Newspaper Page Text
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From the London New Monthly Magazine, for
June.
SECRETS OF THE MODERN SPAN
ISH INQUISITION
Though much has been said and written
regarding the frightful tribunal of the In
quisition, little was correctly known res
pecting its mysterious proceedings until a
very late period. All that related to it was
enveloped in impenetrable mystery. Its
regulations and proceedings were conduct
ed so as to conceal the sufferings of its vic
tims, and the cruelties of its executioners.
The fanaticism of its agents, the oaths and
meoace9 of its jailors, the eternal darkness
of its dungeous, the thickness of its walls,
and the fear of being again plunged into
suffering, or perishing by the daggers of its
familiars, for revealing what they had seen
there, prevented the few who had the good
fortune to escape from its horrours, from
opening them to the world. In every class
of society its secret agents were constantly
active, and perfect silence alone respecting
the acts of the tribunal was the only guar
antee for personal security. By the vulgar,
the sufferings of the Inquisition were con
sidered like (hose of Hell; none had wit
nessed them and told their tale; and this
ignorance respecting them increased the
terrible impression which they made, and
contributed to prolong (be existence “of the
tribunal itself.
In 1808, the French invasion of the Pe
ninsula, as in many other instances in the
countries which their armies entered, con
tributed in some way to the benefit of the
people. It put an end to the uncertainty
existing respecting this tribunal and its mys
terious proceedings. It unmasked its
crimes and exposed them to the day, and
broke the fearful charm which enviroued it
so long. The monsters who presided in it,
ferocious as beasts of prey, fled on the ap
proach of an enlightened enemy, and for
got, from their fears, the victims and writ
ten proceedings of their hellish court;
these effectually revealed its horrible mys
teries. Napolean at Chamartin, and the
Cortes subsequently at Cadiz, pronounced
its sentence of destruction ; and from that
period the Holy Office may be considered
ns loosing its former power over the pub
lick mind forever, though the hand of des
potism might, in fact, re-establish it.
M. M , whose name is identified with
the revival of the Spanish drama, and with
its reputation, was the first writer who cor*
reeled the opinions of his countrytneu, lu
regard to the transactions of this tribunal.
He published in 1809, accompanied with
notes full of judgement and spirit, the ac
count of an Auto da fe, which had been cel
ebrated at Logrado two centuries before,
and the particulars of which had been
printed there at the time. This report,
drawn up by the order and under the in
spection of the Hofy Office itself, forms the
most complete accusation that could be ex
hibited again-d that body. It presents an
abstract of all that human depravity and
the accumulated ignorance of ages can en
gender. Unhappy women slowly consum
ed by fire, for having been convicted of
sorcery—gave remarks on the Devil, and
his adventures in gallantry with these poor
tortured females—express details, as re
volting to reason as to decency—things, in
short, so horribly inconsistent as to render
it incredible that they could have been
written or uttered by any but madmen; —
these, and such as these, are the contents
of the work r.ow alluded to. On this occa
sion, the King (Joseph Bonaparte,) com
missioned the Canon Llorente to examine
into the archives of the Inquisition. M.
Llorente, who had been during a longtime
Secretary to the Holy Office at Toledo,
and was. moreover, well acquainted with
the history of his country, found himself
admirably situated for the execution of such
a task. His famous work, formed upon
these records which he collected, deserves
to be considered as an important service
rendered to humanity, however destitute ii
may be of style or philosophical connex
ion. That hideous monster, the Inquisition,
is there displayed in all its naked horrour.
It must be borne in mind, however, that
the Spanish Inquisition, as described in the
writings of M. A1 and Llorente, and as
cousthuted from the time of Ferdinand V.,
to the eud of the reign of Charles 11., is not
exactly the same with that existing in 1808.
its name, indeed, remained to excite feel
ings of abhorrence; but the venom of its
nature was, in fact, nearly exhausted.
