Blajuiere's Spain and Spanish Revoliition. 
and added others to her territory. But 
this, like many other inconveniences, 
must pass away, when the nature of the 
late change, and the new position of the 
nation shall be better understood. 
BULL-FIGHTS. 
Amongst the practices which tend to 
retard civilization, and keep alive what- 
ever ferocity of character the people of 
‘Spain may have derived ‘from their 
Roman and Moorish ancestors, the con- 
tinuance of the Fiéstas Dé Toros, or 
buill-feasts, is justly regirded as the most 
conspicucus. The toleration of the above 
amusement, only inferior in barbarity to 
those exhibited before the ancient tas- 
ters of the world, has long been a subject 
of the utmost regret with all liberal and 
enlightened Spaniards, Jovellanos, in 
his erudite and philosophical essay on 
public amusements, deeply laments a 
custom, in which only a small portion of 
the nation participates, though it is called 
national; and, as such, has long been an 
object of just odium with foreigners. 
_ The establishment of bull-feasts is 
traced to the middle ages, and is certainly 
not worthy of any other period. These 
horrid exhibitions are pointedly decried by 
the Spanish philosopher, as being dis- 
graceful to the age and to Spain. ~ It 
would appear that Isabella, who also op- 
posed the cruelties of the Holy Office, did 
her utmost to abolish the Toros, but was 
‘ foiled by ber courtiers. A just tribute of 
applause is paid to Charles If{. for having 
decreed their total abolition; but, as they 
had become identified with despotism 
previous to his reign, it is probable the 
ministers of his son and successor could 
not dispense with a pastime which bru- 
talized his subjects, and excluded rational 
thinking. 
THE PRADO. 
It is to be regretted that a more ele- 
vated spot was not chosen for the Prado, 
which is not, however, without its advan- 
tages, having an immediate communi- 
cation with the city on one side, and with 
the botanic gardens and Delicias on the 
other. If more. frequently watered in 
summer, that dust and heat which are so 
annoying at present would be mitigated. 
These circumstances, however, do not 
prevent the Prado from being as well at- 
tended now, as at all former periods from 
the days of Caldefon—who found many 
of the subjects of his most popular plays 
on this Madrilenian Paradise—till now, 
when it serves as the resort of all who 
wish to breathe a free air, or offer up their 
vows at the shrine of beauty. 
Besides the immense concourse which oc- 
607 
cupies the Salon or centre walk of El Pra- 
do, there are spacious alleys and roads on 
each side, for equestrians and: carriages ; 
the latter of which, drawn by horses or 
mules, move on in slow and solemn pace 
on the left, As this is the grand point of 
attraction, the Madrid fashionables sel- 
dom take any other direction in their 
evening rides. It isa rule seldom devi- 
ated from, for the Royal family tc jom 
the range of carriages collected at the 
Piado, whenever they leave the palace, 
which is almost daily. Agreeably to the 
court etiquette of former days, there are 
generally four or five state carriages, 
either occupied by, or in attendance on 
the Royal Family, when they appear in 
public; these are followed by a numerous 
suite of outtiders, and a large party of the 
mounted body guard. 
JOVELLANOS, 
Jovellanos, whose name is synonymous 
with all that is good and amiable, may be 
said to have equalled the best of his Euro- 
pean contemporaries, and gone far beyond 
most of them, in all those excellencies 
which constitute an eloquent writer, re- 
fined scholar, and profound statesman. 
It would be almost impossible to point 
out a gap in literature and political dis- 
cussion, that was not filled, and ably 
filled, by this extraordinary writer, to 
whom the flattering compliment of Dr. 
Johnson to Goldsmith might be applied, 
with still more justice. It has been truly 
said, that whatever he did was well done; 
whether he unravelled the intricacies of 
“political economy ; traced the manners 
and customs of ancient times ; prepared 
an essay on education or, the fine arts ; 
dwelt on some difficult point of historical 
“research; composed a tragedy, or wrote an 
ode; all seemed alike familiar to his versa- 
tile pen; so that he never failed in any 
literary undertaking, however complicated 
and difficult. Itis even said of him, that 
he succeeded in the above branches, as if 
each had been the exclusive study of his 
life. Is will be an eternal stain on the 
reign of Charles IV., that this great and 
lamented character was consigned to, im- 
prisonment in a fortress, during more 
than six years of his valuable life, for his 
efforts in favour of virtue and truth; nor 
‘will it be easy for mahy persons, who 
might be named, to exonerate themselves 
for the part they acted towards him, in 
1811; a treatment that no man ever merit- 
ed less than Joyellanos, and which accele- 
rated the loss of.one, who might stil] have 
been, as he was before, the most, brilliant 
ornament of his country. If the literati 
of Spain look forward with anxiety for a 
collection 
