INTRODUCTION. 



xxi 



profound refervednefs and afFeded flifFnefs which fo diftinguiflies 

 the Spaniard. Men, whatever may be pretended, are in ge- 

 neral better pleafed with infincere civility and fraudulent urba- 

 nity, than with rigid, ungracious integrity; otherwife how 

 could France y a nation fo confeffedly cunning and deceitful, or their 

 language, whofe phrafe and idiom is fo nicely adapted thereto, 

 and which indeed feems to be good for little elfe, have fo deeply 

 infinuated themfelves into the courts of Europe. With regard 

 to induftry, all the world knows that the Spa7nards are utterly 

 devoid of that ; nor can there be pointed out a more lazy and 

 flothful people upon the face of the earth. Of this, three caufes 

 may be principally affigned ; the one arifes from the heat of the 

 climate, the other from their over-weening pride, which will 

 fcarcely allow them to do any labour ; and the third from 

 their fuperllition, which crowds the year fo full of holidays, 

 that if they v/ere willing to work, they could hardly find op- 

 portunity ; but from whatever it fprings, it is without doubt one 

 of the main producers of the reigning poverty of their country ; 

 for the luxuries and refinements of life, which are almofl in- 

 difpenfibly created wherever money can be raifed to fupport them ; 

 as likewife common conveniencies and neceflities mufi: be fupplied, 

 the Spaniards among themfelves contributing but little towards 

 the fupplying of either; thofe wants are gratified by their 

 more induftrious neighbours ; and as without doubt each holds 

 up the price of his peculiar commodities to the greateft height 

 he is able, the larger moiety of the treafures drawn from 



the 



