' circular table, 14 feet 7 inches high, 6 feet 7 inch- 
es in diameter. It is adorned with the statues of the 
nacle is inclosed another, more 
: 
: 
: 
L 
i 
on of vermilion stone, 
gold. Two doors of rock crystal, stud- 
; at the two sides, and the whole, 
edernlble terminates in a dome, on the 
it 
= 
oF 
oe 
A 
i 
‘i 
» The sacristy is included in one beautiful nave, 93 
Sashaciaardaattes: tear and is enriched with re- 
lics, s, chalices, crosses, chandeliers, and paint- 
of inestimable value. On the altar called Santa For- 
adorned with the finest marble and bronzes, is pre- 
served a splendid tabernacle, presented by the Empcror 
of this church contains many articles of 
900 marks of silver, and 36 marks of 
egorical statue of the city of Messina, 
gold, weighing 
; a small temple of gilt bronze, more than 100 
feet high, adorned with eight Doric columns, and sur- 
se puaverfaviege topes Oo tie! attached to 
a cross t silver, having a on head, a 
ruby in.each hand, didn tealliant stone, an inch in die 
meter, at the feet, which was long considered as a dia- 
mond. 
» The of interment for the 1 family of Spain, 
teed the Fathcon It is below the char a 
most splendid the Escurial. 
Seonranen steps, which form the first staircase, 
Its walls and arches are encrusted with the finest mar- 
ble, and/it leads to a landing’place of a round form, de- 
eorated in a similar manner. After continuing to de- 
scend some stairs, we discover a beautiful front, formed 
by 10 marble Doric columns, the ornaments of which 
Matar; inaiGoo wRab oper 
, and the other Hope. 
steps, we advance to the apartment, i 
Scetepiotach/sheeaigeapupieirn, magn 
apartment, b ‘ ‘still more i- 
fient, are interred the remains of the kings and queens. 
It has the form of an octagon, and is $1 feet in diame- 
ter and 33 feet high, and is incrusted with beautiful 
marbles of various colours, and decorated with gilt 
bronze. The door is.in one of the angles, and imme-~ 
diately opposite to it is the altar ; the other six angles 
VOL, IX. PARTI. 
‘201 
-Fresneriaja 
among these are a statue of St Lorenzo, . 
? ‘ESN 
are separated by 16 double Corinthian pilasters. In the 
intervals pape Ber 24 urns or ‘aide, four being in 
each angle. There are other two beyond the entrance, 
restin gon the claws ofa iy oF. tig and keel mar- 
ble. vereigns, en ci of the Austrian dynasty, 
occupy fourteen thease ibe each ee having 
an appropriate inscription. Only two of the princes of 
the French line are interred here. A large bronze 
lamp, surrounded with 
centre. : ‘ , 
On the east and sh aa ace are a series of 
gardens supported with walls, and laid out in terraces, 
which give them the appearance of hanging gardens. 
The ground. is very aA and the 
them are disposed in the form of an amphitheatre. In- 
—- Aang eo stairs form the communication 
on 
A beautiful road, about a quarter of a leagtie in length, 
and planted on both sides with lofty elms and linden 
trees, leads to the village of the Escurial. A’ subterra- 
neous corridor, arched with freestone, and called the 
Mina, leads also to the village. — Another road leads to 
house situated a quarter of a league 
to the east of the palace, and)in the centre of it is a piaz- 
Za, su by Doric columns, ‘The road to Madrid 
is ex t, but is h anaked country, without 
fields or pastures. In going from Madrid, it first winds 
along the Manzanarez, and leaving theCasa del Campo, it 
-passes Pardo, and then three houses in succession, where 
relays of horses are provided. It then conducts to Valde 
Morillo, from whence the Escurial is first seen, = 
The beautiful gardens of the Escurial are intersected 
‘by woods and meadows, containing numerous streams 
.and fountains, and small lakes abounding with ‘fish. In 
the middle of one of these lakes is a Mer st nr 
adorned with eight columns, and encircled with a little 
garden bordered by a ballustrade. 2 ae tnge 
The lofty mountains which separate the province of 
Old and New Castile, surround the Escurial. 
are dreary, bare, and uncultivated. | Spacious reservoirs 
have been ‘constructed in these mountains for collect- 
ing the water, which is conveyed by an aqueduct to sup- 
ply 92 fountains. The royal family, before the Spanish 
revolution, inhabited the Escurial from September to 
December, “a season almost wholly eniployed in devo- 
tion. Since the invasion of Spain by the French, the 
internal decorations of the Escurial have been greatly in- 
jured, and the finest paintings have been carried to the 
vre. The position of the Escurial; according to trigo: 
nometrical observations, is West Longitude 4° 7’ 50’, 
and North Latitude 40° 35’ 50’. See Townshend's T7'ra- 
véls in Spain, vol. ii.; Laborde’s View-of Spain, vol. v. 
p. 148—155 ; Link’s Journey through Portugal, p. 302 ; 
and. Francisco de los Padros Description breve del Mo- 
nasterio de \S. Lorenzo el real del Escorial. (7) 
ESCUTCHEON. See Heratpry. - 
_ ESK. See Dumrnries-siiee, Forrarsuine, and Mid 
Loruran. 
. ESNEH, or Aswna, the Latopolis of the ancients, is 
an im town in Upper Egypt, situated to the west 
of the Nile, between Assouan and Cous, © This place is 
remarkable for its public baths, and its commerce. The 
Mahometans haye several mosques here, and the Copts a 
church, which is served by two priests. The Copts from 
the most ‘distant provinces of the kingdom, repair hither 
asa place of pilgrimage. The surrounding country is 
rich and well cultivated, abounding in grain and fruit. 
In the chain of mountains which Meh ee to the east 
of the Nile, and almost! opposite to Esneh, are quarries 
2c 
Escurial 
Baek: 
eens 
24 chandeliers, hangs from the » 
x part of . 
