clefiaftical benefices, or on their private patrimony; this being equal to three reals a day, that is, to about eleven pounds sterling per annum. Of the feculars, fixty-four are knights, twenty-eight advocates, thirty-one efcrivanos, two hundred and ninety-four students, nine hundred and feventy-four farmers, two thousand three hundred and one day-labourers; the merchants and shopkeepers are three hundred and thirteen; the manufacturers, eleven; the artisans, one thousand three hundred and ninety-two; the fervants, fix hundred and thirty. Befide thefe, eight convents contain about two hundred and fifty perfons under vows. The equivalent, in lieu of provincial rents, purveyance, and the royal monopolies of brandy and falt, for this city, with the villages of its vicinity, is five hundred and thirty-nine thousand three hundred and fixty-one reals, or fomewhat lefs than five thousand four hundred pounds, Now, as the whole district, or corregimiento, of Alicant contains, according to the government returns, thirty-three thousand and forty-five fouls, the proportion of this tax is not more than fixteen reals, or about three fhillings fhillings and two pence for each inhabitant to pay. Neither the churches, nor any of the convents, are worthy to be noticed. In the great church, indeed, I was much amused, but not with the architecture, nor yet with any of the altars; that which caught my attention was a grant from the college of cardinals, fanctioned by the archbishop and the bifhop, of two thoufand five hundred and eighty days indulgence to any penitent who fhall fay before the altar of the Virgin, Ave Maria puriffima, and as many to all who, hearing this, fhall anfwer, Sin peccado Concebida. For the fervice of the great church they have ten canons, three dignitaries, and two beneficed clergy; but thefe are reckoned poor. The bifhop's feat is at Orihuela, where the canons have a more ample proyifion made for them. The commerce of Alicant is confiderable. From five hundred to a thousand veffels enter annually this port, of which the major part are Catalan. In the year 1782, there entered nine hundred and fixty-one. The principal articles of export are, Anife Anife feeds, from three to four thoufand quintals. Almonds, from eight to ten thousand quintals. Barrilla, from fixty to ninety thousand quintals, Brandy, about a hundred thousand pipes. Cumin, from two thousand to two thoufand five hundred quintals. Efparto rush, and the fame in ropes and mats, the quantity uncertain. Figs, about a thousand quintals. Fish, uncertain quantities. Grana fylveftre, called alfo vermillion, about three hundred quintals. Lead ore, uncertain quantities. Liquorice in root. Lavender flowers, both to England and to Holland. Lemon juice, Pomegranate peel. Raifins, from fixty to a hundred thou fand quintals. Salt, about a hundred thoufand tons, Silk, and Vinegar, all uncertain in their quantities. |