DESTRUCTION OF THE INQUISITION IN SPAIN.

In 1809, Col.  Lehmanowsky was attached to the part of Napoleon’s army which was stationed in Madrid.  “While in that city,” said Col.  L., “I used to speak freely among the people what I thought of the Priests and Jesuits, and of the Inquisition.  It had been decreed by the Emperor Napoleon that the Inquisition and the Monasteries should be suppressed, but the decree, he said, like some of the laws enacted in this country, was not executed.”

Months had passed away, and the prisons of the Inquisition had not been opened.  One night, about ten or eleven o’clock, as he was walking one of the streets of Madrid, two armed men sprang upon him from an alley, and made a furious attack.  He instantly drew his sword, put himself in a posture of defence, and while struggling with them, he saw at a distance the lights of the patrols,—­French soldiers mounted, who carried lanterns, and who rode through the streets of the city at all hours of the night, to preserve order.  He called to them in French, and as they hastened to his assistance, the assailants took to their heels and escaped; not, however, before he saw by their dress that they belonged to the guards of the Inquisition.

He went immediately to Marshal Soult, then Governor of Madrid, told him what had taken place, and reminded him of the decree to suppress this institution.  Marshal Soult told him that he might go and suppress it The Colonel said that his regiment (the 9th. of the Polish Lancers,) was not sufficient for such a service, but if he would give him two additional regiments, the 117th, and another which he named, he would undertake the work.  The 117th regiment was under the command of Col.  De Lile, who is now, like Col.  L., a minister of the gospel, and pastor of an evangelical church in Marseilles, France.  “The troops required were granted, and I proceeded,” said Col.  L., “to the Inquisition which was situated about five miles from the city.  It was surrounded by a wall of great strength, and defended by a company of soldiers.  When we arrived at the walls, I addressed one of the sentinels, and summoned the holy fathers to surrender to the Imperial army, and open the gates of the Inquisition.  The sentinel who was standing on the wall, appeared to enter into conversation with some one within, at the close of which he presented his musket, and shot one of my men.  This was the signal of attack, and I ordered my troops to fire upon those who appeared on the walls.”

It was soon obvious that it was an unequal warfare.  The soldiers of the holy office were partially protected by a breast-work upon the walls which were covered with soldiers, while our troops were in the open plain, and exposed to a destructive fire.  We had no cannon, nor could we scale the walls, and the gates successfully resisted all attempts at forcing them.  I could not retire and send for cannon to break through