Society in Valencia differs little from society in other Spanish cities of the south. Many persons of high rank and great wealth, reside in Valencia; but they live without any display, and many of them even shabbily, sending to the wine shop for two bottles of wine, and to the cook shop for a stew. Among the middle classes, the Tertulia is universal; but its monotony is usually relieved by music and dancing. I had good opportunities at Valencia, of judging of the manners of the Valencian women; and I found among them, that agreeable vivacity--that ready wit--that perfect freedom from affectation--and that obliging disposition, which render them the most charming triflers in the world; and the graces of music and dancing, in which they almost all excel, greatly heighten the pleasure one finds in their society. But in Valencia, more than in any other city, I was struck with the absence of that mental cultivation, without which, vivacity, wit, and even good temper, must fatigue, or become insipid. I need scarcely say how much I was surprised, when one day showing a lady the beautiful sketch of the Alhambra, from which the engraving in this work is taken, she said, “what is the Alhambra?” It is a curious fact, that in Valencia society, professional men are not to be found. Neither law nor medicine carry with them any respectability in that city: I could obtain no explanation of this; but perhaps there, as elsewhere, riches are the best passport to society; and I was informed, that the fees paid to medical men are so low, that not one physician in Valencia makes 100_l._ per annum. On the Sunday before I left Valencia, I walked to the port, which is situated about two miles distant from the city. Passing towards the bridge, I met a religious procession issuing from one of the churches, carrying with it the pope’s bull, published that day in every church of the city, granting permission to eat animal food during the approaching Lent: this resource of the papal exchequer, I should think fast declining. A fine broad avenue leads in nearly a straight line, from Valencia to its port, which is but an insignificant place, with a harbour, suitable only for boats; and a roadstead very ill protected against a south or south-west wind. The view from the end of the pier, laid open the whole reach of that wide bay which lies between Cape St. Antonio and the high lands in the neighbourhood of Propesa; but, excepting the charm of a calm sea, there was little more to attract. Between the port and the city, the country on both sides of the avenue is laid out in vegetable gardens, for the consumption of the town. At this season,--the month of December,--every kind of choice vegetable was seen upon the table, particularly cauliflower, and green peas, which I ate in the utmost perfection at Valencia.