ing seas; and though the south is often parched by excessive heat, yet the air of Spain is said to be the most salubrious in Europe, and during the greater part of the year, it is a matter of indifference with the peasants whether they sleep under a roof or in the open air."

DR. WALKER." The principal quadrupeds of Spain are horses and sheep, the latter of which are computed to produce no less a sum than 80,000,000 reals annually to the Spanish government, but are nevertheless the cause of much serious evil. As however England and France, cultivate the breed of these merinos, (the latter with greater success than the former) it is to be presumed Spain, in the course of time, will find it more to her interest to attend to the art of agricultie than she does at present. Within these hundred years wool has doubled its price, while corn, which is so troublesome and so precarious, has very little increased in value. Sheep are by far the most profitable possession a man can have in Spain; and while this continues the case, few persons will be found so disinterested as to relinquish their own for the public good. The Spanish sheep are fed upon the mountains during the summer months, and when the cold weather sets in they are driven to the fertile plains of Estremadura and Andalusia. These flocks are under the direction of a particular society of persons, called the Mesta..

'The Mesta is composed of the grandees, heads of rich monasteries, large proprietors of flocks, and opulent individuals, who unite together in preying upon the welfare of the country at large. What originally began from necessity, has been continued from the selfish policy of the wealthy part of the inhabitants of Spain. The pasturages that feed these sheep are let at the lowest possible rent, and the ordinances of the Mesta having fixed a breadth of forty toises as a road through which the sheep are to pass; the proprietors of the land are consequently incapacitated from reaping the advantages of the otherwise luxuriant soil of Estremadura. In the month of October they begin their journey and travel in flocks of 1000 or 1200, under the guidance of two shepherds, proceeding gradually to the southward; and in the month of May they retrace their steps to the northward. At that period, the great fète of sheep-shearing takes place; this operation is performed in large buildings, called esquiellos, capable of containing whole flocks of forty, fifty, or even 60,000 sheep. One hundred and twenty five per

sons are allotted to 1000 animals. Some part of the wool is, immediately carried to the different sea-ports for exportation unwashed, while another part is sent to certain stations, where there are proper persons called Apartadores, who cleanse and purify it in the following manner. They know at the first glance what part of the sheep the different flocks belong to, each sheep producing wool of three distinct qualities; this separation being accomplished, it is beaten about to get rid of the dust, and is then conveyed into pits three or four feet deep, into which boiling water flows from an immense cauldron; here it is stirred about in every direction, and after it is tolerably cleansed, it is taken out, and placed upon hurdles, and those parts which are still clotted with dirt are taken away with the hand; a second washing completely cleanses it. The hurdles are then placed in a narrow aqueduct, through which runs a current of cold water. One man throws it in, while five others receive and trample upon it, till it is quite clean; it is then wrung dry, and placed upon a stone shelf to drain; after which it is exposed to the sun for three or four days in the surrounding meadows, until every particle of moisture is absorbed. When well dried, it is put into large sacks, on which are two marks, one indicating the quality, and the other the name of the flock which produced it.

The wool which is most employed in Spain (at Guadalaxara in particular) in the fine manufactures, is that of the Escurial, Negretti, and the Chartreuse of Paular.

Wolves are the only beasts of prey with which Spain is annoyed; but she suffers much from the locust, a most destructive little animal which some times appears in such prodigious numbers as to darken the air.

Esparto grass is plentiful on the coast, it is made into ropes, carpets, mats, chair bottoms, &c. In the neighbourhood of Barcelona and Alicant are extensive plantations of salsola fativa, from the ashes of which are annually produced many thousands tons of barilla, an alkali much used in the manufacturing of soap.

"I have often been much surprised," said Edward, "that Spain, possessing so many natural maritime advantages, has never become a great naval nation."

DR. WALKER." No nation where the government is so despotic as it is in Spain, can in my opinion become a great naval power.

"The spirit of navigation seems intimately connected with that of liberty. Great Britain and Holland have ever distinguished themselves by their maritime exploits, and America bids fair to dispute with the old world the palm of victory on the ocean. Spain has several fine ports: Bilboa, St. Andoro, and Santillana, the birth-place of the renowned Gil Blas, and his no less renowned uncle Gil Perez. In Gallicia, Ferrol, Vigo, and Corunna, where the wreck of Sir John Moore's army embarked in the face of the French army.

"Cadiz is large, opulent, and the chief emporium of Spanish American commerce. It is situated on an island, which forms a capacious bay with the continent. It is 55 miles south by west of Seville,

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Malaga is noted for delicious grapes and figs.