Feebleness is the necessary result of age;
and (he Inquisition had grown old by the
lape of three centuries. Charles 111.,
moreover, the m >si truly religious monarch
that Spain has ever known, had given a
considerable check to its influence; and
from that period, the council of Castile, by
continued opposition, had gradually wrested
from it the chief portion of its privileges.
A* evil frequeolly operates to produce good,
the viziership of the Prince of Peace, estab
fished upon the corruption of morals and
the contempt of social observances, requir
ed an abridgement of the power of all judi
cial institutions; and (be Holy Office, in
cluded in the number of these, suffered a
further retrenchment of its sway.
in this state of things, while Godoy held
unlimited authority, the successors of Saint
Dominick might be seen in the courtly an
THE MISSIONARY.
tichamber, forming a motley group with
the vainest courtezans, and emulously
watching for a look from the haughty fa
vourite. Depriveffof moral and political
consideration, their functions were now con
fined to the prohibition of certain books, or
the punishment, perchance, of some vision
ary old woman ( beata .)
Having seen what wa9 the nature of the
Inquisition at the period of its fall, we will
now view it at that of its late revival. Fer
dinand VII., in his re-appearance on the
summit of the Pyrenees, after his exile
might well be compared to a disastrous com
et, boding every species of plague to the
unhappy Spaniards. He destroyed in his
iogratitude the constitutional system, to
which he was indebted for his personal lib
erty. Ignorance, superstition, and every
kind of feudal abuse, were fostered by him
into poisonous vigour. He re-established
with alacrity the tribunal of the Holy Of
fice, for no purpose of religion (his charac
ter is destitute of it,) but as an instrument
of terrour and vengeance-i-as a means of
subduing, by the horrours of incarceration,
alt that was virtuous, liberal aod enlighten
ed. From (hat fatal moment, not a day
passed but some unfortunates were torn
from the bosom of their families, to be
plunged into the vaults of the Inquisition;
and, in some instances, to undergo every
refinement in the art of torture. Such was
the rage for the finding or making victims,
that the dungeons were speedily crowded.
A single accusation at Valencia sufficed for
ihe committal to (he Inquisition of twenty
five individuals, together with the accusing
party. At Murcia, the arrest of at least
two hundred persons was occasioned by a
single charge. At Madrid, at Grenada, at
St. Jacques, every where, in short, were
victims seized upon, without regard to age,
sex, condition, or services rendered. A
Spanish nobleman (the Count de Montigo,)
who was immured in the cells of the Holy
Office, recovered his liberty only ibroqgh
the Revolution of 1820, the interests of
which, however, be subsequently betrayed.
Two generals, M. M. Torrigo and Almedo
var, who had received many wounds during
the war for independence—various superi
our officers, persons belonging to the finance
department, priests and monks, women and
children, all were hurried away into the
same dreadful confinement.
Out of a number of facts which we could
cite, the following anecdote, to the authen
licity of wmen we pledge ourselves, may
suffice for an example:—Mr. E , distin
guished as a man of letters, and attached to
an important branch of the state administra
tion, was arrested and conducted to the In
quisition at Madrid, for having expressed,
as was alleged, irreligious opinions; but,
in reality, liberal opinions. Moreover, as
it was expected to be shown that these ex
pressious had been uttered in presence of
his wife, who bad not denotiuced him to the
Holy Office, she was likewise committed to
the same dungeon. This unl'ortanate coup
le had a young and only child, whom Mad
ame E brought with her, and who died
in the inquisition through cold and improp.
er food. The king, who from a dearth of
occupation, sometimes took a fancy to pris
on sights, chanced to present himself at the
door of the cell where the scarce cold
corpse of the child was lying. Madame
E threw herself at his feet, and with
tears implored release from a place, where
every thing would inflict on her memory
the last agooies of her child. Her youth,
beauty, and virtue, the eloquence of her
grief, and the force of her despair, moved
to pity all who heard her except Ferdinand,
who brutally turned away !
