numbers have emigrated to South America and the West Indies, probably 50,000, so that the population must be reduced by so many.

These islands were known to the ancients as the Fortunate Islands; but were almost forgotten till the 14th or 15th centuries, when they were rediscovered and conquered by the Spaniards, after a brave resistance by the original possessors, the "Guanches," who are now completely extinct, though some of their mummies or dried bodies are still preserved.

The principal towns are Laguna, 8,000 inhabitants, Santa Cruz, 9,000, and Orotava, in Teneriffe; Cuidad de las Palmas in Gran Canaria, a large, handsome town, with 18,000 inhabitants, and Santa Maria de Betancuria, in Fuerte Ventura. Alegranza, the north-eastern point of the Canaries, is a small island, consisting of a mass of lava and cinders, rising 939 feet above the sea, and forming a well-defined crater two-thirds of a mile across, the bottom being cultivated for barilla.

The first settlers of

The history of Spain dates far back into the past. this ancient kingdom are supposed to have been the descendants of Tubal Cain, the fifth son of Japheth. The Phoenicians and Carthagenians successively planted colonies on the coast, and the Romans for a considerable period held the whole country. It was here that some of the mightiest efforts of Hannibal were displayed. On the decline of the Roman Empire, the country was over-run by the barbarians-the Vandals, the Alans, and the Suevi. It was afterwards subdued by the Viso-goths, who laid the foundation of the present monarchy. The Moorish dominion over the southern portion of Spain lasted from A. D. 1091 to 1492, when Ferdinand and Isabella drove them from their strongholds. Spain now discovered America, and planted her colonies; few, however, at this day remain to her. Portugal was about this time annexed, but after a captivity of 60 years, again regained its independence. The French Revolution, and the events which succeeded it, prostrated this country, and all the power, glory and wealth it attained from the time. of the first sole monarchs, vanished. It is now the scene of recurring revolts, and the liberties of the people are only repressed by the sword. No country in the world exhibits such a revolting absolutism as the monarchy of Spain, nor is there any people less capable of exercising aright the liberties every man ought to enjoy.

THE KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL.

THIS state is composed of the two kingdoms of PORTUGAL and ALGARVE; the former of which derives its name from a place named " Calé," beside which there was constructed a harbor called "Puerto de Calé," afterwards contracted to "Portugal." This port is supposed to have been the present city of Oporto, around which the original kingdom was spread. Don Alonzo, king of Castile and Leon, having conquered the province from the Moors, bestowed it, with his daughter in marriage, upon Don Henriquez, a grandson of the first Duke of Burgundy; and his son, Don Alonzo Henriquez, after a great victory over the Moors, in 1139, was proclaimed king by his army on the battle-field, and he and his successors ever after renouncing all subjection to the crown of Castile, gradually extended their con

quests southward, until the kingdom reached its present limits. Algarve, Arabicé "Al-Garbh," (the west,) originally extended from Cape St. Vincent to Almeria, in Granada, and comprehended likewise the opposite coast of Africa, on which account the sovereigns of Portugal used to assume the title of Kings of the Algarves, on both sides of the sea, though they never really possessed more than a small corner of the African conti

nent.

The existing kingdom is situated between 36° 55′ and 42° 13′ north latitude, and 6° 15' and 8° 55' west longitude. Length, 350 mileswidth, 143 miles; area, 34,500, or, according to some, 36,596 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Galicia; on the east by Leon, Estremadura and Andalusia; and on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. The coast line of the kingdom measures nearly 500 miles. The northern coast is at first low, but afterwards becomes rugged and steep; in Beira, it becomes again flat, sandy and marshy; in Estremadura, it is in one part steep, in another almost a dead level, and very unsafe; and in Alemtejo, it is low, and beset with rocks and shallows. At Cape St. Vincent, in Algarve, it is high and rocky; but to the eastward sinks into low, sandy deserts.

The general aspect of the country is that of the peninsula generally, and has been heretofore described. The surface is greatly diversified by mountain and valley, and affords many romantic and picturesque scenes. The soil, for the most part, is light and shallow, but well-adapted to vine-culture and fruit-trees; and when sufficiently irrigated, is productive of the finest crops of grain. The climate is delicious and very healthy; and Lisbon is famous as a resort for invalids, whose diseases are benefitted by equality and geniality of warmth and moisture. From regions buried under the dominion of frost and snows, a short voyage conveys them to blue, clear skies, and a balmy atmosphere, perfumed by the orange and a thousand flowers, and blooming in eternal spring.

