Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-05-27
Destruction Of the Court Of 1nquisition

exander Campbell. He says, "Our Baptist
brother, Elder Lehmahowsly, formerly kno WI,
and celebrated as Col. Lehmanowsky, is vet. IN
The field Of evangelical labor, although nowsin
his seventy -ninth year" He travelled and
preached in Indiana and Michigan last winter
An acquaintance with his history and charac.
ter leads Mr.. Campbell to "regard him as one
of the most remarkable men of the age"--
In 1909, Col. Lehmanowsky was attached 10
the part Of Napoeon's army then stationed at
Madrid. And while in that city, said Col. L.,
used to speak freely among the people what |
thought OF the Priests and Jesuils, and of the
lnqusition. 1t had been decreed by the Empe.
ror Napoleon that theamquisition and monasta-
rles should be suppressed, but the decree, he
SAID, like some of the laws enacted in this coun-
try. was not executed. Months had passed a.
way, and the prisons Of the Inquisition had not
been opened. One night about 10 or l o'clock.
as he was walking the streets Of Madrid, two
armed men sprang upon him from an alley, and
made furious attack He instantly drew his
sword, but himself in posture Of defence, and
! while struggling with them, he saw at distance
the light Of the patroles-French soldiers mount
ed, who carried lanterns, and who rode through
the streets OF the city, at all hours Of the night
! to preserve order. He called to them in French
ants took to their heels and escaped, not howev-
err, before he saw by their dress that they be-
longed to the guards Of the Inqusition.
He went Immediately to Marshal Soult, then
Governor of Madrid, told him what had taken
place; and reminded him of the decree to sup
press this institution. Marshal Soult replied
that he might go and destroy it, Col. L. told
him that his regiment (the 9th Of the Polish
Lancers) was not sufficient for such service,
but if he would give him two additional regi-
ments-the ll7th, and another, which he named
he would undertake the work. The ll7th
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 Marseilles, France. The troops required
were granted, and proceeded (sad Col. L. }
| to the Inquisition, which was situated about
five miles from the city. 1t was surrounded
with wall Of great strength, and defended by
company of soldier. When we arrived at the
walls, addressed one of the sentinels, and sum-
moned the holy fathers TO surrender to the i'm
pe1ial army, and open the gates of the Inquisi-
tson. The sentinel who was standing on the
wall, appeared to enter into conversation mo-
ment with some one within; at the close of
which he presented his musket and shot one of
my men. This was the signal of attack, and
ordered ny troops to fire upon those who APP
peared on the walls.
II was soon obvious that it was an unequal
warfare. The walls of the inquisition were
covered with the soldiers of the holy office;
there was also breast work upon the wall, be-
hind which they partially exposed themselves,
as they discharged their muskets. Our troops
were the open plain, exposed 10 dcstruct-
i've fire. We had no cannon, nor could we
scale the walls. and the gates successfully re-
sisted 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. | saw that it was nee
cssary to change the mode of attack and direct.
ed some trees to be cut down and trimmed, to
be used as battering 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 power which
they could exert, while the troops kept up
! fire to protect them from the fire poured upon
them from the walls. Presently the walls be-
gan to tremble, breach was made, and the i'm
perial troops rushed into the inquisition. Here
we met with an incident, which nothing but
Jesuitical effrontery is equal to. The inquisi-
tor general, followed by the father confessors,
in their priestly robes, all came out of their
rooms, as we were making our way into the in
terror of the Inquistion, and with long faces, and
their arms crossed over their breasts, their fin
gers resting on their shoulders, as though they
had been deaf TO all the noise Of the attack and
defence, and had just. learned what wss going
on, they addressed themselves in the language
of rebuke, to their own soldiers, saying, "Why
do you fgM our friends, the French"
Their intention, no doubt, was TO make us
think that this defence was wholly unauthorized
by them, hoping, if they made us believe that
they were friendly, they should have a better
opportunity, in the confusion Of the moment, to
escape. Their artiice was too shallow, and
did not succeed. l caused them to be placed
under guard, and all the soldiers of the Inquisi-
ton to be secured as prisoners. We then pro-
ceeded to examine all the rooms of the stately
edifoe. We passed through room after room;
found all perfectly in order, richly furnished,
with affairs and crucifxes, and wax candles in
abundance, but could discover no evidences of
iniquity being practiced there, nothing of those
peculiar features which we expected to find in
an lnquisition. We found splendid paintings
and rich and extensive library. Here was
beauty and splendor, and the most perfect order
upon which my eyes had ever rested. The ar
ohitecture the proportions were perfect. The
ceiling and floors of wood were secured and high
' " polished. The marble floors were arranged
with a strict regard to order. There was eve.
rything to please the eye and crafty cultiva.
ted taste; but where were those horrid instru.
ments of torture of which we had been told; ant
where those dungeons in which human beings
were said to have been buried alive9 W.
searched. in vain. The holy father assured III
US that they had been beliod; that we had seel
all; and was prepared to give up the search
| convinceds that this Inquisition was diiieren
, From, others IF which had heard, But Col. ID