Letters from Spain

4

See Note A, at the end of the Volume.

5

A name denoting the plain unsophisticated Spaniard.

6

Gentle and simple, as I find in those inexhaustible sources of intellectual delight, the Novels by the author of “Waverley,” are used by the Scottish peasants in the same manner as Noble, and Llano, (plain, simple) by the Spaniards.

7

The Cortes have abolished this barbarous method of inflicting death.

8

See Note B.

9

Pobres vergonzantes.

10

See Note C.

11

The secular clergy are not bound by vows. Celibacy is enforced upon them by a law which makes their marriage illegal, and punishable by the Ecclesiastical Courts.

12

See Note D.

13

Feyjoo died in 1765. Several of his Essays were published in English by John Brett, Esq. 1780.

14

There exist in Spain some other colleges which are also called mayores; but none, except four at Salamanca, one at Valladolid, and one at Seville, were reckoned as a part of the literary aristocracy of the country. None but these had the privilege of referring all their interests and concerns to a committee of the supreme council of the nation, expressly named for that purpose.

15

… Il s’est établi dans Madrid un systême de liberté sur la vente des productions, qui s’étend même à celles de la presse; et que, pourvu que je ne parle en mes écrits ni de l’autorité, ni du culte, ni de la politique, ni de la morale, ni des gens en place, ni des corps en crédit, ni de l’Opera, ni des autres spectacles, ni de personne qui tienne à quelque chose, je puis tout imprimer librement, sous l’inspection de deux ou trois censeurs.—Marriage de Figaro, Act 5, Sc. 3.

16

Don Manuel Maria del Marmol.

17

Don Manuel Maria de Arjona.

18

A coloured tassel on the cap is, in Spain, the peculiar distinction of doctors and masters. White, denotes divinity: green, canon law: crimson, civil law: yellow, medicine; and blue, arts, i. e. philosophy. Those caps are worn only on public occasions at the universities.

19

Melendez Valdez.

20

Don Juan Pablo Forner.