1823.] Memoirs of Don Jean Jntoine Llorente. 523 



stage of politics, when, in consequence attached to that service. The henefit 

 of some proceedings in the Chamber of was not considerable (modique obole) ; 

 Deputies, the innocence of the Spanish 

 exiles, who liad suffered, drawn into the 



vortex of the Frencli revoUition, was 

 calumniated. Such criminations were 

 an aifront to French generosity; they 

 were nobly repelled by M. Lain6, and 

 M. Llorente published a pamphlet, vin- 

 dicating the character and intentions of 

 his Spanish fellow- sulfcrers, pointing out 

 and obviating a number of inconsisten- 

 cies and errors injurious to the cause of 

 faith, that M. Clauscl de Coussergues 

 had coinmilk'd. To the gratuitous 

 assertion of this latter, that there had 

 been no Auto-da-I'^ since 1680, M. L. 

 replied, by making it appear, that, from 

 the year 1700 to 1808, 1578 individuals 

 had perished by the faggots and flames 

 of tlie Inquisition. 



Soon after appeared the publication 

 of "The Complete Annals of the Holy 

 Office." This admired performance has 

 real merit of the most durable kind ; 

 and, from it, the able and intelligent 

 writer obtained a character of celebrity 

 throughout Europe and America, which 

 was no more than due to so learned and 

 good a man. His History of the Inqui- 

 sition was translated into English, Ger- 

 man, and Italian, and is now to be met 

 with in most libraries. The author has 

 not lavished upon it the ornaments of an 

 aflmirable style and diction ; but, with 

 all possible care, has laid himself out 

 to ensure the estimation of his work as 

 authentic. It may well pass for an 

 original, from the accuiacy and novelty 

 of the details svhich it reveals, stamping 

 on it an internal evidence of its possess- 

 ing superiority over every other publica- 

 tion of tijc kind. 



How long are priestly fanaticism and 

 intolerance to degrade the genius and 

 useful talents of eminent literary men? 

 No sooner had M. L. publishe<l bis 

 History of the Inquisition, than tlic 

 tribunal of La Penitence at Paris, 

 wlicre he at limes administered consola- 

 tion to a few Spanish exiles, was inter- 

 dicted to him. He commonly cele- 



but the superior ecclesiastics of the 

 diocese of Paris prohibited him from 

 celebrating the holy mysteries. At 

 length, ho was fain to earn a moderate 

 salary by instructing some young 

 French gentlemen in a boarding-school 

 at Paris, in the beautiful Castiliaa 

 tongue, of which Haynal says, that it is 

 sparkling like gold, and sonorous as 

 silver. Then comes out, in the name of 

 the university, a prohibition to M. 

 Llorente, to give lessons, in Spanish, in 

 any private seminary. M. L. found 

 resources in his learned labours, in the 

 public favour, and the testimonies of 

 respect from private friends, adequate to 

 bis frugal habits, and to the sitaatioD 

 which he then occupied in society. 



His "Political Portraits of the Popes" 

 became tha coup de grace to the im- 

 placable resentments harboured against 

 him by the disciples of a most gentle 

 and merciful Gospel, and to which he 

 fell a victim. In the beginning of 

 December, 1822, he was ordered to 

 quit Paris in three days, and France 

 without delay. This violent expulsion 

 from his adopted country was to him 

 a second exile. His passage through 

 Frahce was rapid, snow every where 

 covering the ground ; and, though at 

 the age of 70, he was not allowed a few 

 days rest at Bayonne. No sooner bad 

 he entered on his natal soil, than be was 

 hailed with tokens of public esteem, of 

 which he would doubtless have received 

 more effectual proofs, so as to turn 

 aside his intention of accepting a chair 

 offered in the university of St. Domingo; 

 but, in a (ew days alter his arrival at 

 Madrid, on the 5th of February 1823, 

 he breathed his last, overpowered by the 

 extraordinary fatigues to which he ha^^ 

 been condemned. Previous to his 

 death be forgave his persecutors, and 

 God will also pardon them on their re- 

 pentance; but, on earth, much blame 

 will attach to such a government and 

 governors ; and, while they live in this 

 world, they must struggle with all tb« 



brated mass in the church of St. odium such crooked nractices engcn- 

 Kustachc, and ol)laiiied some relief for der, among a generation of men that 

 his old age from the pious charities never will forgive them. 



DOCUMENTS 



