England, Germany, and France, on the one hand, and of the consumers of their manufactures in America on the other. In the same manner they are factors for the growers of colonial produce in America, and for the consumers of it in Europe.

The immense, though thinly peopled, continent of America must both produce and consume a vast quantity of those articles which form the basis of commerce; and to enumerate the various commodities, which pass through this port, would be useless and tiresome. I shall therefore content myself with observing, that the relative value, compared with the bulkiness of goods imported and exported, approaches nearer to equality than in the commerce between England and her colonies. A ship from London to North America, or to the West Indies, if fully laden, will generally convey a value equal to the purchase of the lading of ten such ships on the other side the Atlantic. The consequence which naturally follows is, that far the greater number of British ships must go out in ballast, and gain their profit on the freight of the homeward cargo, whereas the productions of Spain being more bulky in proportion to their value, and the productions of their colonies being less so, the ships of Spain will generally be full both out and home, and consequently the shipping interest be more benefited, in the Spanish trade, than in ours; or, what is equivalent, the ship owners can afford to navigate for less freight, and the commodities can be carried to the different places of consumption at cheaper rates. I am aware of the distinction that should be drawn between exporting raw materials (and such, or nearly such, are the productions of Spain) and articles, the chief value of which is the labour employed on them, like the manufac

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factures of Great Britain — one is calculated for a thinly peopled country, the other for a country that has more inhabitants than are requisite to produce raw materials.

The manufactures of Spain, exported to America, are mostly brought to this city from Catalonia and Valencia, especially the former, where manufactures of most kinds of cotton goods, stuffs, linens, and especially paper, had made considerable had made considerable progress before they were destroyed by the invasion of the French. At St. Mary's and at Chiclana there are small manufactories for printed calicos; the cloth is brought from the East Indies, and the printing is tolerably executed, but the quantity produced is very small; and I suspect, that greater profits are gained by the printers, from selling certificates that printed cottons imported from England are of their own manufacture, than from any other branch of their trade.

Some of the German houses, established at Cadiz, are very respectable, and have long been the channels through which the linen, the glass, and the cutlery of Germany have been conveyed to Spanish America, where, on account of their durability and cheapness, they are preferred to those of England.

Although no English houses of trade are to be met with in this city, excepting some inconsiderable ones, established since the Revolution, there are a great number of Irish, and the descendants of Irish families, who are engaged in commerce on an extensive scale, and import the linens of our sister island, for the consumption of America, as well as various articles of provision for the supply of the town and its vicinity.

There are no bankers in this city, nor any substitute for money

in circulation: and as silver is the common medium of exchange, any person who has a considerable sum to receive must take porters, or a cart, to bring away the money. The dollars are generally kept by the merchants tied in bags, containing one thousand each, which, without much examination, pass from one to another.

The commerce is regulated by a body called the Consulado, who have a very splendid hall, where they meet to regulate the affairs of trade. The prior of the Consulado corresponds with the different branches of the administration; and when the necessities of the government require a loan of money, which has been frequently the case of late, he convokes the general body of the merchants, states the wants of the king, and apportions to each the sum he ought to contribute, which is cheerfully complied with, as the money so advanced is allowed them in their payment of the duties.

In the centre of the city there is a signal tower, with men constantly looking out for the arrival of ships, one of whom has acquired such accuracy that he immediately recognises any ship that has ever been in the port, and her name is speedily circulated in a printed paper through the city. This man knew the names, and had made drawings, of all the British ships of war that had been successively employed in blockading this port, and is never mistaken when one of them appears in sight.

SINCE my last letter we have received intelligence of the defeat of the army of La Mancha under Areizaga. It appears, by the accounts, to have been a complete overthrow; and the remains of the Spanish force is collecting at Daymiel, nearly one hundred miles from Ocaño, where the engagement took place.

The effect which this intelligence has produced upon the people, puts in a strong point of view the evils ever attendant on despotic power. When the news first arrived, those who were acquainted with it were anxious to conceal their knowledge, or whispered it as a profound secret to their nearest connexions. When it became so generally known that the people could be no longer deceived, it produced gloomy countenances, and indignant expressions against the Junta and the commander: but the habit of concealing their feelings and their thoughts on all subjects connected with politics is so deeply rooted, that though, when they converse with Englishmen, they speak freely, yet they no sooner resume their

Spanish conversation, than all apparently becomes calmness and submission to the will of the government,

I have again had occasion to visit Seville, which I found extremely altered in appearance for the short time I had been absent. During this interval, all the horses and mules had been taken for the use of the troops, so that there were no carriages at the evening promenades, and the tertullas of the ladies had few or no visitors, the gentlemen being mostly with the army. The gloomy presages and execrations against the Junta were more openly expressed than at Cadiz; the sensible part of the inhabitants appeared to anticipate a visit from the French, and yet the Government keeps some of the best patriots in prison, and exercises its austere autho rity, as if its doom were not fast approaching.

The departure of Lord Wellesley and his suite from Seville was much regretted. His residence, however, was too short, and his time too much engaged by the objects of his mission, to permit him to mix much in Spanish society, except with public men. Mr. Frere, who had the management of affairs in Spain previously to his Lordship, is much esteemed by all the inhabitants; but Lord Holland, by his benevolence, his amiable manners, his good sense, and the interest he felt in every thing that concerned the welfare of Spain, was idolized, and contributed not a little to establish the high character which the English have acquired.

The President of the Junta, chosen in the room of Count Altamira, is Revero, the auxiliary Archbishop of Seville, a man of low origin, and, it is said, of a contracted and bigoted turn of mind. He resides in the archiepiscopal palace, where he is surrounded by