Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-26

Gu away, Dnt Cne prisons OF inc InqulSltl0n were
not yet opened.
One night, about twelve o'clock. as COL L.
was walking the streets of Madrid, two armed
men, sprang suddenly upon him from an alley,
and made furious attack He instantly drew
his sword, put himself ina position of defense,
and while struggling with them, saw at ads
tanco the liggbts of the PATROLS French soldiers
mounted, who CARRIED lpnters. and rode through
the streets Of the eR at all hours of the night,
to preserve order. He calledto them in French,
and they hasteucd to assist him. the assailants
took to their heels and escaped-not, however,
before be saw by their dress they belonged to
the guards Of the Inqusition.
The Colonel went Immediately to Marshal
Soult, the Governor of Madrid, told him what
had taken place, and reminded him of the de-
cree to suppress this institution.
Marshal Soult replied he might 60 and destroy
| it.
Col L. told him that his regiment-the ninth
Polish Lancers-was not sufficient for such a
service, but if he would give him an additional
regiment-thc one hundred and seventeentb-he
would undertake the work
The one hundred and seventeenth regiment
was then under command of Col. De Lille, who
is now, like Col. L., a minister of the gospel
and pastor of an evangelical church in Marseil-
les. France.
The troops required were granted, and pro-
ceeded, said COL L., to the Inquistion, which
was situated about five miles from the city, II
was surrounded by IL wall of great strength ,and
defended by company of soldiers.
When we arrived at the walls, addressed
one of the sentinels, and summoned tho holy fa.
thers to surrender to the imperial army, and
open the gates of the Inquisition.
The sentinel appeared to enter into conyersa,
ton for moment with some one within, at the
4 close of which, he presented his musket and shot
oneoE my men.
This was the signal for the attack, and / or
dered my troops to FIRE upon those who appear
ed upon the walls.
1t was soon obvious that it was an unequa
warfare. TIE walls of the Inquisition wer,
covered with soldiers of the holy Office; ther'
was also breastwork upon the walls, behint
which they but partially exposed themselves a
they discharged their muskets.'
Our troops We're on the open plain, and thu
exposed to u destructive fire. We had no can
non, nor could we scale the wallsy.and the gate
successfully resisted all attempts at forcing them
| could not retire and send for u cannon t.
break through the walls, without giving then
time to lay a train and blow US up. saw tha
it WIS necessary to change the mode of attack
and directed that some trees be cut down an
trimmed, to be used us battering rams.
Two Of these were taken by detachmcnts o
men, as numerous as could work to advantage
and brought to bear upon the wall with all tn
power which they could could exert, while tn
troops kept up a fire to protect them from tn
fire poured upon them from the walls.
Presently the walls began to tremhle, breac
was made, and the Imperial troops rushed int
the lnquislbiou
Here we met with an incident which nothin
but Jusuitical efrontery is equal to. The II
qusitor- General, followed by the other confe'
sors, in their priestly robes, all come out of th
rooms, as we were making our way into the il
terror Of the Inqusiton, and with long face
and their arms crossed over their breasts, the
fingers resting on their shoulders as though the
had been deaf to all the noise of the attack an
the defense, and had,just LEANED what was x
ing on; they addressed themselves in the Ian