546 Tke Galley Slaves. [MAY, 



Argousin to be. He had an honest countenance. And yet it was disagree- 

 able to see the military uniform on such a man it was truly degrading to 

 the soldier's profession. 



The bagne at Toulon, the destination of the members of the chaine, 

 was respectably peopled when I visited it some years ago. It contained 

 amongst others, Sarrazin, a famous general, who had deserted to us from 

 Buonaparte, and whose works on the Spanish and other campaigns, are still 

 read with interest. The general had caught the inexcusable habit of 

 marrying a wife in each town wherein he was quartered, and was sent to 

 the gallies for trigint agamy. They boasted a bishop too amongst the 

 convicts at Toulon, a merry little fellow, that bore his fate gaily, and who 

 still contrived to exercise a kind of spiritual supremacy over his unfor- 

 tunate comrades. 



The ingenuity and hardihood of these men is surprising. Despite the 

 vigilance, the ramparts, the fetters, and the logs, they escape hourly and 

 daily 5 at what risk is manifest from the regulations, by which three 

 cannon shots always announce the disappearance of a convict, serving to 

 warn the peasants, and call them to earn the handsome reward given to 

 whoever arrests one of the branded fugitives. They are easily recognized 

 by the halt in one limb ; as they are wont to drag after them that which 

 has been accustomed to the bullet. 



The only pursuits that seem to pervade the bagne, are those of eating 

 and dying: with the exception of escape, all others are denied. And 

 those who have given up the latter hope, confine their thoughts either to 

 bettering their meagre fare of beans, or to getting rid of existence in the 

 most advantageous way. It is remarkable and degrading to observe the 

 utmost human ingenuity and industry employed, in order to procure a dish 

 of potatoes fried in grease once in the week. Yet such is the luxury of a 

 format, and he must labour for it harder than even an Hibernian peasant, 

 or a poet of the same line. 



The more philosophic, who scorn the luxury of potatoes, and with it 

 the life that affords no other, meditate how best to get rid of existence j 

 and this they effect almost ever in one way ; viz., by killing their most 

 obnoxious keeper, and thus earning the guillotine. 



It is a frequent scene in the bagne, that of an execution. It occurs 

 every week or fortnight. All the convicts are obliged to attend, for the 

 purpose of striking them with terror, and working contrition and good 

 behaviour in them. Alas ! it is a huge mistake. For these days are of 

 all others days of fete to them. Their countenances are marked by 

 universal joy, and they shout congratulations, not condolences, to their 

 comrade about to perish. Death to them is indeed an escape. Its cere- 

 mony is to them a marriage feast : and decapitation, what a black job was 

 to Lord Portsmouth, the only variety and excitement that could give a 

 spur to their heavy and painful existence. 



Speak as we may against the pains of death, this is worse, not only 

 physically but morally ; for it degrades humanity far lower than is con- 

 ceiveable. The French have an idea that they can imitate the American 

 mode of punishment by solitary confinement. This again will be still 

 worse than the galleys j since religious consolation can alone redeem or 

 ameliorate man in this state of durance -, and as this makes no part of the 

 French system, I cannot help thinking the guillotine more merciful, than 

 either their bagne or their solitary cells. C. 



