ntations are inferior to those at Seville. They are
able, it is true, to procure as fierce bulls; but they are brought from
a considerable distance, and are much more expensive. The principal
inferiority consists in the men, who at Madrid are wanting in the
rapidity of eye, and careless courage of the Andaluz. On the entrance of
a bull on the arena, whose attitude gives promise of an animated course,
almost all the Madrid _toreros_, (I have seen all,) will, at his first
onset, disappear simultaneously over the _barrera_. The _barrera_ is the
enclosure of stout planks, strengthened by posts, which separates the
performers from the spectators. It is about six feet in height. At a
height of three feet a projecting ledge runs round the whole, upon
which, in vaulting over, the _toreador_ places his foot. Behind this
enclosure an open space of four feet in width is left, and serves as a
refuge for those who are hard pressed. Very different is the graceful
and careless attitude with which the Andaluz awaits the approach of the
infuriated brute, and quietly springs aside with a flourish of his
mantle of silk, while he knows there are others at hand to draw off the
animal's attention.

With the exception of the _Toros_ the public amusements of Seville are
limited to the balls at the Lonja during the Carnival, and to the opera.
The opera varies its own pleasures, while it distributes its favours
between the two western capitals of the province. From midsummer to
midwinter Cadiz receives her share of melody, and the remaining six
months are bestowed on Seville. Xeres has, I believe, a company to
itself, supplied by a different _impresario_.

The Rossi is an excellent _primera dama_, although wanting in animation;
and Comfortini is by no means a bad tenor. The second tenor, Tosi, is
said to be ambitious of displaying his somewhat exaggerated attitudes on
the boards of the Haymarket. There is a deficiency of _ensemble_, since
the severe discipline necessary for obtaining that result does not
accord with the genius of the place--or perhaps an unexceptionable
_maestro de capella_ is too expensive a luxury to suit the Seville
purses. However this may be, the easy inhabitants, who hear the same
opera frequently six times in a week, and would hear it seven times had
not the performers a holiday on Saturday--may be taken grievous
liberties with before they utter a complaint. They, in fact, look upon
the performance chiefly as an excuse f