L E T T E R V.
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The convent o f Jufle, in the Vera o f Plafencia, famous fo r the retreat o f
the Emperor Charles.
WE R E we to believe the exaggerated accounts
which Spaniih writers in general give of their
country, we ihould be inclincftf to imagine the whole
kingdom was a paradife flowing with milk, and honey,
where nature had laviihed her moil luxuriant productions;
but whenever the traveller happens to pafs through the
interior parts of the kingdom, and to form his judgment
from perfonal infpection, he will then be convinced that
the lofty flyle and diction of elegant writers, requires a
coniiderable lowering before it is reduced to the fimpli-
city of fact and of truth, for though it mull be allowed
that the fouthern parts are fertile, that the plains o f Valencia,
are delightful, and that the Bifcayners have been
indefatigable in /Cultivating their rugged mountains, yet
when we take a general furvey of the kingdom , in the
review of a journey through Spain, it will be found that
barren hills, and naked rocks and mountains, form a coniiderable
part of the profpect, diveriified only here and
there with a few fcattered fpots of imperfect cultivation.
Many
Many diflricts ilill remaining uncultivated, and the rivers
overflowing their banks without any impediment, in the
fame manner as they did in the earlielt ages of the world;
as if they were to receive every blefling from Providence
without the leafl trouble or fatigue (a). Amongil innumerable
in fiances which might be alleged in fupport o f
this affection, I fhall confine myfelf to one given by the
Spaniards themfelves, o f the.fo much celebrated valley o f
Plafencia, in Eflremadura, reprefentcd by many as the
moil delightful place in the world, felected by the great
Emperor Charles to finiih his days,, and fuppofed to be
featedin an enchanting vale, covered with all manner of
fruit trees in the highefl perfection, where the very air
was embalmed with the moil delicious odours; but alas i
this'is far from being the cafe,’ as the judicious Spaniih
writer (¿), who lately vifited that province, informs us,-
who complains loudly of its moil miferable ilate, and from
his authority, therefore, I fhall venture to pronounce on
its prefent moil wretched and neglected condition.
■ (•) Don Antonio Ponz reproaches' his 'countrymen very feelingly for thefr ncgleft on this
fubjeit in the following lines ; “ Los rios regularmente corren entre nosottos por donde Dios
I“ encam'D0 a principio del mnndo, comp fi no hubiera dexado con grandiffima providencia-
nada que eftudiar en el cultivo de las tierras, lino que todo hubiera de fer facil. No es affi.'
ni tal quifo, fobre cuyo punto dijo bien uno de los mejores poetas.”
Pater ipfe colendi
Haud facilem eile viam voluit prirriufque per artera-
Movit agrosT’ euris acuens mortalia corda. Virg.. Georg. I,
Viage de Efpana, tomo 3. Madrid,1777. '
(b) Don Antonio Ponz. See Viage de Efpana, tom. 7. Madrid, 1778.'
After