MADRE DE POPA, a town of South America, in the government of New Granada, with a celebrated convent. The pilgrims of South America resort in great_numbers to this religious foundation, which is there in almost as great reputation as the Santa Casa, or Holy House of Loreto, is in Europe. 54 miles E. of Carthagena.

MADRID, the capital of Spain, is situated neat the centre of the kingdom, in New Castile, near the small river Manzanares, about 300 miles from the sea on each side. It stands on several eminences of small elevation, in the centre of a large plain. Seen from a distance, it presents nothing that announces a great city, and the environs being destitute of wood, and even of vines, while most of the villages are in hollows, the prospect is commonly dreary. The height of this plain above the level of the sea, is above 2200 feet, so that Madrid is the most elevated capital in Europe. On the east the view is bounded by the mountains of Guadarrama; on all other sides the horizon perfectly open. On drawing near the ety, the prospect becomes more cheerful: the avenues and good roads conduct to all the gates; and the entrance by the gate of Alcala in particular is very beautiful. The city itself is of an oblong form, its length being from north to south, and its circumference Dearly six miles. It is surrounded by a high earthen wall, but has no ditch, or any other means of defence. The old streets are narrow and crooked, but many others e wide, straight, and regular; and some of them would be suitable to the finest ties in Europe. They are paved with starp pebbles, which renders walking on them disagreeable; for though there are txt pavements on each side, they are so arrow that two persons cannot walk abreast. Bat the streets of Madrid are now kept Cican, and well lighted during night. The test is that of Alcala, which is of sufficient width for ten carriages to pass abreast; it has, however, the disadvantage of being ca aneven ground, of contracting gradualyas it advances into the city, and of its bruses not being high in proportion to its width. The squares in Madrid are not fewer than 42, but most of them are very ll: the best are the Plaza Mayor, and the Puerta del Sol. The first is in the centre of the city, and forms a regular colong, surrounded by porticos on freestone pillars; the houses are all uniform, and five stories high, with balconies before each window. In the middle of one of the sides of this square, is the palace called de da Panaderia, where the royal family come to witness public exhibitions; and on such vecasions, particularly at bull fights and

illuminations, the view of the square is magnificent. This is the most commercial and most stirring part of the city. The Puerta del Sol resembles a star rather than a square, formed by the crossing of five of the largest streets in the city. In front of the royal palace is a square, and in front of the hotel de ville another: the rest of the squares are small and inelegant.

The private houses of Madrid are uniform, and have very little striking in their exterior; they are generally low, with grated windows, which recall to the passing spectator the ancient tales of Spanish jealousy. Even the houses of the first grandees are distinguished from those of private citizens only by their magnitude; their entrances are narrow and aukward, and the staircases paltry. The only exceptions are the palaces of the families of Berwic, Altamira, and Veraguas; the last belongs to the descendants of Columbus. The interior of the houses of great families is, however, in a better style, and many of them contain master-pieces both of painting and sculpture: of these, the dukes of Infantado, Alba, Medina-Celi, and some others, possess valuable collections. The simplicity that prevails in private houses, extends also to the public edifices. Even the churches have less to render them remarkable, than in several other cities in Spain. The church of St Jerome has a portal richly ornamented with Gothic sculpture; several of its chapels contain good paintings, and that of St John, in particular, is of the Gothic order, and has some handsome monuments. The church of St Isidor is large and handsome, with a fine front; it has a beautiful nave, well proportioned, with a large dome. That of the mendicant friars is one of the largest in the city. It is built in the form of a Latin cross, and has a dome painted in fresco, by Michael Colonna. The church of the Incarnation is an Ionic building, and one of the handsomest in Madrid: its high altar displays great nagnificence. The church of the Visitation, or las Salesas, is a large building, richly ornamented with paintings, statues, marble pillars, and a monument of the founders. The monument of the bishop of Plasencia in the chapel, called del Obispo, the silver tabernacle in the church of St Martin, the altar and monument of Joan of Austria, in the church of the Franciscan nuns, are worthy the notice of a traveller. Of the other public buildings, one of the most remarkable is the Saladero, a large and handsome edifice. The quarters of the guards, situated at the north-west extremity of the city, and the largest building in Madrid, is a great oblong, with the princi

