The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-08
The Escurinl.

The Escurisl is perhaps the most celebrated pal
ace on the continent OF Europe Ii is situated
among the wild, sombre scenery Of the old Cas-
tan mountains, about twenty-five miles from Ma
drid This enormous palace, seven hundred and
forty feet in length, by i've hundred and eighty feet
in breadth, was reared by SohIllP H. IN tn middle
Of the sixteenth century, at expense OF about
fifty millions Of dollars. Philip. austere, gloomy,
snatIcal, selected this wild and gloomy fastness as
the site Of his palace, and reared the regal mansion
IN the form Of q gTidiron, IN commemoraton OF the
instrument Of the martyrdom Of ST. Lawrence. The
embellishments Of more modern kings, and the lux
uriant foliage Of trees and shubbery, have now In-
vested even this uncouth order Of architecture with
kind Of venerable beauty Four towers at the
angles represent the legs Of the gridiron. The
Spanish description Of this structure forms large
quarto volume. Il is stated that there are eleven
thousand doors. This may be an exaggeraton;
and yet the enormous edlhce, with its cupola, IT'S
domes, its towers, It's chapel library, painting gall
lery and college, mausoleum closters, regal sa-
looms, apartments for domestIcs and artisans, ITS
parks. gardens, walks, and fountains, constitute
almost city by itself A statue Of St. Lawrence
~ over the grand entrance, with gilt gridifon in
his hand.
Spacious reservoirs, constructed upon the neigh
boring mountains, collect The water, conveyed by
aqueducts, 70 supply nInety-two fountains. A very
beautiful road, about mile in length, funged with
lofty ems and lIndens, ~ the avenue TO this mag
nihcent palace and subterranean corridor of equal
length, arched with stone, connects the edI6ce with
the neighbonng village.
Underneath the building is the subterranean
chamber called the Pantheon, the burying place OF
the royal family. II is a very magnificent apart
ment, circular IN its form, thrty-six feet in diane
ter its walls encrusted with the most beautiful and
highly polished marble. Here repose the moulder-
| ng remains Of the Spanish monarchs. Their boz
dies I've in marble tombs, one above another. A
/ long srched stairway lined with polished marble
beautifully veined, conducts 70 this mausoeum, far
below the surface Of the earth magnificent
chandelier, suspended from the ceiling, is lighted
upon extraordinary occasions, and sheds MONDAY
| brilllance upon this grand yet gloomy m nsion OF
/ the dead The labor Of many years was devoted ia
the construction Of this sepulchre.
! For nearly three hundred years the domes and
towers Of this monument Of Spanish grandeur and
superstition have wIthstood the storms which have
swept the summer, and wrecked the winters sky
Many generations Of kings, with their accumulated
throng Of courtiers, have, like ocean tides, ebbed
and flowed through these halls. But now the FL.
curia is but a memorial Of the past, neglected and
forgotten Two hundred monks like the spirits o
dead ages, creep noiselessly through its cloisters
and the pensive melody Of their mathis and vespen
} hoais mournfully through their deserted halls
Here have been Witnessed scenes Of revelry and
scenes OF ianoticism--the spirit Of sincere though
misguided pretty, and the spirit Of recklessness and
: heaven-defying crime, such as few earthly abode'