OF THE SPANIARDS. 



immediate danger and difficulties, especially so to 

 strangers : for notwithstanding their habitual jeal- 

 ousy, their prejudices never interfered with their 

 cordial hospitality, and even generosity to all fo- 

 reigners, who treat them with frankness and con- 

 fidence. A Don, it is well known, is the most 

 stately of mortals, to those who treat him with 

 hauteur or reserve ; but to those who really con- 

 fide in, and treat him, not precisely in a familiar 

 manner, but in what they term " un modo corri- 

 ente,''' he becomes as cordial and open as any 

 man. 



The above Spanish phrase describes the man- 

 ners of a man, who without departing from his 

 own natural character, is desirous of pleasing, 

 and willing to take all things as he finds them, 

 and in good part ; which we term in English an 

 off-hand manner. 



The judgment which men form of national 

 questions is often irresistibly influenced by the 

 feelings of private friendship, which they bear to 

 a few of the individuals of that nation ; and al- 

 though I have said nothing of the Spaniards, 

 which is not perfectly notorious to all the world ; 



