File:James Boswell 02.jpg

Identifier: ridpathlibraryof03ridp (find matches)
Title: The Ridpath library of universal literature : a biographical and bibliographical summary of the world's most eminent authors, including the choicest extracts and masterpieces from their writings ...
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: Literature
Publisher: New York : The Fifth avenue library society
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ity of Utrecht, whither he went late in 1763,having a few months before been casually intro-duced to Dr. Johnson. In 1765 he made a touron the Continent, in the course of v/hich he vis-ited the island of Corsica, then struggling for itsindependence under Pascal Paoli. In 1768 hepublished a lively account of this tour, whichJohnson pronounced to be curious and delight-ful. An introduction to Paoli afforded Boswellunusual facilities for travelling through Corsica,and he saw many things which would not havefallen under ordinary observation. THE HANGMAN OF CORSICA. The hangman of Corsica was a great curiosity. Beingheld in the utmost detestation, he durst not live likeanother inhabitant of the island. He was obliged totake refuge in the castle, and there he was kept in alittle turret, where he had just room for a miserable bedand a little bit of fire to dress such victuals for himselfas were sufficient to keep him alive ; for nobody wouldhave any intercourse with him. I went up and looked
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JAMBS BOSWELL. JAMES BO SWELL 403 at him, and a more dirty, rueful spectacle I never be-held. He seemed sensible of his situation, and helddown his head like an abhorred outcast. It was a longtime before they could get a hangman in Corsica, sothat the punishment of the gallows was hardly known,all the criminals being shot. At last the creature whomI saw, who is a Sicilian, came with a message to Paoli.The General, who has a wonderful talent for physiog-nomy, said immediately to some of the people abouthim, Ecco il boia—Behold our hangman ! He gaveorders to ask the man if he would accept the office, andthe answer was, My grandfather was a hangman ; myfather was a hangman ; I have been a hangman myself,and I am willing to continue so. He was thereforeimmediately put into ofhce , and the ignominious deathdispensed by his hands hath had more effect than twentyexecutions by fire-arms. It is remarkable that no Cor-sican would upon any account consent to be hangman.Not the greatest crimina

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