CATALONIA. 



The roads in tliis province are in general bad, and 

 notwithstanding the industry of its inhabitants in o- 

 ther respects, they are almost totally neglected. There 

 are very few bridges, and in rainy weather the tra- 

 veller is liable to be constantly stopped by the rivers, 

 which, in that season, descend in torrents from the 

 mountains. Goods are conveyed in carts drawn by 

 four or five mules, yoked in a line, which carry im- 

 mense weights ; and the Catalans are reckoned the 

 most expert and careful drivers in Spain. 



Catalonia, from the remotest times, has been fa- 

 mous for its manufactures ; and here every profession 

 that is connected with the useful arts is as much ho- 

 noured and respected, as in the other provinces it is 

 despised. Its woollen and cotton stuffs, silks, vel- 

 vets, and linens, were celebrated even in the 13th 

 century; and though its manufactures and commerce 

 afterwards met with several severe checks, and were 

 almost annihilated in the 16th and the beginning of 

 the 1 8th century, yet from that time their revival has 

 been gradual and constant ; and it is now the most 

 active and industrious province in the kingdom. Be- 

 sides cloths of almost every description, it has ma- 



nufacturei of all kind* of stocking*, beet, tape*, 

 nets, ribbons, Sec. ; alo iron ware, cutlery, earthen 

 ware, and shoes, for exportation ; and above 200 

 mills arc employed in making p*;>-r, which produce 

 ,!!y about 4S(),(KK) reams, estimated at 160,0001 

 sterling. These articles, together with its natural 

 productions, supply Catalonia with many valuable 

 exports ; and its great extent of coast and excellent 

 harbours, render it peculiarly favourable for an ex- 

 tensive commerce. Its inhabitants have indeed pro- 

 fited by these advantages. The sea-ports are filled 

 with ships, and peopled by traders and seamen, who 

 are equally industrious with their brethren in the in- 

 terior. Of its coarse cloths and serges, the greatest 

 part is made up into clothing for the troops, and 

 sent to the different provinces of Spain ; the fine 

 cloths are carried to Madrid, Arragon, &c. Two third* 

 of its linens, cotton-velvets, nankeens and muslins, 

 are exported to the colonies ; about one-twelfth and 

 a half is kept for the consumption of the province; 

 and the remaining two-twelfths and a half are sold 

 in the markets or the peninsula. About 10,000 do- 

 zen of silk-handkerchiefs and sashes, manufactured 

 at Manresa, are annually sent to Arragon, Biscay, 

 and the two Castiles, and 35,000 to America: 30,000 

 quintals of cork, and 4-70,000 reams of paper, are 

 exported to different parts of Europe : England re- 

 ceives 20,000 sacks of nuts ; 10,000 pipes of bran- 

 dy are sent to the same place ; 4,000 to Guernsey 

 and Alderney, and about 20,000 to Holland and 

 the north of Europe : 8,000 loads of oil are carried 

 to France and Holland, and 4,000 loads of wine to 

 Italy : 200,000 pairs of shoes go to America, and 

 500,000 are distributed in the interior of the king- 

 dom : and of 24,000 pairs of worsted stockings fur- 

 nished by the town of Vicq, one half pass into the 

 adjacent provinces. A considerable quantity of silks 

 and silk stockings, are exported to the New World, 

 which also receives fire-arms, iron-ware, printed ca- 

 licoes, laces, &c. The sweepings of houses which 

 are shipped annually fr >m Barcelona, amount to near- 

 ly 60,000 ducats. The following Table givrs an ex- 

 act account of the quantity and value of its principal 

 exports. 





