| Every attempt has been made to replicate the original book as printed.A typographical error has been corrected (see here). No attempt has beenmade to correct or normalize the printed accentuation or spelling of Spanish names or words.(etext transcriber's note) |
GATHERINGS FROM SPAIN.
BY THE
AUTHOR OF THE HANDBOOK OF SPAIN;
CHIEFLY SELECTED FROM THAT WORK, WITH
MUCH NEW MATTER.
NEW EDITION.
LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.
——
1851.
TO THE
HONOURABLE MRS. FORD,
THESE pages, which she has been so good as to peruse and approve of, arededicated, in the hopes that other fair readers may follow her example,
By her very affectionate
Husband and Servant,
RICHARD FORD.
PREFACE.
MANY ladies, some of whom even contemplate a visit to Spain, havingcondescended to signify to the publisher their regrets, that theHandbook was printed in a form, which rendered its perusal irksome, andalso to express a wish that the type had been larger, the Author, towhom this distinguished compliment was communicated, has hastened tosubmit to their indulgence a few extracts and selections, which maythrow some light on the character of a country and people, always of thehighest interest, and particularly so at this moment, when theirindependence is once more threatened by a crafty and aggressiveneighbour.
In preparing these compilations for the press much new matter has beenadded, to supply the place of portions omitted; for, in order to lightenthe narrative, the Author has removed much lumber of learning, and hasnot scrupled occasionally to throw Strabo, and even Saint Isidorehimself, overboard. Progress is the order of the day in Spain, and itsadvance is the more rapid, as she was so much in arrear of othernations. Transition is the present condition of the country, whereyesterday is effaced by to-morrow. There the relentless march ofEuropean intellect is crushing many a native wild flower, which, havingno value save colour and sweetness, must be rooted up beforecotton-mills are constructed and bread stuffs substituted; many a traitof nationality in manners and costume is already effaced; monks aregone, and mantillas are going, alas! going.
In the changes that have recently taken place, many descriptions of waysand things now presented to the public will soon become almost mattersof history and antiquarian interest. The passages here reprinted will beomitted in the forthcoming new edition of the Handbook, to which thesepages may form a companion; but their chief object has been to offer afew hours’ amusement, and may be of instruction, to those who remain athome; and should the humble attempt meet with the approbation of fairreaders, the author will bear, with more than Spanish resignation,whatever animadversions bearded critics may be pleased to inflict onthis or on the other side of the water.