New-York daily tribune., 1849-05-16
REVELATIONS IN ROME.
The Dungeons Of the InqnisIticn-Cells Of the
Victims - Excitement among the People
The Pspsl Gardens Thrown Opcr-Exhu-
mins of Ancient Rome.
RoMs, Apni 4, $50

Correspondence OF The Tribune
RoNE. Apnl 4, 1870
Ma'sr' Grady NcEha,h
On Sunday last the palace Of the inQuintion
was thrown open 20 the public after some days
devoted to an inventory Of is contents. and in.
vestigations which resulted in the discovery Of
some relics Of the diabolical practices with which
this tribunal has been associated. Curiosity had
been whetted by the accounts which appeared
from time to time, of prisoners, bones and tor.
lures and mors recently by the proclamation an
nouucing that the building would be opened. which
spoke OF "horrid prisons, skeletons and instru.
ments of torture
The people poured into 1t in crowds Every.
body was there-rsgged, cadAverous old men.
VITO looked as ii they might have Just come from
the prisons-iresh young girls with their missals,
who bad perhaps bali an hour before bcen listen
ing rcyerenty to q mass from the lips OF some
priest who might have had his share in the deed.
they were shldderng over-susngers with their
ewes stretched. aud ready for the most fearful
sights They were below and above. in the vault,
and the garrets, running through long suits Of
rooms-passages which led to nothing-peepiDg
into coal closets and the mouth OF some old drain,
and turning away with a disappointed look and
the * .amGfion non c . nlente (" there moth
og there.
Iwent with the crowd and a. frst could not
avoid a feeling of disappointment. and thought
thst the Government bad wisely chosen the lst
Of April - expose tive horrors oil the lnquistion
but convinced that there must be something to
see kept up my search | found my way at
asst into quiet garden with bubbling fountain
In the center which seemed the very spot for
sacred meditation bat around the garden was a
low building with grated windows. The rough
walls Of the rooms within were covered with in.
scriptons marked with bit OF chsrcoal-some
ascrip ptions Of praise some bitter and complain.
ing la one read, Let US pray to God that the
good people may have pity Ia another, d" Take
away oppression, oh God 49," Too long have been
confined here at the caprice OF cslumn, ators with
out admission 10 the sacraments, -" Hotc much
haze / suffered here :" Here beneath a deaths
head aud cross bones was written % morn :"
here, Scipio Gaetani-eght years have / been
Imprisoned here There was one short but ex
pressive sentence in the English language, "ls
tbs the Christian faith p In one prison heavy
trap door was Lifted from dark opening, exposing
a deep black vault below in a corner lay mass
Of bedclothes and tsttered garments among W hich
| recognized a worn. dirty strait waistcoat sppa-
rently intended for female In several Of the
rooms were pipes through which probably, food
was given TO the wretched inmates.
In another part Of the building dense crowd
was assembled around the entrance to vault
which seemed to pass beneath the whole palace.
| made my way through the mass and down the
rough steps and recognized by the light Of the
torches upon the walls, heaps Of human bones
scattered over the floor. Others were Protruding
from the wall Of earth at the side, yet untouched
and although il was difficult 70 distinguish in this
confused mass sex, age, or even the different
parts OF the body, one at least seemed 70 be that
Of female-and the seventeen thigh bones which
might be counted here and there told the story Of
nine poor victims
The excavations are yet unfinished, and II is not
easy 10 conjecture how much the number may be
increased But even these few relies afford room
Tor the darkest suspicious. How many years have
passed since these vaults received their last vic.
tim Did he waste away slowly under torture
and ssry alton, or did the holy fathers, more merc
fol than usual give him the blessing Of Sudden
dc ath But these are conject1res without limit.
Il Is difficult TO account for the presence Of these
relics upon any s1ppositIon favorable 10 the Holy
Ofhce They are found imbedded In earth filling
the BRICK arches which form the foundation Of the
building, and must therefore have been placed
there since its constructIOn-a fact Inconsistent
with the supposition that they belonged to an
ancie Ut cemetery this spot, # any e1isted-snd
it is bat TOO clear from the appearance Of the bones
that their possessors were born long since the
erection Of the building. Perhaps the unfortunate
nun, who was found IN her cell, when recent
events threw open the doors Of the palace, might
tell Us somethlnz that would aid 10 explaining
these discoveries. Il is difficult 10 believe that
the present century can have Witnessed any Of the
enormitles fOr which this dreadful tribunal has
/ become yroyerbia. But whether the practices
I thas revealed date from the last century or the
| asl year, they afford another example Of the hor-
rors II religious persecution, and conirm my de.
sire Tor the downfall Of creed which stll clings
to the principles which authorized aud occssioned
the establishment OF this detestab,s Institution.
| Il s said that, II the convent Of the Ara CGh. a
Spanish monk was found who had been imprisoned
there Tor twenty-five years. When taken from
lis cell, the poor man was almost blinded by the
glare OF day which now visited bis eyes the frat
time tot quarter Of centary. L. Is hardly neces'
sary 70 speak Of his surprise on learning that he
was set free by the authority Of Roman Hepob
lie. Can such things be, without our special
wonder" 1t were natural 10 believe that these
stories are got up for the occasion bat some thing,
! have seen, and others tell as they were told tS
ne.
crowd gathered upon the Couo. in the even
ing, and strong disposition was manifested q
destroy the palace Of he Inqui,ition-whether the
inssssas had ssy osaer purpose do not kaov- -