MADRID.

From a Drawing by J. F. Lewis.

"OUR first view of Madrid was extremely imposing. It offered a compact mass, crowned every where with countless domes of temples and palaces, upon which the setting sun sent his rays obliquely, and which conveyed, in a high degree, the idea of magnificence and splendour. Nor was this effect diminished as we advanced; for the cupolas first seen grew into greater pre-eminence, while others at each instant rose above the confusion."

“The neighbouring country is of a very irregular surface, and broken into an infinite succession of misshapen hills, so that although there are nearly two hundred villages in the vicinity of the capital, not more than four or five can ever be discovered at once. The soil is of a dry and barren nature, producing nothing but wheat, which yields only ten for one, but which is very sweet, and of excellent quality. Madrid has no immediate environs, no country-seats of the rich inhabitants, none of those delightful little colonies which are usually found clustering round the walls of a great

city, and which combine the convenience of a town residence with the enjoyments of rural life. If you wander a hundred yards from the gates of Madrid, you seem to have taken leave of civilisation and the haunts of men; nor are there any forests or orchards to make up for the absence of inhabitants, if indeed you except the valley of the Manzanares, and to the east a few scattering olive-trees, as sad and gloomy in appearance as their owners, the monkish inmates of San Geronimo and Atocha."-A Year in Spain.

The first mention of Madrid is not earlier than the tenth century, 250 years after the Moorish invasion: it was then a Moorish town, named Magerit; and it is remarkable that it should have become the capital of a kingdom in which so many celebrated cities, Roman and Moorish, have existed, and continue in importance.

The very great elevation of Madrid above the level of the sea, 2000 feet, or nearly twice that of Geneva, makes it, during winter, in spite of its latitude, extremely cold.

Situated as Madrid is, almost in a plain, it is difficult to obtain a good general view of the city. That which Mr. Lewis has supplied is taken from one of the most favourable spots whence it can be seen from without.