Mark Mason's Victory

1. GENERAL VIEW OF SPAIN.

The aggregate monarchy of Spain is composed of many distinct provinces, each of which in earlier times formed a separate and independent kingdom; although all are now united by marriage; inheritance, conquest, and other circumstances under one crown, the original distinctions, geographical as well as social, remain almost unaltered. The language, costume, habits, and local character of the natives, vary no less than the climate and productions of the soil. Man, following, as it were, the example of the nature by which he is surrounded, has little in common with the inhabitant of the adjoining district; and these differences are increased and perpetuated by the ancient jealousies and inveterate dislikes, which petty and contiguous states keep up with such tenacious memory. The general comprehensive term "Spain," which is convenient