utmost secrecy and precaution, he notified Miro that, in order
to carry, as he was commanded, his instructions into perfect
execution in all their parts, he might soon, at some late hour
of the night, deem it necessary to require some guards to
assist him in his operations.

"Not many hours had elapsed since the reception of this
communication by the Governor, when night came, and the
representative of the holy Inquisition was quietly reposing in
bed, when he was roused from his sleep by a heavy knocking. He
started up, and, opening his door, saw standing before him an
officer and a file of grenadiers. Thinking that they had come
to obey his commands, in consequence of his letter to the
Governor, he said, 'My friends, I thank you and his Excellency
for the readiness of this compliance with my request. But I
have now no use for your services, and you shall be warned in
time when you are wanted. Retire, then, with the blessing of
God.' Great was the stupefaction of the friar when he was told
that he was under arrest. 'What!' exclaimed he, 'will you dare
lay your hands on a Commissary of the holy Inquisition?' 'I
dare obey orders,' replied the undaunted officer, and the
reverend Father Antonio de Sedella was instantly carried on
board of a vessel, which sailed the next day for Cadiz.

"Rendering an account of this incident to one of the members of
the cabinet of Madrid, Governor Miro said, in a dispatch, 'the
mere name of the Inquisition uttered in New Orleans would be
sufficient not only to check immigration, which is successfully
progressing, but would also be capable of driving away those
who have recently come, and I even fear that in spite of my
having sent out of the country Father Sedella, the most fatal
consequences may ensue from the mere suspicion of the cause of
his dismissal.'"

CHAPTER XXVII.

Miracles and Earthquakes.--The Saints in Times of Ignorance.--The
Eruption of Jorullo.--The Curse of the Capuchins.--The Consequences
of the Curse.--The unfulfilled Curse.--The Population of the
Republic.--Depopulation from 1810 to 1840.--The Mixture of Whites
and Indians not prolific.--The pure Indians.--The Meztizos.--The
White Population.--Negroes and Zambos.--The J