The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-06-06
III sUtrllanp.
The Final Destruction of tho Span
ish Inquisition.

| Ken up and destroyed IN lSU0, by Col.
Lemanousky, who was attached to Napo.
Icons army. Before they were destroy.
ed, every apartment where scenes Of tor
ture took place, were explored, where
were found instruments of every kind
which the ingenuity of mcn or devils can
| invent:
1t bad been dccrccd by the Emperor
Napoleon that the Inquisitions and Mon.
asieries should be suppressed but the
decree, like some of our laws, vas not
yet cxecuted.--Mon,hs bad passed away,
but the prisons of Inquisitions were not
yet opened.
One night, about twelve o'clock. as
Col i. was walking the streets of Mad
rid, two armed men sprang suddenly up.
on him from an alley, and made furious
attack. He instantly drew his sword
put himself in position of defence, and
while struggling with them, snw at dis
tance the lights of the patrols, French
Soldiers mounted, who carried lanterns,
and rodo through the street of The city
at all hours of the night, to preserve or.
der. He called to them in French. and
they FASTENED to assist him; the assai-
ants took to their heels and escaped not.
however, before he saw BY their dress
they belonged to the guards of the Inqui-
sition.
Tie Colonel wentimmcdintcly to Mar.
ahal Soult. the Governor of Madrid. told
him what had taken place and reminded
him of the decree to suppress this insti-
tuition.
Marshal Soult replied that he might
60 and destroy it.
Col i told him that bis regiment
the ninth Polish 1anccrs not stuff.
cient for such a service. but if lie would
give him an additional regiment-the
one hundred seventeenth he would un-
dertnkc the work
The one hundred and seventh rcri.
ment was under the command of Col. De
Lille who is now like Col. n minister of
the gospel. and pastor Of an evangelical
church in Marseilles, France.
The troops required were grantcd.and
l proceeded said Col l.. TO the Inouisi-
tion. which was situated about fvc miles
from the city. 1t was surrounded BY
wall Of great strength Of soldiers
When we arrived at the wall. I nd.
dressed one Of the scntinels. and sum-
moncd the holy fathers to surrender to
the inrerin army, ard open the gates Of
TIE Tnquisi'icn
The sentinel nrrcnrcd TO enter into
conversation fcr moment with some
ono within al The close of which. he rrc.
scnted his muskc. and sho. ono of nv
men
Thi' va. s. gnai for the attack. AID !
ordered my men to firc uron those who
anrcnrcd uron the walls
II was soon obvions that !, was nm nm.
equal warfare Tho walls of the fnonis.
ition were covered with soldiers Of the
holy Office there was aIso n brcastwork
upon the walls, behind which the partial.
]y exposed themselves as they discharged
their muskets.
Our troops were IN the omen plain nnd
thus exposed to q Obstructive fire. We
had no cannon. nor could W. scale tho
walls. and the gates successfully resisted
all attempt at forcing them
could not retire and send for a can.
non to break down the walls. without
giving them time to lay train aud blow
MS up. / saw that it was necessary In
change tho mode attack. and directed
that some trees be cut down and trim.
med. to be used MS bnticring ram.
Two oe these were taken Ly detatcl.
mcnts OF men, as numerous as could
work to advantage. and brought to bear
upon the wall 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 wall, began to tumble.
breach was made, aud the imperial
troops rushed into the fnquisition.
Here we met with an incident which
nothing but Jesuctical cffronty is equal
to The Inquisitor General. followed
BY the other coniefsors. In their priestly
robes, all come out of their rooms. as We
were making our way into the interior
OF the Inqulsition, and with long f1ces
and their arms crossed over their breasts.
their fingers resting on their shoulders
as though they had been deaf to all the
attack and defense, and had Just learn.
ed what was going on they addressed
themselves in the language of rebuke to
their own soldiers, saving, Why do you
fight our friends the French 7''
Their intention, was no doubt, to
make us think that this was wholly un.
authorized BY them, hoping if fthoy could
make us believe that they were friendly,
that they should have a better chance
in the confusion of the moment to escape.
Their artifce was too shallow. and did
not succeed. ] caused them to De put
under guard, and the soldiers of the In.
QUESTION to be secured as prisoners.
We then proceeded to examine all the
rooms of the stately edfce. We passed
through room after room, found all in
perfect order, and richly furnished with
alters and crucifxes, and wax candles in
abundance, but could discover no evi.
dencc of iniquity being practiced there
nothing Of those peculiar features
which we expected to find in an Tuquisi.
tion. We found splendid painting and
an extensive library. Here was beauty
and splendor, and the most perfect or.
der on which my eyes had ever rested.
The arcbitecture--the proportions were
perfect. The ceiling and floors were
wood, secured and highly polished The
l. 81