Of the grand Divifions and Subdivifions of the Earth.

S. Please to describe the Situation of the several Nations on the Face of the Earth.

2 Continents.

M. The Earth is ufually divided into the Eastern and Western Continents, or into the old and new World. That on the right Hand in a Map of the World is ftiled the Eastern Continent, and that on the left, the Western Continent.

S. What does the Eaftern Continent contain?

Eaftern
Continent.

M. The Eaftern Continent comprehends Europe, Afia, and Africa: Europe is the NorthWeft Divifion, Afia the North-East Divifion, and Africa the South Divifion of this Eastern Continent.

The Divifion of the Habitable Earth, the fquare Miles of each Divifion and Subdivifion, Capital Cities, with the Distance and Bearing of each from London, also the Time of each Country compared with that of England.

* A Degree of Longitude being 4 Minutes in Time, therefore by having the Longitude we have the Time. A Watch that is fet to Time at London would be 16 Minutes too fast at Madrid, as it lies to the Weft of the Meridian of London: And Vienna being 16 Degrees and 20 Minutes to the Eaft of the Meridian of London, confequently a Watch fet at London would be 1 Hour and 5 Minutes too flow at Vienna,

Divifion

For the Situation of each particular Country, with regard to Latitude and Longitude, and to its contiguous States, we refer to the Maps, because they will fhew this in a more agreeable and ftriking Manner than any verbal Account could.

The use of Maps is obvious from their Conftruction. The Degrees of the Meridians and Parallels fhew the Longitudes and Latitudes of Places, and the Scale of Miles annexed, their Distances; the Situation of Places with regard to each other, as well as the cardinal Points, appears by Inspection, the Top of the Map being always the North, the Bottom the South, the Right-hand the Eaft, and the Left the Weft; unless the Compafs, ufually annexed, fhew the contrary.

The Brevity which we are neceffarily obliged to observe, prevents us alfo from taking any notice of the Subdivifions of Countries, as well as of many other Particulars which are to be found in large Treatifes on this Subject. But we hope our Accounts of the feveral Countries will be found as entertaining and fatisfactory as their Shortness would admit. And tho' in general we have taken notice of the Climate, Government, Trade, Revenues, Forces, Character, Customs, Religion, Curiofities, &c. of the several Nations, yet we have not thought ourselves always obliged to fay fomething upon these Heads,

but

but have enlarged upon them, or been entirely filent, as we judged it would be most entertaining or fatisfactory.

Of SPAIN.

CLIMATE.]THE Air of Spain is generally pure and dry, hot, but exceeding healthful. The Winter is fo moderate in the Valleys, that they have very little occafion for Fires nine Months of the Year: On the contrary, it must be confefs'd, that during the Months of June, July, and August, the Heats are infupportable to Foreigners, especially in the Heart of the Country, and towards the South. Defect of Corn is fufficiently supplied by various Sorts of excellent Fruits and Wines, which, with little Art and Labour, are here produced in great Plenty.

GOVERNMENT.] The King of Spain is as abfolute a Monarch as any on the Face of the Earth; his Crown is hereditary, and defcends to Females.

REVENUES.] The King's Revenues, which arife from various Customs and Duties laid on Goods, c. it is prefumed, do not amount to much more than 5,000,000l. Sterling, when the Multitude of Salaries, Perquifites, &c. are deducted.

FORCES.] It is faid, the Spanish Troops amount to about 70,000, in time of Peace, which is a Force fufficient to repulfe any Enemy that fhall attempt to invade them; even France itfelf, if unaffifted by the Maritime Powers.

RELIGION.] The Roman Catholic being the Religion of Spain, no other Denomination of Chriftians are tolerated. As the Spaniards are exceedingly devoted to their Clergy, they are led by them into the groffeft Superftition and Bigotry.

CUSTOMS.] In Paffion-week the Spaniards practife great Aufterities; fome will procure themselves to be faftened to a Cross, in their Shirts, with their Arms extended in Imitation of our Saviour, uttering the moft difmal Groans and Lamentations; others will walk bare-footed over Rocks and Mountains, to some distant Shrine, to perform their Devotions.

But on Festivals the Scene is very different; for then they expofe the richeft Shrines, and all the Treasures of their Churches, to public View; the People are adorned with all their Jewels; and in the hottest Weather, when the Sun fhines out in its full Luftre, they carry lighted Torches in their Hands, which, with the Sun-beams over their Heads, almoft melt the fuperftitious Crowd.

Serenading feems to be a Diverfion almoft peculiar to this People. Not a young Fellow fcarce, when the Love-fit is

upon