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devote their pen exclusively to popular subjects, || the stage might, in a superior degree, guide the spirit of the nation.

improvement; where no one faculty of the mind is strained at the expence of the other, nor any pleasure is enjoyed to the injury of society at large. When sorrow preys on the mind, when gloomy melancholy poisons our life, when we loathe the world and our occupations, when heavy burdens depress our mind, and our strength is nearly worn out by fatigue, then the theatre receives us; the artificial world into which we are transported, makes us forget the real world with all its cares and burthens; we are regenerated, as it were; our feelings are roused; salutary passions shake our dormant spirits, and give quicker cir culation to the stagnating blood. The unfortunate sufferer weeps away his own sorrows while he sheds a sympathizing tear at the distresses of another; the giddy favourite of fortune grows sober, and the secure is rendered apprehensive. The sentimental Sybarite is inspired with manly firmness, and the icy callousness of the raw bar

Before I concluile, I must mention one more advantage of the stage, which is more important than it is commonly thought. Human nature cannot endure, for any length of time, to be uninterruptedly stretched on the wreck of business, and the charms of the senses die away as they are gratified. Man, being cloyed by animal enjoyment, tired from long continued exertions, tormented by an incessant desire of exercising his faculties, pants after better and more refined enjoyments, or plunges heedlessly into brutal excesses, which accelerate his ruin and destroy social tranquillity. Bacchantic orgies, rainous gambling, numberless wild excesses hatched by idleness, are unavoidable, if the legislature does not know how to direct this activity of the soul to more noble pursuits. The man of business, who generously devotes his lifebarian is thawed. Every individual participates to the service of the state, is in danger of falling a prey to misanthropic spleen-the man of learning to become a dull pedant-and the multitude to be reluced to a state of brutality. The stage is an institution where pleasure is blended with instruction, rest with exertion, diversion with

in the universal rapture of the audience; the pleasure that sparkles in every eye and glows in every bosom, seizes irresistibly upon his sympathizing heart, all distinctions of rank and circumstances are forgotten, and the whole assembly seems to be but one happy family.

SPAIN,

In its present Physical, Moral, Political, Religious, Statistical, and Literary State.

THE Spaniards in general are by no means inferior in point of capacity to any other civilized nation; the mental lethargy, in which the whole nation seems to be immersed, is owing to the thraldom in which it has hitherto been kept by the inquisition. Bigotry and an excessive national pride are the most predominant features in the character of the Spaniards. They would sooner submit to the most excruciating tortures than give up any one of the numerous mechanical ceremonies which disgrace the christian religion in Spain. A Spaniard would deem it the most enormous crime to omit hearing mass read on a holiday, or to eat meat on a fast day, though he would not scruple to assassinate an enemy, or to commit a breach of the sixth commandment, on the same day. The holy virgin is in every respect worshipped by this nation with much greater devotion than the Supreme Being. Another instance of the total neglect of the essential precepts of our religion, is the indifference which the Spaniards display with respect

to the keeping of the sabbath, it being a common sight to see them on that day work in the fields, or perform any other manual labour, though they would deem it a mortal sin were any one only to talk of labour on one of the numerous festivals of the Virgin Mary.

"The state of literature in Spain cannot but greatly contribute to support the lamentable and pernicious reign of darkness in that devoted country. The clergy take all possible pains to render foreign literature suspected by the Spaniards, bestowing the names of protestants and heretics upon all authors of eminence; and these epithets alone are sufficient to prejudice a Spaniard against the compositions of men of universal literary celebrity. The titles of prohibited hooks are usually affixed to the doors of the churches with a superscription purporting that they savour of protestanism. The weekly papers are likewise commonly swelled with the titles of books that come under this denomination. The best English and French authors are

stitutions for the reception and relief of the sick, and amongst these none is more distinguished than the grand hospital for male patients.——— Besides this hospital, there is another called the grand general hospital for women, which was founded by two private gentlemen. These two hospitals were formerly under the direction of the

