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SPAIN, its physical exterior, its past fortunes, its inhabitants, are all marked with sharp lines, with strong contrasts of light and shade.

It has been my aim, in the following pages, to communicate an idea of that country, including its history and monuments, in a series of detached pictures, if I may thus apply the expression, instead of seeking to attain the same end by means of detailed and systematic narration.

Deriving materials indifferently from personal observation or from books, as may best conduce to my object, I have not scrupled, in respect of historical topics, to embrace within the scope of my plan matters appertaining to the American history of Spain.

The reader will, perhaps, recognize some of the articles as having heretofore appeared elsewhere, either in whole or in part, especially three pieces, which treat of Spanish American subjects; and it is proper to state, that I have revised them for the

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present work, after inspection of the means of information bearing on them, which have issued from the press since their original publication.

If any reader should deem it matter of inquiry, that I have neglected various local subjects like Madrid, Seville, Cadiz, Barcelona,-or historical ones like Saguntum, la Caba, Saint Ferdinand, Jayme the Conqueror, Pedro the Cruel, Muza, Almansor, the Great Captain, Cortes, and others, quite equal in attraction to any whereon I have touched, all I can say is, that, in the affluence of such subjects, I have been guided to some, rather than others, by accident or the impulse of occasion;—and that like causes will decide whether I shall augment the number and complete the series of my reminiscences of Spain.

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