Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-14

..--~--.----.<~--A
Extract of letter from gentleman :,
Madrid TO his friend i he borough Of
Wilmington.
(, From New-York to Cadiz. we iaa
an expeditions, but boisterous PASSAGE
during which we spruns our mainmast
in scud ding, and carried away others &c
our spars. Previous to my departure
from Cadiz, | was advised of the great
danger OF travelling at this time through
Spain. and particularly on lie road be.
tween cadiz and Madrid. Spain. duI
ring the last few years, has been in 80
unsettled a condition, and the restraints
Of law and moral obligation so little felt,
that the people are almost igno.nt of a.
Ing thing Ike accountability, except to
the King and the Inqaisition. for cEen,
ces against their Supremacy. The rights
LOT individuals are not respected. aud
There IS nothing like remedy for wrcncs
(which they may suffer for each other.
| " In such state of things it is nos
surprising that the couptry SHOULD be c.
vercun with banditti It is almost i'm
possible to go from Cadiz to Madrid. q
distance Of 500 miles, without being
robbed. Inc Spaniards. when they set
out on this journey, take as little money
with them as possible, and no arms,
| thinking their deienceiess situation viii
preserve their lives, which / believe it
does.
we travelled night and day thro'
a country the most solitary ever saw.
From Cadiz to Madrid not a forest tree
is TO be seen, except about 80 or so oa
the ton of the Sierra Morcna. Occasion
ally you pass an orchard of olive trees,
but every other part of the ccantryis
destitute CT trees. As far as the eye eau
extend, nothing is to be seen but clear
ields, ard the grass and stubbie or them
completely dry. 70 add to tie dlpaY
Of the couatry, not a fence
is to be discev red ; and did hot sec
but one enclosure, (which wasthe kinss}
in travelling 500 miles.
/" We passed through many towns
which bad been almost entirely destroy
ed by the French. II travelling through
Spain you observe no farm houses nas
cottagss-the farmers dare not i've so
detached lest they shohd be robbed, and
their plan is to collect in a village, to
which they repair at night under the safe
Keeping of massive doors and iron bar
red willdows: in the day they visit tbelr
farms and vineyards, some 6 and Others
eight miles Of.
!. was detaiued little at CordoTa,
which is indeed beautiful place, and
contains indeed the most superb mosque
in Spain. | could not get Iasde OFT
rs it aas afternoon, Wien It is usually
shatup, and there was, moreove', to DC
a bull fight, which in this country IS o.
HE first Importance, and al other eoS,
Yield to it. Finding lcoN.d
not gain Ambulance to the mosque, 1
concluded to 60 to tie bull fight on
,eaching the place, l found the cr0Td -
great as to induce me to abandonaAheCS
IF admittance to this savage place o. a
The boy. however; wnom
had taken as guide from tie llln,
vent to his mistress box ard lnfor'Hlra
,er of the circumstance. She inmedI'
ltely sent the master OF the ceren'oh'eS'
WITH an invitation for myself ard com.
,apion to. take place IN her Sa3-,"a
.leared tie way and we followed him
Among the mob. who were pushing ~
very direction to get in, was an Oh
woman of about 60. who fought O. qua
elled and scuffled as il her salvatlOa .o;.
,ended on seeing the fight. ih'S g f4 tts
lent may give you FAINT laea - Il
enthusiasm with which the sEanlalaa. -
II ages and sexes enter into this ai"u'
nent.
/" / shall leave this place the day az
er to.morrow for Carthagena, where
ave requested the 49, to JON 'ns ,or,
hence shall proceed to - an' p' !,
APPS to --- and from there 20 70
yhich last place shall have leiSu lf ~,
rat;fv YOU with fun account Of ~ .
roceediags. start from here n - b be- !
al. and am told must prepare 20 ~ H.
,bbed. az there are large parties o. a ~,
' 'o1e "a ths waooons Which have CONF
D to Madrid, have all been roops s;oo 70
I" It is however a great sat'stac'l ..;cl
e to think that the sosernia,,cn. {. S ions
,pnot MT down bsalitti viii ac' ~