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can say, whether their destinies are not in some mysterious and fatal manner linked together, and whether the same terrific catastrophe will not, one day, uproot them at the same time-the gigantic volcano causing its own destruction, and the sea once more recovering its do

mains.

The town of Franchi belongs to our agreeable friend, the Marquis De Collogan, and is universally frequented by all those who travel in this island. Besides the celebrated dragonnier these gardens contain many valuable plants, and as this is the first garden of the kind that has ever been established in the tropics, people are of course desirous of seeing everything relating to the natural productions of the country through which they are travelling.

The mansion which overlooks the valley is a delightful residence, built on the model of our old baronial halls, and the terrace commands an extensive view over a most charming country, with deep verdant woods, above which floats the green feathery foliage of the date tree; rustic pathways, planted with aloes, the stems of which tower above the highest trees, and beyond these, the ocean rolling beneath a cloudless sky.

The sun was fast sinking when we left the town for Puerto, but before entering the latter place we stopped at a beautiful house by the sea shore, inhabited by an Englishman, and his wife, who was very young and pretty; she was superintending the instruction of two rosy little children, as fair and lovely as cherubs, and her husband appeared to have no other occupation than that of making excursions to different parts of the Peak, which seemed

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to be a sort of mania with him, for, during the six years he had resided at Orotava, he had accompanied almost all the strangers who had ascended the mountain. On being told that several persons attached to the embassy had attempted this feat without his direction, he laconically observed, that "he should ascend the Peak in about three days," an intention which he afterwards fulfilled.

We had seen several English people on first arriving in the island, and from that time were continually meeting them in every place where a good beefsteak, a picturesque view, and soft air, could be obtained. Thanks to their wealth and power, the English are the only people who, at the present day, enjoy all the comforts this world can give, and may almost be said to possess the whole earth, for there is certainly no part of it which does not contribute something towards the enjoyment and happiness of the sombre child of Albion. How is it that

a nation, renowned for producing the best artificers in the world, for having so keen a relish for the wonders of the creation, and for so well understanding the secret of identifying itself with the spirit of foreign nations, should be so reserved and exclusive, and not share with its jealous neighbours the possession of that happiness which the Creator intended for the whole human race, and not merely for the enjoyment of a single country!

On returning to Santa Cruz, we found that place in a state of great excitement; the authorities having received official notice of the proclamation of Queen Isabella's majority, were announcing the joyful event to the people and troops, with that sort of mock solemnity which usually accompanies the political manifestations of our

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THE QUEEN PROCLAIMED.

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times, and the professedly inspired revolutions of the last century.

On the Sunday, at noon, the people and troops assembled in the Square of the Constitution, and awaited with apparent indifference the result of the official communication which had been announced in the morning. A number of functionaries, belonging to various departments, occupied the large saloons of the palace, and stationed themselves in groups at the windows which opened on to the square. At a sign from one of the officials silence was obtained, and a gentleman dressed in black, with a white cravat, but totally destitute of any insignia of the dignity with which he was invested, presented himself on the balcony, and addressed the crowd; so extremely insignificant and even questionable was his appearance, that the beholder might have wondered whether he were some civil dignitary, or the manager of a provincial theatre; however, he was, in reality, the first political minister of the Canaries.

His speech consisted of a brief sketch of the events which had caused the expulsion of Espartero from the Peninsula, and the emancipation of their young Sovereign, ending with an attempt to move the people to some demonstration of loyalty; to which, however, they responded very faintly, and a few public shouts of "viva la reina!" from the officers present, closed the official discourse.

It is easy to perceive, that these people, in their tawdry but picturesque rags, are somewhat indifferent to political pageantry, and that they are in this respect a century behind those individuals dressed in short black coats,

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