THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| VOL. XVII, NO. 471.] | SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1831 | [PRICE 2d. |
CASTLE OF VINCENNES.CASTLE OF VINCENNES.
Every reader at all conversant with the history of the present century,or the past year, will appreciate our choice of the above Engraving. Itspictorial and historical interest will not bear comparison; unless it bein the strong contrast which the gloomy, wretched-looking buildingaffords with the beautiful paysage of the scene. The spectatormay perhaps reflect on the damning deeds which the cruelty and ambitionof man have perpetrated in the Castle, then turn for relief to thegaiety—nay, the dancing life and bustle of other portions of thepicture—and lastly confess that the composition, slight as it is,abounds with lights and shadows that strike forcibly on every beholder.
To be more explicit—the Castle of Vincennes was formerly a royal palaceof the French court: it then dwindled to a state-prison; in its fosse,March 21, 1804, the Duke d'Enghien was murdered, the grave in the ditchon the left being where the body of the ill-starred victim was thrownimmediately after being shot. The reader knows this act as one of thebloody deeds—the damned spots—of Bonaparte's career; that,subsequently, by order of the Bourbons, the remains of the duke weredisinterred, and removed to the chapel of the Castle; and that the placehas since become interesting as the prison of Prince Polignac and theEx-ministers of Charles X. previous to their trial after the revolutionin Paris, July, 1830.
Before proceeding further, we ought to acknowledge the original of theabove print. In 1816, a few days after the removal of the bones of theDuke d'Enghien, an ingenious gentleman, Mr. G. Shepheard, was on thespot, and made a drawing for his portfolio. He was interrupted in histask by the guard, and notwithstanding the explanation of his harmlessmotive, was removed within the Castle: for those were days of politicaljealousy and suspicion. The Governor of the prison chanced to beacquainted with a friend who accompanied the artist; an explanationwas given, and instead of a dreary lodging in one of the cells of theCastle, the "arrested" partook of a substantial dejeuné in one ofits best apartments. Mr. Shepheard brought the sketch with him toEngland, and, upon the frequent mention of the[pg 34]Castle of Vincennesduring the recent affair of the French ministry, he caused the drawingto be lithographed by Mr. W. Day. As this has not been done with aview to profit, we may mention that the drawing is to be purchased ata cheap rate, of the printsellers. Our copy has been made by permissionof the artist, and we take this method of thanking him, as well asdistinguishing his praiseworthy enthusiasm. By the way, there is a printof the Castle of Vincennes and the Execution of the Duke d'Enghien, inthe Life of Napoleon, in the Family Library. The Castle,as there represented, is about as like that of Mr. Shepheard's drawingas the publisher's house in Albemarle-street. This hint may probably notbe lost upon