The vegetable and mineral products are similar in every respect to those of Spain, in the same latitudes; and every kind of fruit, the orange and the lemon-citrons, figs, almonds, melons and peaches, grow spontaneously. The wines of Portugal are generous, and esteemed among the best of Europe. Few forests of any considerable extent exist; but of all the trees, the cork-tree is the most abundant, and forms woods of vast extent. The animals are also those peculiar to the whole peninsula; but the horse is inferior to that of Spain, while the mules are strong, hardy, and sure-footed.

The Portuguese are of the same origin with a large portion of the people of Spain, and speak a dialect of the same language; but they cherish a deep-rooted antipathy to their neighbors, and exhibit in many points a strong contrast to them. "Strip a Spaniard of all his virtues," says the Spanish proverb, "and you make a good Portuguese of him." But says Dr. Southey, "I have heard it more truly said, add hypocrisy to a Spaniard's vices, and you have the Portuguese character.'" The morals of the nation are indeed low, nor is there any immediate prospect of amendment. The Portuguese are generally a robust, though far from an industrious nation; they are, nevertheless, enterprising and persevering, patient in adversity, excessively attached to their religion and customs, and generally retain a high sense of loyalty to their sovereign, and of submission to their spiritual superiors.

The Portuguese sensibly exhibit the effects of a warm climate in thei

dark hues, and in those traits of national character usually found in southern latitudes. These are ardent passions, a strong propensity to revenge, superstition, indulgence and inane contentment. But it is not to be forgotten, that this small kingdom had a period of enterprise more marked than that of any other part of Europe, when, under Emanuel the Great, Vasco de Gama opened to Europe the road to India, by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, and assisted his compatriots in acquiring immortal honor. Alberquerque raised the glory of this period to the highest renown, and the poet Camoens published it to posterity. Though of the same origin with the Spaniards, the Portuguese exhibit many opposite traits. Almost every Spaniard smokes; the Portuguese rarely smoke, but most of them take snuff. None of the Spaniards will use a wheelbarrow-none of the Portuguese will carry a burden. The one says it is only fit for beasts to draw carriages-the other, that it is only fit for beasts to carry burdens.

The Portuguese language is derived from a Latin source, and so far bears an affinity to those of Western Europe generally, but it is mixed with many Arabic and Gothic words. In the construction of its sentences it has a close alliance with the language of Castile, but in pronunciation it is less guttural, and contains many words which seem to be peculiar to itself, the origin of which it is difficult to trace, though it is probably to be found among some of the tribes on the coast of Barbary.

Of the population of Portugal in early times we have no enumerations. In 1798, it was estimated at 3,683,000; in 1801, another estimate made the amount 2,931,930; and in 1836, the estimate was 3,061,684-showing an increase in 35 years of 129,754. It is now, probably, as stated in a former table, about 3,600,000. The distribution of the people in 1836, was as annexed:

Elementary education scarcely has an existence in Portugal, and consequently the people of the middle and laboring classes are lamentably ignorant. In the higher branches, however, the provisions are liberal, and Portugal has a university and a number of colleges of considerable celebrity. Statistics of a late date exhibited the following: The university of Coimbra, founded, in 1279, with six faculties, a preparatory school, and attended by 1,600 students; 322 Latin schools; 21 Greek and rhetorical schools; 27 'academies for rhetorical and moral philosophy, and 863 elementary schools. The total number of scholars, besides those of the university, was 31,280. To these are to be added the following establishments: the marine and royal academy of Oporto; the academy at Lisbon; the Lisbon Royal school for engineering, &c.; and the military school at Luz, near the capital. At Lisbon there is also a royal college for nobles, and royal schools for the Arabic language, drawing architecture and statuary; an institution for instruction in copper-plate engraving; an academy for music, and some others. Surgery is taught at the university of Coimbra, and in several royal schools; at St. Joseph's Hospital at Lisbon, and in Hospitals at Oporto, Elvas and

Chavas. There are also several academies for instruction in science, geography, Portuguese history, marine affairs, navigation, artillery, and fortifications; an institution for the encouragement of science and literature at Lisbon; an academy for history and antiquities at Santarem, and an academy for scientific instruction at Thomar. There are seven botanic gardens, twelve museums of natural curiosities open to the public; twelve collections of coins and other antiquities, eight observatories, a royal library at Lisbon, with 80,000 volumes, and the university library at Coimbra, with 60,000 volumes. Such are the means of educating 3,600,000 people! and even of these, little more than the 863 elementary schools are available to the masses! We have no statement of the mode of instruction adopted, or whether teaching is done by priests or laymen; the probability, however, is that the whole, as in all Roman Catholic countries, is entrusted to the former, and it is as probable that the chief efforts of these spiritual shepherds are directed rather to manufacture good Catholics than efficient scholars.

