“An order was sent from the high tribunal at Rome to all the inquisitors throughout Italy, enjoining them to apprehend a clergyman minutely described in that order.  One Answering the description in many particulars being discovered in the diocese of Osimo, at a small distance from Macerata, and subject to that Inquisition, he was there decoyed into the holy office, and by an order from Rome so racked as to lose his senses.  In the mean time, the true person being apprehended, the unhappy wretch was dismissed, by a second order from Rome, but he never recovered the use of his senses, nor was any care taken of him by the inquisition.”

It would be easy to fill a volume with such narratives as the above, but we forbear.  We are not writing a history of the Inquisition.  We simply wish to exhibit the true spirit by which the Romanists are actuated in their dealings with those over whom they have power.  We therefore, in closing this chapter of horrors, beg leave to place before our readers one of the fatherly benedictions with which, His Holiness, the Pope, dismisses his refractory subjects.  Does it not show most convincingly what he would do here in America, if he had, among us, the power he formerly possessed in the old world, when the least inadvertent word might perchance seal the doom of the culprit?

A POPISH BULL OK CURSE.

“Pronounced on all who leave the Church of Rome.  By the authority of God Almighty, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and the undefiled Virgin Mary, mother and patroness of our Saviour, and of all celestial virtues, Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Cherubim and Seraphim, and of all the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, and of all the Apostles and Evangelists, of the holy innocents, who in the sight of the holy Lamb are found worthy to sing the new song of the Holy Martyrs and Holy Confessors, and of all the Holy Virgins, and of all the Saints, together with the Holy Elect of God,—­may he be damned. We excommunicate and anathematize him, from the threshold of the holy church of God Almighty.  We sequester him, that he may be tormented, disposed, and be delivered over with Datham and Abiram, and with those who say unto the Lord, ‘Depart from us, we desire none of thy ways;’ as a fire is quenched with water, so let the light of him be put out forevermore, unless it shall repent him, and make satisfaction.  Amen.

“May the Father who creates man, curse him.  May the Son, who suffered for us, curse him!  May the Holy Ghost who is poured out in baptism, curse him!  May the Holy Cross, which Christ for our salvation, triumphing over his enemies, ascended, curse him!