ng sometimes such edifices
as would claim the title of _chateau_ in some other countries. But this
same haughty modesty is rather individual than collective, and does not
prevail as applied to towns and cities. In public acts and addresses,
and even in the most homely precautionary warnings placarded at the
corners of streets or promenades, the form used is,--"The constitutional
Alcalde of this heroic and very invincible town of Madrid, or Seville,
forbids, or orders, &c.;" and still more splendid epithets are found for
the nation in general.

I don't know whether it has occurred to you that this progressive
dereliction of consistency is universal in human nature, although it
assumes a variety of forms. In the present instance modesty commences at
home, as they say charity should.

By the way, if charity should commence at home, together with the other
affections of the heart, such as patriotism, then did the first Brutus
make a mistake. If, on the contrary, his merit was great in sacrificing
his son to his nation, it follows, that, in causing his entire nation to
be butchered the first time they were guilty of any encroachment on the
rights of the rest of the world, his glory would have increased in the
ratio of one to some millions.

He either acted on a principle of justice, or preferred the applause of
his compatriots to the affection of his son. If, therefore, an
opportunity was ever afforded him of doing the world the above-mentioned
act of justice at the expense of his countrymen, and he abstained from
it,--it being impossible to suppose a Roman republican capable of a
dereliction of principle--it is clear that he preferred the applause of
his nation to that of the rest of the world; and all becomes a question
of taste. But what, you exclaim, has the first or any other Brutus to do
with Pilate's house, the description of which is preceded by this long
introduction? And was not his murder of his son benevolence itself,
compared to the infliction of these digressions on your patience?

The Casa de Palatos is a palace belonging to the Duke of Medina Coeli.
One of his ancestors is said to have built it in exact imitation of
Pontius Pilate's palace in Jerusalem, and to have obtained possession of
a large quantity of the ornaments and portable furniture belonging to
the ancient building, which, on the completion of his edifice at
Seville, he established, each object in the place corresponding to that
which it origi