tracted, like that of our Burke, upon the same subject,—universal attention, and curiosity, insomuch that, although the Revolutionists employed every effort to suppress its circulation, it, still, in the course of one year, passed through three editions. Another work of the Count's, entitled, " Du Pape," is, again, a monument of great political wisdom, and of splendid eloquence, and erudition. It has been pronounced by one of the first geniuses of Europe, the celebrated Mons. Bonald,— α sublime work." Whence, also, in France, Germany, and Italy, it has been every where read, and extolled. Little inferior to this is his beautiful and learned work,-" Les Soirées de SaintPétersbourg.”—If, in this country, the writings of the Count are little known, it is owing to the prevalence of those illiberal prejudices, which withhold the Protestant from reading any thing, which tends, or appears to tend, to the defence of the Catholic Religion.

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The Letters, which I now present to the public, were addressed to a Russian Nobleman, who, it appears, entertained all those same notions, and that same abhorrence, of the Inquisition, which, in this country, are so deeply imprinted on the public mind. He wrote them, at the request of his noble friend, who,—although so strongly prejudiced against the Tribunal, was, still, willing, and desirous, to be instructed. They were written, in the year 1815,-that is, three years after the suppression of the Inquisition by the Revolutionary Cortes; and in the year of its re-establishment by Ferdinand :—whence, also, he speaks of it, as, at that time, actually existing. But, in order to satisfy his friend, that the accounts, which he gives of it, are not the dictates of any partiality, he borrows a great part of the authorities, and documents, which he cites, from the Official Reports themselves, of the Committee of the Cortes,that is, from the testimonials of the men, who had abolished the Institution; and who, therefore, were its bitterest enemies.

The concessions of such persons in its favour are, of course, arguments, which cannot reasonably be suspected.

The Count divides the subject of his instructions into five separate Letters, of which the following are the brief, and general outlines.

In the First, he shows, that the Inquisition is not, in the first place, a purely Ecclesiastical Tribunal;-secondly, that the Ecclesiastics, who do form a portion of its members, never, on any occasion, concur in the sentence, which condemns any criminal to death ;—thirdly, that they never condemn any one for any mere, or simple, opinion;—fourthly, that the Tribunal is a completely Royal institution, conducted under the control, and regulated by the will, of the Monarch.

In the Second, he points out the illiberality and injustice, of the imputations, which are so unsparingly cast upon the Tribunal, on the alleged score of its supposed cruelties, and severity. Thus, in regard of Torture, and Burning, he shows, that these detestable instruments were, at the periods principally alluded to, no more employed by it, than they were then made use of by all the other civil Courts of Justice, throughout Europe. He shows, moreover, that the accounts of these alleged cruelties are very greatly exaggerated;—and that, when any act of great severity did take place, it was only in regard of such criminals, as were very notoriously guilty;-and that, on all such occasions, the clemency of the Priesthood regularly interfered to mitigate the punishment.

In the Third, he presents specimens of the accounts, with which Travellers,—and particularly our English Travellers,— amuse, and feed, the credulity of the public, on the subject of the Inquisition. For this purpose, he selects the frightful tales,

related by the pious, and learned, Rector of Pewsey, the Rev. Mr. Townsend. This interesting Traveller, after a residence of two years, in Spain, relates,-in a clever, and well written, work of three volumes,―a variety of facts, and events, relating to the Tribunal, which have, no doubt, contributed powerfully to confirm the faith of many an orthodox believer; as well as to terrify the feelings of many a pious Lady. The Count, therefore, selects a few of these important instances: and he discusses, and criticises, them, with a considerable share of good humour. He shows, that, when strictly analysed, and examined, they amount to little else than so many silly tales, and cockand-bull stories.

In the Fourth, he describes some of the benefits, which Spain had derived from the interference, and influences, of the Inquisition. He shows, that, whilst other nations have been the theatres of wars, bloodshed, confusion, and every kind of horrors, Spain alone, owing to that Tribunal,-had, during the course of nearly three centuries, enjoyed an uninterrupted succession of order, union, and tranquillity.

The Fifth Letter is addressed, almost exclusively, to the English, with whose language, history, and literature, the Count was intimately acquainted. In it, he shows, that, the principle of private judgment conducts directly, and inevitably, to a system of complete indifferentism, in relation to real Christian Faith ;— secondly, that, notwithstanding all their boasted professions of liberty, and toleration, the English are grossly intolerant; and have been always the violent persecutors of the Catholics.

Such is, briefly, the outline of the succeeding Letters. The Protestant, who reads them, should any read them, however prejudiced, or bigoted, he may be,—will, at all events, own this,

—that they are the work of a superior mind; of an elegant writer; and of a well informed politician.

My motive for publishing the Letters, has not been to defend the Inquisition,—much less to vindicate any of its abuses, or alleged severities. I consider persecution, under every form whatsoever, both as uncatholic, and unchristian. My motive has been to prove, that the imputations, which are so unceasingly urged against the Catholic Religion, under the pretext of the conduct, and supposed cruelties, of that Tribunal, are unfounded, and unjust, the dictates of ignorance, and the effusions of malevolence, and prejudice.

To the Letters I have appended a few notes, and illustrations. My motives for doing this have been, in the first place,—by exposing the savage character, and the barbarous execution, of our own Penal laws,-to show the Protestant, how little reason he has to insult the Catholic with the reproaches of persecution;—and in the next place,-from the circumstance of the repeal of the dreadful Code,-to make the Catholic sensible, how much he owes to the happy change of times; and to the justice, and humanity, of our present enlightened Rulers.

Northampton, September, 1838.