In Spain, there are few or no schools in the villages and small towns,
that would have the effect of releasing the minds of the natives from
monkish tyranny, which at present influences their principles, and
biasses their choice, with regard to political, and indeed almost all
other pursuits. Nor is any attention paid to trade. The peasantry
simply exist, like cattle, without any other signs of exertion, than
such as the necessity of food requires. They have no idea of rising in
the world; and where there is no interest there is no activity.
It appears, that in the North of Spain, so little encouragement
is given to the arts, that even physicians are not able to obtain
support; that prints are unsaleable, and no new publications appear
but newspapers; that the tradesmen neglect their persons, very seldom
shaving, and having frequently a cigar in their mouths; that the
breath of the ladies smells of garlick; that the gentlemen smoke
cigars in bed; that there is hardly a single manufactory in the
kingdom belonging to a native in a flourishing state; that, from
recent political events, the flocks have been neglected, and the
wool deteriorated; that cleanliness is neglected, and rats and mice
unmolested; that the porters of the most respectable houses are
cobblers, who work at their trades at their doors; that women are
employed in loading and unloading ships; and that they, as well as the
servants in houses, carry every thing on their heads, even lighted
candles, without the least fear of their being extinguished; that oxen
are tied to carts by their horns; that in the inns, generally, no one
can read or write but the landlords; that the constitutional soldiers,
for their fare, generally took a leathern bag, (_barracho_,) and got
it filled with red wine as sour as vinegar; not appearing to wish for
meat, bread and cheese, with boiled soup, onions, and garlick, forming
the substance of their frugal repasts; that no memorial is erected on
the spot where the battle of Vittoria was fought in 1813; and that, in
fact, there is no national feeling in the country.
* * * * *