The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

NOBLE EXAMPLE OF DISINTERESTEDNESS.

From Wilks's History of the Persecution of the Protestants in the south of France, recently published in London:

"To such an infamous perfection was the system of perjury and subornation carried, that twenty-six witnesses were found to sign and swear, that on the 3d of April, 1815, General Gilly, with his own hands, and before their eyes, took down the white flag at Nismes: though it was demonstrated that at the time the tri-coloured flag was raised, he was 15 leagues from Nismes, and that he did not arrive there till three days after the event. Before tribunals thus garnished, innocence had not even a chance of protection. General Gilly was too prudent to appear, and was condemned to death on the charge of contumacy.

When the General quitted Nismes, he thought either of passing into a foreign country, or of joining the army of the Loire, and it was long supposed that he had actually escaped. But it was impossible to gain any point or find any security; his only hope was in concealment. The attempt was desperate; a friend found him an asylum in the cottage of a peasant, but the peasant was a Protestant, and the General was a Catholick. "The step," said his friend, "merits consideration." The General did not hesitate; the peasant was poor, and his own life might be sold at a great price; but he confided in his honour. He entered the cottage of a peasant of the canton of Anduze. The name of Perrier deserves to be recorded; he lives by his daily labour, but he displayed virtues which would adorn a throne. The fugitive was welcomed; his name was not asked; it was a time of proscription; his host would know nothing of him; it was enough that he was unfortunate and in danger. He was disguised, and he passed for the cousin of Perrier. The General is naturally amiable, and he made himself agreeable, sat by the fire, eat potatoes and contented himself with miserable fare.

For several months he preserved his retreat, though subject to frequent and imminent alarms. Often he heard the visitors of his host boast of having concealed General Gilly, and of being acquainted with his place of concealment. Patrols were continually searching for arms in the houses of Protestants; often in the night the General was obliged to leave his mattress, and, half naked, hide himself in the fields. Perrier to avoid these dangers and inconveniences, made an under ground passage, by which his guest might pass to an out-house, constructed on the premises. The wife of Perrier could not endure that one who had seen better days, should live as her family, on bread and vegetables, and she occasionally bought meat to regale the melancholy stranger. These purchases were so unusual, that they excited attention; in a time of terror, danger is every where; It was suspected that Perrier had some one concealed; nightly visits were more frequent. In this state of agony, he sometimes complained of the hardness of his lot. Perrier one day returned from market, in a meditative mood, and, after some inquiries from his anxious guest, he replied: "Why do you complain; you are fortunate, compared with the poor wretches whose heads were cried in the market; Bruguier, the Pastor, at 2400; Bresse, the Mayor, at 2400 francs; and General Gilly, at 10,000!"

"Is it possible?" "Aye it is certain."-- Gilly concealed his emotion; a momentary suspicion passed his mind; he appeared to reflect.

"Perrier," said he, "I am weary of life: you are poor and want money; I know Gilly, and the place of his concealment; let us denounce him; I shall no doubt obtain my liberty, and you shall have the 10,000 francs."

The old man stood speechless, as if petrified. His son, a gigantick peasant, 27 years of age, who had served in the army, rose from his chair, in which he had listened to the conversation, and in a tone not to be described, said, "Sir, hitherto, we thought you unfortunate: but honest: we have respected your sorrow, and kept you secret; but since you are one of those wretched beings who would inform of a fellow creature, and insure his death to save yourself, there is the door; and if you do not retire, I will throw you out of the window."

Gilly hesitated; the peasants insisted; the General wished to explain; but he was seized by the collar. "Suppose I should be General Gilly, said the fugitive; the soldier paused.-- "And it is even so" he continued, "denounce me, and the 10,000 francs are yours." The soldier threw himself on his neck; the family were dissolved in tears; they kissed his hands, his clothes; protested that they would never let him leave them and that they would rather die than he should be arrested. In their kindness he was more secure than ever; but the cottage was more suspected, and he was at length obliged to seek another asylum. The family refused my indemnity for the expense he had occasioned them; and it was not till long after that he persuaded them to accept an acknowledgement of the hospitality he had experienced. When the course of justice was more free, in 1820, General Gilly demanded to be tried, but there was nothing against him; and the Duke d'Angouleme conveyed to Madam Gilly, the permission of the King for the return of her husband to the bosom of his country."