indeed to be found in two public libraries at Madrid; but they are separated from the rest, as if pregnant with contagion, and can be obtained for perusal only by means of a special licence from the inquisition. On observing to one of the librarians, that this anxious care of precluding the public from reading the works of foreign nations was a manifest proof of the ap.council of Castile, but now are superintended by prehension entertained by the Spanish clergy of the weakness of their articles of faith, I received for answer, "That it could not be denied that the people were not sufficiently instructed in religion, to be proof against the specious reasoning of foreign philosophers; the Spaniards, moreover, were not accustomed to meditate on the theological and philosophical subjects, and to enter into solid investigations; that they, consequently, were not capable of distinguishing truth from error."-The Spaniards are, however, no great lovers of reading scientific works, or any other serious composition. The literary works that interest them most, are plays, and legends of saints, which contain the most extravagant absurdities. Large collections of this kind of religious composition are found almost in every house: these and romances of knight-errantry comprehend, generally speaking, the whole compass of literary works that are deemed in teresting. It is, indeed, to be lamented, that a people endowed with considerable natural capacities, and living in one of the finest countries on the face of the globe, should have been reduced so low by spiritual and political despotism. Spain formerly had a great many advantages before the other European countries, as her language attained an high degree of refinement, and the arts and sciences were successfully cultivated by the Spaniards, whilst the greatest part of Europe were involved in profound darkness.

The despotic restraint laid upon the progress of the Spaniards in mental refinement, is one of the principal causes of the avidity with which they plunge into the vortex of sensual pleasures. There is, perhaps, no country in Europe where the goddess of love is more ardently worshipped than in Spain, which renders effeminacy of manners more universal in that country than it is any where else; prostitutes and married women are indiscriminately given to intrigue.

Charitable institutions abound in Spain, especially at Madrid, and reflect great honour on the character of the Spaniards.

The charitable disposition of the Spaniards, is the most prominent feature in the character of both rich and poor, and is not confined to their countrymen alone, but most generously extends itself to all foreigners without distinction. This laudable disposition of the nation has been productive of the most excellent public in

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a special commission appointed by the King. The chief director is a grandee of Spain, and the members are spiritual and secular persons of the first respectability. With these hospitals are united several orders of both sexes, who are bound to afford the patients all assistance in their power. || Regularity, cleanliness, and the most careful attention to the wants of the patients, are the most striking characteristics of these hospitals. There are three hundred surgeons appointed at the grand hospital for male patients, who must attend the regular physicians to the sick bed, and see their prescriptions carefully executed. After having served some years in the hospital, they are promoted in the army and navy, preferably to all others. The apartments are cleaned, and the beds made by the charitable brethren and sisters, whose tender attention to the wants and comforts of the patients is most exemplary. All the bedsteads in the hospitals are made of iron. I never saw a single flea in these hospitals; an evident proof of the great attention which is paid to cleanliness. The strictest regularity with respect to the diet of the sick, is enforced in both hospitals. The patients have an excellent conveniency to take the benefit of the air. The reception into the hospital is not attended with the least difficulty. Those that can walk, go there without any previous application or recommendation, and such as are unable to walk, send word to the governors, informing them of their situation, when a chair is sent from the hospital to fetch them. Foreigners who are admitted, are not even asked to what religious sect they belong. Ecclesiastics of different nations are appointed to console foreigners in their own language. Every Sunday and holiday the hospital for male patients is visited by the charitable fraternity, and that for female patients by the charitable sisterhood, who comb and wash the sick, and do every thing in their power to render the situation of these unfortunate people particularly comfortable on the Lord's day. In these humane exertions they are generally assisted by people of the first rank, and I have frequently seen on these occasions even grandees zealously employed in consoling and administering relief to the sick. Ladies of the first eminence perform the same charitable office in the hospital destined for their own sex. Thanks to our superior refinement! our ladies of fashion contrive to spend their time on the Lord's day in

