intermediate post, called Casel de Pedra.-There is a solitary inn at this place, where they make up for want of company by extortion, as they charged me two dollars for a breakfast for my servant and myself, consisting of boiled fish and onions, which they call pescada, two hard eggs, bread, wine, and fruit.

Tenth post-Arrived at the gallant city of Oporto; which is a dull, heavy, dirty town, with narrow streets, except that where the British Factory is situated, called Rua das Inglezinhas, which is broad and handsome.

REMARKS ON THE JOURNEY FROM CORUNNA TO OPORTO.

(By a Confidential Person.)

ON my arrival at St. Jago, I presented my passport, and received from the Governor, the most marked civilities, and proffers of service; in grateful return (as he expressed it) for the prompt assistance and generous interference of Great Britain, in favor of the dignity and political independence of Spain: and the fervor of his manner conveyed an idea that he was declaring himself in perfect sincerity of heart.

After my arrival at Padron, I ate a trifling supper and went to bed, but was awakened, at 3 A. M. by a violent shock of an earthquake,

which lasted half an hour. Every person in the inn was violently alarmed, and the practical devotion on the occasion was commensurate with the terrors it had excited.

At Ponte de St. Paio I found the best inn on the road, although bad is the best. It appeared, in the dusk of the evening, somewhat like the neighbourhood of Richmond Bridge, and the similitude led to recollections of the dearest interests.

As I passed the Sierra of Labruga, I was unfortunately benighted, and lost my way for a considerable time. My servant, who accompanied me as a guide, was greatly alarmed on account of the wolves and the superior fear of sleeping on the mountain, in a dismal night, without a supper or bed. At length we stumbled upon a swine-herd's cabin, the humble owner of which led us, at some distance, to a posada; which, wretched as it was, we hailed with joy. I presented the peasant with five reals and a pint of wine, for which he was extravagantly grateful. Our host had a fine sleek open countenance, with, apparently, a heart that corresponded with his visage. He was a staunch friend to the English; so, after emptying a measure of wine to the success of the good cause, I retired to rest in confidence under his lonesome roof, and never slept better.

The Governor of Tui, made me many ardent offers of service, and with an apparent sincerity of manner; yet there was a latent something in his eyes and features, which made me doubt him, ast to the extent of his professions. His gestures

were too gallicised, and he became so outrageously civil, that I sometimes thought he was labouring to get to the windward of my caution.

The Governor of Valenca was less equivocal; he paid me but little attention, and that little was evidently constrained and repulsive.

The roads in Galicia, as far as Redonhinho, were in excellent order, but the remainder of the way, until I reached the frontier, was very bad and incommodious. That part of the country which is cultivated, and which, agreeably to my observation and information, includes about half the province, was in a fine state of agricultural improvement. I was assured by the public functionaries, and the hosts of the posadas, that Galicia produces, annually, more than double the quantity of Indian corn and wheat, than is necessary for the maintenance of its immediate inhabitants.

The general appearance of the people, and their habitations, is so extremely wretched, as to excite not merely disgust, but abhorrence! yet squalid and fœtid as their forms appear, they are gay in manner, and brave in principle. The vindictive spirit which many of them thought proper to manifest against the French, at that moment, was remarkable. The common sentiment with some, was, eternal war with France, and no quarter to their soldiers; but peace for ever with Great Britain. If they had been less servile and mercenary, I should have given their professions of attachment, deeper consideration.

The peasantry of Galicia, do not exhibit the same traits of persevering industry, nor are they so well cloathed and agile, as the Galligas, who officiate in Lisbon, as city porters and domestics; but they are nearly similar in bodily strength, and muscular proportions.

ENTRANCE INTO PORTUGAL.

I ENTERED the confines of Portugal on passing the Minho. The roads in this country are dreadfully rugged, particularly the defiles of the Sierra de Labruga, which, for four leagues, are almost impassable. The country people seemed to be animated with some sentiments of gratitude towards the English, and possessed some admiration for our spirit; but on my arrival at Oporto, I found all those bad passions afloat, with which Nature has so strongly gifted the Portuguese. They were in a high state of political fermentation, much of which I am persuaded, had been artificially excited: those among them who were not well affected towards us, had seized the pretext of the unhappy capitulation of Cintra, to vent the most splenetic and outrageous reflections on the British character, and to shew their real disposition towards us. The undeviating protection that we have shewn them, and the streams of blood that we have heroically shed in the defence of their independence, were all obliterated,

or charged to sinister motives on our part; and when I opened the nature of my imperative commission, I soon found that they were actuated by a groveling principle of selfishness which dominated over every other suggestion, and extinguished every sentiment of magnanimity in their

narrow hearts.

When the amiable merchants of Oporto found that I had Government bills, they advanced the course of exchange from 68 to 70.-Sir Robert Wilson being in the country, I waited for his return to the city, to open a negociation with the Bishop of Oporto, who had £56,000 sterling, of British money in his possession. On the return of Sir Robert, from the country, he applied to the Right Reverend Prelate for £20,000, with an offer to replace it in specie; but after an ineffectual negociation and consultation of ten days, and a reference to the Junta at Lisbon, he condescended to let us have £10,000 of our own money, and that was all we could procure by argument or intercession. From all these circumstances it may be clearly inferred, that the ruling party in Portugal, were not too ready to further our object in Spain.

Knowing the necessity that appertained to the fulfilment of my commission, I was seriously concerned to behold the trifling obstacles which the Bishop threw in my way: but while I remained at Oporto, the Semiramis frigate arrived at Corunna, from England, with a large sum of money for the Spanish Junta; of which, Sir David Baird