The Daily Advertiser

Extract of a Letter from Rome, May 21.

"A singular matter has happened here, which gives occasion to a variety of conjectures on education. A man who followed the business of a sieve-maker, a Grison by nation, lost his wife about 7 years ago, by whom he had left a daughter aged two years. He retired to the upper story of a small house, where he shut up the poor innocent in a little garret, leaving open to it only one small window, through which he gave the child food, without ever speaking to her, or giving her any instruction. In this manner she passed more than ten years. The man then falling ill, was carried to the hospital of the Holy Ghost, where two days after he called a servant to him and begged him to carry something to eat to his daughter, describing to him the place where she was shut up. The man went to the house with the victuals, where, after searching all over it, he happened to find her before the window, on which he called her, in order to see whether it was she or not. He now saw advance towards him a savage figure, in a dirty shift, all in tatters, her hair thin and standing on end, and the nails of her hands and feet very long. When he saw the man, she set up a crying and mewing like a fierce wild cat, then fell a running and beating the wall. The servant, astonished at the adventure, and seeing nothing but straw and filth about the entrance, threw the victuals into this confined place, and withdrew: He then went directly to the priest of the parish, who, accompanied by some other persons, repaired to the house, where they forced open the garret door, which was nailed up, took out the girl, who was deprived of the use of speech, and had nothing humane in her but her figure. Having cleaned and clothed her, the priest put her under the care of a good lady, where, by order of Government, they are now endeavouring to instruct her, and to make her speak if possible. Her father died a few days after in the hospital. The multitude of curious persons who go to see this little savage is so great, that Government has been obliged to place a guard before the door of the house where she lives."