"Alicant is small, but rich in wine and fruits. It has an extensive trade. The English, Dutch, and Italians have resident consuls here.

"Carthagena has the best harbour in the kingdom; in its gulf vast quantities of mackarel are caught.

"Tariffa, where the Moorish general of that name, first landed; Algesiras, which belonged formerly to the traitor, Count Julian, who betrayed his country to the Moors.

Tarragona celebrated for its defence during the last war. "The streets of Barcelona are narrow, but the churches rather rich than beautiful. The inhabitants are very industrious, and have extensive commercial connexions with France, England, and Denmark. They manufacture silk, cotton, wool, and cutlery. On the north west is the celebrated Montserrat, the highest hill in Spain.

"These are all capital sea-ports, and it seems astonishing that in enumerating so many, where there is a considerable degree of industry and trade, that Spain is still far from being either a great naval or commercial power."

SECTION III.

CHARACTER AND MANNERS.

THE general character of the Spaniards is strongly tinctured with indolence, except when it is excited by any extraordinary circumstance; then indeed its energies are not inferior to that of any other nation.

At a bull-fight the Spaniard exhibited the strongest feel. ings of delight; the pleasure he took in this barbarous sport bordered on enthusiasm. But his amusements and sports in general, are tame and supine to a great degree.

EDWARD." The bull-fights were abolished, I think, by Charles IV. were they not, Sir?"

DR. WALKER." Yes: I shall therefore give you a short account of them. In several parts of Spain there were formerly waste pasturages, called Valdios, set apart for the sole purpose of feeding these courageous animals. In the neighbourhood of Salamanca was one of these districts, which supplied the arena of Valladolid and Madrid. Bull-fighting was quite a science, and one of the celebrated Torreadors, persons who killed the bulls in these fierce encounters, wrote a book upon the subject. The arenæ is a kind of circus, with seats round it, placed one above the other. The entertainment began by the parade of the lancers (horsemen) handsomely mounted and dressed in a full Spanish costume; and the Chulos, (those who fight on foot) round the arena; after some little time an alguazil, in a black robe and a large wig, made his appearance, and asking either the governor or corregidor, when the combat should begin, gave the appointed signal, and then made a hasty retreat. The door of the shed which contained the animal was then opened, and the noble bull appeared. Stunned by the noisy exclamations of the spectators, and instantly attacked by the Picadores with their long lances, he rushed boldly to the combat, and the únoffending horses were generally the first to feel the effects of his rage. If it so happened that the horse should fall, the danger of his rider was averted by the Chulos, who shaking va rious coloured stuffs before the bull, attracted his attention, and dexterously avoided the danger which it is now their turn to brave. After the Picadores had tormented the poor animal

sufficiently, they left him to those on foot, who were prepared as the bull approached them, to plunge into his neck by two and two, a kind of arrow, at the end of which were fastened various coloured papers. When this tragedy had been exhibited long enough for the amusement of the spectators, a cry was raised for the matador who alone approached the now exhausted but still undaunted animal. The matador held a kind of banner in his hand which he shook before him. While this single combat continued, the voices of the spectators gradually subsided to a suspensive and awful calm. The decisive blow being however given by the Torreador (or matador) shouts of applause burst from the lips of the spectators at the death of a noble and inoffensive animal. Three mules, ornamented with bells and streamers were then brought in, and being fastened to the horns of the prostrate bull, dragged him from the scene of blood, to make room for another devoted victim.

"In Portugal the principal actor is he who rushes between the horns of the bull, an act that requires considerable agility, great presence of mind, and an uncommon share of muscular strength. In this posture he is carried about the ring by the enraged animal, amidst the shouts of the audience, until the rest of the combatants rescue him, by overthrowing the bull, which becomes their property.

EDWARD." What a barbarous sport! indeed I can hardly call it sport."

DR. WALKER." It is the remains, no doubt, of the old Roman shews of gladiators and wild beasts. I am sorry to say that our own country has two no less repugnant to the feelings of humanity-I mean bull-baiting and cock-fighting. Now there is a degree of heroism in the bull fights, although it is tinctured with the savage spirit of the times in which it originated, that absorbs the attention of the spectators, even of those who come only to condemn. The cavaliers require great dexterity, agility, and presence of mind in attacking their enemy; but in a bull bait the poor animal is confined and deprived of half its natural means of defence. The man who dares to unpin, as it is called, the bull, is the only person who can have the least claim to courage; for such is the savage nature of the bull-dog, that when he has caught the bull by the nosc, force alone can make him quit his hold.

"The Spaniards have one athletic amusement, called El juego de la borra. In this sport there are some faint traces