Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive) Every attempt has been made to replicate the original book as printed. Some typographical errors have been corrected (a list follows the text). No attempt has been made to correct or normalize the printed accentuation or spelling of Spanish names or words. (etext transcriber’s note) GATHERINGS FROM SPAIN. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE HANDBOOK OF SPAIN; CHIEFLY SELECTED FROM THAT WORK, WITH MUCH NEW MATTER. _NEW EDITION._ LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1851. TO THE HONOURABLE MRS. FORD, These pages, which she has been so good as to peruse and approve of, are dedicated, in the hopes that other fair readers may follow her example, By her very affectionate Husband and Servant, RICHARD FORD. PREFACE. Many ladies, some of whom even contemplate a visit to Spain, having condescended to signify to the publisher their regrets, that the Handbook was printed in a form, which rendered its perusal irksome, and also to express a wish that the type had been larger, the Author, to whom this distinguished compliment was communicated, has hastened to submit to their indulgence a few extracts and selections, which may throw some light on the character of a country and people, always of the highest interest, and particularly so at this moment, when their independence is once more threatened by a crafty and aggressive neighbour. In preparing these compilations for the press much new matter has been added, to supply the place of portions omitted; for, in order to lighten the narrative, the Author has removed much lumber of learning, and has not scrupled occasionally to throw Strabo, and even Saint Isidore himself, overboard. Progress is the order of the day in Spain, and its advance is the more rapid, as she was so much in arrear of other nations. Transition is the present condition of the country, where yesterday is effaced by to-morrow. There the relentless march of European intellect is crushing many a native wild flower, which, having no value save colour and sweetness, must be rooted up before cotton-mills are constructed and bread stuffs substituted; many a trait of nationality in manners and costume is already effaced; monks are gone, and mantillas are going, alas! going.