it from the chaff, he fifted it, then shogged it in closer fieves to separate the lighter seeds; yet, after all his pains and labour, I obferved among his wheat, barley, oats, vetches of various fpecies, cockle (agrostemma githaco) with other ponderous feeds, fmall gravel, and little clods of earth, fuch as we always find in wheat imported from every part of Spain. What a pity is it, that in most of our counties, and in every part of France and Spain, farmers should be unacquainted with the winnowing machine, which, imported firft from Holland, is ufed all over Scotland, and countenanced by our respectable Society of Arts! a drawing and description of this excellent machine, published by the Society in London, is highly worthy of attention, as being the only one by which any fpecies of grain can be properly cleanfed; I will not merely fay for feed, but even for the market. About Monjus, I took notice that all the corn, for want of carts, of waggons, and of cars, was brought home, not as in Devonshire and Cornwall, in bundles, hanging hanging against the horfe's fides, but difpofed on a fquare frame, and fastened on his back. June 28. Having paffed Villa franca de Panades, we had the fatisfaction, once more, to travel on good roads, well formed and made, at a vast expence, through rocks, and over the deepest ravins, or the gorges of high mountains. Some of the bridges defigned to form a junction between these, are most stupendous, and fhew clearly the enterprising spirit of this laborious nation. In many of their deepest cuts through the interpofing rock, I took occafion to observe the ftrata. They are generally limestone, and incline more fo towards the fea; but as I approached the Lobregat, I remarked, at a very confiderable depth, thin ftrata of schift interpofed between those of limestone. The prospects in this part of Catalonia are moft enchanting, and change at every ftep. Mountains are feen peeping over mountains, and the hills affume a pleasing variety of forms. Many are fhaded with thick woods, many with luxuriant crops of corna corn, and not a few lift up their rugged cliffs above the reft, and hide their heads among the clouds. the clouds. Industry climbs among these rocks, and every spot where the plough can go, or the vine can fix its roots, is made productive, and abounds with either corn, or wine, or oil. In the vallies we see the peasants engaged in tillage, and with two strong oxen breaking up their fallows; where, by means of a coulter and a mouldboard to a well conftructed plough, they turn deep furrows, fuch as I had never before remarked in Spain. As we approach Barcelona, all is in motion, and the whole road appears alive, with horses, mules, waggons, carts, and people, thronging to the market with their wares. No fuch activity, no fuch appearance of business is seen in any other of the provinces. At fix in the evening we arrived, and I had the happiness of meeting my valuable friend the conful in good health. Between Valencia and Barcelona, the pofadas are tolerably good, but dear, when compared with other parts of Spain, excepting cepting only for the carriers. These pay twenty quartos, or less than fix pence, for their supper, and have plenty of every thing, fish, butcher's meat, poultry, and good wine, with bread and garden stuff; but to a tra→ veller every article is charged, and his bill seldom amounts to lefs than thirty reals. RETURN RETURN TO BARCELONA. MMEDIATELY on my return to Barcelona, I paid my respects to the count of Afalto, captain general of the province, and governor of the city, with a letter from count Florida Blanca, which alone was fufficient to infure me an agreeable reception. This gentleman, diftinguished for politeness, shewed me all poffible attention, gave me the information I desired, and readily granted the only requeft I had occafion to make. Through him I had the honour of being introduced to the bishop of the diocese, don Guvino de Valladares y Mesía. I was the more folicitous for this honour, because the good prelate had been represented as a bigot, whofe fole employment was to count his beads, and his only paffion to live fe cluded |