The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-17

steamer, every time the boatman plunged his oar
into the sea and drew it out again. it was literally
the same rs he had dipped il into liquid silver and
the oar came up shining brilliantly with the SUBJ
stance, whatever it is, which gives this wonderful
appearance to the sea. 1t is only when the water
is set in motion that it seems to be all of silver and
the wake OF the steamer, as We moved along In the
silent night, was stream of silvery light. Mr..
Huling, merchant of Maags, came with US 10
the steamer as far as that place, and was worry
polite and attentive to US. He sent on board
barrel of 6ne grapes for my use. He is Spanish
merchant, born in Spain his father an Englishman
and his mother a German. They sent all their
children to the United States to be educated, and
he was some years at college in Baltimore.
found him to be an amiable, intelligent young man,
and was much pleased with his manners and gentle
manly conduct. ! hope American merchants will
remember the name, and avail themselves of his
commercial abilities and talents.
On Sunday morning early, having steamed IL all
night, We arrived at AlmerIa; and again l went
on shore and stopped to pass the day. for here, as
in other places, the steamer remained all day doing
nothing Such lazy travelling il. imagine, uu-
known to any other people but the Spaniards. Here
at Almeria, am still in tho ancient kingdom of
Granada in one of the most ancient Moorish cities,
surrounded with memorials oftheir ancient grandeur,
and Alhambras and Aleazans enough. At night,
| as usual, our lazy steamer resumed its jour
neying, and on Monday morning early We
cast anchor in the beautiful bay Of Carthagena
Here. again, we staid the whole Of the day, (Msn-
day, the l5th,) and went again on shore, to view
this ancient and celebrated city. never saw q
more beautiful spot than this bay which, with i'm
mense rocks around is almost perfect ,irc.e giving
| the idea of immense strength The scenery of the
Mediterranean is here grand and majessie-the
rocky hills around Carthagena presenting ublime
and picturesque appearance. The town itself is
small and presents nothing remarkable usual
with most places under Spanish rule, its former i'm
poItance is persisted and its trade and commerce
gone.
After remaining anchored in sight Of Carthagena
all day long, in the evening We weighed anchor and
steamed it along to Alicante where arrived early
on Tuesday, the 10th. AS before, here also vent
shore, and walked oil over the city, being much
amused with the market and the people in it. They
have fine fish in abundance, and beautiful grapes
and dates, but are evidently very poor the beggars,
as usual, swarmed around US, and, as usual, were
very bold and impertunate. Here again our lazy
Cid stay ed all day, doing nothing, and at night We
started again for Valencia, the next city on the
coast We arrived early on the morning Of the
18th, and here We arc, waiting till night before we
make another move. am quite tired Of this slo y
way Of rogressing, though it is agreeable enough
have just come on board from visiting Vslen ia
1t is beautiful city, beautifully stu a.ed, and the
capital Of tho province Of the same name. 1t ID
reckcned, next to Madrid the finest city in Spain
1 hrt oh all al xho
commerce, it is Dead dull place, doing little ore
than sending oranges and some other fruit to BARGE
Iona Here have now been i've tedious days and
nights on board this steamer, performing voyage,
in so many days, which the entcrprising Amoricans
with their steamers would perform in almost as
many hours But auch is Spain-or, rather, such are
the people who inhabit il. III. A. B.
BARCELONA Dec. 10, 1851.
After slow but delightful voyage along the
shores Of Spain, variegated with trip every day
into some Spanish town on the coast, (as have
18th, at Barcelona. This is, without question: the
6Ift and greatest city in oil Spain Here the
quantity Of shipping lying at anchor in the port,
was son ethirg like New York city; hero now, for
the first time, ssw the appearance Of commercial
Valencia-all Of them famous and much vauntsi
p'aces-are like deserted villages, compared to Bar
ceona. On entering the streets Of tho city, the
SLOW OF life in the port and on the quays outside tho
walls, was fully responded to by the life and acti
witty within. The streets we're crowded with busy,
bustlng population, going and coming, intent upon
business and their own occup alton, presenting on
appearance unusual in Spain,) like the streets OF
Now York or London. Hero tie people in the
streets werc not loungers in the sum- as in Madrid
whore they stand in tho streets all the day. at the
Puerto del Sol, doing nothing This feature Of all
Spanish Cities which struck me above all things on
coming into Spanish town, was wanting here at
Barcelona. In every other place, used to cry out
with astonishment- Why, the men have nothing
to co-they arc oil wrapped in cloaks lounging in
the streets" But here in Barcelona, it was not So
Barcelona is . fortified city, surrounded with
bastions, walls, and battlements; tho government
is said to resist the tendency Of tho people to 70
head. fit were not for the Notifications, the city
would be extended far around into the plains which
surround it, to the foot Of tho distant mount aims.
but it seems as If the Spanish government was
afraid of having prosperous people and
fourishing commercial city Accordingly, they keen
down Barcelona and it is what it is absolutely in
spite ofthe government and in spite Of all the stupid
and troublesome hindrances imposed upon its in
dustry and commerce. l was told that for ten
years past Barcelona has been kept by the govern
ment in state of siege, with cannon placed at
the head Of some Of the streets, ready to fire upon
the people.
Not only is Barcelona the most nourshing COM
mercial city in Spain, hut it has the reputation of
being tho most liberal, and its people Of being most
ready to declare for popular rights and liberty
This il called by the government being turbu-
lent and disorderly, character generally at
tributod to tho Catalonians. Tho commerce
Of Barcelona, as | was informed, is chiefly
carried on With the United States. The streets
OF. the town, like Seville and Cadls, are, as it
were, net work Of close, narrow passages; but,
like most Of tho other towns Of Spain it has two or
three large and beautiful elarieias. These arc
Al.