OF GIBRALTAR. 51 



and vegetables, is divided into two meals in the day ; the 

 breakfast at eight, A.M., consisting of bread and coffee ; 

 and the dinner at one, P.M., consisting of the beef and 

 potatoes, or any other vegetable which may be pro- 

 vided. There is no regulated evening meal ; most 

 of the soldiers resort in the evenings, when off duty, 

 to wine-houses and taverns; and since the Tempe- 

 rance Coffee-room was opened, under the superinten- 

 dence of Captain Carter, of the " Royals," a few spend 

 their leisure hours there. If, by any possible means, 

 an evening meal could be established throughout the 

 service, I am sure the result would be very beneficial ; 

 for, as it is, eighteen hours is too long fasting for 

 healthy men. The poorer classes of the civil popula- 

 tion subsist chiefly upon fish and vegetables, which 

 are to be had, in great abundance, both cheap and 

 good. The beef is of cattle imported from Barbary ; 

 but, though stall-fed just before killed, it rarely equals 

 the common kinds of English beef. Nor is the mut- 

 ton much better. English mutton, brought by the 

 steam packets, is highly prized ; it is seldom seen but 

 in the regimental messes, where the demand for a 

 " slice of English mutton" is more frequently made 

 than for any other dish. Veal and lamb, of inferior 

 qualities, are also sold in the market ; pork is by far 

 the best meat in Gibraltar. Poultry is abundant, 

 and tolerably cheap. Seldom is there any other game 

 than hares, red-legged partridges, and quails, found in 

 the market. 



The government of this settlement is in the hands 

 of the governor, who is also the general officer com- 



E 2 



