sea.

We landed at Gibraltar on Sunday, March 11th, and in our walk from the
shore to the quaint old tavern known as the King's Arms,--combining much
comfort with its dinginess,--we found the day was but partially observed
as one of rest. The stores were mostly open, and the numerous bar-rooms
noticeably so, after the usual style in Roman Catholic countries. The
first impression was, that we were within the precincts of a large fort
or military cantonment, every other person being in uniform, while
sentries and cannon were as plenty as at Woolwich or West Point. England
here supports a garrison of from four to six thousand men at a vast
expense, but it is undoubtedly quite necessary for her to do so, as it
is also important to keep a well-organized garrison at Aden, Prim,
Singapore, and Ceylon. The highway to her possessions in India is too
important to trust in other hands. Hence her late demonstration in
Egypt, and the favor with which government looks upon the proposed new
canal, to be constructed nearly parallel with that now existing, and
which will be virtually an English enterprise, in spite of M. de
Lesseps' ingenious devices and finesse.

The people of Gibraltar are of a mixed nationality; those of Penang and
Singapore are scarcely more so. Here we have English, Portuguese, Moors,
Spaniards, Italians, with some Maltese. The occupation of these people
is almost entirely that of sailors, and after deducting the garrison,
they form three fourths of the population. They are of rather a
quarrelsome disposition, especially as the large number of bar-rooms is
a constant temptation to drink; but the police arrangements are
excellent, and all are kept in due subjection by the ready arm of
discipline. The place is virtually under martial law at all times, and
in dealing with the class of humanity which naturally congregates here,
this system has special advantages. There is no compounding of felony,
no compromising with crime. If the laws are outraged, the offender knows
he will be instantly arrested and punished, without any fear of popular
sympathy. It is not the severity, so much as the certainty of
punishment, which causes the reckless and abandoned element of society
to respect good and wholesome laws. Punishment of crime is swift and
sure at Gibraltar.

The military, warlike aspect of everything is partially relieved by a
very spacious public garden and promenade combined, located at that
portion of the place k