whose reign holds so distinguished a place in modern history, and forms the nucleus of the last exploits and greatest disasters of Louis XIV.; a prince, for whose interest Europe was agitated by three wars, within less than half a century; and whom innumerable conquests could not render happy.

"What a subject, my children," said Mr. Delville, "for reflection on the vanity of all human greatness!"

They indulged these natural feelings at the tomb of Philip; and then turned gladly away, to visit the delightful abode which he had made for himself in the rocky bosom of the mountains and the solitude of the woods. The king's apartments looked out upon a parterre surrounded with vases and marble statues, embellished by a cascade, which, for the richness of its decorations, may be compared with the finest of its kind. These waters answer the double purpose of supplying numerous fountains, and diffusing life and verdure through the magnificent gardens, the sight of which many deem worthy a journey into Spain. They are a league in circumference, and the inequality of the ground affords every moment new points of view. The principal avenues answer to different summits of the neighbouring mountains; and one, terminated by the great front of the palace, is parti

cularly pleasing. From that spot, five ornamented fountains are seen; the most remarkable of which is Neptune standing erect among his marine court. The young people were enchanted.

"Oh! look, papa!" said Ellen, as the fountain of Fame rose in a single jet-d'eau of a hundred and thirty feet in height, and fell in a gentle shower around them.

The guide, who saw and enjoyed their admiration, now came forward, to say that there was a yet more beautiful spot to be seen.

They proceeded, accordingly, to a high, flat ground, in front of the king's apartment. In the thick part of the foliage, two arbours were contrived, from whence twenty watery columns, clear as crystal, rising to the height of the surrounding trees, united their confused noise, to the rustling of the leaves. There they seated themselves, and looked around with unsated eyes.

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Philip V.," said Mr. Delville, "did not enjoy this enchanting scene: death surprised him before the gardens were finished. It is melancholy to think, that the expences of this undertaking, together with the extravagant wars in which he was compelled to engage, ruined the finances of Spain. It is curious, that he died in debt, to the amount of forty-five millions of piastres-exactly the sum which this palace cost

him."

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ITS ORIGINAL APPEARANCE.

"What an immense expence !" said Mrs. Delville; "especially as so much of what we admire seems owing to nature."

"It is the triumph of art, my dear; for I understand, that at the beginning of the last century, this enchanting spot was only the sloping summit of a pile of rocks; that it was necessary to dig and hew out stones, and out of the sides of the rock to cut a hundred different channels, in order to convey vegetative earth to every place in which it was intended to substitute beauty for sterility; and to procure by mines, passages for the roots of the numerous trees which are planted there."

"Wonderful!" said Ellen: " and what complete success has attended these endeavours: art has hid its own arts, which I remember mamma once said was its highest perfection."

"One failure there has been, Ellen," said her father," and only one. The trees, naturally of a lofty growth, whose roots sink deep into the earth, already prove the insufficiency of art when it attempts to struggle against nature: many of them languish with withered trunks, and life stagnates in their naked branches. Every year new beds are made with gunpowder, to supply their places by fresh trees. Every thing here is charming; but as a whole, it wants shade."

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Certainly," said Edward, "I have never seen

any thing like it before; and therefore I am per

UNBIASSED OPINIONS.

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haps a better judge than more practised eyes, of its resemblance to nature: but I do not think that art is hidden: nature is not so perfect. It has always some happy defect which marks its freedom from the schoolmaster. I would rather wander, with my fishing-rod, a day by our own lovely Greta, than lounge here for a month.”

"Hear him!" said Ellen. "Oh Goth! oh Vandal!"

"And I say, hear him," said his father, "for his sound, good sense. Long, my dear boy, may you preserve this simplicity of taste, and these homeattachments. Nature is always pleasant to us. Art, however exquisitely disguised, after a time, imparts less unmingled satisfaction."

From the gardens they went to see the celebrated manufactory for mirrors. It was then idle, so their curiosity was not gratified. The mould in which the largest is made was all they saw. It was thirteen feet and a half one way, seven feet nine inches broad, and six inches deep. The glass is not very clear; but from their size, these mirrors have found their way into most of the royal palaces of Europe.

They dined upon venison; and then proceeded to Madrid, which they were anxious to reach while it was light. Nothing on the road, even within half a mile of the city, indicated an approach to the capital of Spain: long files of mules

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ENTRACE TO MADRID.

carrying chopped straw, as fodder, to Madrid were alone visible. There seemed neither environs nor outskirts, nor any of those accessaries by which the metropolis is commonly distinguished. At length their eager eyes discovered, first, a dim outline, and then a forest of belfries and spires were clearly defined against the cloudless sky; till the whole city lay before them, built in the form of a long square; and fertile plains extending to the right and left.

They were stopped a few moments by the custom-house officers; but the scrutiny was the slightest possible. They caught a glimpse of Spanish ladies in the street; there was the mantilla and the fan they had heard of so much; the black sombre dresses, which gave the population a solemn air; the water-carriers, with their green jackets, offering with reiterated cries cold water to the passengers; the friars, one, two, three, four, they counted all in different dresses, before they had proceeded fifty paces; the glancing silver, and superb dresses of the military, each in their turn fixed their eager attention, and absorbed all their thoughts, till they stopped at "The Golden Fountain," the inn which was to receive them for the night.