We cannot refrain from noting down here
the famous mandate of Miery Campillo, the
Inquisitor-general, which was read in every
Church in Spain on the first Sunday in Lent,
1815:—“ His Excellency , the Grand Inquis
itor , enjoins all Confessors , under pain of ex
communication , to denounce to the Holy Office
such persons as may have confessed themselves
to belong to the order of Freemasonry ls it
possible for baseness to proceed farther
than ihis? Yes: several confessors were
found to comply with the order of his Ex
celleocy !! The king took ao undisguised
part in all these infamies, and appointed
Judges belonging to the different tribunals
to aid in the inquisitorial examinations.
With regard to trials like these, it may
easily be imagined that contradictions, ab
surdities, and falsehoods were their custom
ary foundation. Whether a prisoner denied
the pretended crime, or in despair suffered
himself to avow it, he was sure to be sent
back to his confinement. The only indul
gence shewn was to those who were base
enough to denounce fresh victims.
Some account remains to be giveu of the
inhumao conduct of the jailors towards the
incarcerated, on Ferdinand’s revival of the
Inquisition. What shall we say when we
hear the case of ao unhappy Chaplain, in
the regiment of LoreDa, whilst in Murcia,
who, alter a popular commotion had restor
ed him to liberty, took the violent alterna
tive of drowning himself in a well, rather
than return to the Inquisition? What shall
we say, when informed, that a young officer
of the same regiment was driven to madness
and suicide at Valencia? The most complete
information, however, with which we can
j supply oar readers on tins head, will be a
Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.— Jesus Christ.
Os all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable support?.— Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1824.
condensed account of what has been com
municated to us by a patriotick magistrate,
who was shut up during fifteen months in
the Inquisition at Valencia, and is at this
moment in London.
M G was arrested the 27th Janua
ry, 1819, whilst in bed, at two o’clock in the
morning. His papers were sealed ap, and
all explanation was withheld. He was con
ducted to the Inquisition, distant only fifty
paces from bis house, by endless tsrniogs
and windings. When there, he was made
to halt suddenly before a little private door.
The chief of the escort, a judge of the crim
inal court, gave a mysterious and precon
certed kind of knock. A jailor presented
himself, and demanded, with solemnity of
utterance, which was the judge and which
the accused. This point ascertained, he
took the two in with him, leaving the oih
ers outside. The door closed on them, aod
all was involved in darkness and silence.
The jailor, groping along, and without a
syllable of speech, conducted bis two com
panions through the intricate labyrinth of
corridors, now asceodiog staircases, and
now descending. This course of involu
tions occupied about twenty minutes.
Their conductor suddenly stopped, and
clapping thrice with his hands, was answer
ed in like manner from above. Two fol
ding-doors opened with a startling sound,
and a wide well-lighted staircase was dis
played to view. This brought them to a
hall hung with black velvet, “having a table
in its centre covered with the like sable,
colour, a silver crucifix, and two candles of
green wax. At thi9 table stood two Inquis
itors, habited in full ceremony—the square
cap, the cross of honour, green neck ker
chiefs, and green sleeves. One of these
persooages was recognized by M. G ,
as one of the friends of his boyhood, a fel
low-collegian; the other was a man whom
he was in the daily habit of seeing, and who
had, indeed, discoursed with him but a few
hours before in the mo9t amicable way.
Neither of them, however, gave him the
lea9t sign of recognition, or showed, either
then, or in the sequel, the least disposition
to soften his state of suffering. They be
gan by gravely chanting forth some verses
of the Psalm Exsurge Dei , Sic. and then de
manded of the criminal his name and pro
fession. The jailor was thereupon told to
do his duly. This consisted in conducting
M. G—— to a dungeon, eight feet square,
( bavin? a crated skvlierbt without ?las*A
and leaving him there without a candle, or
even a pitcher of water. After remaining
thus for three days, be was supplied with a
wretched mattrass and a chair. These
formed, during fifteen months, the whole of
his furniture. His sustenance was a dish of
rice every twenty-four hours, with half a
pound of brown bread, and, in the mornings,
a cup of diluted stuff, miscalled chocolate.
