CADIZ. 



185 



til*- tare. Thorny' n boast of having given to the 



Kir: torian,a poet, 



t in modern timeu it h. >1 no 



ami its only establishments for th 'he 



. 

 to military aiu ; n fortifica 



The school t'i-r drawing is 



attciidiV. ' nd i* provided with every ne- 



. .uui i he observatory, which is 



situated in the highest pait <>f the city, is also well fur- 

 >1 \vith apparatus. The schools for surgery are 

 undo! two directors and nine professors. They have 

 a public librar\ ;ic garden attached to them ; 



and KM) young tr.cn, designed for the navy, are here 

 brought up by the government. 



The climate of Cadiz is very healthy. Almost sur- 

 rounded by water, the heat8 of summer are mode- 

 rated by the sea breeze ; and, except when the SD/II- 

 no or south-east wind prevails, few places enjoy a 

 more happy temperature. This wind passes over the 

 scorching plains of Africa, 'and is said to have a curi- 

 ous effect in inflaming the passions ; for, during its 

 continuance, it has been observed, that the most irri- 

 table of the inhabitants commit every species of ex- 

 cess. This city is well supplied with every kind of 

 provisions ; its fruits are cheap, and the best wines 

 are made in the neighbourhood ; but lodgings are 

 immoderately high ; and all the necessaries of life are 

 at an exorbitant price. Luxury is here carried to 

 its greatest height, and extends to dress, carriages, 

 houses, furniture, servants, table, &c. Every mo- 

 ment that can be spared from business is employed 

 in dancing, gaining, plays, and company. The en- 

 tertainments are frequent, brilliant, and sumptuous, 

 and served with great neatness and delicacy. The 

 higher classes are very hospitable to strangers, and 

 possess a frankness and politeness of demeanour which 

 is seldom found in the other cities of Spain. Cadiz 

 had formerly a French theatre and an Italian opera, 

 both of which were of short duration. The building 

 of the latter has been converted into a reading room, 

 called the Camorra. The national theatre is built 

 and laid out with great taste, and is both large and 

 commodious. It is the great resort of the higher 

 classes ; but every part of the house is private pro- 

 perty, except one bench in front of the boxes. Ga- 

 ming is the prevailing vice of this city, and is, in 

 general, carried to a very censurable extent. An 

 amusement common in Cadiz, is mentioned by Mr 

 Semple in his second journey in Spain, which 

 presents us with a faint specimen of the ancient 

 tournament, and is to be met with, perhaps, in 

 but few other parts of Europe. " A stand, orna 

 mcnted with the arms of Spain," says he, was 

 erected in the centre of the great market-place, on 

 which were placed bated swords and daggers of va 

 rious lengths. A tall old man, with a large rapier, 

 acted as umpire of the lists: the people collected, 

 and a large ring was made. A champion approach- 

 ed, examined the weapons, and having found one to 

 suit his purpose, he grasped it, and threw down his 

 glove upon the ground. After walking to and fro 



for some time, an antagonist presented himself, who 

 1 then threw it dowi writh 

 . .th a sword ; the two 

 iied, touch -d ihnr hats to rnch other, 

 Hjlntrd the rrux.tr <.f ih littU. and tried the length 

 of ih'-u \. . old man 



jrrwt !. by a motion .-pier, ant! 



haul It was contested with great sk 



both \fter a certain number or hits, the um- 

 pire declared v> ho was tl, The two par- 

 ties then went round the ring, collecting donations in 

 the hilts of their swords ; and, if they had shewn 

 much .skill, had seldom reason to comp' 



" If the combatants at ai.y time became irritated, 

 the umpire separated them until they grew cool. In 

 the very heat of the affray, while swords and daggers 

 wen- clashing, and the spectators watching the ges- 

 tures of the combatants in profound silence, the iun- 

 set bell tolled, and tiie weapons were immediately de- 

 posited upon the stand, all hats were off, and the 

 crowd dispersed, muttering the evening prayers to 

 the virgin." 



During the fine seasons of the year, parties of 

 pleasure crowd to Chiclana, a village about four 

 leagues from Cadi/, and which consists chiefly of 

 pleasure-houses belonging to the inhabitants of that 

 city. It is a most delightful spot, and commands a 

 fine view of the bay, the town, and the sea. But, 

 in the midst of pleasure and profusion, this city is 

 attended with one very great inconvenience the 

 want of good water. Its well water is hard, brack- 

 ish, and unwholesome ; and what is generally used is 

 brought from the port of St Mary, in boats kept 

 for the purpose, the annual expence of which is esti- 

 mated at about L. 20, 000. This resource, however, 

 also sometimes fails them, particularly in times of 

 drought, or even when the sea is rough, or the winds 

 contrary. What they use for the domestic purposes 

 of washing, &c. is the rain-water which falls in the 

 inner courts of the houses, and is collected in cisterns. 

 The ice, which is used in great quantities, for cool- 

 ing wine, making creams, &c. is brought from the 

 mountains of Ronda. 



Cadiz is the see of a bishop, who is a suffragan to 

 the archbishop of Seville. The see was removed from 

 Asidonh to this city in 1262, in the reign of Alphonso 

 the Wise, when the church of Santa Cruz was erect- 

 ed into a cathedral. Its diocese extends only over 

 fifteen districts, containing twenty-eight parishes. 

 The chapter of the cathedral is composed of six dig- 

 nitaries, ten canons, four prebendaries, and eight de- 

 mi-prebendaries. The government of Cadiz consists 

 of a governor, a king's lieutenant, two assistant ma- 

 jors, and two alcades major for the administration of 

 justice ; and, as this city is one of the three depart- 

 ments of the royal navy, it has also a captain general, 

 a major-inteudant, an accountant-general, two treasu- 

 rers, a post captain, a marine minister, and two ma- 

 rine auditors. Since Seville tell into the hands of 

 the French, it has been the residence of the supreme 

 legislature, and of the executive government of the 

 kingdom. 



The bay of Cadiz is one of the finest in the world j 



CidJ*. 



tot. V. PART I. 



Lucius Cornelius Balbus ; Cauius ; Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella. 



2 A 



