130 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



ish troops who gained the battle of Talavera were men drafted 

 from the militia at home, and that they had but very recently 

 joined the army in Spain. 



Coming up from the Eoodee, we visited the castle. It is 

 of no importance in a military way, except as a depot. There 

 are 30,000 stand of arms, and a large quantity of gunpowder 

 stored in it. It is garrisoned by an Irish regiment at present, 

 which, as well as the yeomanry, has a very good band of 

 music, by which the town benefits. 



We afterwards visited the public baths and wash-house. 

 In its basement there are twenty square tubs, each with hot 

 and cold water cocks, wash-board, and pounder, a drying- 

 closet heated by steam to 212 F., &c. In the first story are 

 the usual private baths, and a swimming tank or public bath, 

 having a constant influx of fresh water by a jet from below, 

 and an overflow. It is 45 by 36 feet, 2^ feet deep at one 

 end, 6 at the other, contains -36,000 gallons, and is furnished 

 with swings, diving-stage, life-buoys, &c. It was built by a 

 committee of the citizens, and bought by the town very soon 

 after it went into operation. The whole cost was $10,000, 

 most of which was raised by a stock subscription. The water 

 is supplied from the canal, and is all filtered the cost of the 

 filtering machine being $200. The principal items of current 

 expenses are fuel and salaries. The cost of coal (very low 

 here) is $5 a week. There are four persons constantly em 

 ployed in the establishment, viz., superintendent and wife, who 

 are paid $10 a week, and receive something besides as perqui 

 sites (supplying bathing-dresses, for instance, at a small charge); 

 the bath- attendant, and the fireman, who each have $7 50 a 

 week. Total salaries $25 a week. The charges for the use of 

 the clothes-washing conveniences is about one cent an hour. 

 For the baths it varies from two to twenty-five cents, select 



