June.] CITY OF CADIZ — BORDEAUX. 491 



zenith, and was then on the decline. The emperor was at that time 

 on his fatal expedition into Russia, and Wellington was driving the 

 French from every part of Spain. They were defeated at Salamanca 

 on the 21st of July, and Madrid was captured by the British on the 

 12th of August. On the 26th of the same month the siege of Cadiz 

 was raised. 



All my readers are well aware, I presume, that this is a large and 

 rich city of Spain, in the province of Andalusia ; that it is seated on an 

 island, and that it has an excellent harbour. The island is about 

 eighteen miles in length, and generally nine in breadth ; but the north- 

 west end, on which the city stands, is not two miles broad. It has a 

 communication with the continent by a bridge, and the bay formed by 

 this island is about twelve miles in length and six in breadth. The 

 south side is inaccessible by sea, because it is lined with craggy rocks ; 

 and the passage into the harbour is commanded by two forts, called the 

 Puntal and Malagorda. It is in lat. 36° 32' N., long. 6° 18' W. 



With very few exceptions, the streets of Cadiz are narrow, ill paved, 

 insufferably filthy, and horribly odorific. The houses have all flat 

 roofs, covered with impenetrable cement, and are generally surmounted 

 with a turret which commands a view of the sea. High above all 

 these soars the tower of signals, where flags are hung out on the first 

 sight of a vessel, denoting her size, rig, and national character. 



There are a few pleasant spots about Cadiz, one of which is called 

 the Almeda, a public promenade, much resorted to in the evening. It 

 cannot vie, however, with the Battery promenade of the city of New- 

 York ; as its exposure to the winds of the ocean prevents the trees 

 thriving, and precludes all hopes of future shade. 



Westward of the Almeda, is Campo Santo, an extensive esplanade, 

 the only airing for coaches ; opposite to which is the fortress of St. 

 Sebastian, erected on a neck of land running out into the sea. The 

 round tower at the extremity of this fortress is supposed to have saved 

 the city from being swept away by the fury of the waves in the dread- 

 ful earthquake of 1755. 



The population of Cadiz is computed at about one hundred thousand. 

 It is one of the most ancient cities of Europe, and was founded by the 

 Phenicians. It was afterward a Roman town, and still presents several 

 interesting remains of Roman antiquities. Cadiz is about forty-five 

 miles west of Gibraltar, and Malaga bears from it east-by-north, dis- 

 tant thirty leagues. 



June 20th. — On leaving Cadiz, we steered to the west, and after- 

 ward to the north, coasting the kingdom of Portugal, a distance of 

 more than three hundred miles, to the Bay of Biscay, and arrived at 

 Bordeaux on Monday, the 20th day of June. Here we discharged our 

 cargo, and took another on board for New- York, and were again ready 

 to sail on the 14th of July. 



Bordeaux is one of the most ancient cities of France, and was for- 

 merly the metropolis of the late province of Guienne, now the depart- 

 ment of Gironde. It is situated in a beautiful fertile valley, on the 

 bank of the river Garonne, which afterward assumes the name of 

 Gironde. It is three hundred and twenty-five miles south-west of 



