554 NOTICE OF SPAIN; 



are athletic and sinewy, and their piercing black eyes and erect figures,; 

 proclaim no lack of fitness within. The generals in Spain amount to the 

 almost incredible number of 745 ! 



The revenues of Spain arise from various sources ; the following are 

 some of the principal; 1. The fifths of the government lotteries which 

 occur every month ; 2. The rentas generates, or the excise and custom 

 dues ; 3. The government monopolies of paper, cards, salt and tobacco, 

 denominated the estancos. Besides these, there are the papal bulls and 

 indulgences, of which half the produce has been conceded to the King 

 of Spain, the sale of masses for the dead. These last are by far the most 

 considerable sources of the revenue. There is one more source, how- 

 ever, which is likewise far from trifling, viz., the excusado, or right 

 conceded by the church, of appropriating in each parish the tythes of 

 the finest farm as the privilege of the crown. The amount of these is 

 about five millions, and is collected in the most arbitrary and corrupt 

 manner. 



But I must not forget the most interesting portion of the creation. 

 Nothing, indeed, is more lovely than a young Spanish girl at fifteen 

 years of age, such as I have seen many in the rural parts of the king- 

 dom. A face perfectly oval; hair of a fine, clear auburn, equally 

 divided on the forehead, and only bound by a silk net ; large black 

 eyes; a mouth replete with graces; an attitude always modest; a 

 simple habit of neat black serge, exactly fitting the shape, and gently 

 pressing the wrist ; a little hand and foot perfectly proportioned ; in short, 

 the Spanish maiden is the very model of beauty and grace. Always 

 ready to please, she dances and does every thing with a grace unattain- 

 able by mere cultivation ; touches her guitar as if by inspiration, and 

 sings with a charm that passion only can impart. The Spanish women 

 are indeed, fascinating; among her virtues, and they are numerous, there 

 is yet one that is far from being universal ; I mean chastity. The 

 jealousy of the men, indeed, has long since past away, but the fair 

 Spaniard still retains her ancient fondness for intrigue. Every married 

 woman is attended by her cortejo, and lovers, now run little risk from 

 the jealousy of the husband. 



WE HAD PARTED FOR YEARS. 



We had parted for years, I had roam'd o'er the sea, 



Nor thought that her heart ever wandered to me, 



For I knew she had beauty, had youth, had the power, 



To mingle unrivalled in hall or in bower ! 



We meet, but her glance was averted from mine, 



And I vainly endeavoured the cause to divine ; 



But ne'er from that day for a moment would she 



Unless amid strangers, be present with me. 



We were parting again and I proffered my hand, 



And she gave me her's at her father's command ; 



He knew not our love, thought she ought to extend 



Her hand unto him, whom her father called friend. 



She gave it and fainted, I bore her away, 



And knelt down beside the low couch where she lay ; 



Her secret she told as I leant fondly o'er, 



Report had belied me we parted no more. W. G, L. 



WHIZ #". l 



