Washington telegraph., 1849-07-04
COL. LEHMANOWSKY'S DESCRIPTION
OF THE A
DESTRUCTION OF THE INQUI-
SITION IN SPAIN.

| probably not one is more authentic and
valuable than the recent statement made
by MIR. Lehmanowsky, formerly Polish
officer in the army which Napoleon sent
to Spain under the command of Marshal
Soult. That officer is now minister of
the gospel residing in the United States;
and his narrative SO perfectly corroboratcs
the history of the inquisition, by Bower,
Gavin, Limborch, Llorente, and the other
testimonies upon that subject, that it
claims insertion in this form, as elucidat-
ing the history of the Albigenses, for
whose extermlnation, that ungodly con-
trivance was originally instituted. The
following detail comprises Mr.. Lehman
owsky's description of the Obstruction
of one of the Spanish dens of the inquisi-
ton at Madrid which was performed
under his own direction and authority.
In 1909 Col. Lehmanowsky was at
tached to that part Of Napoleon's army,
which was stationed in Madrid. While
in that city, said Col. L., used to speak
freely among the people what thought
of the priests and Jesuits, and of the in
QUESTION. 1t had been decreed by the
Emperor Napoleon, that the inquisition
and monasteries should be suppressed,
but the decree was not executed. Months
had passed away and the prisons Of the
inquisition had not been opened. One
| night, about ten or eleven O'clock as he
was walking one of the streets of Madrid.
two armed men sprang upon him from an
alley, and made furious attack. He
instantly drew his sword, put himself in
| posture of defence, and while strug
Cling with them, he saw, at distance,
| the lights of the patroles, French soldiers
mounted, WHO carried lanters, and who
rode through The streets Of the city at all
hours of night, to preserve order. He
called to them in French, and as they has
tened to his assistance, the assaiIants took
to their heels and escaped, not however
before he saw by their dress that they be-
longed to the guard of the inquisltion.
He went immediately to Marshal Soult,
then governor Of Madrid, told him what
had taken place, and reminded him Of the
decree to suppress that institution. Mar
shall Sout replied that he might 90 and
destroy it. Col. L. told him that his reg
iment, the 9th of the Polish lancers, was
not sufficient for such service, but if he
would give him two additional regiments,
the 117th, and another, which he named,
he would undertake the work. The
117th regiment was under the command
of Col. De Lille, who is now, like Col. L.,
minister of the gospel, and pastor of an
evangelical church in France. The
troops required, were granted, and pro-
Ill tol tn hp
which was situated about five miles from
the city. 1t was surrounded with wall
of great strength, and defended by COM
pany of soldiers When we arrived at
the walls, | addressed one of the senti-
nels, and summoned the fathers to sur
render to the imperial army, and open the
gates of the inquisition. The sentinel,
| who was with some one within, at the
close of which he presented his musket
and shot one Of my men. This was sig
nal for attack and [ ordered my troops to
fire upon those who appeared on the walls.
1t was soon obvious that it was an I'M
equal warfare. The walls of the inquisi-
ton were covered with the soldiers of the
holy Office there was also breastwork
upon the wall behind which they kept
continually, only as they partially exposed
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
all attempts at forcing them. could not
retire and send for cannon to break through
the walls, without giving them time to
lay train for blowing US up. l 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 batter
! ing-rams Two of these were taken up
by detachments of men, as numerous as
could work to advantage, and brought to
bear upon the walls with all the pow er
which they could exert, while his troops
kept up a fire to protect them from the
fire poured upon them from the walls
Presently the walls began to tremble, a
breach was made, and the imperial troops
rushed into the inquisition. Here we met
with an incident, for which nothing but
Jesuitical effrontery is equal. The in
quisitor general, followed by the father
confessors in their priestly robes, all came
out of their rooms, as we were making
our way into the interior of the inqulsl-
ton, and with long faces and their arms
crossed over their breasts, their fingers
resting On their shoulders, as though they
had been deaf to all the noise OF the at
tack and defence, and had just learned
what was going on, they addressed them
selves in the language Of rebuke to their
own soldiers. saving. "UHY do YO16 fght
our friends, the Frenct?'
Their intention, no doubt, was to make
us think that this defence was wholly
unauthorized by them, hoping, If they
could make us believe that they were