1810.] 
religious as the “ oration,” which is a 
prayer said every evening about half-past 
five o’clock ; it is a time when the whole 
nation are at once supposed to be offer- 
ing up than's for their preservation in the 
past day, and imploring the continuance 
of God’s protection; the solemnity of 
it cannot for the moment be exceeded. 
The time is announced by the tolling 
of a bell, when every one pauses in bis 
occupation and conversation; in the 
streets the men stand uncovered, and the 
Jadies bend their eyes to the ground ; 
the most profound silence existing unul 
the beil again tolls. In all possibie cases 
the Spaniards seem to respect reliyion ; 
for, on passing a church while service 
is performing, every one takes off his hat. 
The popular piece now performing is 
the “ Patnots of Arraygon,” written to 
exhibit many occurrences that have 
happened at the siege of Sarragoza. It is, 
as you may suppose, filled with fine senti- 
ments of loyalty; and the active part 
which the women took in the defence of 
that place, is represented by the intro- 
ducing a band cf-females led by an 
Amazon, who marches them in file to the 
right and Jeft, in the true spirit of cha- 
Facfer 
Ye ought not to suppose that at this 
time the Spamards wanted the stage to 
excite them to loyalty; bat I can already 
discover the mixiure of zeal and in- 
difference, of loyalty and disloyalty, of 
unanimity and oppesition, to the cause 
in which the nation is engaged; and one 
half of the people seem to care but little 
who governs them. 
A comedy was performed last night, 
in which the hero with great humour and 
correctness went through the several 
characters of a porter, a captain in the 
army, a nobleman, a relation in mourn- 
ing, an old léver, a writing-master, and 
Jast of all a father confessor, before he 
could obtain Ins suit with his Dulcinea: 
the last character had its effect, by shew- 
ing the superiority of the clergy over 
other personages, and how little their in- 
tentions are suspected when they ought 
most tobe watched. Voltaire says: 
Les prétres ne sont point ce qu’un yain 
"peuple pense: 
Notre credulite fait tout leur science. 
The people vainly give to piiests a name; 
But our credulity gives them their fame. 
Cadiz has a most beautiful appear- 
ance from the harbour; it is entirely sur- 
rounded by fortifications; the houses are 
all bujlt of stone, neatly white-limed; 
Journal of a recent Voyage to Cadiz. 
8ST 
they are lofty and large. [t has only 
two entrances; one atthe qtiay, the other 
at this end of the peninsulas; at each an 
ofhicer’s guard is always on duty, and the 
gates are locked every night at beat of 
drum. The streets are so narrow that 
two carriages can pass but in few of 
them; they run nearly all at angles, and 
thus a current of air is always flowing 
through them, . 
The houses are lofty, built much alike 
with stone, and on the outside look like 
rows of prisons; for although the windows 
are glazed, they are defended by massive 
iron bars, and very few have any apart- 
ments below stairs, but warehouses, 
The shops make a very indifferent ap- 
pearance, few of them having sashes, 
and their only light is from the door-way s 
_ they are consequently not attractive to 
the eye; and as they seldom lead into the 
house, or if they do, it is the singular 
custom to lock the door while the family 
is at dinner. 
The entrance toa house is by a large 
folding dour into a porch, where is a bell; 
on ringing it the second door is opened 
by pulling a string from above; this door 
leads to the staircase by the side of a 
court, called the “ patio,” which is ugnaily 
covered with marble, and around it arethe 
ware-rouins, cellars, &c.; underneathis a 
tank containing rain-water, which 1s con= 
veyed by pipes from the flat roof of the 
house, and in this manner is obtained 
one-third of the yearly consumption. 
I before toid you of the noisy reception 
we met with on landing; it arose from the 
frequent passing of boats to and fromPort 
St. Mary, a town on the opposite side of 
the Bay ; the boatmen are continualiy in 
a bustle, signifying their departure by the 
cry of “ Puerta!” which they bawl out 
with along accent to the last fetter; to 
this noise is added that of the fruit-sellers, 
and. water-venders, who announce their 
articles in the same sonorous manner... 
Fresh warer is plentifully supplied trom 
port St. Mary, and excepting from the 
rain none else is had here; the svil is 
rock and sand, and therefore if wells are 
sunk thev are brackish, Hundreds of 
men and asses are daily employed to 
supply this ingredient; it is sould in the 
streets by barrow-men, who wheel it about 
in jars, and dispose of it to the poor at 
per glass-ful, to which they add a few 
aromatic seeds, such as Carraway, Corie 
ander, &c. 
(To be continued. ) 
| MEMOIRS 
