CIIUEL IMPRISONMENT. 



293 



two years and a half, for no other crime than hav- 

 ing been found in the country without a licence, 

 is an ample commentary on the whole subject. 

 "The dungeon in the Castle of San Juande Ulua, 

 in which he was confined, was fourteen feet under 

 the arches of the castle, andafaint gloomy light was 

 admitted by a small grating at the top.'' One of 

 his fellow-prisoners, a citizen of the United States, 

 had the skin of his leg chafed by the iron. " From 

 the want of dressings and wholesome aliment, the 

 sore rapidly increased. The irritation and pres- 

 sure of the iron caused the flesh and muscles to 

 become completely ulcerated to the bone, and the 

 whole leg became a mass of putrefaction. Un- 

 availing were his petitions to have his irons taken 

 off ; though his groans and excruciating agonies, 

 at length, so far arrested the attention of his keep- 

 ers, that he was removed to the hospital. The 

 physician, on examining the horrid state of the leg, 

 immediately addressed a representation to the Go- 

 vernor, stating, that unless the irons were remov- 

 ed, death would inevitably ensue. Upon the 

 margin of the memorial, the Governor wrote the 

 following inhuman reply, and sent it to the officer 