His jailors, seen only at these periods, al
ways maintained the silence of statutes.
The light of the day in this living tomb was
but of live hours’ duration.
On one occasion, the barber who was
sent to shave the unfortunate prisoner, con
trived to slip into bis hands a letter from
bis wife, together with a pencil and a bit
of paper to facilitate a reply. Delighted
at this unexpected consolation, M. G— pe
rused and kissed a thousand times the cher
ished lines. His reply was soon prepared
—but alas ! the Argus-eyed turnkeys had
conceived suspicions, the result of which
was a discovery, and the consignment
of the poor barber to one of the pris
on rooms, where be was kept until 1820
His successor in office showed none of (he
zeal of pity. After three months’ incar
ceration, M. G.— underwent bis first rego
lar examination in the same hall, and
with the same ceremony. One of the in
qisitors made a sort of opening oration on
the justice and benignity of the Holy Office,
(these were wonderfully borne witness to
by the livid and haggard countenance of
their victim,) and proceeded to tell him
that the tribunal knew already the whole ,
even to the precise day, place and hour,
wheu M. G— had been present, with other
accomplices, at a masonick meeting; that
it was, consequently, useless to deny it:
and that the tribunal, in calling on him now
for his confession, desired merely to find a
pretext for extending towards him the in
dulgence allowed to penitents, iic. £c. M.
G—, not to be duped by Ihis mode of ad
dress, protested openly against it. The ad
dition of menaces and insults could not shake
his firmness ; and he wa9 taken back to hi 9
confinement. Some months afterwards he
was again summoned into the same pres
ence, but with the like result; and from
that period he was no longer interrogated.
Being seized with illness, through the vari
ous miseries And horrors of his situation, he
several times implored the aid of a phy
sician; but was answered that when his
life should be iu danger, that would be
granted him!—When reduced to the ex
treme of weakness, and no longer able -to
rise from his mattrass, he requested the
presence of the Inquisitors, and besought
them most touchingly for some nourishment
of a more wholesome kind, adding that bis
family would remunerate such attentisn. —
“ Your family has abandoned you, Sir,” re
plied these impostors; “they will listen to
no application on the part of a reprobate;
and, as far the tribunal, it has no funds
for the amelioration of your treatment!!”
Such a series of infamous usage must in
evitably have proved fatal to M. G—, had
not these den 9 of horror been thrown open
by the effect of the king’s oath to the Con
stitution on the 9th March, 1820. The
following day brought the decree to Valen
cia, and the people went en masse to burst
open the gates of the Inquisition. Half an
hour previously, and when the news was
already known every where, one of the
jailors bad the inhuman assurance to tell
M. G— that he at least, should never es
cape from his place of lodging!
MISSIONARY.
From the Missionary Herald for August.
RECENT INTELLIGENCE FROM JE
RUSALEM.
By letters recently come to hand, it ap
pears that Mr. Fisk was at Jerusalem at
the close of the last year and during the
first months of the present. He expressed
great pleasure at bearing of the arrival of
Messrs. Goodell and Bird at Beyrout. Hav
ing learned that Mr. King was with them,
and that he, in company with one of the
other brethren, were expecting soon to vi
sit Jerusalem, Mr. Fisk thus wrote to the
Corresponding Secretary, near the last of
December :—“ You may well suppose that
I am eagerly expecting their arrival.
There are several subjects on which I
mean to write to you, after I have had coo
versation with them ; particularly in regard
to Armenian studies, and labours, and
types.” He adds,—“l have had many in
teresting and 1 trust mutually profitable dis
cussions with Mr. Jowett about missionary
plans, stations, aud labours.”
