rescue the Inhabitants from the fury of
the Rioters. Most of the Nuns had fled, but a few still remained in
their habitation. Their situation was truly dangerous. However, as
they had taken the precaution of fastening the inner Gates, with this
assistance Lorenzo hoped to repel the Mob, till Don Ramirez should
return to him with a more sufficient force.

Having been conducted by the former disturbance to the distance of some
Streets from the Convent, He did not immediately reach it: When He
arrived, the throng surrounding it was so excessive as to prevent his
approaching the Gates. In the interim, the Populace besieged the
Building with persevering rage: They battered the walls, threw lighted
torches in at the windows, and swore that by break of day not a Nun of
St. Clare's order should be left alive. Lorenzo had just succeeded in
piercing his way through the Crowd, when one of the Gates was forced
open. The Rioters poured into the interior part of the Building, where
they exercised their vengeance upon every thing which found itself in
their passage. They broke the furniture into pieces, tore down the
pictures, destroyed the reliques, and in their hatred of her Servant
forgot all respect to the Saint. Some employed themselves in searching
out the Nuns, Others in pulling down parts of the Convent, and Others
again in setting fire to the pictures and valuable furniture which it
contained. These Latter produced the most decisive desolation: Indeed
the consequences of their action were more sudden than themselves had
expected or wished. The Flames rising from the burning piles caught
part of the Building, which being old and dry, the conflagration spread
with rapidity from room to room. The Walls were soon shaken by the
devouring element: The Columns gave way: The Roofs came tumbling down
upon the Rioters, and crushed many of them beneath their weight.
Nothing was to be heard but shrieks and groans; The Convent was wrapped
in flames, and the whole presented a scene of devastation and horror.

Lorenzo was shocked at having been the cause, however innocent, of this
frightful disturbance: He endeavoured to repair his fault by
protecting the helpless Inhabitants of the Convent. He entered it with
the Mob, and exerted himself to repress the prevailing Fury, till the
sudden and alarming progress of the flames compelled him to provide for
his own safety. The People now hurried out, as eagerly as they had
before th