pal front toward the east, overloaded with ornaments. It contains lodgings for the body guards, three large courts, and stalls for 600 or 700 horses. The custom-house is a lofty oblong structure, with its end to the street. The post-office is of late erection, and quite insulated from any other building. The prison of the court stands near the Plaza Mayor, and is a fine building. The council-house, or hotel de ville, is a simple, but elegant edifice: it is surpassed, however, by the Palacio de los Consejos, where the supreme tribunals hold their sittings. The royal armoury contains a valuable collection of armour of different ages. Of the city gates, three, viz. the gates of the Recollets, of St Vincent, and Alcala, are in the form of triumphal arches, with trophies, inscriptions, columns, and other ornaments. There are three theatres, but none of them are worth notice for their architecture. Madrid contains two palaces on a large scale, the Palacio Real at the western extremity of the city, and the Buen Retiro at the eastern. Both are, insulated buildings: the Palacio Real is of a square form, its walls extending each way 404 feet, and having 86 feet in height: the inclosed court is 120 feet square. It is strongly built; its walls are thick; its foundations deep; its pillars strong; and every room is vaulted, no wood being admitted into its construction. It is elegantly ornamented on the outside; the stair-case is grand, and the apartments spacious, particularly the hall of audience to foreign ambassadors. This palace contains a large collection of paintings by the best masters of Flanders, Italy, and Spain: also the crown, jewels, and other regalia. Its greatest defect is the want of gardens. Of the Buen Retiro, the other palace, the oldest part was built by Philip IV., and is a large regular square; but several parts have since been added, without attending to their correspondence with the principal edifice. The palace is thus an inharmonious mass; but it has very extensive gardens, and a large collection of paintings. In the principal garden is a bronze statue of Philip II. on horseback, a work of difficult execution, the horse being in the attitude of galloping.

Of the public walks of Madrid, the principal is the Prado, which makes so conspicuous a figure in Spanish romances and plays. It runs along great part of the east, and part of the north side of the city, and before the extension of the buildings, being sequestered, and full of uneven ground, became the frequent scene of assignations, political intrigues, plots, and assassinations. It was subsequently levelled, and houses being now erected throughout its vicinity, it

is as safe as any other part of the city. forms a broad walk, planted with trees carriages, and an alley on each side for destrians. The concourse of people is son. times prodigious, but it presents a tireso uniformity; the ladies of high rank alwa keep in their carriages in the middle wal while those who walk in the alleys are e veloped in their mantilla, or large veil. T other public walks, the Florida to the wes the Delicias to the south, and the Chan berry to the north, though all beautifu are too distant to be much frequented.

Climate.-Madrid enjoys almost alway a cloudless sky, and a pure and serene at mosphere; but the air is extremely keen and produces very severe effects on weal constitutions. These arise doubtless from the great elevation, and from the vicinity of the neighbouring mountains of Guadar rama, which are covered with snow during many months in the year. These effects are experienced even in calm weather, so that it has become a proverb, that the air of Madrid does not blow out a candle, but kills a man. Even in warm weather, a sense of shivering and contraction is often felt, on passing from sunshine to the shade. The prevailing winds are a cold and dry breeze from the north in winter, and a warm south wind in spring; but in summer it seldom happens that any wind at all can be felt. In spring, showers are of frequent occurrence, but during the rest of the year they are rare, and of short coutinuance. In general, a residence here is esteemed healthy, epidemic diseases being almost unknown. The most frequent com plaints are nervous affections and inflam-. matory fevers: a convulsive colic resem bling that in Derbyshire, is not uncommon; it produces not palsy, but a disposition to spasmodic, and even convulsive affection.

Inhabitants. The population of Madrid, including military, clergy, and strangers, is not far short of 200,000. In no city of Europe are loungers more numerous: in the evening there are regularly large assem blies, first on the public walks, and at a later hour in the public assemblies. The theatres are ill managed, and thinly attended. Bull fights long were, and, though not now sanctioned by authority, still are the favourite amusements of all ranks. One of the most splendid spectacles in Madrid is the procession of Corpus Christi day which is commonly accompanied by the king, the court, and the public bodies The great school of Madrid occupies a building which formerly belonged to the Jesuits, and has 16 masters, who teach Latin, Greek, Arabic, and Hebrew, rhetoric, poetry, literary history, logic, experiments al physics, moral philosophy, mathematics,

