The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-09-09
spECuLATIoNs ON SPAIN.

SPECCLATIONS ON SPAIN.
AS the political condition, present and future
eff Spain, appears to us wholly dependent on the
military character of events-their progress and
consequences as has been the custom in this
paper through all the stages of the war in Eu-
rope, arising out of the French revolution, we
venture to speculate upon the aspects which
they now present, and to draw our deductions
of what is to follow from facts wholly military
In estimating the issue of war, vast variety
of particulars require to be considered-the
grand features of the country-its roads and ri
yers-mountains and forests-and the product
ons of the soil and population-the character OF
the people, and their physical resources.
Spain presents TO the Geographer tablet,
nearly square, which may be considered in the
present view as comprehending Portugal, which
forms four fifths of the west face, and is wash
ed by the Atlantic, the Spanish province of Gal
licia forming the remaining northern and fifth
portion this province occupies nearly an equal
front the Bay Of the Biscay. The greatest
length Of Spain, in line drawn 100 miles west
Of Madrid, due north and south, is about $50
miles that is, from the promontory of Aviles, in
the province Of Asturias, on the bay of Biscay,
to the ancient Melaria, modern Tariffl, or
shore of the gut of Gibraltar, which is its south
ern extremity; this point is also graduated pro-
nontc-y. extending about sixty miles farther
south than the main land at Faro, IN the Portu-
guesc Algarva, or the mouth of the Guadalqu-
yer, about 20 miles west of Cadiz. The main
land of Spain the east side of Calpe, for in
stance at Malaga, recedes only about 81 miles
from the southern extremity of Caipe and runs
nearly due east TO the cape of Gades, in Grena.
da, about SO where it breaks off, and forms
an unequal line of coast on the Mediterranean, of
$50 miles in the dire ction of north east by east
from that cape to Roses, at the foot of the Py-
renees, which separate Catalonia from French
Rousillon, or the modern department of the
eastern Pyremees. This is the eastern face of
Spain, and lies wholly OF the Mediterranean.
The northern frontier oi Spt,r,, - formed by
the Pyrennean mountains, winch stretch in uBe-
quail ridges, in direction little north of west
to Fortalabia, on the bay of Biscay, where the
line of the north of Spain is continued by that
Bay, on which stand in succession from east to
west, Guipiscoa, Biscay, Austuria de Santilla-
na, Austria de Oviede and the spacious Gallica
before referred to.
From the mouths of the Ebro, on the east
face to within few miles Of cape Palos, is the
modern province and ancient kingdom OF Vaen-
tia Murcia TO the S. w. of Valent;a, in which
is the port and arsenal of Carthagena, occupies
only about 70 miles of sea coast and the anci-
ent kingdom of Grenada occupies the re st as far
as Ronda, within few miles of Gibraltar.
Andalusia extends west. thence 10 the qua
diana, which separates Spain from Portugal,
where Algarya commences.
From cape St Vincent, to the mouth of the
river Mimic, IS the western face Of Portugal
that river separating Spanish Gacia from the
Portuguese province of Entire Mimic ct Duro,
or the country between the rivers Mimic and
DOuro.
Portugal is in no place more than 100 miles
broad and in Algarva does not exceed seventy
miles
Returning to the northern frontier, Catalonia
occupies l Is or lie miles of the Pyrennes, Ar
ragon about As ; Navarro about 60; and Guipis-
Goa about ID.
The remaining provinces are inland, Leon be-
ing next southward of Astulias, and bounded
bv nearly equal portion 0i frontier or Gallicia
and Portugal (; Estremadura, extending along
the remaining east frontier Of Portugal to Anda-
Jusa 4
Old CASTLE north and New CASTLE south, &C.
c,Ipy the remainder Of the interior, and M adrid
is nearly in the centre of the whole. No nation
of Europe is so compact-none occupies so large
a frontier of sea coast nor one Of finer climate
nor better materials to form great and virtuous
people. had they tie blessings OF bengn GO
veinment, or a system which was not calculated
to degrade and uuman the various races of hardy
people, OF which the Spanish nation is compO-
SD.
The Pyrennees which formed FOR ages the
great northern barrier of Spain, ceased to be
formidable or secure in 17O1, when the duke of
AHiou succeeded to the Spanish throne, after
several fruiless struggles, 10 place an Austrian
pfince on it. Then ii was that Louis XIV sad
90 there are no longer any Pyicnces." The
French revolution by The construction of the
wonderful road from Rousillon into Catalonia
virtually accomplished the assertion this with
four other roads, constitute Gle avenues which
open the communication between France and
Spain. The Pyrennce5 form one great mass, in
their direction from east TO west, but they break
into lesser chains, which extend sodthwardly
into Span, and form numerous values, which
pour their waters in cOpiOus currents, which
fow into tho kbro aud other rivers.
Urguel "a Catalonia, Jach in Atragon Pam
peluna in Navarro are places OF first importonce
and the pass at FOnaraba, which is at once the
key to GGpiscoa and lower Navarr, =, constitu
ted tic only natural defences By land, for SPAN
on the side OF The Pyrennces. These places the
French have occupied
The Pyrcnnean chain is continued into Biscay
and along tie countries Of Asturlas 70 Cailicia,
which are mountainous regions, producing =
hardy race Of men, and some OF tic finest hOr-
scs in Europe. The mountain chain which
lfcaks in Gupscoa, resumes its broken and C.
lcvgtcd character, running III steep ridges with
broad vallcs into CASTLE, where lie chain forks
aud forms two series Of ridges which separate
Arraron and Valentia from Castle on the east,
and on ,he west Leon aud Estramadura from
Portugal; Mqfcia, ard Grenada ard Andaiusia
ere extremely mountainous and Ccrvantes has
immcrtalzcd the steriiity and rude grandeur OF