Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-19


TRxtrsct fcom :, ashinp' iryIss new Sketch Ro,l,
In the sprins Of 1929. the author Of this work
whom curiosity had brought into Spain. made
rambling expedition from Seville to Granada in
company with friend, member of the Russian
embassy at Madrid. Accident had thronnus,n.
gether from distant regions Of The globe, and
SIMILARITY of taste led US towander together amop,
the romantic mountains Of Andaiusa. Should
these pages meet his eve, wherever thrown BY ths
duties of bis station. whether mingllng in the IA.
geantry OF courts ar medi'atng on the truer sIo.
RES of nature. may they recall the scenes Of IN,
adventurous cOmpanonship. and with them h.
remembrance Il one, in whom neither time por
distance will obiterate the recollection Of HI,
reutleness and worth.
And here, before setting forth, let me induI,.
in few previous remarks on Spanish scenery and
Spanish travelling. Many are apt to picu,.
Spain to their Imagination, as a soft soufenre
gion, decked out with all the luxuriant charm,
of vouptrous Italy. On the contrary. thou,b
there are exceptions in some Of The maritime
provinces, yet, for the greater part. it is stern
melancholy country, with rugged moutains and
long. naked sweeping plains, destitute Of tree,
and invariably silent and lonesome. partakingOl
the savage and solitary character of Africa
What adds to this silence and loneliness, il H.,
absence of singing birds, natural CONSEQUENCE
OF the want OF groves and hedges. The vuwrs
and the eagle are seen wheeling about the noun.
tain cliff, and soaring over the plains, and
groups of shy bussards stalk about the hea,,
but the myrlads OF smaller birds, which animate
the whole face OF other countries, are met with
in but few provinces of Spain. aud in them chiefly
among the orchards and gardens which surround
the habitaiions of man.
| La the exterior provinces, the traveller occa
sonally traverses great tracts cultivated with
grain as TAR as the eve can reach, waving at time,
with verdure, at other times naked and sun burnt.
but he looks round in vain for the hand tina, hs.
titled the soil; at length he perceiyes some yil.
laSe perched on steep hill. or rugged crag. with
Wondering battlements and ruined watchower.
a stronghold, in old times, against civil war or
Moorish inroad: for the custom among the prs
santrv of congregatihg together for mutual pro-
lection. is still kept up in most parts of SPAN,
in consequence OF the maraudlnss Of rowing fre,
hooters.
But though great part of Spain is deficient
I in the garniture OF groves aud forests, and III.
softer charms Of ornamental cultivation, yet il,
scenery has something OF a high and lofty cha.
racter to compensate the want II partakes Some.
thing of the attributes of its people, and think
that better understand the proud, hardy, frugal
and abstemious Spanard. his manly defiance Of
hardships and contempt of effcminate indulgence,
since have seen the country he inhabns.
There IS something, too. in the sternlv smpI.
features OF the Spanish landscape, that impress
es on the soul feeling OF subimity. The in.
mense plans of the CASTLES and La Mancha,
extending as lar as the eye can reach, derive an
interest from their yer, Dakedness and immen.
sity. and have something of tie solemn grandeur
OF the ocean. In ranging over these boundrea
wastes. the eye catches sight. here and there. Of
Struggling rerd Of cattle, attended By lonely
herdsmaD. motIOnlsss az statue. with his long
slender pike tapering up like Lance into the ar;
or beholds long train Of mules slowly moving
along the waste, like train of camels IN the de.
sert, or single herdsman armed with blunder.
buss and stiletto, and providing over the PLAIN.
Thus the country, the habits, the very looks Of
the people, have something Of the Arabian cha'ac.
ter. The general insecurity of the country Is
evnced in the universal use of weapons.
herdsman in the field, the shepherd in the PLAIN,
has his musket and his knife. The wealthy WI.
lager Tdreiy ventures ~ tne maj ket-tONH VIM
out his trabucho, and perhaps a servant on foot
with blnnderbuss on his shoulder; and the most
petty jnurneyls undertaken with the preparations
OF a warike enterprise.
Scbr. Alert. belonging to Messrs. Grlggs &
Weld, f Milton Il Co. and John SandersOn. OF
Boston, sailed from Boston for Honduras lSth
Nov. with cargo principally OF domestic goods
amounting To about four thousand dollars. since
which nothing has been heard Of her, exception
some boxes Of fish recognized as part OF her car
go,wbich had driited ashore at Bermuda, and IL
tie doubt now exists of her total loss John I.
Kowles Of Truro, master; Edward b LothroPO Oh
Barnstable, mate; J. SanIerson supercargo; WA
Homer, Of Boston. Charles Jones. OF Ban-faoe'
James jarvis, and Jas. Matthias, OF Ne" Orleans
icnloredl seanen. The vessel and cargo were
Insured at the New England ollie, for $4,000