richly-embroidered pall hangs down to the ground, and conceals the bearers completely under it. It is not improbable also, that when the bier reaches the place of interment, some of the persons under it may be drawn out almost in a state of suffocation; for the thick velvet pall, that is heavily worked with gold, can never admit sufficient air for a free respiration. It is worthy of remark, that this coffin so grandly adorned, is a mere shell for the purpose of parade, and serves for repeated funerals. Of the brotherhoods which I have just mentioned, there are several descriptions that differ in their colours. Another train, for example, which I saw, were muffled in red; and thus had the appearance of bloody spectres. All, however, wear the image of a saint on their breast, like the badge of an order. On certain days they wander singly through the streets, and collect money to pray for the souls in purgatory; on which occasion they do not speak, but shake the money-bag at the ears of passengers. For I once saw also a genteel funeral, as it is called. The coffin and pall were of blue velvet, with embroidery no less rich than the former; and the coffin was followed by thirty or forty ragged fellows, carrying flags with the arms of the deceased. this magnificent parade the very first lazaroni were taken that came in the way; who walked in procession, not by two and two, but eight and eight. The contrast of their squalid appearance with the nificence of the other parts of the ceremony, was truly comical. The eye looked in vain for relief in mag a variety of colours at least, but perceived only the same arms incessantly multiplied. Indeed, the love of pompous heraldry is an hereditary disorder among the ancient nobility. The Host.-Another striking spectacle in the streets is, when the Host is carried by priests to dying persons. We should, if possible, see this in an open place; for in the narrow streets it produces much less effect, I suppose. I live in the Largo del Castello, a very large square, which is covered from morning till night with buyers, sellers, animals, carriages, popular exhibitions, and spectators. Close by me is a puppet-shew, at the entrance of which the owner stands and entertains the people with his droll remarks. Some steps further is a fish-market, and directly opposite to me the main-guard-house. I do not exaggerate when I say that upwards of two thousand persons (besides the cattle) are usually assembled in this place. Suddenly the procession I have just mentioned appears: colours flying before 'announce it to the eye; and the perpetual tingling. of little bells to the ear. It is surrounded by finely dressed priests, and often also by a military guard of honour; and clouds of frankincense ascend into the air before them. All the pious whose road leads this way, consider it a duty to follow the train; which, like a snow-ball, thus enlarges in its progress. The shewman is directly silent; even the fish-women are perfectly still; not a sound escapes: all hats fly off, and thousands fall on their knees, beat their breasts, and cross them -selves. The guards shoulder their arms, and a solemn tune is played as long as the procession is in sight. In the night the spectacle is still grander. At every balcony, (and let it be remembered, that there is no window without a balcony) a light suddenly appears, and the darkness is converted, as it were by magic, into broad day; for every story is illuminated and below in the street a number of rockets are lighted, which, with a whizzing and loud report, salute the solemn procession. As I pursue it into the next street, the sight varies in its singularity. At one moment all is perfect darkness; and the next, as the procession enters, the whole street on both sides assumes a brilliant aspect: and thus the light appears to fly from house to house, and from balcony to balcony, in the most rapid succession, till in the same order it by degrees vanishes again, and every thing returns to its former darkness. I have frequently put the question to myself, whence comes it that this spectacle should fill me (who am a heretic) with a sort of awe, since I esteem the greatest of all absurdities to believe, that God can be carried in a box in the streets? I know not how to answer this, otherwise than by the observation, that most things affect our weak minds, which occupy and influenee such a vast multitude of people at the same time. Who, for example, feels much pleasure in seeing a single soldier exercise only for a few minutes ? But put twenty thousand soldiers in a row, and it amuses us for hours. DISINTERESTED CONDUCT OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST. "I meddle with no man's business but my own; I rise in a morning early, study moderately, OTWAY. I MUST take leave to digress a little from the tenor of my tale, whilst I record an anecdote, in itself of no other material interest except as it enables me to state one amongst the many reasons, which I have to love and revere the memory of a deceased friend, who devoted to me the evening of every day, without the exception of one, which I passed during my residence in Madrid. This excellent old man, Patrick Curtis by name, and by birth an Irishman, had been above half a century settled in Spain, as domestic priest, and occasionally preceptor to three successive dukes of Osuna. In this situation he had been expressly the founder of the fortune of the premier Florida Blanca, by recommending him as advocate to the employ and patronage of that rich and noble house, The Abbé Don Patrick Curtis was of course looked up to as a person of no small consideration; he was also not less conspicuous and universally respected for his virtues, for his high sense of honour, his bold sincerity of speech, and generousbenignity of soul; but this good man at the same time had such an over-abundant portion of the amor patriæ about him, was so marked a devotee to the British interest, and so unreserved an opponent to that of France, that it seemed to demand more circumspection than he was disposed to bestow for guarding himself against the resentment of a party, whose principles he arraigned without mitigation, and whose power he set at open defiance without caution or reserve; though considerably past eighty, his affections were as ardent and his feelings as quick as if he had not reached his twentieth year. When I was supposed to be out of chance of recovery, this affectionate creature came to me in the agony of grief, to take his last farewell; he told me he had been engaged in fervent prayer and intercession on my behalf, and had pledged before the altar his most earnest and devoted services for the consolation and protection of my beloved wife and daughters, if it should please Heaven to remove me from them and reject his humble applications for my life he lamented that I had no spiritual assistance of my own church to resort to; he did not mean to obtrude his forms, to which I was not accustomed, but on the contrary, came purposely to tender me his services according to my own, and was ready, if I would furnish him with my prayer-book, and allow him to secure the doors from any that might intrude or overhear to the peril of his life, to administer the |