Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-07-28
Correspondence ofhe Western Citizen.
DESTRUCTION OF THE INQUIsITION
AT MADRID.

Correspondence of The Western Liihzen.
DESTRUCTION OF THE INQUIsITION
AT MADRID.
BALTIMORE, May !, 1S43.
Mr.. EASTMAN Among my fellow pas
sengers on the Ohio river, was Col Leman.
ousky formerly an officer under Napolean,
and now minister ofthe Lutheran church
He, however remembers the scenes of olden
tunes, and describes them with wonderful
interest. OF his lectures on the character
and life of Napolean had often heard, but
never before has ii been my privilege to
meet with him. He is indeed remarkable
man although past three score and ten
years Old he retains the erect posture, the
firm step, and activity of an officer of fifty.
His skin has all the soltness and delicacy of
middle life, while the vigor of his gigantic
frame, the quickness Of his eye, and the
power of his voice, all indicate that it
would be no difficult thing for him did cir
cumstances render it necessary, TO resume
his place upon the war horse, and again
lead forth his troops TO the deadly combat,
and cause his voice to be heard from rank
to rank amid the din of conflict. His lee
lures have always heard represented as in
tensely interesting Such can well con-
ceive they are, for besides possessing a
memory remarkable tenacity, and an I'M
usually ready utterance, he has had means
such as perhaps no other living man has had,
certainly none in this country, of knowing
the men aud things Of which he, speaks -
His acquaintance with Bonaparte, commen-
ced on his first entering the army, when he
found hImseifa private soldier under this
distinguished man as his captain For
twenty three years he served with him in
stations oftrust, which rendered the most
intimate relations necessary, and il was only
when Napolean was confined ON the Island
of Eliza, that Colonel Lemanousky retired
from the service. | have dwelt thus long
on the character and circumstances of this
veteran officer, for the purpose of ntrodn-
eng to your readers one of the many mar
ratves with which he favored US while pass
ing up the Ohio. And if | could inpart to
it, on paper, 1.-THE of the interest il posses
sed as it fell upon his lips, and beemed forth
from his eye, should have no doubt OF its
being read by every member of the family
to whom your paper goes. or one thing
am sure. that | shall be rewarded for writing
it; by the pleasure it will afford at least to
one of those families. give il as nearly as
my memory serves me, in his own language.
In the year lS09,' said Col Lemanousky.
"being then at Madrid, my attention was d.
Fected to the inquisition in the neghbor-
hood of that city. Napolean had previ,
ously issued decree for the suppression Of
this institution, wherever his victorious
troops should extend their arms. remind
ed Marshal Sonlt, then governor of Madrid,
Of this decree, who directed me to proceed
to destroy it. ! informed him that my
regiment the 9th of the Polish Lancers,
were insufficient for such service, but that
If he would give me two additional regi-
nents, would undertake the work. He
accordingly gave me two regiments, one
of which the ll7th, was under the COM
mand of Col. De Lille, who isenow like
myself, a minister of the gospel. He is pas
tor OF ore OF the evangelical churches in
Marselles. With these troops proceeded
forthwith to the inquisition, which was stu
nated about five miles from the city The
Inquisition was surrounded with a wall of
great strength, and defended by about four
hundred soldiers When we arrived at the
walls addressed one ofthe senlinels and
summoned the holy fathers TO surrender to
the imperial army, and open the gates ofthe
inquIslton. The sentinel who was standing
on the wall appeared TO enter into conger-
sation for a few moments with some one
within, at the close of which he presented
his musket and shot one of my men. This
was signal for attack, and | ordered my
troops to fire upon those who appeared on
the walls.a .ls tas ~
IL was soon obvious that il was unequal
warfare. The walls of the Inquisition were
covered with the soldiers of the holy Office
there was also breast work upon the wall,
behind which they kept continually, only as
they partially exposed themselves as they
discharged their muskets. Our troops were
in the plain, and exposedt to destruc-
tive fire. We had no cannon, nor could
we scale the walls, and the gates successful
Iy resisted all attempts at forcing then.-
saw it was necessary to change the mode
Of attack, and directed some treesto be cut
down and trimmed and brought on the
ground, to be used as battering-rams. Two