This morning Mr. Thaxter wak’d me up by sounding in my ears, I wish you a happy new year and about half an hour before sun rise we sot out from Sebrero which was the place where we lodg’d last night and went 5 leagues before dinner. We stopt at a little cottage where we dined. After dinner we went two leagues and at about 5 o clock we arrived at a city call’d Ville Franc [Villafranca del Bierzo] where we lodg’d to night. As we were coming along we saw on the Top of a high hill an ancient castle of the moors and right over against us there is a castle of one of the Lords built before the use of musquets were known. There is a convent of men which is of the Franciscan order and a parish church. We have come 7 leagues to day. We expect to arrive at Astorga Monday night. There we shall determine whether to go directly to Bayonne, by the way of Madrid, or by the way of Bilboa [Bilbao] as the routs change there.1

This morning at seven o clock we got up and at 9 o clock set away. We went through several villages and dined at Ponfarada [Ponferrada]. After dinner we went Through several more villages and arrived at a little village call’d Benbibere [Bembibre] at about 6 o clock. We shall lodge at this place to night. We have come 7 Leagues to day.

This morning we got up at 5 o clock and at 6 we set away from Benbibere. We dined in a little hut amongst the mules and at about 6 o clock we arrived at Astorga. We have had very Good roads all this day. The Guide told us that we had 7 Leagues but we had 10 good English Leagues.

In the first volume of this journal I promised to give a description of several things. I will now give one of the Roads, Houses, men, &c from Corunna as far as this place. The roads in General are very bad. The Lodgings I will not attempt to describe for it is impossible. However I will say something about them. We did

not once lodge with the mules but not much better. They shew us chambers in which any body would think a half a dozen hogs had lived there six months. I have in my first volume said something about Castellano.1 We have not met with any place quite so bad as that but we have come very near it. Sometimes we might see a chimney but it is very seldom. They have a large flat stone in the middle of the room and they punch two or three holes in the roof of the house out of which some of the Smoke goes and the rest must be borne with. They never wash nor sweep their floors from the time the houses are made to the time they are pull’d down. The roofs of the houses are generally a parcel of boards cover’d with straw. As for the People they are Lazy, dirty, Nasty and in short I can compare them to nothing but a parcel of hogs. Their cloaths are commonly of a dirt colour and their Breeches are big enough for to put a bushel of Corn in besides themselves. I do not wonder at it. Poor Creatures they are eat up by their preists. Near three quarters of what they earn goes to the Preists and with the other Quarter they must live as they can. Thus is the whole of this Kingdom deceived and deluded by their Religion. I thank Almighty God that I was born in a Country where any body may get a good living if they Please. Thus have I given a description of several things. At another opportunity I will give one of several others.

This morning our Guide told us that the Chaises had several things to be mended and that we could not go to day. At about 12 o clock I with Mr. Dana Mr. Allen Mr. Thaxter and S C Johonnot went to see the Cathedral but the man was gone to dinner and the door was shut. The Gentlemen went again after dinner but I did not go with them. I here will say a little about this Town. The streets are very filthy and muddy. There are four convents here two of men and two of women one of each sex Franciscan and one of each sex Dominican, there is a Cathedral in this town which the Gentlemen say is very Magnificent and Elegant. This is a very ancient city. The walls our Guide Tells us are 600 years old. There is but very little of them remaining. The Cathedral was struck by Lightning in the year 1776 which knockt down one part of it. In side of it there is the picture of St. Michael the Archangel trampling the Devil under his feet and out Side of it is carved a picture of Christ upon the Cross and in a nother place (outside also) is carved the virgin Mary holding a cross in her hand. All this show cannot come from the Heart but is all out side appearance.

This morning at about sun rise we set of [f] from Astorga with very fine weather and roads. We dined at a little village the name of which I do not know. We arrived at Leon at about 6 o clock. Before we arriv’d we came through a strait road with a row of trees on each side, at the end of it is a very large building which our Guide tells us is a College dedicated to St. Marcus. We made several twistings and turnings and at last arrived at a house in which we shall lodge to night. It is eight Leagues from Astorga here and the roads are very fine all the way.

This morning we asked a man how many convents there were in Leon. He wrote what follows.

Noticia de los Conbentos queay en esta Ciudad de Leon

de Freiles
De St. Francisco				2
De St. Domingo				1
De St. Claudio Benitos				1
				4
De Monjas
De St. Benito				1
De la concepcion				1
Des Colzas				1
Recoleta				1
				4
Canonigos
Cassa de San Isidro		1		2
Cassa de San Marcus		1
Parroquias
Catedral y parroquias				9
	Total			19

Notice of the Convents in this city of Leon. &c.

I now will take down the name of our Guide and those of the postillions and men that go on foot.

Senior Miguel Martinus our Guide.

Senior Raymon San, the Master of all the Carriages and the Mules which draw them.

Senior Diego1 the postillon who drives Mr. Aliens carriage.

Eosebio Seberino the postilion who drives Pappa’s carriage.

Joseph Diaz the postilion who drives Mr. Dana and Mr. Thaxter.

Bernardo Bria the owner of the Mules which Stevens and the Guide ride upon.

Juan Blanco the owner of the Mules which John and Andrew ride upon.

As this city is a large one we shall stay here till 1 o clock.

