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HISTORY OF

nial, whom he sent for from France, to bring fresh water to Cadiz, fromsprings at the distance of eleven leagues ; but on General O’Reilly’3disgrace the scheme was abandoned, although M. Bournial had survey-ed and taken the levels, and finished the plans ; and, to engage the nationto carry it on, had, on opening the ground, found and traced the re-mains of an old canal or aqueduct, without doubt dug by the Romansfor the same purpose.

The internal parts of Spain are as capable as, if not more so than, anycountry in Europe of receiving the improvements of inland navigation ;and there is no country in the world to which they are more necessary.The great rivers Ebro, Guadalquivir, Guadiana, Tagus, Duero, andMinho, rife in the middle of the kingdom, and run into the Ocean andMediterranean : and there are besides many others of lesser note, fromwhich navigable canals might be made to intersect the interior parts ofthe country, at a very reasonable expence. The profit of such under-takings would be immense, for it will scarcely be believed, that even inthis enlightened age, the Spaniards carry the products of the interiorparts of the country, which chiefly consist of wine and oil, in large lea-thern bottles, on the backs of mules and asses, from one province to an-other. Grain also is conveyed in like manner ter different parts of thecountry, which grow none, although the climate is perhaps the finest inthe world.

An Englishman would scarcely be able to contain his indignation tosee the gifts of Providence so abused, when very little assistance from artis required, to complete what nature has so abundantly lavished. Theauthor of this work was in treaty with Prince Masserano, when he wasambassador at the British court, to go to Spain with a number of work-men from England, if they could have obtained permission from gOfvernment, to make common sewers throughout the city of Madrid, andpave it after the manner of London, which it is in great want of; and

also