Italy, in order to re-kindle the courage of the Carbonari, and to prepare them for insurrection. He set out on his mission, charged with letters of introduction, regulations, ciphers, etc.; but, fearful of danger in passing the frontier, he left these at Bellinzona in the care of a refugee, who undertook to forward them safely. From the information he had collected on his journey, and on his arrival at Milan, he was soon convinced that nothing could then be attempted with any chance of success. Count Confalonieri and many others of the most distinguished men in Lombardy had been imprisoned, and the Inquisitorial Commission appointed to try political offenders spread terror and dismay throughout the country. M. Andryane says,

"No one could sleep in his own house with security. Everywhere I heard the same language; everywhere I met with the same hatred of the Commission, and the same horror at its arbitrary proceedings. Two names, above all, were prominent in every conversation and familiar to every lip; one as an object of admiration and compassion, the other as a mark of vituperation and abhorrence. Confalonieri and Salvotti seemed to represent in the eyes of the Milanese the angel of liberty and the demon of oppression, contending against each other, no longer for the success of the cause they had espoused, but for their own personal triumph. For Confalonieri were poured forth the good wishes of his countrymen, especially of the fair sex, who regarded him as an unfortunate and persecuted being, clothed with all the brilliancy of self-devotion and courage. On Salvotti weighed the malediction of a whole population, hating in his person one of those abominable adventurers who invent state-trials to raise themselves to power.”— Vol. i. page 31.

M. Andryane without delay wrote to prevent his papers being forwarded, and to resign his mission as hopeless; but it was too late. The fatal packet arrived as he was preparing for a tour of pleasure through Italy, and the Austrian police almost immediately seized it in his room. He was soon conveyed to the prison of Santa Margherita, where Pellico had been confined three years before; and shortly afterwards he was brought before the Inquisitorial Commission, at the head of which was the notorious Salvotti. It is scarcely possible to realize to the mind the mental tortures which this tribunal exercised upon its victims. They were lodged in dark cells, kept for indefinite periods in solitary

confinement, deprived of books and writing materials, broken down by want of food, and repeatedly subjected to secret and harassing examinations; during which, setting at nought every form of justice, the artful inquisitor-himself counsel on both sides, judge, jury, appeal,-employed every means of persuasion or intimidation to extort disclosures. Inferring from the papers seized upon him that the young Frenchman possessed all the secrets of the Italian patriots, Salvotti endeavoured to drive him to criminate others,— his own case being, as he said, already prejudged. But Andryane had embarked in the enterprize so thoughtlessly, that he knew little of what was doing, and that little he was determined not to reveal. The proud inquisitor could not bear to see his endeavours continually baffled by a beardless youth, and often gave way to the most scandalous fits of rage that ever disgraced the character of a judge. The examinations before him are described with startling force and effect. The judge fixes his dark and piercing eyes upon the prisoner, with a view to intimidate or scrutinize the character he had to deal with; he then tells him that the papers of which he was bearer were sufficient to consign him to the scaffold without further proceedings, and that "candour and truth were his only anchor of safety." Andryane answers that he has no accomplices, no disclosures to make.

"I tell you plainly," said Salvotti, "that your execution is certain if you persevere in these denials caused by your obstinate pride, and your false estimation of your means of defence. What can you expect, I ask you, as the result of such behaviour? To save your head? The papers I now hold have already destined it to the hangman. To preserve the secrets of the criminal associations to which you belong? We know enough already to ensure our getting at what remains, without your help. To save your accomplices abroad and at Milan? That is no longer in your power. Be persuaded, while there is yet time, that you can conceal nothing from us, nor save any one, and that you must die. The clemency of his Majesty is as great as his power. Be sufficiently your own friend to seek it.

"After this address, which Salvotti delivered in a tone at times loud and threatening, and at others insinuating and kind, he awaited, with his eyes constantly fixed on mine, for the result of his eloquence. I answered, 'I am much obliged by the interest which my judge is pleased to take in my fate, and by the advice which he has no doubt given solely with a view to my advantage; but I am unfortunat 3 to inform him that I cannot hangs over me

follow it.

If, as he states, a

in consequence of the papers found in my possession, I have nothing left but to await my destiny. But if, as I am bound to believe, I am to defend my life and liberty before a tribunal incapable of any arbitrary proceedings, I have sufficient confidence in the strength of my case, to trust that a mere intention, an embryo plot unaccompanied by any overt act, and which was even abandoned, will not be confounded with what the law requires to constitute the crime of high-treason.'

"The sneer of insolent pity which appeared on the lips of the inquisitor, and passed to those of his worthy associates, would have sufficed to make me pause in my discourse, had not Salvotti hastened to interrupt me by saying, 'It is before the Commission alone that you will have to plead your cause. You will have no other tribunal; and as to counsel, it is I who will serve you in that capacity.'

"But are you indeed in earnest?' said I.

When we are a little better acquainted, you will be satisfied,' replied he sharply,' that jesting forms no part of my character.'

"And am I, a poor unprotected stranger, ignorant of your language and laws, to remain without the assistance of counsel and pleader?'

"To each of these interrogations Salvotti replied smilingly by inclinations of the head, and repeating, 'Just so, just so!'

