the robber stories to which poor Spain is indebted for its popular reputation of a country of cut-throats and highwaymen. Amongst the measures adopted for the extirpation of banditti, was the establishment of the _guardias civiles_, a species of gendarmerie, dressed upon the French model, and who, from their stations in towns, patrol the roads and wander about the country in the same prying and important style observable amongst their brethren of the cocked hat north of the Pyrenees. Spaniards have a sneaking regard for bold robbers, whom they look upon as half-brothers of the contrabandist--that popular hero of the Peninsula: they have also an innate dislike of policemen, and a still stronger one for every thing French. They have bestowed upon the Frenchified _guardias_ the appellations of _polizones_,--a word borrowed from their neighbours,--and of _hijos de Luis Felipe_, sons of Louis Philippe. "Spaniards," saith Richard Ford, "are full of dry humour;" he might have added, and of sharp wit. Nothing escapes them: they are ever ready with a sarcasm on public men and passing events, and when offended, especially when their pride is hurt, they become savage in their satire. When it was attempted to force Count Trapani upon Spain as a husband for the Queen, the indignation of the people burst out in innumerable jokes and current allusions, any thing but flattering to the Neapolitan prince. Every thing filthy and disgusting received his name. In the Madrid coffee-houses, when a dirty table was to be wiped, the cry was invariably for a _Trapani_, instead of a _trapo_, the Spanish word for a dishclout or rag used for the most unclean purposes. Since then, the Duke of Montpensier has come in for his share of insulting jests. The Madrilenos got all unfounded notion that he was short-sighted, and made the most of it. Mr. Hughes was at a bull-fight where one of the bulls showed the white feather, and ran from the _picador_. "The crowd instantly exclaimed, '_Fuera el toro Monpenseer! Fuera Monpenseer!_ Turn him out!' They used to call every lame dog and donkey a _Trapani_; and now every blind animal is sure to be christened a _Monpenseer_."