Scenes in Spain. 9 



the BALLOT. That measure has been vilified and scouted by Whigs 

 as well as Tories in time past ; and even a stripling may remember 

 the time, when the support of that measure was attended with per- 

 sonal danger. The times are changed. The Reform Act has passed ; 

 and subsequent elections have proved, that bribery direct and in- 

 direct is as possible at present, as it was, when the boroughs were 

 represented by the nominees of the unreformed Peers. The Ballot, 

 then, is not merely an important question; but its settlement as one 

 of the laws of these realms is a necessary preliminary to every other 

 reform. Grievances endured by the people can only be properly 

 reformed by those, who properly represent their sentiments; and 

 those sentiments cannot be properly represented, so long as the very 

 least power is allowed to the land-owning Aristocracy of tampering 

 with the votes and consciences of the people at large. Before a 

 really and radically reformed House of Commons a Tory Peerage 

 must either bow or bend. The question, then, is one of paramount 

 importance. But, further, it is one that may be urged with every 

 chance of success, or, to say the least, with such power as to awe 

 the opposition into speedy acquiescence with the measure ; because 

 it is one which will engage the support of the largest number of the 

 free and independent reformers of Great Britain. Let the great 

 question for 1837, then, be the BALLOT the BALLOT. 



SCENES IN SPAIN. 



BY AN OFFICER OF THE BRITISH LEGION. 



AFTER a day's heavy marching over a country one succession of moun- 

 tains, without villages or habitations, and appearing desolate and barren, 

 towards the close of the day we descended into a more level tract of 

 country, and as night approached, thickly wooded forests, and numerous 

 rivulets gave evidence of increased fertility. Our men had for the last 

 league or two been greatly distressed, and the brigade, mixed and con- 

 fused, was every moment in hopes of hearing the welcome order to 

 halt and bivouack in the forest ; for as yet, no sign of a village had 

 been seen for some hours. The remainder of the Legion had branched 

 off in different directions in the neighbourhood, by regiments and 

 brigades. At length however, our impatience was gratified by the 

 sight of a few straggling houses embosomed in the wood : and a few 

 minutes after, we came in sight of the church, and another small 

 cluster of houses, forming altogether one of the most picturesque little 

 villages I had ever seen in Spain. It was situated in the midst of a forest, 



