an early coarseness, and a sallower tinge. The precocity of the Spaniards is one cause of this, but more probably it is to be attributed to matrimony contracted in extreme youth. "The hasty marriages in tender years," said the discerning Raleigh, “wherein nature being but yet green and growing, we rent from her, and replant her branches, while herself hath not yet any root sufficient to maintain her own top; and such half-ripe seeds (for the most part) in the growing up wither in the bud, and wax old even in their infancy*" Such is the case precisely with the women in Spain; a very few years destroys whatever beauty they could oncé boast, and leaves them not only destitute of every personal grace, but utterly repulsive and disgusting. What effect this rapid degeneracy of the body has upon the mind, is a question I can only guess at. Bigotry and an increased splenetic temperament are not unlikely sometimes to result-a rigid unconciliating feeling-happy in being the cause of unhappiness to others, and in cherishing, to the close of life, a rankling jealousy, which,

Hist. of the World, Book I. p. 46. fol.

in the regret it treasures for departed graces, would blast every bud as it expands itself in early beauty, and spread around the contamination of a diseased mind and a wasting body.

The dress of Spanish females is similar in all the grades of society, with the exception, of course, that finer materials are used by the more wealthy. Their walking habiliment consists of a black gown, covering the neck; the hinder part of the head is enveloped in a black lace mantle, or in a black silk one with a broad border of lace. This costume to the elder part of society is very unfavourable. It exhibits a few dirty grey hairs straggling over a sallow wrinkled forehead, the delicacy of the Spanish women seldom inducing them to cleanse the hair of the scurf to which it is more than commonly liable,

This evening we witnessed the performance of a new Spanish play. The author was neither more nor less than the Señor who represented one of the principal characters. Our party, not understanding the language, thought it intolerably dull; there was no incident, and so few characters as to make much incident

nearly impossible. The speeches were inordi

EXCURSION TO XERES.

15

nately long; and an occasional laugh, whether at the play, or at the man, or at both, was the only indication of public applause. They remained, however, to the conclusion, with a most assiduous and laudable patience, and then rewarded the actor-author with a few refreshing plaudits. Surely, Surely, thought I, 'tis a good-natured people! The language seems sonorous, though without the musical cadence of the Italian.

Sunday, 24th Oct. The soldiers of the French garrison attended mass at the Church of San Francisco; they entered in full military array, under arms: the officers only were uncovered during the service.

- The Alameyda was, this evening, crowded to excess; and exhibited, in a few instances, gayer colours than ordinary. For some reason or other, there was no opera-a good prece dent, but of great singularity in the history of a Catholic Sabbath...

Monday, 25th.-An opportunity offering to, day, three of us set out on an expedition to Xeres, a town of Andalusia, from whence came the Sherry wine formerly so celebrated in England under the name of sack. The

16

REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION.

water being too low to carry us over to Port San Maria direct, we proceeded with a fair wind in the long-boat of the Cambrian up the river Guadelete, past the carraccas or dockyards, &c. We witnessed every where the desolation caused by the late unhappy Revolution: houses unroofed, walls shattered, and the sea-bird flitting round the hearth-stone, proved but too well the contest which had been carried on. The French troops are execrated by the natives, and in more than one instance this dislike was very forcibly expressed: but no wonder! the French are in possession of all authority in the place. Their ships of war lie in the bay, and their troops garrison the town. The customs are entirely under their control, and little is done but by their express permission. They are, however, entitled to much praise. Their conduct is orderly, and they take under their direction the repair of the batteries, which are in imminent danger of becoming a complete ruin, of which the inundation of the town would be one consequence.

The Spaniards are an extraordinary people: with every means of making a vigorous defence,

REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION.

17

they surrender their liberties, and content themselves with cursing the enslaver. They awaken from a long lethargy to observe the constitution falling, and just ready to crush them in its fall. Instead, however, of applying adequate supports-instead of strenuously labouring to maintain and to strengthen it, they stretch a lingering and reluctant hand beneath: consequently they are ground to powder by the pressure of the superincumbent mass! Their future destiny is a matter of curious speculation. History teaches us not to despair of an event, however distant and improbable. They may yet become a free and a powerful people; for they are naturally high-minded and resolute. Of late, indeed, these characteristics have been depressed and enfeebled; and having become a less moral nation, they are justly, and almost necessarily, less free.

The vices of our own court, during the reign of Charles the Second, enslaved the nation, or at least, retained it in slavery. Never, probably, was greater despotism exhibited, nor ever (for a time) submitted to with less reluctance. The court of France, previous to the