The Spanish capital is probably the dearest capital in Europe; and this cannot excite surprise, when it is considered that Madrid is situated in the midst of a sterile country, where there is no pasture land, no rivers, scarcely any gardens, and no communication with the sea, or with any of the distant and more productive provinces. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the markets are well supplied; and all kinds of meat, poultry, game, vegetables, and fruit, may be had of an excellent quality: fish, and milk, are the only scarce articles. In the following enumeration, the best quality of every article is understood; it is not easy to render the prices with precision, into English money, because they are generally reckoned in _quartos_; but if the reader recollects that eight quartos are nearly 2¼_d._, one quarto being 18/64ths of a penny, it will be no difficult calculation to bring the prices to English value. Beef, per lb. of 14 oz. 18 quartos. Veal, per lb. 30 quartos. Mutton, per lb. 18 quartos. Pork, per lb. 20 quartos. The price of fish cannot be stated with accuracy; it is never seen excepting in winter, and the supply is so precarious, that it is impossible to approach the truth. Bread, of the first quality, is 14 quartos per lb.; the second quality 10. Ordinary wine of La Mancha, 21 quartos. A fine fowl, 6 reals (1_s._ 6_d._). A chicken, from 7_d._ to 10_d._ A duck, from 1_s._ 8_d._ to 2_s._ 1_d._ A goose, 3_s._ 6_d._ A turkey, from 4_s._ to 10_s._, according to the season. Turkeys, in Madrid, are not sold in the markets, but are driven through the streets. I have several times bought a small turkey for 3_s._ Pigeons, 1_s._ 6_d._ or 1_s._ 8_d._ a couple. Coffee, 1_s._ 8_d._ per lb. Chocolate, 2_s._ 6_d._ per lb. Green tea, 10_s._ Black tea, 12_s._; but it is scarcely to be found. Sugar, 1_s._ 8_d._, equal to English sugar at 11_d._ The natives use sugar at 10_d._; but it is dirty and bad. Goat’s milk 4_d._ a pint during summer,--half that price in winter; cow’s milk is difficult to be had in summer,--in winter it is 3_d._ a pint; Flanders butter 2_s._ 6_d._ per lb.; salted butter, from the Asturias and Galicia, may also be had at 1_s._ 6_d._; but it is not good. Vegetables are rather dearer than in England, especially potatoes. Fruit is always excellent and cheap. A melon, such as cannot be seen either in France or England, costs 5_d._; these are the Valencia melons, extremely pale, and of the most exquisite flavour. The finest Muscatel grapes are 1½_d._ per lb.