Born at Ecija, near Seville, in 1808, he came to Madrid in 1833, and was admitted an Advocate in the courts of law, but has been since engaged actively in conducting various publications, principally of a political character. He has been several times chosen member of the legislature, and had to undertake his share of public duties, but he has declined office, and in his whole public life shown a freedom from ambition, remarkable, as Del Rio intimates, from the contrast it presents with the conduct of other men of far inferior abilities. He has announced ‘A History of the Regency of Queen Christina,’ of which he has published a preliminary volume, comprising a detail of antecedent events. He has also written various plays and poems, but not of such a character as to be worthy of his fame as a public speaker and journalist. His life of Martinez de la Rosa, given in a publication entitled ‘Galeria de Españoles celebres contemporaneos, 1842,’ (which work has now extended to many volumes, including persons of distinction in all ranks of life,) is very pleasingly written, and has been taken as the principal authority in this compilation. 31. Page 176. “Rights of the Basque people.” For a just statement of these rights, see the late Earl of Carnarvon’s ‘Portugal and Galicia,’ vol. ii. 32. Page 180. “Observation may apply to English verse.” Our best poets, and Milton especially, afford many exemplifications of this practice. O’er many a frozen, many a fiery alp, Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens and shades of death … Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things Abominable, inutterable and worse. Many of our syllables also are in effect double syllables, as in the words _brave_, _grave_, _clave_, &c., as singers often have to regret, causing them, on that account, to slur over them. But these rules are only a continuation of Quinctilian’s maxim, “Optime de illa judicant aures. Quædam arte tradi non possunt.” 33. Page 181. “The Roman friend,” &c. See note 23 to the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold. 34. Page 183. “I saw upon the shady Thames.” Vi en el Tàmesis umbrio Cien y cien naves cargadas De riqueza; Vi su inmenso poderio Sus artes tan celebradas Su grandeza. Mas el ànima afligida Mil suspiros exhalaba Y ayes mil; Y ver la orilla florida Del manso Dauro anhelaba Y del Genil. Vi de la soberbia corte Las damas engalanadas Muy vistosas; Vi las bellezas del norte De blanca nieve formadas Y de rosas. Sus ojos de azul del cielo, De oro puro parecia Su cabello; Bajo transparente velo Turgente el seno se via Blanco y bello. Mas que valen los brocados Las sedas y pedreria De la ciudad? Que los rostros sonrosados La blancura y gallardia Ni la beldad?