"Of the protection which the law affords in all other countries to the accused, I perceive none here. * Who is to sustain the prisoner in

a long and harassing trial? Who is to prevent him, in his ignorance of the laws from causing his own ruin, by expressions though innocent in themselves often of fatal import.'

"I! I tell you,' exclaimed Salvotti,—' I, whom his Majesty honours with his entire confidence,-I, who at my pleasure can save or destroy you, -I, who hold in my hands the proofs of your guilt, which no pleading can palliate, no line of defence save from the extreme penalty of the law, except submission and repentance.'

"The unremitting strain to which my mind was subjected in order to guess and seize the drift of Salvotti's questions, together with the necessity under which I was placed of answering in Italian, so much wearied me during this long examination, that I requested some rest. Without paying any attention to my request, the inquisitor continued the interrogotary some time longer, until, tired out himself, he closed it, saying, 'You make light of the Commission, but you will ere long learn that the Imperial Tribunal is not to be trifled with. Take my word for it, this will end by your being hung.'

"These words he accompanied with a movement of the hand, which was perfectly in keeping with the anger and malice depicted on his pallid countenance."

"If that is to be my doom, it is hard, very hard; and you have menaced me with it so often that I cannot doubt it. But what am I to do? I can only deplore the fatality of my situation, which precludes me from

producing conviction in the minds of my judges, and will send me to the scaffold, though innocent!'

"You will be hung,' said Salvotti.

"Hung! be it so,' I replied; I shall not forget it; I will prepare myself for my fate: before I go, however, I shall ask a favour.'

"What is it?'

"A copy of the criminal code. '

Impossible-useless-you have no need of it.'

"What! can you refuse me a copy of the code, when I am not even allowed a defender or an advocate? Then I am not to be judged, but sacrificed-I am a victim!'

"A victim! no; but you will be hung:' and he added, with a grin, 'You are not now in France,-Do you understand? You may go? "He rang the bell, and the guards came to fetch me. I returned to my prison harassed and worn out with fatigue and exhaustion."-Vol. i. pages 90-100.

Examinations of this nature, despotically and fraudulently conducted, and multiplied in number every day during several months,-early in the morning, the evening, or at midnight, just as Salvotti might think proper,-formed the whole of the proceedings, miscalled trials, by which Austria either destroyed or crushed the noblest minds in her Italian provinces. Yet no rebellion had taken place, no overt act had been committed, and these abominations were only precautionary measures intended to appease the fears of a superannuated despot.

Meanwhile Andryane found relief from the tediousness of his captivity, by discovering a mode of communication adopted by the Italian prisoners confined in the adjoining cells, which consisted in striking on the intermediate wall a number of slight taps, corresponding with the place that each letter occupies in the alphabet. By this ingenious means he was enabled to maintain long and frequent conversations with several of his fellow-sufferers in succession; and considerable interest is added to his narrative, by a variety of episodes, and an exposure of the trifling pretexts under which men of the highest character and rank were torn from their families and subjected to the arbitrary proceedings of the Inquisitorial Commission.

After eight months of mental torture his examinations came to a close, and he was removed from the prison of Santa Margherita to awe bis sentence in that of Porta Nuova, where he soon nate of one of

the cells close to his own was Confalonieri. From all he had heard, both in and out of prison, concerning the character of this illustrious man, Andryane had long been anxious to be brought into connexion with him, especially as he had been confidentially informed by one of the Commissioners that he would have to suffer with him the extreme penalty of the law. Their intercourse soon ripened into a warm friendship, and it was from Confalonieri himself that he received a second intimation of his doom.

"In that death-like stillness, at about two o'clock in the morning, I heard some taps at the wall, but they were so faint that I could scarcely believe it. I got up, and went to listen. It was Confalonieri, who, availing himself of the sleep of his guards, summoned me once more. 'The sentences have been sanctioned by the Emperor; they are here: they will be executed in a few days,-I shall be hanged.'

"In the name of Heaven, tell me whether I am condemned to the same punishment as yourself?'

"He did not answer; but his silence spoke more than words. I therefore raised my soul to Him who is the source of true resignation and courage, and prayed for fortitude to die worthily."-Vol. i. page 322.

The Commission had, in fact, condemned them both to death, and their sentences had been sanctioned by the Senate of Verona; but they had staunch friends at work. Andryane's affectionate sister, an accomplished and energetic woman, had repaired to Milan, in order to make every possible exertion in order to obtain his release. For some time Salvotti would not permit an interview between the brother and sister, unless they bought the favour by some important disclosures; and being foiled in this attempt, he tried to drive her back to France. She, however, remained firm to her purpose, in spite of the Inquisitor, obtained admission to see the prisoner, and was now moving heaven and earth to save his life. The Countess Confalonieri, too, eminent alike for her talents and her virtues, was using her utmost endeavours to incline the Emperor to mercy. Determined upon terrifying the disaffected, his Majesty dismissed her, saying, "Enough, madam! there is barely time for you to arrive at Milan, if you desire to see your husband once more;" and to the father of Confalonieri, who had been long devoted to the House of Austria, he said, as he was embracing his knees, "Rise, my dear Count; submit to the sacrifice, and behold your son al