Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-06-12

sentinels, and summoned the holy fathers to
surrender to the imperial army, and open the
gates OF the Inqulstion. The sentinel appeared
to enter into conversation for a moment with
some one within, at the close of which, he pre-
sented his musket and shot one of my men,
This was the signal for the attack, and l or
dered my troops to fire upon those who appear
ed upon the walls. 1t was soon obvious that
it was an unequal warfare The walls of the
lnqulsition were covered with soldiers of the
holy Office there was also a breastwork upon
the walls, behind which they but partially ex-
posed themselves as they discharged their mus
kets. Our troops were gu the open plain, and
exposed to destructive fire. We had no can
non, nor could We scale the walls, and the gates
successfully resisted all attempts at forcing
them / could not retire and send for cannon
to break through the walls without giving them
time to lay train and blow us up. / saw
that it was necessary to change the mode of
attack, and directed that some trees be cut
down and trimmed, to be used as battering
rams. Two of these were taken by detach-
ment Of men, 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
upom tHIuI HUH tic Wits. L TesefltIS
the walls began to tremble, breach was made.
and the imperial troops rushed into the Inqui-
stion. Here we met with an incident which
nothing but Jesuitcal effrontery is equal to.
The InqulsitorG eneral, followed by tue other
conieSsors, in their priestly robe all came out
OF the rooms. as we were making our way in
the interior Of the Inquisition, with long faces
and their arms crossed over their breasts. their
fingers resting on their shoulders as though
they had been deaf to all noise of the attack
and defence, and had just learned what was go
ing on, they addressed themselves in the Ian
guage of rebuke to their own soldiers. saving.
why do you fight our friends, the French y
Their intention no doubt. was to make us think
that this defence was wholly unauthorized by
them, hoping that if they could make us be-
lieve they were friendly, they should have a
better opportunity in the confusion of the mo-
ment to escape. Their artifce was too shall
low, and did not succeed. | caused them to
he placed under guard, and oil the soldiers of
the 1nquisition to be secured as prisoners
We then proceeded to examine all the rooms
of the stately edifce. We passed through
room after room, found all in perfect order,
richly furnished, with affairs and crucifixes. and
wax candles in abundance, but could discover
10 evidence of miquity being practced there
nothing of those peculiar features which we ex-
pected to find in an Inquisit:on. We found
splendid paintings, and an extensive library.
Here was beauty and spendor, and the most
perfect order on which my eyes had ever rested.
The archtecture--the proportions were perfect.
The ceiling and floors were wood secured and
highly polished. The marble pavement was ar
ron with CT ri IN ~
was everything to please the eye, and CRAFTY a
cultivated taste where were those instruments
of torture OF which we had been told, and where
were the dungeons in which human beings are
said to be buried alive?
We searched in vain The holy fathers as
sured US that they had been belicd, that we
had seen oil, and / was prepared to give up
the search, convinced that this Inqusiton was
different from others Of which had heard. But
Col. DeLile was not SO ready as myself to re-
linquish the investigation, and said to me
Colonel, you are commander to-day, and as
you say so it must be : but if you will be adj
vised by me. let this marble floor he examined
Let water be brought and poured upon it we
will watch to see if there is any place through
which it passes more freely than at Others l
complied and ordered water to be brought i'm
me,liatcly The slabs of marble were large
and beautifully polished When the water had
been poured over the floor, much to the dissat-
isfaction Of the holy fathers, a careful cxami-
nation was made of every seam in the floor.
Presently Col. DeLile exclaimed that he had
found it, By the side of one of these marble
slabs, the water passed through fast as though
there was an opening beneath All hands were
now at work for further discovery the officers
with their swords and bavoneis seeking to clear
out the seam and pry up the slab Others with
the butts of their muskcts, striking the slab
with their might to break it while the priests
demonstrated against our desecrating their holy
and beautiful house.
While thus engaged, soldier who was str-
king with the butt of his musket, struck spring
and the marble slab flew up. The face Of the
Ipquisitors grew pale as Belshazzar when the
handwriting appeared on the wa-they trem-
bled all over Beneath the marble slab. now
partly up, was staircase. / stepped up to
the altar, and took from it the cand!cstick, four
feet in length, which was burning, that might
explore the room below AS was doing this,
l was arrested by one of the Inquisitors, who
laid his hand gently on my arm, and with o
very dcmure and sanctimonious look exclaimed
NV son, You must not take those lights with
your bloody hand-thcy are holy" Well %
said |, AZ will take holy thing to shed light
on iniquity will bear the responsibility /
took the candle, and reached the foot of the
stairs We entered large, square room,
! which was called the Hall Of Judgement In
| the centre of it was huge block, and chain
fastened tn II On tbiS thev had heen ccs,s