a more rational manner at the card-table!Besides the ample funds with which these hospitals are provided, they derive also a considerable revenue from one third of the net produce of all theatres, and the total produce of all bull-baitings, which in the year 1804 amounted to 1,705,151 reals. Besides these two grand hospitals, there are several more in Madrid of a smaller size, namely, the French, Italian, Flemish, Irish, Portuguese, &c. hospitals. In these smaller hospitals every patient has a room to himself.. Madrid likewise posseses a lying-in and a foundling hospital, which are equally well provided and administered. A public institution for lending money upon pledges without interest, established in Madrid, is particularly honourable to the Spaniards. It is left entirely to the justice and gratitude of the debtor, whether he chooses to pay a small sum, in lieu of interest, on redeeming his pledge. A committee for relieving the wants of the poor is appointed in every parish. Their principal care is directed to relieve such as are ashamed to make their necessity publicly known. The numerous religious fraternities existing in Spain contribute likewise kindly to relieve the neces-ities of those that are in distress. Many grandees of the first class are members of these pious associations.

Madrid contains many public libraries. The royal library is the most complete, and open every day. Any one inay without difficulty obtain the|| book he wants; but this library as well as all others, contains very few modern works of eminence. The philosophical writings of the English, Germans, and French, are entirely excluded. A separate apartmenꞌ is allotted to prohibited books, || which are extremely difficult to be obtained. With the royal library there is also connected a very valuable collection of scarce gold and silver coins: it possesses likewise a great number of ancient manuscripts. The royal collection of natural curiosities is extremely rich in minerals. The collection of precious stones is more complete and valuable than any in Europe.

There are several academies of arts and sciences at Madrid, namely, the royal acidemy of Spain, and the academies of history, painting, and medicine. The former has published an excellent dictionary of the Spanish language, in six large quarto volumes. The medical academy is the least respected. The academy of painting his of late contributed very much to the promotion of the fine arts in Spain. The lectures on drawing, mathematics, and architecture, are open to all who wish to profit by them. The admission is gratis. No foreigner can obtain the prizes annually distributed by this academy. Agricultural societies are established in several parts of the Country. They keep up a constant correspondNo. XX, Vol. III.

ence with the los amigos del pais at Madrid; but little good has been effected as yet by these societies

The state of the Spanish universities is very lamentable: they are seminaries of superstition. The number of students at Salamanca once amounted to fifteen thousand; at present it does not exceed four thousand. The life of the students is dissolute in the extreme. The grammar schools are not better than the universities. The Spaniards speak their language with great purity. The Spanish language not being crowded with too many cons nants, is much superior in harmony to the French, English, and German, and possesses a more numerous mass of popular songs and ballads than any other European language. Cervantes, Lopez de Vega, Garcilasso, Calderon, Gongora, Boskan, Augustine Moreto, Anthony de Solis, are the favourite authors of the nation. They have distinguished themselves by romances, novels, poetry, and plays Cervantes, besides his celebrated Don Quixotte, has written many works, as novels, comedies, and eight smaller pieces, called entremezes (intermezzos), which, by their comic spirit, are rendered far superior to his plays. None of his novels are deemed equal to his Quixotte: they are twelve in number, and contain a most faithful and animated description of the manners of his age. Of his plays, twelve only are extant. Angels, devils, and sorcerers, are the leading characters. Cervantes lived and died in poverty, and frequently was on the point of starving. Lopez de Vega and Calderon are the principal Spanish dramatists. Lopez de Vega was born in 1562, at Madrid, and died on the same day with our immortal Shakespeare; a coincidence very remarkable. Cervantes, Calderon, and Quevedo, were his cotemporaries. He acquired an immense fortune by his writings, which are uncommonly numerous. He is notorious for having neglected all rules of the dramatic art, a defect which also distinguishes the numerous works of Calderon. He is less original than Lopez de Vega. His Cat-Epopee (Gatomachia) is the most finished of all his works. Augustine Moreto occupies the third rank among the Spanish dramatists. A drama, entitled the Cavalier, is reckoned the most eminent of his compositions. Gongora has written satiric-lyric poems, which are highly valued, but difficult to be understood. The miscellanous poems of Boskan and Garcilasso are much easier. The compositions of the latter are strongly tinctured with a melancholy cast, which is said to have been the effect of many domestic misfortunes. Quevedo has rendered himself famous by his novels and dreams. The prominent characteristic of his writings are a satirical wit, original humour, and knowledge D

