The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-07-02
SKETCH OF GIBRALTAR.
Erirae' from NE journal ofa royase 10

SKETCH OF GIBRALTAR.
Erirad from NE JoDrnoi ofa Toyoge 10 Cau.
t0u
The rock of Gibraltar is high and almost
promonlory nearly surrounded by The sea,
bling connected with Spain bya low isihmns
OF snnd nearly ievel with the sea, aud not
mart ihnn half or three quarters OF mIr
wide II is about two mics aud a half long
three quarters wide, aud fourteen hundred
feel high, composed of sprcics oil lime tone
without any soil, except n few spots aboni
the onth end, that exhibit some lillIe Vrf
dure.--Ihe town is silnHfed on the lace OF
the hill rising gradually from the I'D Mole
NJ he northern extremity, aud which is the
landing place, until il terminates almost ball
W., up the rock.
l. conlans about TWO thousand houses,
VIII II population at nineteen thousand, in
Guiding the garrison nj present about five
hoasand The civil inbarbltanls consist o.
Enpl' h jews aud ~panlafds, 81 which Tn
two latter nre tar the most numerous thuug ia
all Tn prncipni merchant me British.
TIE rect Tor the must part are parallel
anl from the sterpnes- ot The ascent, elcvH-.
tod me above the nlbrr, lkc stairs. Water
port sircrt, running the nhulr ienetib oi I'm
town aions The hay, with ihe batteries u
from, Is lanea handsome street, and con
tnn, ntnY good houses. Il i secured al lht
landne plarc, L. which il leads, lay port
cults aud two massive gdtcs OF lron, that are
alWnNs kept shni Al nigh, communication
with the town br,np aiioN ed utter the Gun /,
irnd NJ sua-el. - Auer eight o'rloek, ~ per
son Is permitted 10 b. on Tie IdtupHr;s, and Il
passport, n rci a Ilghi IN fh, lantern. arc
necessary a'peudhRts Il lhose wGuapprar in
tie streets alter ten O'clock
Tie town is bounded on the south by d
L. al. a..
pf the rock Immrdutrl, anr,,de VI inrpail
here j. u hnnd ONE alinrtAe, az " ih, where
the inhabitants take their evening prone
nales, and an extensive level square on
which HE troops purnd". y Colossul figure
II lord Hhihhe Id, tsrueral Elliot, the Grie
heated defender oi Gibraltar IN the mrmnra
hlr siege by the Spaururds and French, du-
ring the American revolutionary war, cary
I'd IN wood 10y u soldier OF the garrison III,
'nst of The dnke Of " sllington, aud the f.
re head oi The 81 Juap,a Spanish ship of the
| ne lakcu nj the battle OF Trafalgar, adorn
This pare The soil, here, is of sufficient
hepJh 10 a'mr ot the place being ornumen-
I'd with a nnmber OF beautiful trees ms well as
lplteans o. flowers, aud, for such n barren
ged situation MS the rock, il is quite
lnndsome and pleasant spot.
The north end of the rock being quite per
Q ,dcnIar, from the baee TO the summit,
| you'd not admit OF Notifications on It's face
a ii rs this end looks into Spain and com
nnnds the whole at the isthmus that con
meets the rock with the main land, they have
| neen nj the pains of making excavations On
galleries III which number OF pieces oi lea
W cannon are mounted. OF these galleries
there are two ranges or tiers. 81 George +
ia'l is one OF the largest, aud mounts about
hall dozen large pieces OF ordnance. Il
commands The whole OF the neutral ground
rs well ~ the Mediterranean shore.
The floor of tbI- cHvc is So extremely lev
i and smooth TINT il i frequently converted
into a uallroom, of Sundays afternoon, toy
the ladies aud gentlemen of the garrison. On
the west side of the rock is st. Michael ,
cave, with level platform before the mouth
Of il, about thirty feet long and twenty wide.
This IS the arena where aitiirs OF honor are
adjusted. few days previous To our arri.
val il wa the scene of several dnrls, between
gentlemen belonging 10 the u. States sloop
Ere aud some officers OF the garrison, ia
which fortunately no lives were lost, but one
OH ench side severely wounded The en-
rance of the cuYe is sufficiently large 10 al
ait several persons abreast, and widens ire <.
nlarlv n you enter, at the same time desGen-
dan rather abruptly. HE large staIactic pill
larsiormrd hl AeHaier dropping from above
resemble through the glooa! OF the cavern n
collection 81 ~tatles and husts. These pe1fi-
factions are much admired for the richness
and variety Oi colours they exhibit, and are
converted into handsome ornaments which
are in great request II is rather singular,
that this cave should be inhabited by vast
number OF mnuldrs, an animal not to he mel
with in Spain ar indeed any other part of the
Rock OF Gibraltar ; n circumstance, together
with the unlafhomahleness of the cavern that
Ia, gwen rise 10 the idea that it communI.
Gates under the Mediterranean with the Airi-
can shorr.
lam of opinion there are few situations
that afford finer and more extensive pros
peet than the topot this rock. Spain, with
her lofty mountains, their SUBMITS yet Gov
cred with SNOW, her verdnnt Wales and nu-
merous towns, villages aud hamlets, whose
whitened houses aud numerous spires OF
Churches, mnnaseries and Conyrnts, glitter
ing ia the sunbeams, tend TO heighten and
entiveu the scene, spread before YOU, in one
view, from the, bay Of Cadiz 10 the city oil
Malaga. Almost immediately beneath lay
tie towns, or cities OF Algexiras and ST
Rogue the one seven, the other six miles
distant aud on the African shore, the town
OF Ce0ta stands very conspicuous.
Tue works of Gibraltar are said 10 mount
Que thousand pieces OF cannon, aud require
in time OF war, twelve or fifteen Thousand
men 10 nun lhem. Al present mere u o"iN
one third OF the number OF troops, in TIN
place, and they are without exception the fl
nest looking soldiers ever saw.
The government of Gibraltar is entirely
military. Il has civil trihuns Tor its ctl-
gems, in the place OF courts martial, but OF
which the governor is the jndgf. However,
the inhabitants are so well satisfied with II,
that on an occasion of a resolution having
been asi'ated in parliament tn extend the
English Jurisprudence 10 this place the nina
btants transmitted memorial against It, IN
which they expressed their entire eprroea'