Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/56

18 are one-and-twenty in number; the principal of which are, Orduna, Laredo, Portugalete, Durango, Bilbao, and St. Andero. Bicay is divided into nine merindades, a ort of juridiction like a bailiwick, beides the four cities on the coat. The capital is Bilbao.—The whole is a collection of very high and very teep mountains, rugged and rocky to uch a degree, that a company of men poted on one of them might defend itelf as long as it could ubit, by rolling rocks on their enemy. This natural formation of the country, which has rendered the march of armies impracticable, and the daring pirit of the inhabitants, have preerved their liberty.

Active, vigilant, generous, brave, hardy, inclined to war and navigation, they have enjoyed, for two thouand years, the reputation of the bet oldiers and ailors in Spain, and even of the bet courtiers, many of them having, by their wit and manners, raied themelves into offices of conequence under the court of Madrid. Their valuable qualities have recommended them to the eteem of the kings of Spain, who have hitherto left them in poeion of thoe great immunities of which they are o jealous. In 1632, indeed, the court laid a duty upon alt: the inhabitants of Bilbao roe, and maacred all the officers appointed to collect it, and all the officers of the grand admiral. Three thouand troops were ent to punih them for rebellion: thee they fought, and totally defeated, driving mot of them into the ea, which dicouraged the court from puruing their plan of taxation; and ince that time the king has had no officer of any kind in the lordhip, except his corregidor.

Many writers acribe their flourihing merce