I have been to see the Cathedral which is so Exceeding rich and magnificent that it is beyond the reach of my pen to describe it. This Cathedral has only a bishop belonging to it. Our Guide tells us that there are but 4 Archbishops In this Kingdom one in Galicia one in Burgos one in   and one in  2 that the rest of the Cathedrals have bishops only. We saw the procession. The bishop passd. Our Guide told us to kneel. I did. He gave me his Benidiction but I did not feel the better for it. As we were coming back we saw the Castle of King Alphonsus which he built to drive out the Moors. It is 1938 years old. At 12 o clock we dined and at I set away from Leon and went as far as Manzilla which is 3 Leagues from Leon.

This morning we set away from Manzilla with good weather and roads but very cold. We stopt and dined at a little village the name of which I donot know1 and at 5 o clock P M arrived at St. Juan le Segun [Sahagún] which is a Small city at 6 Leagues from Manzillo.

Fine weather. We came through several villages. We have come seven leagues to day. At about 6 o clock we arrived at a little village called Parades [Paredes] de Naba. Very bad accomodations to night.

Cloudy weather. We din’d at Palentia [Palencia] which is a city as Large as Corunna. At about 7 oclock P.M. we arrived at Torre quemada [Torquemada] which is 7 Leagues from Parades de naba.

This morning at 7 o clock we set away from Torre quemada. Just after we set away we went over a Bridge with 25 Arches to it and at about ten o clock we went over another with 18 Arches to it. We dined at a little village the name of which it is not necessary to mention and at about half after five arrived at Sellada el Camino where we shall lodge to night. It is 8 leagues from Torre quemada.

This morning at 7 ½ we set away from Sellada el Cameno. At about 10 o clock it began to snow and snow’d about a Quarter of an Hour. At about 12 o clock we arrived at Burgos which is a City about as big as Corunna. We shall lodge [here] to night. We have come 4 Leagues to day. I said that at Astorga we should determine the routs, we did determine not to go to Madrid but we shall determine at this place whether to go to Bilboa or directly to Bayonne.

This afternoon we all went to the Cathedral which is larger Than Those at Astorga and Leon (tho’ not so Magnificent). It was supported by, four of the largest pillars That I ever saw in my life. There are no less than 33 religious Houses in the place. Their orders are these.

Good weather. Set away from Burgos and pursued our journey. Dined at a little village and at about 6 o clock arrived at a village called Bibrieski [Briviesca]. We have come 8 Leagues to day. Very Muddy. The roads something hilly.

Rose at about day break and set away ½ an hour before sun rise. Passed through several villages and dined at Pan Courbo. Before dinner we went along in a Plain between two ridges of mountains the soil of which is excellent and after dinner we went along another plain betwixt two ridges of rocks some of which were 150 200 and 300 foot in height some right strait up, some hanging over our heads, and some slanting from us but I never saw so beautiful a sight in all my life. After dinner we pass’d two villages. I went forward with the Guide and Stevens to find the lodging. Tolerable good roads to day, we have come 8 Leagues, to day. We determined to go to Bilboa [Bilbao]. The name of this place is Espexo [Espejo].

This morning we set away at about sun rise. We came two leagues and then went a league up hill and then another League down hill. This was a road made through a mountain I suppose 300 foot in Height and all the way almost perpendicular. We came 4 Leagues before dinner and dined at Orduña a little city with gates to it at the foot of the mountain. After we had passed the mountain we saw some ways off a Convent which a man whom we stopped said was of women and were of the Franciscan order. After dinner we went a plain road about 2 leagues to a small village called Luyando where we shall lodge to night. We have come 6 Leagues to day.

This morning we rose at about day break and at about a half an hour before Sun rise we set off from Luyando. At about 8 o clock it began to rain, rain’d till about 12 and then left of [f] raining but it did not clear up. At about 1 oclock we arrived at Bilbao.

When we arrived we found two American Vessels one a brig Capt Bapson belonging to the Tracy’s of New-bury port and the other a Ship of 18 6 pounders Capt Lovett belonging to one of the Cobet’s of Beverly.1 After dinner Mr. Gardoqui came to where we lodge and my Pappa and the Gentlemen being gone out he gave me his address and about an hour after he came again with Captn. Bapson and drank tea and spent the Evening with us.

Went to look about the Town. Saw nothing worth remarking. The two Mr. Gardoqui’s Capt. Bapson and Captain Lovett Spent the Evening here.

All the Gentlemen dined at Mr. Gardoqui’s but I being unwell did not go. Settled with Raymon and our Guide and all the boys.

Felt better to day. We all dined at home to day. We expect to set out for Bayonne on Thursday. Nothing remarkable to day.

To day all the Gentlemen went down the river except Mr. Dana and myself. At about 6 o clock they came back. Mr. Gardoqui’s stay’d here about a half an hour, and then went away and about a half an hour after Sent us the french newspapers but there was no news.

Sot out about 3 o clock P M. Nothing remarkable.1

Nothing remarkable for these 3 days. At about 5 o clock P M arrived at Bayonne. Nothing more remarkable to day.

Set away at about 9 o clock. At about half after 9 began to Snow. Snow’d 2 hours. Went 45 miles to day.

Nothing remarkable Since we left Bayonne. At about 5 arrived at Bordeaux. Mr. Vernon1 and Mr. Bonfeild2 came to see us.

We all dined at Mr. Bonfeild’s. After dinner went to the play. Had Amphitrion and Cartouche.1

Went about to see the town. Saw the Shipping which made a Grand appearance.1 The Gentlemen dined out but us younkers2 dined at home. After dinner we went to the hotel d’Angleterre and after that to the comedy, but could find no places.3