struck by itself, after the double impression is made."

When they alighted from the carriage, Mr. Delville said, "There are two things we want to see here; and we must be off early to-morrow morning. One of them, the Alcazer, or palace of the Gothic kings, is situated on the highest part of the rock. Edward is very anxious to see it; but I think it would take the rest of the party half a day to go there and back. I propose sending him up to it with a guide; and he will give us, on his return, an account of what he has seen."

This was cheerfully agreed to; and, after a frugal meal of eggs and bread, he set off on his mountainexcursion; the rest of the party turned towards the town.

Segovia is built upon two hills, and spread over the valley by which they are separated. This position made it very difficult for a part of the citizens to be supplied with water. According to the learned, however, this difficulty was removed in the reign of Trajan, by an aqueduct, which to this day is one of the most astonishing and best preserved of the Roman works. It begins on a level with the rivulet it receives, and is at first supported by a single line of arches, not quite three feet high. It runs, by a gentle ascent, to the summit of a hill on the other side of the city; and appears to become more exalted in pro

AND ITS AQUEDUCT.

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portion as the ground over which it is extended declines.

At its highest part it has the appearance of a bridge boldly thrown over a prodigious abyss. It has two arches, which form an obtuse angle relatively to the city, and it is at this angle that it becomes almost sublime. Two rows of arches rise majestically one above the other; and the spectator feels some impression of fear in comparing their slender base with their amazing height.

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"How does it stand?" said Ellen, after the first burst of admiration had subsided. Does it not look as if the first storm would throw it down?" "And yet," said her father, "it has braved uninjured the efforts of sixteen centuries. It is composed of square stones placed one upon another, without any exterior appearance of cement; though we cannot be certain whether they were really united without this aid, by being cut and placed with peculiar art, or whether the cement has been destroyed by time.”

"One cannot see those wretched houses," said Mrs. Delville," raised against the pillars of the arcades, without great regret."

"As they scarcely rise to a third of the height of the aqueduct," said Mr. Delville, "they serve at least to give an appearance of projection to its magnificent and lofty proportions."

They would still have lingered at the aqueduct;

but their guide told them, that if they moved so slowly, the manufactory might, on their arrival, be closed. They therefore hastened their pace, and had the satisfaction to find they were in time. They were received with great civility by the director, who surprised them by speaking English.

Mr. Delville led to the object of their visit, by asking, what quantity of wool was annually scoured there.

"About five hundred ton," he replied; "but by this operation it is reduced to one-half that weight. Our situation, you see, is well chosen : the ground is laid out in the form of a basin, the sloping sides of which terminate in a common; and being open to the sun and air in all directions, it is an excellent place for drying the wool." He then led them to the spot where the wool was sorted, each fleece being carried there as it was tied up. Mr. Delville remarked upon the quickness and decision of the sorters, who were separating it into three heaps.

"They are so accustomed," said the director, "to this business, that they find no difficulty in it: but it requires a long apprenticeship. When perfect in this part of the business, they can tell at first sight from what part of the animal each lock of wool is taken. There are, you see, different deThese three sorts thus separated,

grees of fineness.

are extended upon wooden hurdles, where they are

spread, beaten, and cleansed from the dust and dirt. They are afterwards taken to the washingplace, which, if you will allow me, I will now show you."

The little party followed his guidance, and he stopped once or twice to answer the questions of the young people, with whose intelligence he seemed greatly pleased. The first thing they saw at the washing-place was an enormous copper.

"When the water in this great vessel is boilinghot," said Senhor Melchor, "it is let out by these two great spigots, that open or shut certain pipes, by which it is conveyed into these three square wells, lined, as you see, with hewn stone, and which are about four feet deep. The hot water falls upon a bed of wool, that covers the bottom of each well, and which is turned in every direction by a man at each well. For each sort is washed separately, and according to its fineness, requires the water to be more or less hot. After this first operation; the wool is again spread upon hurdles to drain off the dirt and the water."

"And what is done with the coarse locks I see here ?" said Mr. Delville.

"They are sold for the benefit of souls in purgatory," replied the director, devoutly crossing himself as he spoke; an example which was immediately followed by his men.

The wool underwent a second washing in cold

water, and was then laid out on the sloping meadows to drain and to dry.

The English party expressed themselves charmed with the simplicity and ingenuity of the arrangements. Senhor Melchor seemed gratified by their praise, and said, "Four sunny days are scarcely sufficient to dry the wool, even in this southern exposure. When this is accomplished, initial letters on the bags in which it is put, indicate the sort of wool contained in each: and they are accompanied by a mark, which points out the flock which has furnished it; so that a connoisseur who saw the bags, would say, "This is fine, or superfine wool, from the Escurial, Negrette, or Bejar flocks ;' the only three we admit here, or which are used at Guadalaxara."

Mr. Delville thanked the director for his politeness, and the Senhor pressed him to go into his house, and take a cup of chocolate; but the sun was now fast sinking behind the rocky defile which had been their entrance into Segovia; and with many acknowledgments for his politeness, the travellers bid him farewell.

"Papa," said Ellen, "I did not think I should like a manufactory so much; but I suppose I was not tired because I understood every thing I saw. I do not think, Frank, that Edward will have as much to tell us as we shall have to tell him; only," she added, "he will not believe it."