his
death happened advantageously for the continuance of the Holy Office.

FATE OF THE INQUISITION.

Philip III. can hardly be considered an accountable being. The same may
be said of his son and of his son's sons, to say nothing of those heirs
to the Spanish crown that were legally adjudged idiots. The nominal
father of Charles III., though he was King of Spain, must be considered
as not merely bordering on idiocy, but as actually a man of unsound
mind. Charles III., though he had courage to drive from his dominions
the Jesuits, dared not undertake a reform of the clergy. We may
conclude this chapter by saying that the Inquisition had its origin in
political considerations, or in the revengeful feelings of really great
sovereigns of Spain, and that its continuance was owing to the weakness
or impotency of their successors; and though it was the terror of all
classes above the street rabble, it was too powerful to be suppressed
before the emancipation of the people which followed the French
invasion. Such is the fate of a race over whom priests have once
acquired dominion.

[57] The defense of the invasion of Mexico by Cortez in time of
peace, and reducing the Aztecs to slavery, rests on the ground
that the Aztecs were monsters.

[58] Though I do not entirely follow Pinblanch, yet I give him as
authority for this incident.

[59] Mr. Gayarre, who, under a commission from the State of
Louisiana, is examining the colonial records at Madrid, has
discovered the evidence of an attempt made to introduce the
Inquisition into New Orleans even after our people had begun to
settle there. This is his statement:

"It appears," says Gayarre, "that soon after the death of
Charles III., an attempt was made to introduce the much-dreaded
tribunal of the Inquisition into the colony. The reverend
Capuchin, Antonio de Sedella, who had lately arrived in the
province, wrote to the Governor to inform him that he, the holy
father, had been appointed Commissary of the Inquisition; that
in a letter of the 5th of December last, from the proper
authority, this intelligence had been communicated to him, and
that he had been requested to discharge his functions with the
most exact fidelity and zeal, and in conformity with the royal
will. Wherefore, after having made his investigations with the