Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-18
GIBRALTAR.

following notes on Gibraltar, extracted from the
Journal OF an intelligent sea captain:
The rock ofGibraltar is high * almost perpen
dicular promon,oiy nearly surrounded by The
sea, being connected with Spain, by low 18TH
mus Of sand, nearly level with the sea, and not
more than half or three quarters Of mile wide
1t is about two miles ard half long, three
quarters wide, and, fourteen hundred feet high;
composed Ola species OF lime stone, without a.
nv soil except few spots about the south end,
tina, exhibit some little verdure. The town is
situated on the face Of the hill. rising gradually
from the old Mole, at The Northern extremity,
and which is the landing place, until it termln-
ales almost half way up the rock.
1t contains ABOUT two thousand houses, with
population Of nineteen thousand, lSclhding the
garrison, at present about FIVE thousand The
civil Inhabitants consist of English, Jews and
Spaniards, of which the two latter are far the
mos, numerous, though all the principal mer
chants are British.
The streets for the most part are parallel, and
from the sleepness of the ascent, elevated one
above the other, like stairs Waterport-s,reet
running the whole length Of the town along the
bay, with The batteries in front is quite hand
some street, and contains many good houses -
1t is secured at the landing place, which 1t
leads, by portcullis and two massive gates OF
iron, that are always kept shut up at night, no
communication with the town being allowed ell
ter the gun is fired at sunset. Alter eight o.
clock no person is permitted TO be on the ram
parts, and passport, as we'll as light IN Ian
tern are necessary appendages TO those who ap-
pear in the streets after ten o'clock.
The town is bounded on the south by 4 wall
which continues all the way 10 the top oil the
rock Immediately outside of the wall there
IS a handsome almeida or walk, where the inha-
bilants take their evening promenaees, and an
extensive level square on which the troops pa
rade. A colossal figure Of lord Hatfield, ge-
neral Elliott, the celebrated DEFENDER Of Glib al
tar in the memorable siege by the SpaniaIds and
French, during The Amr rican revolutionary war,
carved in wood by soldier of the garrison; the
bust of The Dnkr IF Wellington, and the figure
head of the s., Juan, a Spanish ship Of the line
taken at the battle of Trsfals ,adorn this place.
tie place being oman ''rd with number of
be iuiiiul trees as vel s lateaus ofhow rs, d
Tor such barren rug, SITUATION as the rock,l
is quite a handsome aud pleasant spot
The north end of the rock being quite per-
not admit Of Notifications, on its face. and as
this end looks into Spain, and commands the
whole Of the isthmus that connects the rock
with the main land, they have been at the pains
of making excavations or galleries in which
number Of pieces Of heavy cannon are mounted
or these galleries there are two ranges or tiers
St Georges Hall is one of the largest, and
mounts about half dozen large pieces Of ord
nance 1t commands the whole Of the neutral
ground as well as the Mediterranean shore.
The floor OF this cave is so extremely level
and smooth tha, it is frequently converted into
ball room, of Sundays afternoon, by the la
dies and gentlemen of the garrison. On the
ives, side Of the rock is st. Michaers cave, with
a level platform before the mouth of it, about
thirty feet long and twenty wide This is
III. arena where affairs of honor are adj justed.
\ few DAYS previous to our arrival it was the
scene Of several duels, between gentlemen be-
longing to the United States sloop Erie and
some officers Of the garrison, in which forum.
ately no lives were lost, but one on each side Sc
ver-ly wounded. The entrance Of the cave is
suffic ently large 10 admit several persons a.
breast, and widens irregulary as you enter, at
she same time descending rather abruptly
The large stalactite pillars formed by the wafer
dropping from alb I'VE, resemble through the
gloom of ca ern, collection of statues and busts
These pe,rifacrions are much admired for tho
richness and variety Of colors they exhibit, and
are converted into handsome ornaments which
are always in great request. 1t is rather singu-
lar, tina, thi, cave should be inhabited by vast
number of monkies, an animal not to be met
with in Spain or indeed any other part Of the
Rock of Gibraltar circumstance, together
with the unfalhomabIeness Of the cavern, that
has given rise TO the idea that i, communicates
under the Mediterranean, with the Africa"
shore.
am Of opinion there are few situations that
afford finer and more extensive prospect than
the top of this rock. Spain, with her lofty
mountains; their SUBMITS yet covered with
snow, her verdant wales and numerous towns,
villages and hamlets, whose whitened houses
aud numerous spires of churches, monasteries
and converts, glitering in tie sunbeams, tend
to heghten and eniven the scene, spread before
you, in one view from the bay of Cadiz to the
City Of Malaga Almost Immediately beneath
Law the towns, or cities of Algeziras and St.
Rogue: the one seven, the other six miles dis
tant, and on the African shore the town of
Ceula stands very conspicuous.
r