Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-17
HISTORICAL LETTERS.
10 tie Editor cfMe Virginia .1rgus.
Fornctia7 efihe Kingdonis Of Modern En-,
rate, after he .faa efthe Roman
Enkire-- Continued.
: LETTER XXX.


SPAIN.
opain ishouDtet' to the northeast by the Py-
renrees; Portugal forms part of its western
lrontier; the Mediterranean to the right and
inc ocean tothc left, wash its shores in eve
~ other direction. It's climate is warm, it's
temperature happy; and its sal, althonyh
~ general sandy. is not niggar,ify under. the
iFand OF the industrious cultivator The ci-
tron, the orange, the olive, and the muiher-
ry" cover It's numerous mountains and its
SMILING vaiiies. Spain has in its bosom mines
OF gold and silver on its surface are to be
found celebrated vines and famous horses !:
It's wool is the finest of Europe: 1t has CO.
lonies whichbave furnished it with immense
treasures its coasts are lined with excellent
ports, numerous rivers irrigate the land, and
nature asTproiasely supplied it with the
means OF defence; yet with all these advan-
tases' isvery far from possessing, in pro-
Poruonate degree, the military Importance
OF France, the maritime influence of Eng
land, the population, the activity, the COM
mercc, in word, the prosperity of either
Inc causes of this difference viii probably
DC found in the rigid adherence ofits govern
ment to the forms of Antiquity, in the pre-
dominance of a selfish hierarchy and q gloo-
my superstition, in the paralyzing influence
OF a monopolizing colonial policy, and in that
supineness q corruption which all these have
tendency to produce
Peter the Great used to say that the arts
and the sciences make the tour of the world !.
and the same remark may be made of the
rank and the genius of nations each enc has
Its period of glory, when It eclipses or rules
over others Spain enjoyed this high priyi-
lege until the time of Louis XIV. who wrest-
ed 1t from her. 1t took its birth in the DAYS
OF Isabella, and was carried TO its greatest
height under Charles V. Until about the
middle otthc seventeenth century the Spani-
ards gave the tone to Europe they furnish
ed the models of poiiteness and of mag
nifcence ;their gallantry became proverbial;
their language was considered as part of
liberal education, their modes were follow
ed and their literature was cultivated. At
one moment Spain held in state of sub
Jugaaon great portion of the New World,
and made the Old World tremble for its in
dependence. At this instant she eyperien-
cesa sad and cruel reverse!
The modern kingdom of Spain was form
ed of the inheritance. CT Isabella, of that of
Ferdinand, and of the Acquisitions which
| they made after their union. I will particu-
larize them in proper order
j. Cid Castle. The first king. of Asturi-
rs, IN extending their dominion at the ex-
pense OF the Moors. placed in Old Castle
dependent counts. who served rs a rampant
or adrance-gnard to their frontiers = One
OF these, Ferdinand c onsalvo, the hero of his
time, and for whom the lustre of his fine ac-
tons acquired the name of great, became,
towards the middle of the tenth century. in
dependent and hereditary count of all Cas-
tile His descendants succeeded him in this
country, freed from the domination of the
kings of Asturias or of Leon, until the
third generation, when, Elvira. his great
grand daughter, conveyed il to Sancho the
Great, king of Navarro, her husband. Cas-
tile was left, by the same Sancho, to Ferdi
nand. his second son, with the title of king
dom. Such are the origin, the progress, and
the different circumstances Of this province,
which was the primitive domain of Isabella's
inheritance. otvery fertile, and thinlypeo.
pled, 1t derives its principal revenue from it's
wool, which is much esteemed.
:. Ne7o CASTLE. This is an extensive and
hne province, the fruit ofthe conquests of ma
ny kings OF CASTLE, particularly of Alphon-
SO ". who dcthroncd the Moorish king of
Toledo, and took that city, Madrid, and ma
ny other places. New CASTLE, fertile in
wine and grain, notwithstanding the ariditv
OF the soil, which is not we'll supplied with
water, contains the most beautiful buildings
and the finest palaces Of the kingdom: tile
enyirons of Madrid are embelished bv the
superb palace of the escurial, the magnifici-
cent royal house of St. Ildefonso, the delight
ful residence ofAranjuez, and the charming
mansions OF Bucn-R Retro and del Pardo
8. .7stnTias, Leon, and Galicia. The
Moors, having OVERTHROW the monarchy of
the Nisigoths, and inundated Spain, Pelapi-
ms, OF the blood royal, escaped the torrent.
and took shelter in the mountains of AstiIyi-
as. fiis asylum became the cradel of the
Spanish monarchy: he there reigned under
the title-of king of Asturias His victories
those ct Alphonso ]. his son-n-law. and
those OF many ofhis SUCCESSORS, extended the
new dominion into Galcia and Leon. The
descendants of Pelagius reigned over this
country under the successive titles of KINGS
OF Asturias, of Oviedo, and Of Leon, until the
twelfth generation, when Veremcnd III. the
last amongs, them, was killed, in 1886, in an
action against Ferdinand the Great, king of
CASTLE, his brOther-in-law, who claimed his
Kingdom in right of his wife. Leon has since
served, on many occasions, as a portion TO the
Younger branches Of the kings of CASTLE, and
formed separate Kingdom. FINALLY, the
marriage Of Berenger and Aiphonso TX. u
nIted them, tor the last time, upon the head
1880. -
The province Of Asturias, which gives its
name 70 the heir apparel, is full Of forests
and mountains it produces corn, fruits, and
excellent wines it contains mines of gold,
OF mineral dyes; and its breed Of horses is
remarkable for strengh and swiftness.
Gallicia is mountainous, not very fertile.
and the air IS humid it produces grain. oil,
good wines, and a breed ofhorses and mules