The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-09 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION of the CONVENT of ARANZ

VILLA REAL, GUIPUSCOA, AUG. 19.
The night before last, the General-in-Chief sent a Pal
of troops to burn and raze the magnificent conveatif
Aranzazu, situate in the mountains, a league and a Pa"
from Onate. This convent has been, from time immeret
rial, held in reverence as the sanctuary of saints, by.t'iea
inhabitants of the four rebellious provinces. It contalee,
100 Franciscan friars. They collected alms throughout
the provinces of Navarre, Biscay, Alava, and Guipusel
Many were the wonders performed by these saints, eekt
numberless the devotees who crowded thither yearly.
their nod, contributions of wine, and meat and bread, e°.
every necessary and luxury of life, were poured into thee
cellars of these holy men. The convent was a comPlet
palace ; it contained every comfort that could make a Ta
tired life agreeable, and every enjoyment that man o'l t
desire ; they had a magnificent library, and an excelletA.
orchestra. These holy men, whose profession is that of sel,lt
denial and poverty, wallowed in luxury and idleness.
the commencement of the rebellion, they took an aCtil'*
and decided part. Their cellars furnished wine, and their
stores bread and meat, to the rebels. They formed Mag-t:
sines of arms and powder within the walls of the eonvellof
They established and directed a press for the
official bulletins and proclamations. They even had fall;
in subterranean vaults for making muskets. There vltee,
held all the councils of war : in fact, it was the focus °1.,,,ra
volt, from whence the spirit of rebellion was kept alive'',
nourished. But the holy fathers must also join the are .i
and seventy of their number joined theCarlist forces, lea• e
the old monks to keep possessien of the convent, to the
the press, and receive information and supplies from to
neighbouring provinces. This convent was situate ials
centre of a rocky mountain, a torrent ran beneath its vory
an immense wood of mountain oak extended far on evone a
side ; in fact, it presented the most novel, picturesque,
extraordinary appearance that the imagination could euere
ceive. It was so romantic, so isolated, separated as itler
from the world, in the centre of the most beautiful and
litary mountains I ever beheld. The chapel of the cou've t
was most magnificent, the cells of the monks eleeeers
apartments. At nine o'clock at night the party of seleion.
destined to set fire to this massy edifice arrived at the
vent. The friars were ordered out, the guardian reeell
an intimation to take away the chalices and other hob, °Pro
ments. The statue of the holy Virgin was also carried° of
on the shoulders of the monks. In less than a querterad
an hour, the altars were broken in pieces, piles of IT° $
were placed in different parts of this vast edifice, and 14,
moment afterwards the whole convent was in a blaze•
tes
ver did I see a more imposing spectacle, it is one of tu
sights that cannot be explained ; the glare of the flanle. a ;
luminated the mountains and woods for leagues art° $
the night was dark, and the procession of monks chantls
solemn hymn could be distinguished on the verge °,
mountain close to the convent. The soldiers took Pesol
sion of the wine, and sat round the immense boafire'm be
drank to the health of the Queen, while nothing was Dot
heard around but now and then the report of a ,/11,:-/le
fired by the Basques in the mountains, to give intelobeo
to the Carlists of some extraordinary event baying t ttY
place. The monks were marched into Onate this el°ol
ing ; they carried with them the holy Virgin, and terr^ersl
dismay were stamped on their countenances. Gentiot
Rodil inflictrza no other punishment on the monks that' et
ar O
of burnilig their convent J
, and sending them to die ye $
convents in distant provinces. I hope this rnaY Pr?betst
salutary lesson to the clergy of Spain, and convince iO.
that although they have hitherto committed crimes Nv'▪ ttoga
punity, the day of retribution has at length come,
they will be judged and punished according to the en'"oig
of their offences. When we marched out of Onate,
morning the convent was still burning, notwithstanding
incessant rain which had been falling all night.
" P.S. In the hurry of writing this letter I had °"ot tox
to state in its proper place, that when the soldiers se.aoo"
burn the convent had examined the subterraneous loot
geons, they discovered a massive iron door, which thl hie,
open, and by the light of the lantern they perceiver toe:
man being lying on the ground, chained to a ring Lasbesl9
in the wall ; he was reduced to a mere skeleton, 13" a O.
hung down to his waist, he was absolutely naked, lote
bona. nearly protruded through his skin ; a pitcher o.,,die
and a few crumbs of bread lay near him. On beer„Pe:
door open, he raised his head, and exclaimed, ' Th.e"
you have at last come to put an end to my suffertagec'eier
gining that the monks had come to notify his ex
iie eltbea
When he was asked who and what he was, he inform
officer of the Queen's troops that he had been elevesis"
immured in that dark and solitary dungeon ; tiliat f
had been the whole of that time a scanty supply hi 7,f
and water ; that he had been frequently scourge, a tie
7i
monks to extort confessions of crimes which he Psjitbej;
committed. His only crime was that of being 3la
during the Constitutional system. When he vg°,ltooto.7
he was at liberty, he became frantic with joy, an 'hligh
aeared like a madman. He could not bear the 00 0
day,p and fresh air had such an effect on him that he
away the moment he felt its impression. The Peo'rs▪
rl
doing well ; he has been noted for his superior lit,re
quiremenls and unaffected virtue.—Morning d
SIGNS OF THE TIMES !—The Jail of Irbeiefo?
been without a single tenant since Friday last I Ir#l
that this Jail has not been so long unpeopled..;„d
century past.—Scots Times.
•
BIRTHS. a:
On the 6th inst., at Studley Castle, Mrs. r°
of a daughter. itojcsf,
On the 3d inst., at Boulogne, the lady of Captain ofb'
daugOhter. de °
n the 6th inst., at West Drayton, the lady of fIU.- of
Esq., of a son. s.'
On the 7th inst., Mrs. John Barber, of Regent'cl°rJr-
daughter.
On the 7th inst., at Portsmouth, the lady of ~1 $t
fiedf
Medley, Esq., ()
of a son. best
On the Bth inst., in Broad-street-buildings, Bus. --
son, of a son. AO*
On the oth inst., at Felbridge, the lady of George ,
of a daughter.
0 V:11
On the 6th inst., at Clapham-road, Mrs. Jose, Al,l 1
On the sth inst., Mrs. Douglas Hodson, East Nvou—i`
el a son. Wei
On the 7th inst., at Leytonstone House, Essex, the
Brook, Esq., of a son.

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