The principal Library of Spain is The Biblioteca Realat Madrid, which dates from The reign of PhilipV., and is now lodged in an edifice, once The mansion of Royai Library The Alcanices family, on The Plaza del Oriente. It is open to all comers, as far at least as The printed books are concerned. The reading-tables are placed in three spacious apartments, corresponding to as many sides of The edifice, which is built round a court, with a fine staircase in The centre; in The middle of These rooms are rows of tables provided with writing materials and chairs; and against The walls are The book-shelves, numbered and tastefully ornamented. The catalogues are kept in a small room apart, where There are two or three persons in attendance, to answer The inquiries of The stranger, and to furnish him with The number and shelf where any particular work may be found. The service of The establishment is excellent. The Royal Library contains about 200,000 printed volumes, and from 2000 to 3000 manuscripts, amongst which are many valuable Greek, Latin, and Arabic codices, and inedited works, chiefly Spanish. A recent traveller, speaking of The Biblioteca Real,says, “It is one of many institutions which awaken The admiration of The stranger in Spain, as being at variance with The pervading decay.” Mr. Ford, however, tells us that “good modernbooks are here, as in most other Spanish Libraries, The thing needful.“