Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Succinct Account Of The Life Of The Writer.
A SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF THE WRITER .
Belonging to a very ancient family of the kingdom , almost all the members of which were Masons , and having finished my studies for entering the navy , I was sent on hoard the brig , the Eagle , of ten guns , as midshipman , at the commencement of 1810 , being eighteen years old . My eldest brother , then a colonel in the army , knowing the vicissitudes to which a sailor was exposed in a time when there was war with England , had me initiated a Mason as lufton , or Mason ' s child .
On the 10 th of May of the same year , after a fight against the English frigate , the Sea-horse , I was taken prisoner , transported with the whole crew to the Isle of Malta , and shut up in the Fort Emanuel . The Masons of this island found means to effect my escape , and I embarked in a ship of Ragusa , which brought me over to Tunis , and from there to Naples . This was the first time that I profited by the advantages of Masonry . Young , eager for advancement , dissatisfied with having to do
with a much stronger enemy , I had a distaste for the navy . I therefore petitioned to take part in the expedition to Russia , which was in preparation , as I expected to have then more chance of distinguishing myself , and of making my career more rapidly . After having made several appeals in vain , I addressed a petition to the king , who granted my wish , and I departed as a volunteer in the Horse-guards . It would be useless here to recount the exploits of this campaign , as they are known to
every one . ' In regard to myself , I was among the prisoners of the last affairs , and was sent back into the government of Novorogod , where I remained till the commencement of 1815 . At this period the prisoners departed to their own country ; but the news of the descent of
Napoleon into France was the cause of our changing our route and making for Hungaria , where we remained till the battle of Waterloo . After this we followed up our road towards Italy . In Hungaria I experienced for the second time the advantage of being a Mason . It can easily be imagined what was the condition of a prisoner coming from the north of Russia ancl arriving at Rape , tiie capital of Hungaria , after a march of two months , without pay , and almost naked . Our arrival on the drilling ground called together a great number of people of all gradeswho
, directed many questions to us . I perceived a lieutenant-colonel of hussars passing our front , with a lady leaning on his arm . He approached me , saluting me with masonic signs , and asked whether I was an officer . " Yes , " I said , answering to his salutation ; ancl after several other questions he left me , telling me not to stir from the place where I was until his return . Not many minutes afterwards he came in a carriage , with the same ladyand invited me to step in . What a pleasure it was
for-, me to hear , that he had obtained permission from the governor for me to take up my abode with him . On arriving at a splendid mansion two miles from the place , I was received in the most cordial manner , and all possible care was lavished on me . A shoemaker and a tailor were ordered to attend me directly , and at dinner-time this brave and kind brother came to my apartment , and conducted me to the dining-room . During the three months which I stayed at Rape I received every
kindness , and on the day of my departure my generous friend gave me a letter for one of his friends , one hundred florins , ancl accompanied me more than six miles on the road . Could I , without the greatest sin of ingratitude , forget all these traits of love ancl fraternal generosity ? The heart of man may be kind , but without practising the philanthropic VOL . VI . V
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Succinct Account Of The Life Of The Writer.
A SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF THE WRITER .
Belonging to a very ancient family of the kingdom , almost all the members of which were Masons , and having finished my studies for entering the navy , I was sent on hoard the brig , the Eagle , of ten guns , as midshipman , at the commencement of 1810 , being eighteen years old . My eldest brother , then a colonel in the army , knowing the vicissitudes to which a sailor was exposed in a time when there was war with England , had me initiated a Mason as lufton , or Mason ' s child .
On the 10 th of May of the same year , after a fight against the English frigate , the Sea-horse , I was taken prisoner , transported with the whole crew to the Isle of Malta , and shut up in the Fort Emanuel . The Masons of this island found means to effect my escape , and I embarked in a ship of Ragusa , which brought me over to Tunis , and from there to Naples . This was the first time that I profited by the advantages of Masonry . Young , eager for advancement , dissatisfied with having to do
with a much stronger enemy , I had a distaste for the navy . I therefore petitioned to take part in the expedition to Russia , which was in preparation , as I expected to have then more chance of distinguishing myself , and of making my career more rapidly . After having made several appeals in vain , I addressed a petition to the king , who granted my wish , and I departed as a volunteer in the Horse-guards . It would be useless here to recount the exploits of this campaign , as they are known to
every one . ' In regard to myself , I was among the prisoners of the last affairs , and was sent back into the government of Novorogod , where I remained till the commencement of 1815 . At this period the prisoners departed to their own country ; but the news of the descent of
Napoleon into France was the cause of our changing our route and making for Hungaria , where we remained till the battle of Waterloo . After this we followed up our road towards Italy . In Hungaria I experienced for the second time the advantage of being a Mason . It can easily be imagined what was the condition of a prisoner coming from the north of Russia ancl arriving at Rape , tiie capital of Hungaria , after a march of two months , without pay , and almost naked . Our arrival on the drilling ground called together a great number of people of all gradeswho
, directed many questions to us . I perceived a lieutenant-colonel of hussars passing our front , with a lady leaning on his arm . He approached me , saluting me with masonic signs , and asked whether I was an officer . " Yes , " I said , answering to his salutation ; ancl after several other questions he left me , telling me not to stir from the place where I was until his return . Not many minutes afterwards he came in a carriage , with the same ladyand invited me to step in . What a pleasure it was
for-, me to hear , that he had obtained permission from the governor for me to take up my abode with him . On arriving at a splendid mansion two miles from the place , I was received in the most cordial manner , and all possible care was lavished on me . A shoemaker and a tailor were ordered to attend me directly , and at dinner-time this brave and kind brother came to my apartment , and conducted me to the dining-room . During the three months which I stayed at Rape I received every
kindness , and on the day of my departure my generous friend gave me a letter for one of his friends , one hundred florins , ancl accompanied me more than six miles on the road . Could I , without the greatest sin of ingratitude , forget all these traits of love ancl fraternal generosity ? The heart of man may be kind , but without practising the philanthropic VOL . VI . V