mustered. They are not well clothed; and of course under such officers as frequent revolutions breed, like mushrooms, little can be expected beyond the most gorgeous and ill adapted uniform that can be imagined, stuffed by more pride than the buttons can well sustain.
The officers here, as in some other free countries, can give you a yard of tape, ramrod, or sword.
An example of their determination to rigidly execute the laws, occurred the day of our departure. Two peasants, murderers and robbers, were condemned by a court-martial to be shot. They were led out with great ceremony, escorted by an officer's guard, and a priest in full canonicals purposely delaying the march, and halting at intervals in order to inculcate religious precepts. They at length reached the fatal spot, a jutting headland fronting the ship. Here two seats had been prepared, with crosses at shoulder height, when seated. To these seats they were conducted, clad entirely in white, and their arms securely lashed to the crosses. The priest having repeated their sentence, from the warrant, they were desired to kiss it in testimony of its justice, and proof of their repentance, which they did most humbly. Having received the sacrament, they were despatched by signal, ten men presenting their pieces within three feet of each victim. One was twenty-two and the other eighteen years of age, and the sum for which they deliberately committed murder, four shillings, or less!
