The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-03-27
DESTRUCTION OF THE iINQUIsI
TION AT MADRID.

Col. Lehmanousky, who commanded The
two regiments sent by Marshall Soult to de-
stroy the lnquisition at Madrid, gives a thrill.
ling scene in that building, which was taken
after some resistance by the troops that de-
Tended it. After placing the prisoners under
guard, the officers proceeded to examine the
building. They passed thro' room after room,
found affairs, and cruci6xes, and wax candles
in abundance, but no evidences of the iniqui-
ty which it was supposed had been perpetra-
ted there. There was beauty and splendor,
and the most perfect order. The architect
ure and the proportions were perfect The
ceilings aud floors were secured and highly
polished. The marble floors were arranged
with perfect strictness to order. There
was everything TO please the eye and crafty
cultivated taste; but they searched in vain
for those horrid instruments of which they
had been told, and for the dungeons in which
human beings were said TO be buried alive!
Just as they were on the point of giving
up the search, the officer next in command
TO Col. l.. proposed that water should be
poured on the marble floors. This was no
sooner done than they found place where
the water ran in freely between the seams OF
the polished slabs. While endeavoring to
raise this one of the soldiers struck the slab
with the butt of his musket, and touched a
spring which caused it to fly up. They found
here staircase, and taking candles proceed
ed down-and the following is the description
Of their examination, which coming from the
officer in command himself, we presume mus
be authentic
Under the floor was tight ceiling except
at the trap door, which could not be render
| cd cloSa. haraa tho bxr (fo1 I az
! experiment. As we reached the foot Of the
stairs, we entered large square room, which
was called the Hall of Judgment. In the
centre of it was a large block, and chain
fastened TO it. On this they were accustom-
ed to place the accused in his seat. On one
side Of the room was one elevated seat, called
the Throne of Judgment. This the Inquisi
tor generally occupied, and on either side
were seats less elevated for the Holy Father
when engaged in the solemn business Of the
Holy lnquisitor. From the room we pro
beeded to the right and obtained access tC
small cells. extended the entire length of the
edifice; and here what sight met the eye
How has the benevolent religion of jesus
been abused snd slandered by his professeC
friends.
These cells were places ofsolitary confne
ment, where the wretched objects of inquist
orial hate were confined, year after year, I'll
death released them of their suffering, ant
their bodies are suffered to remain until they
are entirely decayed, and the rooms had be
come fit for others to occupy. To proven
this practice becoming offensive to those whit
occupied the Inquisition, there were flues o
tubes extending to the open air, sufficient,
capacicus to carry off the odor from thos'
decaying bodies. In these cells we founC
the remains of some who had paid the deb
of nature; some of them had been dead APP
parently but short time, while others moth
ing remained of them except the bones, still
chained TO the floor of their dungeons. II
others we found the living sufferer of ever,
age, and of both sexes, from the young MAJ
and maiden to those of three score and tel
years, all naked as they were born into tn
world. Our soldiers Immediately appliet
themselves to releasing the captives of thei
chains, stripped themselves in part of thei
own clothing t0>eover these wretched beings
and are exceedingly anxious TO bring then
up to the light of day. But aware Of the dan
, ser insisted on their wants being supplied
and being brought gradually to the light a
they could bear it.
When we had explored these cells, AM
opened the prison doors of those who surviv
. ed we proceeded to explore another room o.
the left. Here we found the instruments @
torture, of every kind which the ingenuity O
men or devils could invent. At the sight Q
them the fury of our soldiers refused any lon
ger to be restrained. They declared tina
, every inquisitor, monk and soldier of the es
Enlistment deserved to be put to the torture
! We did not attempt any longer TO RESTRAIN
t them. They commenced at once the wor
/ of torture with the Holy Fathers. Iremain
ed till | saw four different kinds Of tortur
applied, and then returned from the awfu
, scene, which terminated not while one indi
. vidual remained of the former guilty inmate
of this anti-chamber of hell, on whom the
, could wreak revenge.
As soon as the poor sufferers from the cell
ofthe Inquisition could with safety be brougf
out of the prison to the light of day, NEW
having been spread far and near. that mum
bers had been rescued from the Inquisition
all who had been deprived of friends BY tn