43 BOTANY OF SPAIN. [February, 



regaled our eyes as we saw it before us during the latter half of 

 our day's journey, and appeared more beautiful still Avhen seen 

 from the promenade outside the walls of Urgel, or from the ter- 

 race or loggia of our very Spanish^ but quite habitable inn. All 

 experienced travellers know how much the beauty of a range of 

 mountains^ under a glaring sun^ is improved by seeing it on its 

 shady side. Of the little narrow plain into which the valley ex- 

 pands immediately round Urgel^ I can say nothing botanically^ 

 except to repeat that is a perfect paradise of Roses. 



We had decided to find our way back to France by the valley 

 of Andorra. Of this curious middle-age republic, independent 

 equally of Spain and France, though under their joint protecto- 

 rate, a description may be read in the ' Edinburgh Review ' for 

 April last. The writer has given a very interesting account of 

 its history and of its institutions ; but he seems somehow to ima- 

 gine that he is the discoverer of Andorra, at least to Englishmen. 

 It was however explored as long ago as about 182 J?, by two emi- 

 nent English botanists — Mr. Bentham and Mr. Walker Arnott ; 

 the former of whom, in the narrative of his tour in the Pyrenees, 

 prefixed to his valuable catalogue of their plants, gave a clear and 

 succinct description of the country. Since then it has been 

 occasionally visited by English tourists, one of whom, Mr. Erskine 

 Murray, devoted to it no small portion of his well-known book. 

 Respecting the institutions of the country, much was left for the 

 reviewer to do ; and he has done it, to all appearance, well. He 

 makes one statement, however, which I hope is not correct, that 

 " in this republic education is a thing almost unknown." I can- 

 not affirm that this is not the fact; but the standard French 

 ' Guide to the Pyrenees,' the elaborate volume of Joanne, affirms 

 that " I'instruction publique est plus repandue en Andorre que 

 dans les territoires voisins de I'Ariege et d'Urgel; les ecoles sont 

 gratuites, et la plupart des jeunes gens aises vont faire leurs 

 etudes a Toulouse ou a Barcelone."'^ The reviewer's description 

 of the local features of the country is that of one who has only 

 visited it from the French side. He says it is "isolated by 

 mountains on every frontier." This is neither more nor less true 

 of the Val d' Andorre than it is of every other Pyrenean valley. 

 None of them have more than one outlet into the plain. An- 



* Public education in Andorre is superior to that of Ariego and Urgel. In- 

 struction is gratuitous; pupils can easily complete their studies at Toulouse or 

 Barcelona. 



