Letters on the Spanish Inquisition

Book excerpt: 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.