Page:Statement of the attempted rescue of General Lafayette from Olmutz.djvu/36

 this letter, in which he tells of the welfare of others as well as of his own, and by mentioning that Bollman was in chains, leaves his friends to infer that his own treatment was no less severe.

Several weeks elapsed, however, without their receiving any answer, and Dr. Bollman told the jailor that he must take another letter to a different post office, as the first had probably failed or miscarried. The man hesitated at performing so dangerous a service for a merely promised reward, but Bollman threatened that if he did not take the second, he would inform against him for having sent the first letter, and promised a still higher bribe if he would successfully forward the present one. The man at last yielded, procured a larger piece of coarse paper, which was also addressed—

, 17th Feb’y, 1795.

My Dear Sir:

I have once more an opportunity of writing you by secret conveyance, and have the satisfaction to inform you that our prospects begin to brighten a little. After three months of severe and close confinement, when we expect-