1 90 Royal Intrigue ; or, AuG- 



invariably occupied by men only, amateurs of the sport, who risk large 

 sums on the result of the combat ; their bets generally running upon the 

 length of time the bull continues to face and attack his tormentors, on 

 horse and foot ; on the number of horses slain by the animal before it 

 sinks under the various modes of attack, by which it is worried, worn 

 out in strength and spirit, and ultimately slain ! and also on the game 

 which the devoted brute evinces to the last ! these amateurs are of that 

 class of persons which in this country would be termed friends of the 

 fancy ; and, on the occasion of these festivals, appear in the majo dress, 

 Montero cap, and colored silk mantle, more or less rich and expensive, 

 according to the taste and circumstances of the Wearer. 



The next three or four rows of the circle are indiscriminately occu- 

 pied by men and women of the middling orders ; but from the eighth to 

 the twelfth rows, where the seats are partitioned off into boxes, elegantly, 

 and in some cases most expensively adorned, is the region of rank and 

 fashion, and bear a price equal on such an occasion as the royal visit, 

 from twelve to twenty dollars per seat, per day : beyond and above this 

 galaxy of splendour, rising to the majestic height of eighty feet above 

 the level of the arena, are about ten more rows of seats, the value of 

 which decrease according to the ascent ; those on the upper tier being 

 accessible by tickets, varying in price from one to half a dollar each ; 

 they are generally occupied by a certain order of courtezans, and the 

 female friends of the inferior combatants of the ring they nevertheless 

 exhibit a dazzling display of white mantillas and spangled dresses, which 

 on nearer view would appear all tinsel tawdry, but at such a height and 

 distance (glittering in the sunbeam) they strike on the eye with splendid 

 effect. 



The royal box is placed in front of the grand entrance, and imme- 

 diately over the portcullis through which the bulls are enlarged to meet 

 their enemy. Previously to the commencement of the sports the circus 

 is thronged with pedestrians of superior condition in life, who during 

 their promenade exhibit themselves to their female friends and parties 

 in the splendid circle ; the time for the termination of this indulgence 

 having arrived, a roll of the drum is heard, and a body of troops (dressed 

 as on gala days) are marched into the circus by platoons, and imme- 

 diately commence a series of ingenious movements, contriving at each 

 evolution to circumscribe the circle, and hem in the loungers, leaving 

 only an occasional opening for escape ; thus without force, or even the 

 indelicacy of an order for retreat, the crowd is gradually reduced to an 

 adventurous few, who endeavour to sustain a footing in the circus, until 

 the final tap of the drum brings the whole body of the military into a 

 close and triple line, extending the entire diameter of the arena ; the 

 whole then wheels on their centre, when the civilians escape through 

 the portcullis, amidst the smiles of the soldiers, and the joyous shouts 

 and cheers of the thousands, who enjoyed their various artifices to main- 

 tain their ground ; this is not an unpleasing prelude to the entertain- 

 ments of the day, nor altogether uninteresting, as it frequently happens 

 that many of the pedestrians thus tempted to shew their ingenuity, are 

 military men of no mean rank and experience, dressed as civilians ; and 

 as no rudeness on the part of the soldier is ever attempted, it is a game 

 of ruse contre ruse, kept up for a quarter of an hour with spirit, but with 

 the most perfect good humour on both sides. 



The course being cleared, by the retirement of the troops, who are 



