336 Cruel Punifoment infidtcd on Mr. Seider; by Paul I. [May 1, 
in French, informed me, that his Excel- 
Yency was at Pawlowfk, and would not 
seturn before the expiration of three hours 
at the leatt. I burft forth into lamenta- 
tions and tears, whereupon another officer 
came up, and ordered me to be taken to a 
dark apartment, where a foldier ftood by 
me with a drawn fword. Atier I had 
been two hours in the Governor-general’s 
houfe, without knowing why, I was con- 
ducted to the Police-mafter-general. The 
dragging of my chains through the dirty 
fireets fatigued me exceedingly, and I was 
on the point ef finking to the ground ; but 
the foldier who accompanied me, was fo 
compaffionate as to bind them up with his 
pocket-handkerchief. I remained an hour 
in the Police-malter-general’s houfe, where 
they only exchanged fome papers. Thence . 
I was condu&ted to the Police-houfe: 
here they afked for the key of my trunk, 
but brought it back to me ina few mi- 
nutes. ‘They then took me through the 
court of the Police-office to a prifon, 
where there were a great number of the 
mot reprobate criminals. On entering, I 
ftarted back with horror from fuch a 
dreadful fociety : but my conductors pufh- 
ed me into the midft of them. Wrapped 
vp in my cloak, I threw myfelf on the 
cold ground, every moment expecting fone 
worfe treatment. 
About an hour after I was again drag- 
ged forth into daylight. A foldier con- 
ducted me acrofs the, court to an apart- 
ment, where I found an officer, furreunded 
with a number of ferjeants, delivering re- 
ports to, and receiving orders from, him. 
As Ientered the room, weeping and wail- 
ing, the officer looked at me with anatten- 
tive and compaffionate mien, as if he wn- 
derftood every word I uttered. This 
made me conclude that he were a German, 
‘ and I accordingly addrefled him in the 
«German language: he anfwered me in 
French. I proceeded to {peak in French, 
and explained to him, with as few words 
as poffible, my misfortunes, and the caule 
thereof. He would not bclieve that it- 
vas intended to inflict corporal punith- 
ment upon me; but, as I perfifted in my 
affertion, and, thinking my fpeedy death 
unavoidable, begged to have a clergyman 
to converfe with me—he gave me leave to 
write toone. I accordingly wrote a few 
Jines to Mr. Paftor Wolff—hut he came 
not. 
* They now took me away from this 
place, and conducted me through a long 
vaulted paflage: the clanking of my 
chains refuunded dreadfully along the 
ing for me. 
‘walls Quite at the end of the paflage T. 
was. put into another apartment: it was. 
indeed damp and dreiry ; but I was there 
alone, except that two, grenadiers guarded 
me with tarir naked tabres.. My wan- 
dering fcemed now to be at an end, for it 
was almoft dark, Quite exhaufted, I 
threw myfelf down on 4 wooden bedftead, 
and gave a tree courle to my tears: EF 
Jooked.at my chains, and wept more bit- 
teyy: the ftorm raged fo vehemently in 
my foul, that I was not able -to arrange 
my thoughts. ** What art thou now?” 
thought I “* The moft wretched of men” 
was the anfwer, The thought of the 
morning filled me with inexpreffibie an- 
guifh. I prayed fervently to the Almighty 
to grant me force to bear the dreadfal 
punifhment that awaited me, that I might 
once more here on earth fee, and live 
with, my beloved wife and child. J then 
again queftioned myfelf—s* Why doft thou: 
fuffer fo cruelly? What crime haft thou 
committed?”"—and a flood of tears was 
the anfwer. ; 
It was already about midnight, when 
the above-mentioned officer came to in- 
form me, that the Paftor Reimbold was 
arrived, and defired me to follow him. 
He condu&ed me to the apartment of the 
officers, where that clergyman was wait- 
He could only pour the 
balm of religious confolation into my 
wounded foul. He was himfelf. much 
affected and agitated. After converfing 
with mea few minutes, he took his leave. © 
T paffed the remainder of the night on 
my hard couch—I wifhed for death ; for 
I could not endure the thought of the 
dreadful condition I found mytelf reduced 
to. At length I fell afleep: but the firit 
dawn of the morning awakened me again 
to a fenfe of my. mifery. 
however, as it were, by an invilible power, 
I fuddenly felt my courage revive, and re- 
Solved to bear with patience and firmnefs 
the fufferings that awaited me. 
ficer, whom I have already mentioned fe- 
vera} times, fent me a difh of tea and fome 
bifcnit. 
frefhment to me, as I had not tafted any 
thing fince my removal from the Fort on, 
the preceding day. Soon after he came to 
me himfelf, and told me, that an officer 
from the governor wifhed to {peak to, 
me. Supported by two grenadiers, I 
raifed myfelf up from my bed. In the 
middie of the long paflace, my chains 
were taken off. A foft fenfation of fecret 
joy vibrated through every nerve: I was, 
however, far from imagining, that the- 
2 unict= — 
Strengthened | 
The of +. 
This was a moft acceptable re-- 
t% 