It was stated at pp. 215 and 216 of our
last number, that Messrs. King and Bird left
Beyrout on the 2d of January, and arrived
at Jerusalem on the 21st. There Mr.
King remained till the 6th of the next
•nonlh, when he departed for Jaffa, where
he continued at least during that month.
Soon after his departure, Messrs. Fisk and
Bird met with some trouble from the Turk
ish authorities, which however terminated
much better than could have been expect
ed. The Catholicks had entered a charge
against them, that they distributed books
which were neither Mussulman, Jewish,
nor Christian. This charge they of course
found no difficulty in refuting;“ and after
>'UHP iiinnlrlMnn tha nnrt nf
which it would seem were answered satis
factorily, they were set ut liberty from a
brief arrest. “The next morning,” says
Mr. Fisk, we re-commenced the sale of
the Scriptures, and in four days sold 190
Testaments among the Armenian pilgrims
for near 60 dollars. We trust that the
things which happened to us have fallen
out unto the furtherance of the Gospel.”
Our readers will bear iu mind that it is
emphatically true of the Missionaiies to Je
rusalem, as it was of the Apostle of old,
that they have gone thither “not knowing
the things which shall befal them there.”
One thing is certain, pretty severe trials of
faith, patience aod zeal, can hardly come
unexpectedly. Such trials entered into the
estimate of the probable cost of this mission,
made, before it was commenced, both by
the Missionaries and the Board. And should
modern Missionaries run no risks, when
ancient Missionaries thought it their duty to
risk every thing earthly?
The obstacles io the way of doing good
at Jerusalem, have, nevertheless, been
hitherto not so great., and the present pros
pects of usefulness in that city are quite as
animating, as wa9 ever anticipated. Noth
iug has occurred to discourage from increa
sing efforts in behalf of that interesting
portion of our sinful world; but much to
stimulate to more united and fervent pray
er among all who love Zion, in behalf of
our brethren in Judea.
Os the labours and situation of the Mis
sionaries to Palestine, and especially those
who have entered Jerusalem, the Rev.
Mr. Jowett thus writes from Malta to the
Corresponding Secretary, under date of
May 3d.
“Os the mode of their proceedings in
their mission at Jerusalem, I can speak as
an eye witness, and in a humble degree a
partaker in their labours. Nothing could
be more quiet, harmless, and unimpeacha
bly correct, than their way of preaching
the Gospel. They received into their
houses all that came unto them ; but there
was no crying or lifting up of their voices
in the street, as if they meant to make a
paity. On the contrary I think your Mis
sionaries have an admirable way of avoid
ing party-spirit, which they retire from,
putting every man on his own conscience.
I trust, therefore, that the good Shepherd
will preserve them from the wolves by
whom they are surrounded. Many has be
preserved in that very city: the pages of
Scripture abound with (be records of them.
But if the old corse still hangs over that
spot,—“ It cannot be that a prophet should
perish oot of Jerusalem,” —and if our dear
brethren should yet have more to suffer,
you in America and many others will be
praying for them, that they may have
grace and courage boldly to follow the
Captain of our salvatidn, who was made
perfect in sufferings; who before Pontius
Pilate witnessed a good confession; and
[Price %3 50 per ann.
who shed his blood in Jerusalem for the re*
demption of the world.
“ May your Society and your countrymen
be roused by the calls from the East to a
new ardour in the cause of missions; and
stand up like the heart of one man, devot
edly resolved to multiply all your past ex
ertions ten fold, yea, ao hundred fold.”
In a postscript dated March 16th, Mr.
Goodell says, that the brethren at Jerusa
lem were still in trouble. Through the
agency of Mr. Abbott, the English Consul
at Beyrout, be had procured a special doc*
ument from the Pasha of Damascus, which
he bad sent by express to Jerusalem, and
which, it was hoped, would put ao end to
the disturbances. Let prayers be offered con
tinually, say 9 Mr. Goodell, that our brethren.
