The southern press., 1851-04-04

The lNQUIsIrIoN.--A correspondent OF the
New York Journal of Commerce, writing from
Italy, gives the following thrilling description
Of a few Of the horrors of the inquistlon.
~In Turn | met the American consul OF
Rome, who had passed through the entire reSo-
luton in the Eternal City, and who was present
when the doors and dungeons OF the lnquisI-
ton were opened by the decree OF the lrium-
vers, its prisoners released, and the building
converted into an aeyum for the poor ~ was
interesting to hear from the lips of an intelll-
gent eyewitness the most simple confirmation
Of the published statements relative to the con-
dition and appearance of this iniquitous estab-
lishment The Holy Iuqnisition Of Rome Is
situated near the Porta Cavalliger and under
the very shadow of the sublime dome OF SAINT
Peters Cathedral, and capable in case OF EN-
gency OF accommodating three thousand PRISON
ers. The consul was particularly struck WIN
the imposing dimensions OF the "Chamber OF
Archives" filled with voluminous documents
records and papers. Here were piled all the pro-
ceedings and decisions of the holy oiilce from
the very birth of the lnquisition, including the
correspondence with its collateral branches IN
both hemispheres. Upon the third floor, over
a certain door, was an inscription to this effect
-"Speak to the first Inquistor." Over another
Of excommunicat'on" They might well
have placed over that door the we'll remembered
inscription of Dante over the gates Of Tartarus
Abandon hope,'all ye who enter here.' That
chamber was the solemn Hall Of Judgment, OF
| Doom room, where the fates of thousands have
been sealed in death Over n door directly OPP
posite. another inscription read, "Speak to the
second Iuquisitor" Upon opening the door ol
that department trap door was exposed, from
which the condemned, after they LETT the Hall OF
Judgment, stepped from time into eternity.
The well or pit beneath had been built in the
ordinary cylindrical form, and was at least 81
feet deep, and so ingeniously provided with pro-
iectinr knives and cutlasses that the bodies OF
! the victims must have been dreadfully mangled
in the descent At the bottom of this abyss
quantities of nair and beds Of moudering bones
remained Not only at the bottom of the pit
but also in several Of the lower chambers of the
building, were found human bones. In some
places they appear to have been mortered into
the walls. The usual instruments Of torture in
such establishments were likewise manifest
The consul resented me with bone which he
brought with him as a memorial of his visit
! The Pope fed from Rome on the Oath of No
vember, l84S. The Roman republic was pro-
claimed on the IL tn of February, lS49, and i'm
mediately after IFS installation the assembly sol
EMMY declared the abolishnlent of the holy in
QUESTION, and by a special decree charged the
! Triumvirate with the duty of erecting n lofty
column to commemorate the overthrow of one
of the greatest evils that ever darkened the face
ofthe earth But the scenes ofthis world change
On the lst Of July, 49, so, the Roman republic
after brief existence of five months capitulated
to the French and in May 1850, Plus TX. after
an exile of one year and six months, returned
to his capital, prescribed the Triumvirate, and re-
established the inquisition in all its former
power"