The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-30

1on ItSifDin, spanish CHIC,
now residing in London, has Just
published Memoirs Of himself, in
which lie relates a variety Of curious
and interesting particulars relative
To the treatment he, rs we'll rs 9th.
ers. met with from the king of Spain
when IN the exercise oil absolute pow
CT. and as To the character Of that
prince. Esteban had called this i'm
beetle Monarch a fanatic, and the
lnqnisition an institution Of blood
and horror, which brought him IN
der the sromge Of that body. lie
was examined and doomed To the
rack -
" Vt the cries Of the rack"
some of the tamlliars entered. and
Selling me, almost dragged me
down Il narrow staircase IL sub
terrancous chamber, where the fee
bic glimmcringsn nj lamp scattered
light enough IL add to the horrors Of
such place. Various Instruments
Of torture decorated its damp walls !;
while in the middle Of the room stood
burning brazler, pendulum, Il
pnlIy. and rake. Immediately the
holy myrmidons began to strip me
Of my clothes With as much eager
ness as tiger would tear to pieces
the unhappy victim on which he had
Just sprung. This done, | was
stretched ON frame, large enough
IL admit my body, and which, be
sides the two bars that formed the
eXtremities, had another in the cen
ire convexly raised. My head and
feet passed under bars the Of the ex-
tremitics. while my back hone rested
on The middle bar, SO that, my head
and stomach being much higher than
my head and feet, respiration was
extremely difficult, and the position
itself extremely painful. In th's pos
ture, the chiefinqaisltr, VII. with
the rest, had followed me IL this
chamber aud taken his seat on lit
lie stage raised about three teet from
the ground. asked me ii | would he
converted to our holy religion, and
acknowledge the Justice Of the pro
cccdings Of our beloved monarch.
I replied that all the horrors OF the
inqnisition would never force me 10
the acknowledgement Of a lalschood
so palpable. " Them" sad he,
:. let tie torment beein but we pro
test that, III case ot injury, rupture
OF vessels. ~ even death, the Fault
can be imputed only to yourself.
Immediately | felt some drops Of
water from the top OF the chamber
upon my chest. During the hrst ten
or twelve inmates the pam Vas MT
great, but as the operation was pro-
longcd, if became eXcfnciatag BY
the sensation, II secured a, IA Dor
ing INSTRUMENT VAS applied 10 my
chest. From time to time, they ask
ed il | would be converted IL our re
licion. Go on, mooslers,' cried |,
i" the religion Of the inquistion | alb
hor all your fortunes shall never
convert me toit.'
Traits ofchardcter M Ferdinand III.
Many Of those amorous intrigncs,
winch he carried on III most scan
daluns and notorious manner. sprang
from the audiences which he gave In
petitioners. Whenever he saw a la
dy at them, Who pleased him. he
nodded to the captain oil the guards,
who. in his turn, made sign to the
garzon, who never failed to go and
meet the fairpetitlonsr as she lett the
ball, and inform her he had orders
from the captain Of the guards tn de
sire her to call at his apartments,
the following day, at such an hoar
to receive his maiesty's answer. HI
Their the king came. and granted or
refused her request, according as he
found her wiling To grant or oppose
his wishes. Some Of the most aban-
doned women have, through similar
means, and under various pretenses,
obtaircd large sums Of money.
The authorpledges himself to the
truth Of this disgraceful anecdote.
Among the favo0ritcs of Ferdinand
was Pedro ColIedo, better known by
the name Chamorro -
lie bad been a waterman, and
accompanied the king to France
where lie had served him in an info
rior station. On bis return to Spain.
he made him bis guafdaropa, and
likewise lmosnero* "a situation
which had always bcen filled by the
patriarch ofthe Indies J As Il spe-