rgin Mary is said to have done many miracles in favour of the sea-faring people. W. Lon. 76° N. Lat. 11°.a town of New Castile in Spain, and capital of the whole kingdom, though it never had the title of a city, is situated in W. Lon. 3° N. Lat. 40° 26'. It stands in the centre of a large plain, surrounded with mountains, and in the very heart of Spain, on the banks of the little river Manzanares, which is always very low and shallow, except when it is swelled by the melting of the snow on the mountains. The streets here are wide, straight, and handsome, and adorned with several fine fountains; the houses fair and lofty, but built of brick, with lattice-windows, excepting those of the rich, who have glass in their windows; only, during the summer-heats, they use gauze, or some such thin stuff, instead of it, to let in the fresh air. There are two stately bridges here over the Manzanares, several beautiful squares, a great many magnificent churches, convents, palaces, and hospitals: among the last is one for all nations and distempers, with a large revenue. Around the plaza-mayor, or grand square, are piazzas, with houses all uniform, and a continued line of balconies, for viewing the bull-fights and other public shows exhibited in it. The royal palace, which stands on the west side of the town, on an eminence, is spacious and magnificent, consisting of three courts, and commanding a fine prospect. At the east end of the town is the prado, or pardo; which is a delightful plain, planted with regular rows of poplar trees, and watered with a great many fountains; where the nobility and gentry take the air on horseback, or in their coaches, and the common people on foot; or divert themselves with a variety of sports and exercises. The compass of the whole town is computed at about nine miles, and the number of its inhabitants at about 150,000. It is well supplied with provisions of all kinds, at reasonable rates; and the court, with the resort and residence of the quality, and the high colleges and offices that are kept kept here, occasion a brisk trade and circulation of money. There are three royal academies; one for the improvement of the Spanish language, another for history, and another for medicine. Nothing, in short, is wanting to make this place extremely commodious and agreeable, but cleanliness; which, it seems, is not such a favourite with the inhabitants as it deserves. The environs are very pleasant, and contain several royal seats; among which are El Buen Retiro, Casa del Campo, Florida, Le Pardo, Sarafuca, and St. Ildefonso; but the most magnificent, not only in this country, but perhaps in the whole world, is the Escorial, which takes its name from a small village, near which it stands, about 22 miles north-west from Madrid; and of which a description is given under the article Escorial. Another royal palace, greatly admired, particularly for its delicious gardens and surprising water-works, is Aranjuez, which is situated on the Tagus, about 30 miles south of Madrid.