1832.J Dungeons of the Inquisition of Homey in 1818. 305 



my explanation ; several of his orations, in which either the beginning 

 or the conclusion are wanting, I was required to complete. Having for 

 many years had the works of this great master, I may say, at my 

 fingers' ends, I was enabled to afford so satisfactory an explanation of 

 them, that my auditors were truly astonished. 



About one o'clock in the morning, the Prince of Canino (Lucien 

 Bonaparte), who was present, demanded my opinion relative to the pre- 

 sent state of Rome, and inquired what I thought of its civil and criminal 

 laws. Unfortunately for me, in the warmth of discussion, I forgot 

 where I was, and having been questioned how I could speak so precisely 

 on things that had occurred two thousand years after my death, I told 

 them that I had often the opportunity of meeting in the lower regions 

 some of the cleverest inhabitants of Rome, and that lately I had had a long 

 conversation with Cardinal Maury, on the very subject. This was a 

 thunderbolt to the ears of several of the auditors. Such a speech was 

 the greatest blasphemy against the holy order of cardinals ; and the 

 Arguses of the Roman Inquisition soon denounced me to Monsignor 

 Pacca, governor of Rome. Orders were immediately given for my 

 arrest as soon as I left the house, and, accordingly, about two o'clock, 

 while I was stepping into a carriage, I was seized by four sbirri. They 

 conducted me into a neighbouring house, where my eyes were bound, 

 and, without speaking a syllable, I was hurried into a coach and driven 

 off. When I alighted, I found myself in the Monastery of Santa Maria 

 in Minerva, where the Inquisitors of the Holy Office hold their infernal 

 sittings, and where the dungeons are situated in which the accused are 

 kept during the progress of their trial, and until their final sentence is 

 pronounced. The little subterraneous cave in which I was imprisoned 

 was scarcely of sufficient height to allow me to stand upright; it was 

 about six feet wide, and nearly as much in length. The only aperture 

 was a small hole, which looked into a dark corridor, and served to 

 admit the air. A wooden chair, and a pitcher of water, were all the 

 furniture. 



It would be impossible to describe what were my feelings and my 

 anxiety during that long night. I had twice in my life been confined, 

 and also condemned to death for political offences, but I had never 

 tenanted a dungeon half so appalling as was that subterranean den. 



In the morning, about ten o'clock, two robust friars made their 

 appearance, and informed me that I was to be conducted before the 

 inquisitor, but they wished to tie both my hands. I strongly opposed 

 this act of tyrannj', and said that I would not submit. They answered 

 that it was indispensable ; but I continued in my resolution. When the 

 friars saw that I was determined not to submit they retired ; and after 

 about a quarter of an hour returned, and ordered me to follow them. 

 We passed through several dark corridors, ascended by a gloomy stair- 

 case, and arrived at the cell of the Rev. Father Olivieri,* one of the four 

 inquisitors of the holy office of Rome. This inquisitorial attorney-gene- 

 ral was a man of about fifty years of age, of dark complexion and high 

 stature, and possessed all the exterior striking features of his tyrannical 



* Father Olivieri is still living, and has lately been appointed, by Cardinal Bar- 

 netti, the present secretary of state of Gregory XIV., tne supreme inquisitor of 

 the arrested Carbonari of the Roman States* There is no appeal from tike deci- 

 sions of his tribunal ! ! ! 



