The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-07-07
DESTRUCTION OF TIE INQUIsITIoN IN
SPAIN.


SPAIN.
In 1909 Col Lebmunowsky attached to the
part of Napoeon's army which was stationed in Mad
rid. And while in that city, said Col L., I used to
speak freely among the people what thought of the
Priests and Jesuits, and of the nquisition. It had
been decreed by the Emperor Napoleon, that the In
QUESTION and Monaseries should be suppressed, but
The decree not executed. Months had pasged
away, and The prisons of the nquiston had not been
opened. One night, about 10 or | o'clock, he
was walking the streets Of Madrid, two armed
men sprung upon him from an alley, and made fu-
rous attack. lie Instantly drew his sword, put him
sefin posture Of Defence and while struggling with
them, he saw, at distance, the lights ofthe patroes
lie called TO them in French, and, they fastened
TO his assistance, the assailapts took TO their heels
and escaped net however before he saw by their
dress that they belonged TO the guards Of the Inquis.
ton
lie went Immediately TO Marshal Sou!t, then Gov
ernor Of Madrid, told him what had taken place. and
reminded him ofthe decree suppress this institution
Marshal Soult replied that he might go and destroy it,
Col. l. told him that his regiment was not sufficient
for such a service, but If he would give him two ad
ditional regiments he would undertake the work.
One OF the regiments under the command of Col.
De Lille, who is now, like Col. L., minister of the
Gospel, aud pastor of evangelical church in Mar
seilles, France. The troops required, were granted
and proceeded, (said Col L } to the Ina uisilion
which was about five miles from the city. 1t was
surrounded with wall ofgrea, strength, and defend
ed by company of soldiers When we arrived a
the walls, addressed one Of the sennels and sum
moned the holy fathers surrender TO The imperial
army, and open the gates of the Tnqusiton. The
sentinel, who standing on the wall, appeared to
enter into conversation FOR a moment with some one
within, at the close Of which he presented his musk
! ct and shot of my men, This was a signal of
attack, and ordered my troops to fire upon those
who should appear on the walls
1t obvious that il was an unequal war
fare. The walls of the Inquisition were covered with
the soldiers of The holy oce there was also breast
work upon the wall, behind which they kept conn-
ualIy, only they partially exposed themselves us
they discharged their muskets. Our troops were in
the open PLAN, and exposed to destructive fire. We
had 20 cannon, could we scale the walls, and the
gates successfully resisted all attempts at forcing them
could not retire and send for to break thro
the walls without giving them time p lay train for
blowing up saw that it was necessary TO change
the mode of attack and directed some trees to be cut
down and Trimmed to be used as batterng -rams.-
Two of these were taken up by detachments of men
as numerous could work to advantage and brought
to bear upon the walls with all the now or which they
could exert while his troops kept up Gre to protect
them from the fire poured upon them from the wallis
Presently the walls began to tremble, breach was
made, and the imperial troops rushed into the Inqu-
son Here we met with an incident, which moth
ing but Jesuca efrontery is equal to. The Inquis-
ltor general, followed by the father conGessors in their
priestly robes, all came out of their rooms, as we
were making way into the interior of the Inq uis-
ton and with long faces and their arms crossed ov-
er their breasts their fingers resting their should
ers, as though they hud been deaf 10 all the noise of
the attack and defence, and had just learned what
was going on; they addressed themselves in the Lam
guage of rebuke to their soldiers saying, Vhy
do you fight our friends, the French?'
Their intention, no doubt, 10 make us think
that this defence wholly unauthorized by thetp,
hoping, if they could make believe that they were
friendly, they SHOULD have better opportunity in the
confusion of the moment to escape. Their artfice
too shallow, and did not succeed caused
them to be placed under guard, and all the soldiers
of the Inquson TO be secured prisoners. We
then proceeded to examine all the rooms of the state
ly edi6ce We passed through room after room,
found all perfectly in order, richly furnished, with
alters and crucifxes and candles in abundance
but could discover no evidences Of iniquity being
practsed there nothing Of those peculiar features
which we expected TO find in an Inquistion We
found sple ndid paintings, and rich and extensive IL
brary. Here beauty and splendor, and the most
perfect order which my eyes had ever rested
The archtecture-the proportions perfect. The
ceiling and floor Of wood were secured and highly
polished Tho marble floors were arranged with
strict regard TO orderThere was everything TO graf
iry cultivated taste and please the eye; but where
were those horrd instruments OF torture of which we
had been told, and where those dungeons in which
human beings were said to have been buried alive 2