Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1852-12-30
sixth lecture of DR. Hard.


the Smithsonian Institution, was Spain and
Portugal. Owing TO the inelemency Of the
weather and the lecture not having been
advertised much in the papers, the attend
ance was rather thin bat those who were
present listened throughout with marked
attteDtion.
The Doctor commenced by pointing out
on the map places Of interest in london
St. James, Regent, Hyde, snd Kensington
Parks, Westminster Abbey, the New Parlia-
ment Houses, the spot where Sir Robert
Peel was thrown from his horse, and where
8 statue Was erected to his memory. the
Tower OF London, built for defence against
the Danes, Geological Gardens, Thames
Tunnel, built at immense expense and with
great difficulty, st. pauPs Church which
was il the centre Of London, and within the
radius Of ten miles of which there were
nearly three millions CT people, number
that would probably increase at the end Of
this century to fire nill,ong
The appearance Of the Thames vss de-
scribei. The vastamount Of shipping upon
it being particularly alluded to moving to
and fro in every direction, sad indicative Of
the immense trade Of london The best
way for traveller who wishes to get fall
view Of the city, is to enter 1t b. tie way Of
the Thames.
Spain and Portugal-the general aspect
of these countries, institutions, commerce,
| mineral wealth, productions Of the soil, the
peopSe-their character, language, ard gene
raj appearance, habits, customs, and pecu-
liarities, their religion and government
were all briefly touched upon.
These two countries are geographically
united, and ought to be in government
They are divided by fiYe ranges Of noun
tains, with four large plains CT valies be-
tween, Watered BY many rivers, Of which
the Tagus, Duoro, Guagdiana, and Guadal
culver are the principal, Spain is one Of
the most beautiful countries In Europe, with
salubrious climate, and was formerly in
habited by a race of people Of far more en-
terprise than those at present living Ia it;
and contained many more people than now.
The people are mixed race, and number
in both countries about 20, 0OO, 900. They
are bold, proud race, devoid Of industry,
delighting in blood shed, faithless, Jealous,
and yindictive. The peasants compose the
true nobility Of Spain The Biscayans, On
the Bay Of Biscay, are bold and brave
people, and differ in language anu manners
from those who live in the low Country
There are $1,000 Gypsies, whose language
and habits are peculiar.
The commerce Of Spain and Portugal is
snall-partly owing to the prohibitory tariff,
which gives employment to a large class of
professional ss1ugglers, who are very adroit
in their business, concealing the goods
about their person when carrying them from
one point to another. Large quantities of
wine are annually exported from Spain, and
conveyed thrugh the country put up in the
SKIN OF nogs.
There are many robbers in Spain, who
rove through country committing depreda-
tons upon the unarmed traveller They
are, however, very gentemanly set, and
do not interfere with the person Of the
traveller if he should happen to have $50 or
$40 in money to give them. And with out
that amount the Doctor said it was not safe
to travel. Sometimes man may travel in
Spain with irnpunity by paying a large
amount to some -obber chief beforehand,
who gives notice to the other robbers to
allow the traveller to pass free from noles-
tation. This Is honor amoag thieves.
The bellies of Spain are well dressed, easy
and graceful il their carriage, elegant and
refined in their manners, and many of them
handsome in person. In the cities they can
walk the streets even late at night without
fear Of inoiestat;on, and if perchance the
imprudent gaze Of a stranger should rest