Star.
London, England, 1831-04-01 00:00:00

THE ROYAL FAMILY OF SPAIN.

The arrival of the king on the Prado, surrounded by a pageantry
scarce equalled by any court in Europe, serves to crown the splendour
of the spectacle. His coming is first announced by drum and trumpet
as he passes the various guard-houses which lie in the way, and pr--
sently by the arrival of the avant-courier, who rides forward without
looking to either side, in the road which his muter Is to follow. Next
comes a squadron of young nobles of the body-guard mounted on hesu-
tiful horses front the royal stables, and immediately after a gilded
carriage drawn by six milk white steeds, covered with plumes, and
with manes and tails that are full and flowing. They arc mounted
and controlled by postillions, richly dressed in jockey suits of blue
and gold. Within, the Catholic king is discovered seated on the
right, conspicuous by his stars, his blue scarf, and the golden Bette
which dangles from his neck. He glances round on the multitude with
a look of mingled apathy and good humour, and salutes them me-
chanically by putting his hand up towards his nose and taking it down
again, as though he were brushing the flies away. At his left is the
Queen, looking too good for this wicked world. Next comes Don
Carlos, the heirapperent, drawn by six cream-coloured horses, more
beautiful than those of his brother. He grins horribly through his red
mustaches, and frightens those whom he intended to flatter. Beside
hint is his wife, a large coarse woman, with beetling eye-brows. In
the third crotch is Don Francisco and his wife, drawn by six noble
blacks. In the fourth, the Portugueza with her young son Don &has-
lien ; after which come tour or five carriages, each drawn six mules,
and which contain the lords and ladies in attendance. The whole is
numerously escorted by cavalry of the body guard, and grooms from
the royal service.—The arrival of the Royal Family, like the passing
of the host or the tolling of the angelus, usually arrests every one in the
situation which it may find him. TN: line between the carriages is at
once cleared through the exertions of the cavalry, and the vehicles on
either side pause until their Majesties have passed. Those who are
wrlking turn their faces towards the road ; the gentlemen unrol the capes
of their cloaks, and take their hats of, whilst the women shake their
fans in parsing salutation.—A Year in Spain.

The following assessments are taken from a Tax Office
Return made to the House of Commons, recording the actual

value, or rzutal, at which the
mansions, hotels, &c. in ratio
Marquis of Stafford, at the
yearly rental of X 3900
The Bank of England 2506
East India House

al surveyors estimate divers
them to the King's taxes :
Shipton's, Cheltenham .....
Lacy's Hotel, Manchester 600
Woburn Abbey ...... ..... 600
Royal Hotel Cheltenham .. 550

Mansion House
United Service Club .. 1500 Parson's, Brighton 5OO
Atheneum .
Ctockford's .. 1200 Wentworth House ...... :100
York House, Bath lO5O Castle Howard
London Tavern .. 1000 Blenheim . • 300
Duke of Wellington ..
British 3lusemr. 950 Wilton
White Hart, Bath .... 900 Knowsley (Earl Derby) 3OO
Plough, Chekenham B5O Nettleden (Cu. Bridgewater) 300
Shucl Old Ship, Brighton 750 Hatfield (Salisbury's) ..... 250
Tare CORK TREE.—This useful production is known in
Spain by the mum of ulcornope ; though of a very differ-
ent appearance from our oak, it furnishes a wood of the saute
grain, and produces acorns, which are not so bitter as ot.rs,
and which, as an article of food, the poorer classes do not
I.lways abandon to the hogs. Thus we are told that Sancho
was n great lover of &tiaras. .1 he cork tree grows to the
height of our apple tree,. and spreads its branches much in
the s ute maouer ; but the trunk is of much greater di-
mensions, and the foliage of a more gloomy hue. Its
teuuk and branches are covered with a thick, ragged bark,
which would seem to indicate disease. The trunk alone,
however, furnishes a bark of sufficient thickness to be of
Use in the arts. It is first stripped away in the month of
July, when the !ice is 15 years old ; but it is then of no use,
except to burn, and is only removed for the sake of produc-
ing a stouter growth. In the course of six or eight years,
the inner bark has grown into a cork of marketable quality,.
end continues to )ieid, at similar intervals, for more than a
ceutury.—A Year in Spain.