The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-12
POrtupuese Rcyc,ro

In the year 1912, when OporlO was occupied by
considerable body Of troops, the striCtest dscip
ilne having been introduced into the army by Lord
beresord, Portuguese regiment was quartered in
the convent Of the CarmO. They had not been
long there when the prior repaired to the General,
Indignantly complaining that a sacrilege had been
committed in his church by some of the soldiers,
Tor That many of the most precious gold and silver
ornaments had been stolen. The General, deter
mining to make an example, to prevent the recur-
renee of such acts, called out the regiment and in
sisted on The culpnls being delivered up imme-
diatey, on pain Of those being decimated who had
been quaTlered in the convent The soldiers pro.
tested that they were innocent and unable TO dis
cover any who had been guilty of the alleged
deed. The General was inexOrable the pious and
h"spltahe monks were TO be protected, and several
unfortunate men were drawn to suffer death on
the following day. That evening while the Gen
eral was seated alone, monk desired permission
to speak with him on important business The
General ordered the stranger 10 be admitted when
young monk, in the lay habit of the footed
Carmel t"s, made his appearances In a hurried
l"ne Of voice. entreatlng the General not to betray
hln, he said that he had with difficulty escared
from the convent, for that, though at the risk OF
ls life, his conscience would nos permit him TO
allow Il foul murder to be committed. which he
might prevent. He then declared solemrlV THAI
tlS soldiers were guiitless Of The accusations
brought against them, for that the prior, wishing
To get them out OF the convent had himself taken
away the ornaments, and concealed them in the
strong box OF The convent where, lift was searched
they would be found. The General promised u0f
TO beray the young triar, at the same time recon-
menClng INN TO hasten back to the convent and
10 rep hts own counsel
The next morning the prior was somewhat
startled by visit from the colonel of the regiment
accompanied by some of the civil authorities, who
requested him to allow them to INSPECT his trea-
snry, favor he was unable to refuse and there
beyond all question, the missing property was
found. The prior exhibited as much surprise as
the rest Of the party, stoutly affirming that their
patron SAINT had worked miracle in favor of the
convent and transported thither the holy cups and
lewels out OF the hands OF the sacregious robbers
II : version OF the circumstance was received az
authentic by the spiritual authorities Of the coun-
~, so he escaped without punishment from them.
However he had, by order of the General, twice
the number OF men quartered him he had at
rrst and, OF course, the condemned men were lib
Grated. hIe the army remained, the consciep-
nous young irlar made his appearance several
times, 10 convince the General thai he had not been
detected; but at length ne disappeared nor were
ANY inquiries instituted concerning him,
Nears passed away; the prior grew old new
idea, and new wishes springing up liberty
began dawn on the land and at las, the revolt
ton Of lS2O took place. Then it was that the first
blow was given to the mOnkIsh institutions in Por-
tIgal.
Thus, eight years before, lay brother of the
CarmeIlte Convent had presented himself to the
He SAID that he was the gardener, and that in the
course OF following his occupation, he had been
attracted to a certain spot by groans which seemed
20 issue out OF the earth that on examination, he
discovered they proceeded from a vault beneath
part Of the Convent; and that having found means
Dt communication with the person from whom they
proceeded he found he the identical lay brother
Evho had given information respecting the holy
fraud committed by the prior. The Chief of Pc
lice, with numerous attendants, Immediately re-
paired TO the spot tue gardener pointed out and
forcing open the door of the dungeon, they beheld
poor, emacIated wretch, his beard reaching to his
waist his locks tangled and clothes in rags.
He then gave full account Of the whole affair
and removed in a litter to a place OF safety ;
the honest gardener taking good to keep clear
Of the holy irars. They, it seems, could not be
puntshed-at all events, were not though, the
story becoming generally known in the city, they
were secuted wherever they appeared, nor would
any body longer confess at their church.