I Was
Often Diverted With The Conversation Of This Fellow, Who Was Very
Arch And Very Communicative.
Every afternoon, he used to stand
upon the foot-board, at the side of the coach, and discourse with
us an hour together.
Passing by the gibbet of Valencia, which
stands very near the high-road, we saw one body hanging quite
naked, and another lying broken on the wheel. I recollected, that
Mandrin had suffered in this place, and calling to Joseph to
mount the foot-board, asked if he had ever seen that famous
adventurer. At mention of the name of Mandrin, the tear started
in Joseph's eye, he discharged a deep sigh, or rather groan, and
told me he was his dear friend. I was a little startled at this
declaration; however, I concealed my thoughts, and began to ask
questions about the character and exploits of a man who had made
such noise in the world.
He told me, Mandrin was a native of Valencia, of mean extraction:
that he had served as a soldier in the army, and afterwards acted
as maltotier, or tax-gatherer: that at length he turned
contrebandier, or smuggler, and by his superior qualities, raised
himself to the command of a formidable gang, consisting of five
hundred persons well armed with carbines and pistols. He had
fifty horses for his troopers, and three hundred mules for the
carriage of his merchandize. His head-quarters were in Savoy: but
he made incursions into Dauphine, and set the marechaussee at
defiance. He maintained several bloody skirmishes with these
troopers, as well as with other regular detachments, and in all
those actions signalized himself by his courage and conduct.
Coming up at one time with fifty of the marechaussee who were in
quest of him, he told them very calmly, he had occasion for their
horses and acoutrements, and desired them to dismount. At that
instant his gang appeared, and the troopers complied with his
request, without making the least opposition. Joseph said he was
as generous as he was brave, and never molested travellers, nor
did the least injury to the poor; but, on the contrary, relieved
them very often. He used to oblige the gentlemen in the country
to take his merchandize, his tobacco, brandy, and muslins, at his
own price; and, in the same manner, he laid the open towns under
contribution. When he had no merchandize, he borrowed money off
them upon the credit of what he should bring when he was better
provided. He was at last betrayed, by his wench, to the colonel
of a French regiment, who went with a detachment in the night to
the place where he lay in Savoy, and surprized him in a wood-house,
while his people were absent in different parts of the
country. For this intrusion, the court of France made an apology
to the king of Sardinia, in whose territories he was taken.
Mandrin being conveyed to Valencia, his native place, was for
some time permitted to go abroad, under a strong guard, with
chains upon his legs; and here he conversed freely with all sorts
of people, flattering himself with the hopes of a pardon, in
which, however, he was disappointed.
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