410 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HAVE long been in possession of an 
] anecdote of one of the brute crea- 
tion, which I send to you, not so much 
for the amusement of your readers, as 
that Mr. Bingley may, if he thinks it 
worthy, insert it in the next edition of 
his Animal Biography : it is strictly true, 
and would have appeared before, had it 
been less extraordinary; for nothing but 
diffidence has hindered me from sending 
it: but recollecting that truth needs not 
to be ashamed, it is brought before the 
public, and is as follows :—Walking with 
a lady through some meadows between 
two villages, of the names of Upper and 
Lower Slaughter, in the county of Glou- 
cester, the path lay within about one 
hundred yards of a small brook. Many 
ewes and lambs were in the meadow: we 
were about half way over it when a ewe 
came yp to us and bleated very loudly, 
looking up in my face; and then ran off 
towards the brook. I could not help re- 
marking this extraordinary behaviour, 
but my attention was particularly roused 
when she repeated it; and, bleating 
louder, seemed to wish to signify some- 
thing in particular: she then ran’ off as 
before in the same direction, repeatedly 
looking behind her till she reached the 
brook, where she stood still. After 
standing to logk at her some time, we 
continued vur walk, and had nearly 
reached the gate that led into the next 
meadow, when she came running alter us 
the third time, and seemed yet more 
earnest, if possible, than before. I then 
determined to endeavour to discover the 
motive for such singular behaviour: I 
followed the ewe towards the brook ; see- 
ing me advance, she ran as fast as she 
was able, looking behind’ her several 
times; when we came to the brook ; she 
peeped over the edge of a hillock, into 
thé water, looked up in my face, and 
Dbleated with the most significant voice 
T ever heard from aquadruped, Judge 
of my surprise, when, on looking into the 
stream, I saw her lamb standing close 
under the hillock, with the water nearly 
over its back. I “instantly drew it out, 
‘ when the fond mother began to lick, and 
give it suck, and, looking up to me, ut- 
tered several sounds very different from 
those she had uttered before; and evi- 
dently expressing satisfaction and plea- 
sure. I needed not those thanks, for I 
never performed one action in my life 
that gave me more unmixed pleasure ; 
nor did ever brute appear more grateful. 
Evesham, Your's, &c. 
August 16, 1808, » J. Coxtert, 
Account of recent Travels in Spain. 
[Dec. 1, 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
ACCOUNT Of RECENT TRAVELS tu SPAIN, 
in which particular aTTENTION was 
paid lo the anviquirres of that coun- 
rry.—Conlinued from p. 223. 
LE AVING made an arrangement with 
some fellow-travellers, we hired a 
coach drawn by five mules, and conduct 
ed by the owner and his muchacho, or 
servant, to carry us from Saragossa to 
Madrid. The hire was to be twenty 
doblones each, worthabout filteen French 
livres, or twelve shillings and sixpence, 
making in all 121, 10s. for the use of tie. 
carriage, the feed of the mules, and the 
expences of the attendants. . 
Leaving Saragossa at noon on the 29th 
of October, we proceeded to a place 
cailed La Muela, distant five leagues, 
where we stoppedtor the night. The 
first halfof the road leads across the fer- 
tile plain of the Ebro to a range of hills 
extending eastward from Moncayo 
(Monthly Magazine, February 1, 1808,) 
and thence across the range to the-vil- 
Jage, which is seated on one of the sume 
mits, 
Proceeding next morning as early as the 
shortness of the day would permit, for 
the state of the roads would not allow us 
tu travel in a carriage before it was day- 
light, we coutinucd to cross a succession, 
of high hiils, separated in some places 
by plains of considerable extent, but in 
general by deep ravines with small rapid 
streams. About three leagues from La 
Muela lies Armun a, fondly supposed by 
the inhabitants to be the largest village 
in Spain, forgetful that Madrid itself is * 
no_city but a village. The plain in 
which Armuia is situated presents a de- 
licious prospect from the fertility and 
cultivation of the ground, and the thyiv- 
ing plantations, of trees of various sorts, 
watered by channels opened troma small 
river winding through the valley. On 
quitting this place we again traversed 
a succession of lofty steep hills, divided 
by narrow vales or gullies, in general 
well peopled, cultivated, and wooded, 
From the heights the prospect is wild 
but picturesque, especially towards the 
west, where the hilla appear to be cut 
down in strange confusion, and totally 
desert, for the villages, which are nume- 
rous, and the cultivated grounds around 
them, are hidden in the depths of the 
vallies.. The view in that direction is 
bounded by Moneayo, distant about 50 
miles, already covered with snow. 
Having travelled eight leagues over 
this interesting tract, the road leads down 
the southern slope of a long hill, and 
brings us to the delightful plain, or “ee 