law, and ecclesiastical discipline. There is also a seminary on an equally comprehensive plan, for the sons of the nobility and gentry. A botanical garden was laid out about the year 1770, for teaching the cleinents of that science; also a chemical school, and classes for engineering, for anatomy, and the practice of medicine. There are academies for the study of history, and for painting, sculpture, and architecture; also for the Spanish language. The last has published an excellent dictionary on the plan of Johnson. The royal rary contains above 100,000 volumes; and the cabinet of natural history contains a collection of specimens of natural objects from various parts, but chiefly from the Spanish colonies. Madrid contains a considerable number of book shops, but they have very few new publications. The printing business and literature generally was long checked, by the monks of the Escarial having the exclusive privilege of printing. Female education, as in other Catholic countries, is conducted chiefly in

convents.

The charitable institutions of Madrid are Iumerous: the general hospital receives men of all ages and nations; the hospital of the Passion admits only women; but both sexes are received into another great hospital, which bears the name of Anton Martin. Different nations, such as the French, the Italians, the Flemish, the Irish, as well as some Spanish provinces, such as Navarre, Biscay, and Arragon, have each their hospitals, but these institutions are now in a great measure diverted from their original destination. There are also several hospitals of more limited destination; three receive foundlings; two receive orphans; and the hospital of St Peter is for priests. Here also a pawn bank, founded by individuals to accommodate the poor with small loans; and two societies who expend money in the relief of the indigent in different ways, and maintaining poor students at the univer

The Spanish government has discouraged, by very heavy imposts, the culture of wine in the neighbourhood of the capital. In consequence of this and other restraints, the manufacturing establishments are very mconsiderable; none, indeed, are worth totice, except those for hats; also a saltpetre work on a large scale. There is here also a fabric of Mosaic, one of tapestry, and one of porcelain, like the Gobelins at Paris; but their productions are appropriated to the use of the royal family, or as presents to foreign courts, and none of the articles are sold. The trade of Madrid is almost entirely one e importation and consumption; for the environs do not produce provision to main

VOL. IV. FART 1.

The

Environs of Madrid.-There are around Madrid several royal residences, such as the Casa del Campo, a royal hunting seat on the other side of the Manzanares, where there was formerly a collection of wild animals, such as lions, tigers, &c. Pardo is a palace on the river, about six miles from the city, in a picturesque situation, surrounded by vast woods. The Zarzuela is a beautiful rural seat, about six miles to the north of Madrid. The Mejorada, a village at nearly the same distance on the river, has a beautiful church; and Loeches, another village, is remarkable for a convent, containing a valuable collection of paintings.

Madrid is not an ancient city, its name being first mentioned in history as a castle belonging to the king of Castile, which was sacked by the Moors in 1109. Houses were gradually built around, till it became a city; but the court of Spain was not permanently fixed here till 1563. During the war of the succession (from 1702 to 1713), Madrid took a decided part in favour of the Bourbon against the Austrian branch. In the late contest, it was occupied early in 1808 by French troops. On 2d May 1808, when the last members of the royal family were removing from the capital, the people, whose minds had been for some time in a very agitated state, burst into open insurrection; a dreadful contest took place, and a number, both French and Spaniards, were killed. On the 20th July following, Joseph Bonaparte made his public entry into Madrid as king of Spain; but on the 27th of the same month, he found it necessary to retreat. He again entered it on the 5th December, and remained till lord Wellington's operations in 1812 made it requisite for him to go to the assistance of Marmont. The battle of Salamanca was now fought; and Madrid being entered by a body of British troops on 12th of August, was occupied by them, until marshal Soult advanced from Andalusia with a superior force. It remained in possession of the French till the following year, when the advance of the British, and the battle of Vittoria, led to its definitive liberation. 650 miles S. S. W. of Paris, and 850 W, by S. of Rome. It stands in Long. 3. 33. 8. W. Lat. 40. 25. 7. N.

MADRID, a township of the United States, in Lawrence county, New York. Population 700.

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ccast of Sweden, lying before the harbour of Kongsback, and about 30 miles S. of Maelstrand.

MAFLSTRAND, an island on the west coast of Sweden, situated to the north of Gottenburg.

