hatchets lustily, urged by the strong impulse of necessity, and had the satisfaction of finishing our house just, as we were becoming enveloped in utter darkness.

I will not attempt to describe our sensations; those who have been placed in similar circumstances will readily appreciate them. All that constitutes the grand and the sublime formed the elements of the scene. Immediately before us was the brink of a tremendous precipice. Below, above, around, all was impenetrable darkness, into which our fire seemed vainly trying to send a few straggling rays, that only served to make its "darkness visible."-The fire itself seemed the sport of some superhuman agency. Being kindled on the very summit of the mountain, it was blown in one large sheet of flame, one instant to the north, the next to the south, and again directly into the black and matted foliage of the roof above our heads. Far in the world below, twinkled a few glimmering lights, that seemed like "stars fallen from their places," while around the cliffs, with a solemn, thunder like voice, bellowed the mighty winds, at times, shaking the mountain to its very base, as though they were pent up in its bowels and struggling for deliverance. All around combined to inspire the most exalted conceptions of Him "who hath weighed the mountains in scales, and holds the winds in his fists."-At length the morning dawned upon us, the clouds had partially passed away, and now, for the first time, could we fully enjoy the unrivalled glories of the scene, we were reminded of the prospect, as described by travellers, from the summit of Etna.-Clouds were sweeping by on a level with our feet or far below them, for a moment obscuring objects. and then leaving them. in clearer view; on our right and in front as we faced the north, the river with its numerous tributary streams, like lines of silver, measured their way to the lake. On our left, spread out the beautifully undulating country between the mountain and Champlain, the lake itself, though twenty miles away, seeming to lie, with its beautiful green islands. at our very feet, while, beyond its western shore the mountains of Essex closed the view. -After enjoying the scene, we descended the mountain and continued our route.

Dec. 1832.

TOPOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, NO. IX.

MADRID.

With an Engraving.—See page. 315.

The city of Madrid is the Capital of New Castile and of the whole Spanish Empire. It is situated on the left bank of the small stream of Manzarares, on several sand hills which form the last declivity of the mountains of Guadarrama. It is the highest capital in Europe, for its elevation is fifteen times as great as that of Paris, and nearly twice that of Geneva: it stands two thousand feet above the level of the sea, and nearly mathemati cally in the centre of the peninsula. There is nothing in the neighborhood of Madrid that announces the approach to a great city; it has no immediate environs, no villas of the rich inhabitants, none of those delightful little country seats usually found clustering round the walls of a capital; the country is very irregular, broken into an infinite succession of misshapen hills, totally destitute of wood and even of vines, and the villages being generally in hollows, there is little to relieve the dreariness of the scene. But the view of the city itself, when seen from a neighboring mountain across the intervening valley of Manzarares, is extremely imposing; it offers a compact mass, crowned every where with countless domes of temples and palaces, which convey, in a high degree, the idea of magnificence and splendor. -The streets in Madrid are straight and, in general, wider than those in most cities in Europe; a fact which is probably owing to its being almost entirely modern, and being built under royal patronage. For although the Spaniards would carry back its origin to a period anterior to the foundation of Rome, the first mention that is any where made of it in history is in the tenth century, two hundred and twenty five years after the Moorish invasion, and the first king of Castile who was proclaimed in it was Don Enrique the third, in 1394.— The principal streets are paved with square blocks of stone and they all meet in an open place in the heart of the city called the Puerta del sol, or gate of the sun. In former times it was the eastern gate of the city, but when the court came to Madrid, the nobility who follow

ed in its train constructed their palaces in the open space, to the east, so that the Puerta del sol, from hav ing been the extremity, became the centre of Madrid. Go where you will, almost, you pass through the Puerta del sol, for here you can choose a street that will lead you directly to the place of which you are in search; and put yourself in any street in the extremity of the city it is sure to discharge you here. In this way all Madrid passes daily through this place of general out. pouring, and here a stranger may pass in review the whole capital. Here the exchange is each day held and the merchant comes to talk of his affairs; the politician wrapped in his cloak whispers his news; old women with oranges and pomegranates pass with their baskets; and the sturdy beggars demand alms in the name of Maria Santissima. Here too may be seen all the costumes of Spain; the long red cap of the Catalan; the Valencian with his blanket and airy bragas, though in the midst of winter; Montero cap of the Manchego; the leathern cuirass of the old Castilian; the trunk hose of the Leones; the coarse garb of the Gallego; and the round hat of Andalusia.At one moment, a regiment of the royal guard passes to review, in the next the trumpet sounds, and the drums of the neighboring piquets are heard beating the call.-The coaches and six approach, guarded by a splendid accompaniment. The cry of Los Reges," passes from mouth to mouth; and the Spaniards, unrolling their cloaks and doffing their hats, give place for the absolute king.-Presently a bell rings, and every voice is hushed. A long procession of men with each a burning taper, is seen preceding a priest who is carrying the reconciling sacrament to smooth the death bed of some repenting sinner. Does it meet a carriage though containing the first grandee of Spain, the owner descends, throws himself upon his knees in the middle of the street, and allows the host to pass. Su majested,' his majesty, to indicate the presence of the SAVIOUR Sacramentized, passes in a tremulous whisper from lip to lip. The faithful are all uncovered and kneeling; they

*We need hardly remind our readers that in the Catholic religion, the Savior is believed to be actually present, in the consecrated elements of the sacrament.

smite their breasts with contrition, and hold down their heads as if unworthy to look upon the Lamb.

The palaces of the high nobility are built in a quadrangular form, with a square in the centre. The mass of the dwelling-houses, however, are built much in our own way. But they have rather a prison look, for the windows of the first floor are grated with bars of iron; whilst the stout door of wood, well studded with spike heads, has more the appearance of the gate of a fortified town, than of the entrance to the dwelling of a peaceable citizen. These precautions are rendered necessary by the number and boldness of the robbers of Madrid.

Madrid has one hundred and forty-six temples for worship, including collegiate and parish churches, convents, oratorios, chapels and hermitages. Among this number, are sixty-two convents for monks and nuns. It has besides, eighteen hospitals, thirteen colleges, fifteen academies, four public libraries, six prisons, fifteen gates of granite, eighty five squares and places, and fifty public fountains, which supply the inhabitants with delightful water brought from mountain springs thirty miles from the city. But by far the noblest edifice in Madrid is the royal palace. It consists of a hollow square four hundred and seventy feet on the outside, and one hundred and forty within. Within is a collonnade and gallery running entirely round the square, and without, a judicious distribution of windows, cornices and columns, unencumbered by redundant ornaments, except, indeed, in the heavy balustrade which crowns the whole. The construction of this palace is of the noblest and most durable kind, being without any wood except in the frame of the roof and the doors and windows. The palace is indeed a noble one. It is said by those who have visited the chief capitals of Europe that they have seen none superior to it.

When we look for the local advantages of Madrid, we are at a loss to conceive how it ever became a great city. The surrounding country is so little adapted to pastoral or argricultural pursuits, that meats and fruits and almost all the necessaries of life are brought from the extremities of the Kingdom. These supplies of fish come on the backs of mules from the Atlantic and Me