convite'. 



S09 



rate himself. But the Biscay an was too judici- 

 ous to risk tiring his audience with any more of 

 the pie after this last happy sally, so catching up 

 a guitar, an instrument always at hand wherever 

 Spanish is spoken, and casting his eye round the 

 company, he addressed an extempore verse to 

 each of the principal guests ; then jumping off the 

 table, on which he had seated himself to play the 

 guitar, he set about imitating the manner of walk- 

 ing and speaking of five or six different provinces 

 of Spain. This mimicry, though lost upon us, 

 appeared to be so accurately done, that he could 

 scarcely begin an imitation, before a number of 

 voices called out " Gaditano " Gallego or 

 whatever might be the province the manners of 

 which he was representing. 



His last feat was one which certainly would not 

 have been permitted a year or two before in a 

 country so bigotted, or indeed in any country un- 

 der Spanish control. Having taken a table-cloth, 

 he dressed himself like a priest, and assuming 

 the most ludicrous gravity of countenance, went 

 through a part of the ceremony of high mass, to 

 the infinite delight of the company, who shook 



VOL. II. o 



