CHAPTER IV
SEVILLE AND GRANADA
(JANUARY-SEPTEMBER, 1833)
Seville—Granada—Tetuan—Festivities at Madrid—Return to England
Sevilla, Saturday, January 12 [1833].
I did not answer your letter last post, as I was then in the Sierra Morena, near Alcolea, on a shooting excursion.
You will find a large engraving of the tomb of the Catholic kings in the folio work published at Madrid in 1804 by Don Pablo Lorano, and called Antiquedades arabes in España.
Lewis, who is here, says, if you are not satisfied with that print, that he will make a drawing of the chapel and tomb at Granada when he returns. There are portraits of Fernando and Isabella in the Generalife; but they are bad, and certainly not so old as the period those personages lived in. At the Cartuja convent, near Burgos, is a genuine and beautiful small portrait of Isabella, which struck me very much when I was there, and is certainly of the time, and in the manner, of Holbein.
If you are acquainted with a brother of General Sⁿ. Martin, who has just been named Bishop of Barcelona, he will probably be able to put you in the way of getting a copy made of this portrait by some artist at Burgos. The newly-elected Bishop was treasurer of the cathedral at Burgos, and is a most worthy and good man.
Don José O’Lawlor could get you copies made of the portraits at the Generalife and of the tomb of Granada, and that musical artist Muriel will do the job in a manner that no one will recognise them.
So much for your Excellency’s commissions.
We are all agog here with the arrival of Amarillas from Granada, who will make an excellent Captain-General, quite as honest and firm as Quesada, and much better and higher bred. If you see Madᵉ Quesada, who is a most agreeable, charming, fat old lady, pray lay me most devotedly at her feet.