EsCApg FROM TIE rwlUxsETz:sz n
{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
"The following highly interesting and ro-
mantle story is from French work entitled
Historical Sketch of the principal Poll
tical and Military events produced by the re-
voluton III Spain; by M. Louis Julian -
published At Paris in 1921.


The Spanish Captain Van Halen, native
Of Cadiz, and particularly known for his zeal
in propagating secret associations, had be-
gun in 1917 to disseminate their liberal prin-
ciples among the inhabitants Of the city OF
Murcia, where he was in garrison. His dc
votion to this subject could not long remain
unpunshcd: he was soon denounced and con
Quoted to prison. His papers which had
been seized, proved that he had been in cor
rcspondeuce with all the secret societies III
the Kingdom. Being thus convicted OF two
crimes at once, the local authorities consid-
cred the matter too important to be submit
| ted to their decision and Nanhalcn was trans
ported under numerous escort, to the pri-
sons of Madrid, aud committed to one ot the
most obscure dungeons in the lnqnlsltlon'
! preparations were made for his trial, but as
| he had declared, from the first moment OF
his arrest, that he would give no answer to
the charges against him, unless in presence
| Of the King, and this resolution having been
several times reported to the King, Nanhaien
/ was at lSnSll Nv bSi''N hi"'


Not at all affected by the torturos he had
undergone in his captivity, nor by the almost
certain prospect OF Il speedy and cruel death,
! instead of imploring the favour OF Ferdinand,
he devoted the brief interview to presenting
him with picture of the ruinous situation to
which he had been reduced by his ministry.
He declared to him that all Spain was III fact
filled with secret societies; that prosecutions,
imprisonmcnts, and scaHolds were vanly
employed for their destruction; that no hu-
man power could succeed in attempting to
defeat their object; that the persons OF whom
the societies were composed had never pro


nosed anv project against the life OF the king,


nor even against his rank or dignity; that i'll


nlacing him on a throne supported by the
laws. aud by the love and confidence OF the


ucople, lis power would have been raised


to the highest degree OF sta5ility-ih short


th,t IN order to secure q happy result, IT


might perhapsbe suiIicientif the kinE would


ofhis own free choic adopt the spirit oE those
very societies, and place himself at then
bc,d Il, demanded OF him to require from
the court Of Rome, the reyocatlo' OF the cen


sures she had pronounced against them: a,
hove all that he should reject the narrow ana


sanruinarv interest of his councillors: ana


declared that the king of Spain would then
have at his disposal an invinclble army


which he might indeed despair TO reduce
to serv;tude. but which, while 1t renamed
free. would also be the more ccsoIeV ana the
more faithful.