THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR. 251 



the Mediterranean the great tideless sea around the 

 shores of which civilization had clung so long before reach- 

 ing to the New World where so much of glory had 

 appeared and where the shores were paved with the 

 ruins of ancient magnificence. 



We stopped at Malta, and also at Algiers ; but made no 

 stay at either of those places. After a remarkably quick 

 passage, we came in sight of the great rock of Gibraltar, 

 and the strongest fortress in the world. The fortress lies 

 on the west side of a huge promontory, projecting south- 

 ward into the sea about three miles. The north side 

 fronting the low and narrow isthmus, which connects it 

 with the main land, is perpendicular, and wholly inacces- 

 sible ; the east and south sides, steep and rugged, and ex- 

 tremely difficult of access. It is only on the west 

 side, where the rock declines to the sea, and where the 

 town is built, that Gibraltar can be attacked with the 

 faintest hope of success. Here, however, the fortifications 

 are so strong that they seem impregnable even to an 

 enemy commanding the sea. 



Entering the town of Gibraltar, we found it a handsome, 

 well-built place. The principal street is broad, paved in a 

 substantial style, and lighted by numerous lamps. The 

 chief fault observable, is that the houses are generally 

 built in a style better suited for the climate of England 

 than that of Spain. This circumstance accounts for the 



