes, which they lengthen out and render as noify as they can. He whofe hunger is fooneft appealed rifes from table firft. It is not regarded as a want of politeness to remain alone at the board, if your appetite is not perfectly satisfied.

4

Manners and Addrefs of the Emperor
Jojeph II.; from Wraxall's M
moirs of the Courts of Beri,
Drefden, &c.

what they have taken from one difcond is not deficient. His manN external addrefs, Jofeph the

to another, to form a mixture of it; of this they make a large ball, which they convey to a widely extended mouth. The poultry and the boiled meats are divided into pieces, and torn with the hands and nails. The roaft meats are ferved up in little pieces, cut before they are put to the fpit, and no where can you eat better roafted meat than in the countries of Turkey. The table does not afford an opportunity for converfation. They only feat themfelves to eat very rapidly; they make quick dispatch, and fwallow with precipitation. They are, not men whom the pleafure of fociety aflembles together; they are brutes whom want and voracioufnefs colleft around their pasture. The

[ocr errors]

ners are eafy, his converfation lively, voluble, and entertaining: running rapidly from one fubject to another, and difplaying fre quently a vaft variety of knowledge. Perhaps he manifefts too great a confcioufnefs of poffeffing extenfive information; and he may be reproached likewife with frequently anticipating the answers of the perfons with whom he converfes A mixture of vanity and of impe tuofity conduce to this defee. While he talks, especially if eager, he always plays with the money in his pocket. He writes with eafe, perfpicuity, and propriety. I have feen many of his notes, ev dently compofed without premedi

tation,

tation, addreffed to perfons who of a determined duration. Objec

enjoyed his confidence, both men and women. They demonftrate feeling, enlargement of mind, and, as I have thought, goodness of heart. Yet I know, from indifputable authority, that he is a profound diffembler, rarely or never speaking his real fentiments upon any point of moment. On the other hand, he certainly permits thofe whom he loves or esteems, to deal fairly with him, to tell him not only plain but painful truths; and even to reprehend him on occasion with severity.

Account of the Gaol of Philadelphia and of the Laws of Pennsylvania, with respect to the Punishment of Crimes; from Weld's Travels through the States of North America and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during 1795, 1796, and 1797.

THE

THE gaol is a fpacious building of common ftone, one hundred feet in front. It is fitted up with folitary cells, on the new plan, and the apartments are all arched, to prevent the communication of fire. Behind the building are extenfive yards, which are fecured by lofty walls. This gaol is better regulated, perhaps, than any other on the face of the globe. By the new penal laws of Pennfylvania, lately enacted, no crime is punithable with death, excepting murder of the first degree, by which is meant, murder that is perpetrated by wilful premeditated intention, or in attempts to commit rape, robbery, or the like. Every other of fence, according to its enormity, is punished by folitary imprisonment VOL. XLI.

tions may be made to this mode of punifiiment, as not being fufficiently fevere on the individual to atone for an atrocious crime; nor capable, because not inflicted in public, of deterring evil-minded perfons, in the community, from the commiflion of offences which incur the rigour of the law; bat, on a close examination, it will be found to be very fevere; and, as far as an opinion can be formed from the trial that has been hitherto made by the ftate of Pennfylvania, it feems better calculated to reftrain the excelles of the people than any other. If any public panifiment could ftrike terror into the lawlefs part of the mul tude, it is as likely that the infliction of death would do it as any whatfoever; but death is divested of many of his terrors, after being often prefented to our view; fo that we find in countries, for inftance in England, where it occurs often as a puniment, the falutary effects that might be expected from it are, in a great measure, loft. The unfortunate wretch, who is doomed to forfeit his life in expiation of the crimes he has committed in numberiefs inftances, looks forward with apparent unconcern to the moment in which he is to be launched into eternity; his companions around him only condole him, becaufe his career of iniquity has fo fuddenly been impeded by the courfe of juftice: or, if he is not too much hardened in the paths of vice, but falls a prey to remorse and fees all the horrors of his impending fate, they endeavour to rally his broken ipirits by the confoling remembrance, that the pangs he has to endure are but the pangs of a moment, which they illuftrate by

X

the

the speedy exit of one whofe death he was, perhaps, himfelf witnefs to but a few weeks before. A month does not pals over, in England, without repeated executions; and there is scarcely a vagabond to be met with, in the country, who has not feen a fellow creature fufpended from the gallows. We all know what little good effect fuch fpectacles produce. But, immured in darkness and folitude, the prifoner fuffers pangs worse than death a hundred times in a day; he is left to his own bitter reflections; there is no one thing to divert his attention, and he endeavours, in vain, to escape from the horrors which continually haunt his imagination. In fuch a fituation the most hardened offender is foon reduced to a state of repentance.

