Holly Springs gazette., 1845-03-29
OBSTRUCTION OF THE INQUISI
TION AT MADRID.

he was an eye witness:
In the year 1909, beng then at Madrid,
my attention was directed to the Inqnisilion
ID the neighborhood of that ci y. Napole
: en- had previously issued a decree for the
suppression ofthe. .institution wherever his
victorious troops Should extend their arms
| reminded Marshal Soult. then governor of
Madrid OF this decree, who dire cted me TO
proceed To destroy it. informed hun that
my regiment the 9th of the Polish lancers,
were insufficient for sUcE service. oul
that II he would give me two additional reg
Imeuls would undertake the work. He
accordingly gave me the required regl-
ments, one Of which, the l7th, was under
Il the comm nd of Col. De Lisie, who is
now like myself, minister of the gospel
He is pastor of one OF the evangelical
churches in MarseiIles. With these troops
proceeded forthwith 10 he lnquisilion,
| which was situated about five miles from
the city. The IuquislIon was SURROUNDED
by a wall Of great strength. and defended
by aboul four hundred soldiers. When
we arrived at the walls l addressed one of
the sentinels. and summoned the holy faith
ers 10 surrender To tie imperial army, and
open the gates of the Inquisition. The
sentinel who was staining on the wall ap-
u
moments with one within, at the close Of
winch he presented his musket and shot
one Of my men. This was a signal for az
acb, and ordered my troops TO fire upon
those who appeared on the wall.
Ii was soon obvious that it was an une-
q1al warfare. The walls of the lnGUisi.
ton were covered By the soldiers of the ho
IIy ofTice There was breastwork upon
the wal. behind which they kept them
selves continually, only partially exposing
themselves as they discharged their mus
! kets. Our troops were in the open plain,
and exposed to a destructive fire. We had
.. no cannon, nor could we scale the walls.
and the gates successfully resisted our al
tempts 10 force them. | saw that It was
necessary 10 change the mode OF attack.
and directed some trees TO be cut down and
I, trimmed and brought on to the ground as
haitering rams. Two Of these were taken
up by detachments CT men, IS numerous IS
could work to advantage, and brought to
!. bear upon the walls with all the power
which they could exert, regardless OF the
. fire which was poured upon themselves
from he walls. Presently the walls began
20 tremble under the we'll directed and per
severing application Of the ram, breach
was made. and the imperial troops rushed
nto the Inoulsition. Here we met with an
,, incident which nothing but Jesuitlcal ef
= frontery is equal 10. The lnquisitor Gen
erai followed by the flIher contessors IL
their priestlv robes, all came out OF theIl
rooms. as we were making our way lniC
he iutcriur of the lnquisition, and WITT
:. long faces, and their arms crossed ove1
their breast. and their fingers resting cI
their shoulders, as though they had beer
- deaf 10 all the noise of the attack and de
fence, and had but just learned what wa
: Going on they addressed themselves IN th
n language of rebuke to their own soldiers
saving: "Why do you hght our t,iends IN
81 French?'
~' Their intention. apparently, was TO max
us think that this defence was wholly ur
authorized by them hoping II they coul
sE r,duce in our minds belief that tht
were friendly, they should have bette
nds onpor unity IN the confusion aud plundt
m ~ the IrouIsilion TO escape Their artlhC
on too shallow. and did not succeed.
II caused them Il be placed under guard an
in ali of the soldiers of the Inqu's'tIon to
PAL secured as prisoners, We then proceed
TO examine the prison house oil nell
passed through room after room, found
;aTs and cTucihxes, and wax candies
lie great abundance. but could discover no e
hat Idence ofiniqLity being prac'Ised there
IN thing OF those peculiar features, which
on. expected TO fild in The Inqusiton, lie
ous was beauty and splentor and the most r
c, feet order on which my eyes ever rest'
,,d The architecture. the proportion were p
,,v feet The ceiling and floors or wood "e
viil scoured and highly polished. Ihe mart
ba foors were arranged with strict regard
oh. order. There was everything 20 plea
the eve and crafty cultivated taste;
where those horIid Instruments OF torture
which we had been told, and where we
those dungeons in which human 6elr
were said to be buried alive! We search
\ in vain. The holy fathers assured US u
they had been beIied. That we had seen
ni and pared to give up the search CO
vinced that this inquIsition was dlfler'
1ent from others Of which L had heard.
#. But Col De Lisle was not so Ieady
. myself to give up ihe search. ana said
me: Colonel. you are commanaer ,o-u'
and as you say, so il must be- ou' II
SCI Will be advised by ms, letthis marc h'
nov be examined more. Let some wafer
i'e brought in and poured upon II, anu we
watch and see il there is any place ln'ou
which it passes more freely than o'nels,
.Aw | replied to bin, .do as you please 20
4 I'D r1a be DIOuSuL