“ may be delivered from those who do not be
lieve in Judea.”
Extracts from the Journal of Messrs. Goodell and
Bird, American Missionaries to Jerusalem.
Remarks on Popery.
We are continually finding new and pain
ful reasons for surprise at remarking how
deep-laid is the popish system of delusion.
The recollection of the peculiar ceremo
nies of his church does not recur to a pa
pist only at intervals of weeks. Everv
time he passes a church be is taught to
raise his hat iu revercuce to Christ, who,
he is taught to believe, is bodily present
within the doors. Every time he meets a
little group of priests, going to visit the
sick in tbeir last agonies, he must stop,
make bare his head, aod kneel till they are
past. He cannot take up a book without
being called to R3k himself, what the Pope
has commanded io regard to it. He is not
rid of bis bondage in the retirement of bis
domestick life. Even here he cannot seat
himself at his table, but the bishop of Rome
interferes to tell him what be mut .•
aod wbat he must drink.
The director and SigDor TANARUS., being io’
that we expected to goto Jerusalem, could
hardly believe that it was our serious in
tention. When we assured them that it
was, they represented to us in glowipg co
lours the wickedness of the inhabitants.
We said to them that we had already heard
much more of the abominations of that city
than they had told us, and that it was on
this very account we had resolved in the
strength of the Lord to go there; that, if
the cities of Judah had been filled with be
nevolent, pious, devout persons, we shoqU]
where the inhabitants were far from right
eousness and heaven. They appeared per
fectly amazed at (his; could not conceive
it possible that aDy one should be actuated
by such motives; aod were very certain
that they should make some gam of us by
bringing us back with them in the same
vessel.
A strong contrary wind anciently “ call
ed Euroclydon ,” with a high sea. All of
us are much distressed with sea-sickness.
It is (he first Sabbath since we left our na
tive country, on which we were unable to
worship God in a publick manner. Today
instead of being permitted to go up with
glad hearts “ unto the altar of God with a
multitude that keep holy day,” we find our
selves “ exceedingly tossed with a tem
pest,” and are compelled to lie down amidst
dirt and vermin, hardly able to speak or
to take the least care of ourselves; aod the
lad we brought with us from Malta requir
ing asMStence himself, instead of rendering
it to others. “ Think upon os, O our God,
for good.”
28. Wind more favourable. Our health
and strength returning. By various con
versations with the Captain, the Director,
and Signor TANARUS., we find them to be men of
more reading and intelligence than ordina
ry ; aod are happy in finding them able to
speak apparently very good Italian, and to
give rules and reasons respecting it; and
also io finding them so affable, aod so ready
to converse oo the subject of religion. We
were desired (his morning by Signor T. to
read to him from the Scriptures,but the wea
ther was too tempestuous. In the evening
we read much to him, making observations
on particular passages.
Conversation with trie Supercargo.
30. This morning, said to Signor TANARUS.,
“ Suppose you were in great anxiety of
mind, and desired to know in what manner
you could be saved, would you rather con
sult the Pope, or the Bible ?” Ans. The
former. Q. On whose word would you
rather depend, as it concerns the salvation
of your soul, the word of the Pope, or the
word of God ? A. On the word of the
Pope, Q. Has not God undertaken to in
form us oi every thing necessary for us to
know on this subject; and is not his word
sufficient to guide us ? A. God has reveal
ed many things to the Pope, which are not
to be found in the Bible; and there are
many things in the Bible, which it is dan
gerous and wicked to read. Q. Is it possi
ble that a holy God should say any thing to
us which it is wicked for os to hear, or
should command us to do aoy thing wrong 1
He seemed unwilling to admit this conclu
sion, but was still disposed to maintain that
it was dangerous and wicked for any, ex
cept those who are as wise as himswlf. to
read the Bible. We tben conversed on the
Pope’s supremacy and (be nature of mira
cles. At last he lost his usual patience, and
declared that it was wicked to converge op