328 THE LIfE Q'P 



General, vhofe gay mode of living forms a very 

 flriking contraft with that of their gloomy neigh- 

 bours. Their houfes are built and furniflied irj 

 the European tafte, and Mr. Matra's in particu- 

 lar, fo very neat and elegant, that I feemed to bq 

 in England whenever I entered it. The Con- 

 fuls live in great fplendour, and inftead of prac- 

 tifing that oeconomy which in that place they 

 might readily do, they fcem to vie with each 

 other in fiimptuous elegance at their dinners, 

 balls, and concerts ; this focicty is further im- 

 proved by the addition of fome French families, 

 "who, on account of the war, have removed 

 from Gibraltar to fettle here. 



Some of the Confuls have country-feats and 

 gardens in the vicinity of the town; the Britilli 

 and the American Conful, Mr. Simpfon, have 

 each of them a retreat of this kind, beautifully 

 iituatcd, on the face of the mountain, which 

 forms the entrance of the Gut. The gardens 

 of both, but particuhirly Mr. Simpfon's, who 

 principally refides there, are very well laid out, 

 but the way to them is infamoufly bad. None 

 but the horfcs of that country would be able to 

 afcend the mountains ; the road requires alm.oft 

 climbing, and the path (efpecially that which 

 leads to Mr. Simpfon's,) is nothing but a chan- 

 nel, worn throuQ-h the foil of the mountain 

 down to the rock by the winter rains ; it is Tq 



roughj 



