Kentucky Gazette

From Bell's Weekly Messenger.
BARON BERGAMI.

We copy from a Paris paper the following article, purporting to be an abstract of a pamphlet published at Paris by Baron Bergami, giving an account of his own life:-

"Bergami enters into no details as to his birth, but confines himself to simply stating, that his family, after having once been rich, became poor—a disagreeable change, which, however, has nothing extraordinary in it, or very instructive to the reader. He says he was born with a strong source of enthusiasm, and was ardently devoted from his earliest youth, to sacred books, so that at one time he seriously entertained the thoughts of entering into holy orders. But an unexpected occurrence dissipated this intention. The reading of the Bible had nearly made him a Priest, and the music of a French regiment, which was marching under his window, made him a soldier. He entered the French army, and, having distinguished himself, he was made an officer. It was in this quality that he found himself under the orders of Gen. Pino and not, as he assures us, in quality of Courier, which has been so wickedly affirmed. He explains afterwards, how it happened that he was mistaken for a courier. "While he was in the service, an apparently insignificant occurrence took place, which powerfully influenced his future destiny. He was present at a marriage, which was splendidly celebrated at the house of the Countess (—, whose daughter was about to be married. A renowned gipsy fortune teller was called in to calculate the young lady's nativity. A mysterious grotto, similar to that of the Sybil of the Aeneid, was prepared for the purpose. This contrivance, joined to the reputation of the Sybil, inflamed the imagination of Bergami, and the fortune-teller found him disposed to listen to her with the most entire confidence, when she came to announce to him that 'he would humble himself to be exalted,' and that a great Princess, to whom he would render great services, would one day make his fortune. Struck with this oracle, Bergami, to begin to humble himself, quitted the service, and secluded himself in a cottage, which was certainly not the way to meet the Princess announced to him by the gipsy prophetess. This idea probably soon occurred to him for he left his cot to repair to Turin. He had learned that a Princess of Napoleon's family had just arrived there and he was anxious to know whether it was she who was to change his fate. On passing in front of the theatre, he saw a great crowd assembled. The Princess had gone in. He entered, palpitating with fear and hope; but the countenance of the Princess produced no effect upon him, and he produced still less upon the Princess, who did not appear to have perceived him. Hence he concluded that this was not the rencontre that destiny had in store for him, and he quitted Turin. It was some time afterwards that he heard speak of the Princess of Wales, of whose virtues and benevolence all the world boasted. A voice within whispered that it must be she whom the oracle had announced to him, and he felt an irresistible desire to enter into her service. Unfortunately the household of the Princess was complete, and she only wanted a courier. Bergami hesitated to offer himself in this capacity; but, recollecting the words of the fortune-teller—'Thou wilt humble thyself to be exalted' he thought that the moment to humble himself was come and the hand that lately had wielded the sword, no longer hesitated to handle the post-whip. "Bergami, thus disguised as a courier to serve a Princess, somewhat resembled the hero of a romance. In a short time nothing was wanting to render the fidelity of the portrait complete, for he had the happiness twice to save the life of the Princess on the route to Naples. His modesty does not allow him to enter into any detail of his duplicate adventure he speaks only of the gratitude of the Princess. Arrived at Naples, he was distinguished by the then reigning prince, as he was also by one of the Princess's ladies of the bed-chamber, who appears to have entertained serious projects with regard to him. She wheedled him into a tete-a-tete; but Bergami was firm, and withdrew from this trial like a chaste Joseph The enraged lady sought revenge; and having heard of the costume which the Princess intended to wear at a masked ball, she put on the same attire, and, passing herself off for her august mistress, she was but too successful in her contrivance. Such is the manner in which Bergami develops the commencement of his fortune, and the suspicions which hover over him. His sister, and his daughter Victorine, soon partook of the Princess's kindness, and followed her in her travels, of which Bergami gives a succinct itinerary. He explains, but without details, various circumstances adduced by the witnesses for the prosecution on the Queen's trial, he also mentions some particulars, such as the attachment which Victorine conceived for an ass (which was purchased for her to travel in the gig,) to such a degree, that she would not be separated from it, and the animal was in consequence, embarked, and it afterwards followed the court of the Princess. We learn also that the Princess and Bergami, each adorned (se coiffe lent) their heads with the halves of a melon, as a defence against the piercing sun beams, and that the cook, who neglected this precaution, became an idiot. On that very day, Bergami, wearied at finding the dinner was not forthcoming, went to hasten it, and found the cook dancing on the sand, making a turnstil of his spit, and exclaiming that he was one of the Knights of Richard Coeur de Lion! "Bergami speaks of the Queen's trial with very laudable circumspection. He shows himself penetrated with gratitude towards her, which appears very natural. He thinks that what he has said will suffice to excite the curiosity of the public, and the sale of his Memoire' will probably prove to him that he is not mistaken. "He announces that he waits the issue of the trial of the Queen to speak more openly, and name the personages whom he only indicates. We may therefore, look for a second part, which will not be less curious than the first. We entreat him, however, to remember, in this second part, that he owes his celebrity only to the part which he plays in a too famous trial: that the public are much more interested in whatever relates to that trial, than in what merely relates to himself personally; and that consequently, he ought to speak of himself only so far as what he may have to say is connected with that great affair which makes him an important personage."