Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-10-21

SPAIy.-Hon. George Sumner gave the
second lecture of the fraternity Course in
Boston, a few days ago Subject 80 Some
Lessons from Spain" It is spoken Of as very
interesting. The lecturer enlivened his dis
course with details of his own experienc
as a traveller From the Adrertiser W
take the following
The stranger was naturally curious t. know
what was hidden behind the Pyrenees, those
natural barriers separating Spain from the
rest Of Europe On cross .- frontier, the
travellers eye is struck with the numerous
oddities of the people, such as wearing heavy
Overc0at- in summer weather. Custom how
ever. Is the Spaniard S excuse for every thing
it is enough ior him to know that thing is
customary, to acQuiesce in it. Among the
population there had been, until lately, many
monks. and at present they We're not all
gone. The country was Overrun with mobiles.
poor. idle and lazy; proud as Lucifer, and
touchy as one Of his matches. The visitor was
surprised to find 50 few works of art truly
Spanish while those Of the Romans and
Moors were scattered throughout the land.
In their social life and manners, the Span
iards were much the same to-day as centuries
ago They tell a story, rather to their own
prejudice, it is true, to the following effect
Once on time Father Adam visited the
earth. but he saw nothing familiar till he
came To SPAIN when he exclaimed, - Al.
I've found the right spot at last. Why | see
the same old Ilow usad.in the garden; this Is
the only place that remains Just as left 1t.
Coming to Madrid. tha traveller found it sjt-
uated on a barren plain, and for no other
reason than To crafty the caprice of Philip H.
Ii stands on the banks Of q diminutIve stream
which is su9nued by numerous magnificent
h-i .-as t., -,r'am is 50 small and the
h7if-r. s. rrlu E. ti,ut It was once suggested
to sell the bridges in order to buy a river. Ii
is a city OF 100000 Inhabitants, without art,
commerce, manufactures OF industry.
The lecturer c1ntrasted the past glory Of
the Spanish nation with its present degraded
position. and asked Whence came the
change? Was Spain always to remain in its
present ahiect condition? or. might she hope
some day To gam her former splendor
The primal cause of the down all Of Spain.
was the encroachmenJ Of the executive power
on the legis ative department. \ second
cause was the bribery of the representatives.
It's dcgen ration was further increased by
unwise laws by which all manual labor was
disgraced. This last. Mr.. Sumnar regarded
as, perhaps the most active cause of It's de
cline. The InquiSition. too. WAS an import
ant agent Of despotism. and a r'minent cause /
of Spain's tebasement.
The lecturer here gave somewhat extended
sketch of the political history of Spain, inter
spersed with anecdotes of his own experience.
in illustration.
In conclusion, he thought the hope of Spain
was in her peasanJry, and in the industrial
classes which were Just beginning TO deyelope.
Another most cheerful element OF hope, was
the character of her women. He did not !
think it possible to say too much in praise of
the native talents and patriotic virtues OF the |
Spanish women