PALENCIA, a province in Spain, forming part of the ancient kingdom of Leon. It extends 145 square leagues, and the number of its inhabitants is 118,064, a density of population much greater than the general average of the kingdom presents. As the province is well watered, the riches and population, which in Spain must arise from the abundance of that element, are on the advance. The rivers that water it discharge themselves at last into the Duero, and are the Pisuerga, the Carrion, the Arlanza, and the Arlanzon. The country is generally fertile in the valleys, and yields wheat, barley, and wines. There are some coarse woolen manufactures scattered over the province, as well as in the capital city. The Canal of Castille runs through this province as far as it is executed. This, like the Canal of Aragon, is designed to promote two important objects, that of internal navigation and that of irrigation. The part of this valuable and costly work that is completed begins in the village of Alar del Rey, in latitude 42. 51., taking its water from the Pizuerga, the left bank of which it follows. It enters the kingdom of Leon by crossing that river, and then continues on its right
bank, crossing also the Cieza, when it makes a turn to the city of Palencia, and terminates in the Carrion, a little below it. A branch called the Canal de Campos runs from it to the westward, towards Beceril. The masonry of this work is stupendous and well executed, as are all the locks, sluices, and other appendages. Such great operations always proceed slowly in Spain, and the recent struggles have created considerable impediments; but if the project be successfully pursued, and the original plan completed, this canal will connect itself with that of Aragon, and thus create an internal navigation across the whole of Spain. There are made in this province 500,000 heads of wine, and 2000 of brandy. It possesses 3050 horses, 6500 mules, 3800 asses, 9300 oxen, 318,500 sheep, 11,300 goats, and 5500 pigs. It is in the captain-generalship of Zamora, and enjoys the privileges and laws of Castile.