A Journey Through Spain in the Years 1786 and 1787 and Remarks in Passing Through a Part of France (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1791 Excerpt: ... hundred and forty reals. The sum total, therefore, of our expenditure was fix and thirty pounds; which, for a journey of a hundred Spanish leagues, accomplished in fourteen days, must be considered moderate. MADRID. A S the court was absent from Madrid on my arrival, all my letters were for the present useless, excepting one from M. Sage, of Paris to Don Casimir Ortega, who, as principal botanical professor, is well known to all the lovers of that science. I had indeed a letter to a grandee of Spain, then at Madrid, with the strongest recommendation, and from him I had expected much; but I was disappointed in my hopes.' I found him polite, but cold; sensible and well informed, but silent and reserved; universally esteemed for the goodness of his heart, but so perfectly absorbed in the formal duties of religion, that I could derive no advantage from his friendship. In a word, he appears to be one of those to whom the Italian proverb may with justice be applied, Tanto buon che val niente: so good that he is good for nothing. In Don Casimir Ortega I found the activity of friendship, and every possible attention. By his permission I had access at all hours to the botanic garden. This well chosen spot being upon a declivity, inclined towards the pardo, and separated from it by iron rails, whether you are walking or riding in that ssiady grove, refreshed by its numerous fountains, and unmolested even by the mid-day fun, you may at one view command the whole of it. In this spacious and well furnished garden I frequently amused myself in renewing my acquaintance with a science which I had formerly studied with delight; and whenever the professor gave lectures to his pupils, I constantly attended. My first elements I had learned under doctor Hope, who, as a botanist...