fferent
calicoes and dull cutlery to the Spanish consumer. The French, who are
fond of charging England with being the nation "_egoiste par excellence_,"
who consults only her own interests, and is equally ready to poison
antipodean barbarians with opium, or to violate the principles of fair
dealing that ought to exist between friendly countries, by introducing
contraband goods in every possible manner--the French, we say, albeit so
Pecksniffian in their condolences with Spain, and other nations, which
they affect to consider victims to the practices of greedy and treacherous
England, are themselves most reckless and determined in their smuggling
transactions with their southern neighbours; and the sole circumstance
which "rises their dander" is to find English goods obtaining the
preference in the Peninsula, as every where else. The constant aim of the
French is to irritate Spaniards against England; and the ground upon which
they have hitherto gone is, that of representing us, in all our actions,
as thinking only of our own advantage. The activity and skill of French
political agents were long exerted to bring about a reaction against the
friendly feelings which, only a very short time back, were entertained in
the Peninsula towards England; and these exertions were at last
successful, although we may now hope that Spaniards are again opening
their eyes to the deceit that has been practised on them. The friendly
offices of France are probably by this time beginning to be appreciated
at their just value; and doubts must be arising in the minds of the
rational portion of the Spanish people, whether the "_perfides
insulaires_" did not mean and act as honestly by them as the more
smooth-tongued and insinuating allies who have reimposed upon them a
Christina and a Narvaez.

"Exaggeration in all things," says the English resident, "is the leading
vice of Spain. There is not a city in the Peninsula that is not '_muy
noble, muy leal, y muy heroica_;' not a corporate body that is not 'most
excellent,' or 'most illustrious;' not a military corps that is not
renowned, and matchless for its valour; not a ragamuffin in Castile that
does not esteem himself noble, nor a brigand in Andalusia but calls
himself a soldier; not a man but is a Don, nor a woman but is a Dona; not
a dunce of a doctor but is profoundly learned, nor a scribbling poetaster
but is a European celebrity. Where all are first-rate, how shall there be
improvement? W