But punishment by imprisonment, according to the laws of Pennfylvania, is impofed, not only as an expiation of paft offences, and an example to the guilty part of fociety, but for another purpofe, regarded by few penal codes in the world, the reform of the criminal. The regulations of the gaol are calculated to promote this effect as foon as poffible, fo that the building, indeed, deferves the name of a penctentiary houfe more than that of a gaol. As foon as a criminal is committed to the prifon he is made to wash; his hair is fhorn, and if not decently clothed, he is furnished with clean apparel; then he is thrown into a folitary cell, about nine feet lorg and four wide, where he remains debarred from the fight of every living being, excepting his gaoler, whofe duty it is to attend to the bare neceflities of his nature, but who is forbidden, en any account, to fpeak to him,

without there is abfolute occafion. If a prifoner is at all refractory, or if the offence for which he is imprifoned is of a very atrocious nature, he is then confined in a cell fecluded even from the light of heaven. This is the worst that can be inflicted upon him.

The gaol is infpected twice every week by twelve perfons appointed for that purpose, who are chofen annually from amongst the citizens of Philadelphia. Nor is it a difficult matter to procure these men, who readily and voluntarily take it upon them to go through the troublefome functions of the office without any fee or emolument whatever. They divide themselves into committees; each of these takes it in turn, for a stated period, to vifit every part of the prifon; and a report is made to the infpectors at large, who meet together at times regularly appointed. From the report of the committee an opinion is formed by the infpectors, who, with the confent of the judges, regulate the treatment of each individual prifoner during his confinement. This is varied ac cording to his crime, and according to his fubfequent repentance. Solitary confinement in a dark cell is looked upon as the fevereft ufage; next, folitary confinement in a cell with the admiffion of light; next, confinement in a cell where the prifoner is allowed to do fome fort of work; laftly, labour in company with others. The prifoners are obliged to bathe twice every week, proper conveniences for that purpofe being provided within the walls of the prifon, and alfo to change their linen, with which they are regularly provided. Thofe in folitary confinement are kept

проп

upon bread and water; but thofe who labour are allowed broth, porridge, puddings, and the like: meat is difpenfed only in fmall quantities, twice in the week. Their drink is water; on no pretence is any other beverage fuffered to be brought into the prifon. This diet is found, by experience, to afford the prifoners ftrength fufficient to perform the labour that is impofed upon them; whereas a more generous one would only ferve to render their minds lefs humble and fubmiffive. Those who labour, are employed in the particular trade to which they have been accustomed, provided it can be carried on in the prifon; if not acquainted with any, fomething is foon found that they can do. One room is fet apart for fhoemakers, another for tailors, a third for car penters, and fo on; and in the yards are flone-cutters, finiths, nailors, &c.

Excepting the cells, which are at a remote part of the building, the prifon has the appearance of a large manufactory. Good order and decency prevail throughout, and the eye of a fpectator is never affailed by the fight of fuch ghaftly and fqualid figures as are continually to be met with in our prifons; fo far, alfo, is a vifitor from being infulted, that he is fcarcely noticed as he pafles through the different wards. The prifoners are forbidden to fpeak to each other without there is neceffity; they are alfo forbidden to laugh and to fing, or to make the fmalleft disturbance. An overfeer attends continually to fee that every one performs his work diligently; and in cafe of the fmalleft refiftance to any of the regulations, the offender is imme

diately caft into a folitary cell, to fubfift on bread and water till he returns to a proper fenfe of his behaviour; but the dread all thofe have of this treatment, who have once experienced it, is fuch, that it is feldom found neceflary to repeat it. The women are kept totally apart from the men, and are employed in a manner fuitable to their fex. The labourers all eat together in one large apartment; and regularly, every Sunday, there is divine fervice, at which all attend. It is the duty of the chaplain to converfe at times with the prifoners, and endeavour to reform their minds and principles. The infpectors, when they vifit the prison, alfo do the fame; fo that when a prifoner is liberated, he goes out, as it were, a new man; he has been habituated to employment, and has received good inftructions. The greatest care is alfo taken to find him employment the moment he quits the place of his confinement. According to the regulations, no perfon is allowed to vifit the prifon without permiffion of the inspectors. The greateft care is alfo taken to preferve the health of the prifoners, and for those who are fick, there are proper apartments and good advice provided. The longeft period of confinement is for a rape, which is not to be less than ten years, but not to exceed twentyone. For high treason, the length of confinement is not to be less than fix nor more than

twelve years. There are prifons in every county throughout Penfylvania, but none as yet are eftablifhed on the fame plan as that which has been defcribed. minals are frequently fent front other parts of the ftate to receive X 2 punishment

Cri

« ZurückWeiter »