Jones. He is, however, closely watched by the inquisition, which has already prevented the publication of the translations of several important works, as for instance, the Encyclopedia and Robertson's history of America. The month

of the human heart. His dreams have been translated into several languages, and frequently imitated. He has also written several works on historical, political, and theological subjects. The most eminent modern authors are, Vego, Sarmiento, Flores, Buriel, and Isla, all of them eccle-ly publications which appear display also many siastics. Isla has written a keen satire upon indifferent preachers, under the title of Historia del famoso preditator fray Gerundio, in which he attempts to reform the Spanish preachers; but his excellent plan was frustrated by the persecutions of ignorant and fanatic priests. Many of the latest writers display a considerable degree of good taste. The most distinguished of them is Yriarte, who has translated several English works, amongst which are, the Spectator, Rambler, and Hume's History; besides some others of the amusing kind, as Clarissa Harlowe and Tom

proofs of an increasing refinement of taste, and enlightened understanding. The best historians of the Spaniards are, Mariana, Solis, and Herreras. None has, however, distinguished himself by a philosophical spirit. Father Isla has written the best compendium of the History of Spain. The Spaniards have done much for typographical beauty. The most splendid works are, Mariana's History and a Translation of Sallust, by the Infant Don Lewis. The price of the latter work is an ounce of gold.

SINGULAR FASHIONS.

THE rage of fashion is not confined to the female sex in Europe alone; it extends its fantastic sway over the whole globe; and proud as our fashionable belles may be of their refinement in dress, we may venture to assert, without fear of contradiction, that they will never succeed in eclipsing the inventive genius which the fair-ones in the interior of America display in the disposal of their attire-though it consists of nothing else but the skin with which kind nature has furnished them.

to put their girls in possession of this singular accomplishment, the mothers fasten strong rings round the legs of their female infants, below the knee, and above the ancles, which they wear all their life. These rings, obstructing the free circulation of the blood, force it to extend that part of the leg which they confine; whence the calves attain a most astonishing size, which affords to these Indian belles a charm whose all-conquering power no young Indian gentleman is able to resist. The beaus of the ladies with these bulky calves wear enormous wigs made of feathers, which in size completely correspond with the protuberant charms of the belles. An assembly of this nation, consisting of naked men with enormous wigs of feathers, and of girls with calves of such an unnatural size, must exhibit as ridicu

men of fashion in the 16th century, when the former wore enormous artificial posteriors stuffed with horse-hair, and the latter bellies of an astonishing size, consisting of cushions filled with husks.

No female Indian in America would be so indecent as to go abroad naked; the women in the interior of America being invariably compelled, by the tyranny of custom, to appear in public completely dressed, which they perform by besmearing the whole body with oil, and painting on it a great variety of figures in different colours;lous a sight as a party of French ladies and gentleand travellers protest, that when thus arrayed they appear to great advantage at a distance. Another article of their dress consists of large teeth of fishes, suspended from their ears, which hang down to the shoulders, the tips of them being pierced by their mothers in their earliest infancy, and the holes gradually extended so much, that a hand might pass through. They wear rings in their nostrils, which hang down to the upper lip, a necklace composed of monkies teeth, and bracelets consisting of shells; ornaments which render them objects irresistibly bewitch-tattooing with it the figure of a pair of whiskers ing in the eyes of the young men of taste and fashion.