MAENTWROG, a parish of Wales, in Merionethshire, 228 miles from London. Population 701.

MAESE, a large river of Europe, which has its source in the French department of the Upper Marne, enters the Netherlands to the north of Charleville, and falls into the German ocean below Rotterdam. In its course, which is about 400 miles, it is joined by the rivers Mouzon, Sambre, Ourthe, Lesse, and Ruhr, besides a number of inferior streams. After its junction with the Waal, the united river, which is then very large, takes the name of Merwe. The principal towns which it passes in its course are Verdun, Sedan, and Mezieres, in France; and Charlemont, Namur, Huy, Liege, Maestricht, Ruremonde, Venloo, Grave, Gorcum, Dort, Rotterdam, and Briel, in the Netherlands. In some parts of the course it exhibits, on a smaller scale, all the romantic variety of the scenery of the Rhine, being frequently shut in by vast rocks on each side: these are sometimes covered with wood to their summits, at other times naked and abrupt. It is between Namur and Maestricht that this scenery is the most striking.

MAESTRICHT, a large town of the interior of the Netherlands, the capital of the province of Limburg, advantageously situated on the Maese, where that river is joined by the small stream of the Jaer. It stands on a level surrounded with hills, on the left bank of the river, and communicates with the suburb of Wyck, situated on the opposite side, by means of a stone bridge of 500 feet in length. Its form, including the suburb, is nearly circular; and it is tolerably well built. The principal street extends from the bridge to the other extremity of the town; it is mostly occupied by shops; but the best dwelling-houses are in a street which runs parallel to it. The market place and the place d'armes are two handsome public squares; the latter is planted with trees, and forms an agreeable promenade. Of the public buildings, the chief are the townEl and the church of St Gervais; the other churches of the city are of little note; but the college, once occupied by the Jesaits, the theatre, and the arsenal, are worth the visit of a traveller.

Maestricht is one of the strongest places of the Netherlands. It is surrounded by walls and ditches; but its principal strength consts in a number of detached bastions. It is defended likewise by the fortress of St Pierre, situated on a neighbouring height.

The promenades are the ramparts and the walks along the river above the town. The manufactures of this place consist in leather flannel, stockings, and different kinds of coarse cloth; also in hardware. Here are likewise extensive breweries and distilleries. The soil of the surrounding country is very fertile, and in a neighbouring mountain are stone quarries, with subterraneous passages of great extent. This town has daily communication with the places higher up, as well as lower down the Maese, by vessels that sail at stated hours. It is the seat of the governor, and of the public offices of the province. It was long one of the most important fortresses of the Dutch: it was besieged by the French, in 1748, at the time of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, and was taken by them in 1794. Population 18,500. 14 miles N. by E. of Liege, and 56 E. of Brussels. Long 5. 43. E. Lat. 50. 48. N.

MAETER, a village of the Netherlands, in the province of East Flanders, with 3000 inhabitants.

MAFAMEDE, a small island in the Indian sea, near the eastern coast of Africa. Lat. 16. 20. S.

MAFFALUBRENSE, a town of Naples, in the Terra di Lavoro, with 2700 inhabitants.

MAFMALA, a small island in the Indian sea, near the eastern coast of Africa. Lat. 16. 20. S.

MAFRA, a small town of Portugal, 20 miles N. W. of Lisbon, with 1000 inhabitants.

MAFRAGG, a small river of Algiers, which runs into the Mediterranean, near Cape Rosa.

MAFUMO, or ENGLISH RIVER. See Delagoa Bay.

MAGADOXA, a town on the eastern coast of Africa, capital of a country of the same name. It is watered by a considerable river, the origin of which is unknown, though it may be conjectured to arise from the southern side of the same chain of mountains which gives rise to the Nile. This river overflows its banks, and fertilises the country. The interior of this region, however, is almost wholly unknown. The inhabitants always opposed a most determined resistance to the Portuguese, who never were able to establish any footing there. Their jealousy of the people has been extended to all Europeans, who uniformly experienced here the most inhospitable treatment. In 1707, the Albemarle, East Indiaman, sent a boat on shore, which was seized, and all attempts to recover it proved fruitless. The ruling power, and the greater part of the inhabitants, are Mahometans, though there is a mixture of Abyssinian Christians. The town is known from the