536 SPAIN. 



comes into his coffers. He finds means, however, in case of a war, or 

 public emergency, to-sequester into his own hands great part of the 

 American treasures belonging to his subjects ; who never complain, 

 because they are always punctually repaid with interest. The finan- 

 ces of his present catholic majesty are in better order, both for him- 

 self and his people, than those of the greater part of his predecessors. 



As to the taxes whence the internal revenues arise, they are 

 various, arbitrary, and so much suited to cbnveniency, that we cannot 

 state them with any certainty. They are laid upon all kinds of goods, 

 houses, lands, timber, and provisions ; the clergy and military orders 

 are likewise taxed. 



The national debt amounted in 1783 to 81,364,000 dollars ; in 1790 

 to 123,200,000; in 1800, 203,000,000, and in 1809 to 31 1,000,000. This 

 debt has been principally created, by the government issuing notes 

 called vales reales, redeemable at the pleasure of the king, and bear- 

 ing but a moderate interest. Their value varies, but they are always 

 under par, and sometimes as low as 30 per cent, discount. 



Military and marine sTRENGTH....The land forces of the crown 

 of Spain, in time of peace, are never fewer than 70,000 ; but in case 

 of war they amount to a much more considerable force. In 1807 at 

 the commencement of the war with France, it consisted of the follow- 

 ing corps : royal guards 650 ; guards 3000 ; the kings carbiniers 

 73,000; infantry of the line 92,240, inclusive of six Swiss regiments; 

 light infantry 7000; artillery 6000 ; "corps of engineers 1396; cavalry 

 18,000. Total 20 1,286, besides 50,000 trained militia. As these troops 

 were however, badly cloathed, badly armed and worse officered, the 

 effective force, fit for service, must have been much less. The great 

 dependence of the king, is upon his Walloon or foreign guards. His 

 present catholic majesty has been at great care and expence to raise 

 a powerful marine. The Spanish fleet in Europe and America, con- 

 sisted in 1808, of 218 sail; 42 of which were ships of the line, 30 

 frigates, 20 corvettes, 4 zebecks, 40 brigantines, 15 bomb-ships and 

 67 smaller vessels. All along the coast of Spain are watch-towers 

 from mile to mile, with lights and guards at night : so that from 

 Cadiz to Barcelona, and from Bilboa to Ferrol, the whole kingdom 

 may be soon alarmed in case of an invasion. 



Royal arms, titles, nobility, and orders... .Spain formerly 

 comprehended twelve kingdoms, all of which, with several others? 

 were, by name, entered into the royal titles, so that they amounted 

 in all to about thirty-two. This absurd custom is still occasionally 

 continued, but the king is now generally contented with the title of 

 His Catholic Majesty. The kings of Spain are inaugurated by the 

 delivery of a sword, without being crowned. Their signature never 

 mentions their name, but I the king. Their eldest son is called 

 prince of Austurias, and their younger children of both sexes are, 

 by way of distinction, called infants, or infantas, that is, children. 



The armorial bearing of the kings of Spain, like their tide, is 

 loaded with the arms of all their kingdoms. It is now a shield? 

 divided into four quarters, of which the uppermost on the right 

 hand, and the lowest on the left, contain a castle or, with three 

 lowers, for Castile ; and in the uppermost on the left, and^the lowest 

 on the right, are three lions gules, for Leon ; with three lilies in the 

 centre for Anjou. 



The general name for those Spanish nobility and gently who are 

 unmixed with the Moorish blood, is Hidalgo, They are divided into 