The Achaguas reckon it one of the most charming ornaments to wear large artificial whiskers, covering one half of the face, and uniting on the chin. These whiskers are so durable that nothing is capable of removing them. The mother takes a fish's tooth as sharp as a lancet,

on the lips, cheeks, and the chin of the child, and after having wiped off the blood, rubs the incision with a black powder, which produces the figure of a pair of whiskers never to be ef

The women of a certain Indian nation in America consider a very bulky calf to the leg as oue of the greatest personal charms, and in order || faced,

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The Omaguas, a nation of the kingdom of Quito, make small syringes of gum elastic, one of which is presented to each of their guests when they give an entertainment. The omission of this act of civility would be looked upon as mark of an utter want of good breeding, and the application of a clyster, in the presence of the whole company, before they sit down to dinner, is reckoned by them as necessary for the purposes of cleanliness, as the washing of hands on the

same occasion in the eastern countries. The ancient Romans are known to have taken a gentle emetic during dinner, in order to make room for an additional quantity of victuals, a custom of which the fashionable world at Vienna are likewise accused by several travellers, though we have great reason to suspect that this charge is utterly unfounded, and nothing but the effect of a foolish desire of saying something new, though at the expence of truth.

SABINA;
OR,

MORNING SCENES IN THE DRESSING-ROOM OF A ROMAN LADY. [Continued from Vol. II. Page 128.]

Scene VI.-Droso fetches the Robes; Washing of Hands; View of the Wardrobe and of the Apartments of the Slaves; Presses for Clothes; Shoes; the Tunic.

THE interruption of the officious Zenothemis, and Myrrhinetta's unexpected delivery had protracted Donna. Sabina's breakfast to such a length, that double diligence was now necessary in arranging the other necessary parts of her dress. One of her maids had long been waiting for orders to that effect. Her name was Droso and to her the chief care of Sabina's wardrobe was committed. She now advanced to ask the important question whether her mistress would wear the gold flounce, or that which was festooned with pearls, together with the state dress in which it was necessary she should appear at the solemnity. "The maids," added Droso, all waiting in the wardrobe for your orders. The clothes are taken out of the presses and every thing is ready."

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The question is obviously of considerable importance, and requires a mature, but at the same time speedy consideration. Sabina was going to a review and was likely to be herself surveyed by a thousand eyes; she was going to see and to be seen, exposed as she would be in an open balcony from head to foot, to the inquisitive eyes of jealous rivals. "What is your opinion, Kypassis?" said the lady to her favorite attendant who has already been introduced to the notice of the reader.

With the utmost respect the brown Kypassis replied: "Who can presume, most excellent mistress, to direct your taste which all the Romanı ladies implicitly take for the standard of their dress! But, some weeks since when you sent your cousin Saturninus the beautiful bandeaus of pearls for the chest and head of his charger,

did you not say that, on this day, you would wear the new pearl dress a-la-Cleopatra which your husband lately brought you from Alexandria? You certainly only wanted to put my memory to the proof. For that dress must likewise be accompanied with the pearl flounces.".

Sabina turned to Droso, with a look of severity on her brow from which the name of Saturninus pronounced by Kypassis had scarcely been able to disperse the gloomy clouds which again began to gather there. "You have your answer,"

said she.

At her nod Kypassis brings a wet sponge in a silver wash-hand basin. The slave had just dipped it into asses milk, and now gently rubs with it the hands of her mistress. A maiden standing by her side, holds the soft towel ready for drying them*. It was not for nothing that Sabina had cast her eye on the golden and silky locks of the page who was still waiting in the corner for her command. At her beck he advanced and the haughty lady wiped her hands in the beautiful ringlets of the fair boyt.

*These were linen towels, the stuff of which had been so beaten both in the thread and web, as to be perfectly shaggy, but extremely soft and pleasant to the touch, like cotton wool. This was a refinement far surpassing our modern towels of the finest damask.

† In Petronius c, 27. we find Trimalchio doing the same thing. It cannot be doubted that the history of the fair sinner in the Gospel who washed the feet of her respected teacher and dried them with her hair, ought to be taken in the same manner.

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