The Portuguese were formerly, without exception, ignorant and bigotted Roman Catholics, addicted to superstition and intolerance, and for many ages the whole nation well deserved the appellation bestowed upon their king, of his "Most Faithful Majesty." Other religions are now tolerated, but it is believed that as yet no Portuguese has swerved from the ancient faith. The Patriarch of Lisbon is supreme head of the clergy, besides whom there are two archbishops, those of Braga and Evora, and 14 bishops. In 1822 there were 132 nunneries, with 2,980 nuns, and 346 monasteries, with 5,830 monks, besides servants, pupils and novices. But infidelity has now usurped the place of ignorance and blind devotion, by which the Portuguese were especially characterized, and by the constitution no male religious houses are permitted; the regular clergy have been abolished; the monks and friars have been driven from their princely mansions to live on a small allowance, and their estates and revenues have been confiscated to the crown. The secular clergy, the only class now allowed, never had much influence over the people, and even the little they had is now almost gone. Still, Portugal is Catholic; and, blinded by ignorance and superstition, will long remain without material social improvement.

The Spanish insurrection, which broke out in 1820, was immediately followed by a similar outbreak in Portugal, and an extraordinary Cortes assembled and proclaimed a constitution like that which Spain promulgated in 1812-but if anything rather more democratic, for it admitted only one chamber, elected by universal suffrage, and invested it with the whole legislative and a great part of the executive powers. The sovereign retained the veto, but a subsequent passage of any act confirmed it law in spite of the royal disapproval. The Cortes was also its own master as far as prorogation or dissolution was concerned. This constitution was overturned by Don Miguel, three years after, and in May, 1823, Don John VI. protested against all that had been enacted under its sanction. After the death of John, in 1826, Don Pedro, Emperor of Brazil, abdicated the Portuguese crown in favor of his daughter Donna Maria da Gloria, and gave to the Portuguese a charter which re-established the ancient Cortes. According to this act the legis lative power is vested in the sovereign and the chamber of deputies, elected for periods of four years through provincial electoral colleges, chosen primarily by the people. Don Miguel, who had been entrusted with the regency during the minority of the queen, usurped the throne and declared himself king in 1828; but in 1833 Don Pedro, who had then resigned the throne of

Brazil, had recovered that of Portugal for his daughter, and restored the charter of 1826. This, however, lasted only till 1836, when the garrison and national guard of Lisbon proclaimed the constitution of 1820, which the queen was compelled to accept with such alterations as the Cortes might thereafter make. Portugal is thus, in writing, a very limited monarchy, or to speak more correctly, a democratic representative republic, with an hereditary chief magistrate exercising the functions of royalty only by and with the advice and consent of a responsible ministry.

Productive industry in Portugal is yet in its very infancy. Few of the improvements which other nations have introduced into agriculture have been adopted by the Portuguese, and with few limited sections, the kingdom remains a comparative wilderness. Cultivation, however, is now improv ing, and hemp and flax are raised of excellent quality. The cereal crops are generally good, but sufficient is not grown to supply the consumption. Wine is produced in great abundance, chiefly in the northern provinces. The annual average quantity is estimated at 80,000 pipes of red and 60,000 pipes of white wine. Olives and a variety of fruits are produced, and oil forms an important article for both home use and foreign consumption.

Both the Carthagenians and Romans worked the mines of Spain, and gold and silver to some amount appears to have been extracted. Lead mines have long been wrought, and the mines of Plumbago, near Mogadouro, and the iron mines near Figueira and Torre de Moncorvo, supply considerable mineral. Red oxide of iron occurs in Estremadura and Beira. Iron, indeed, is one of the most abundant minerals in Portugal. Copper occurs near Oporto, and at Couna there is a deposit of cinnabar. Bismuth, antimony and arsenic are found in different places, and the sands of some of the rivers contain gold. There is now only one gold mine, that of Adissa, the annual production of which, however, is not more than twenty pounds weight. The coal mines of Figueira and Oporto are the richest in the kingdom, and are of great advantage to the neighboring towns. Marbles of great beauty are also plentiful, but the state of internal communication makes it too expensive to give encouragement to their being wrought, Precious stones are also found. Valuable building stone is everywhere, and immense beds of pyrites and marcasites, potter's and common clay, and salt pits, are met with. With all these materials, mining does not occupy more than a few hundred persons, and is little accounted of as a source of wealth to the nation.

The fisheries are neglected in a similar manner, the capabilities of which, if brought into operation, would render the importation of fish, an item of no mean account in an economical point of view, quite unnecessary.

Though generally underrated as a manufacturing nation, the Portuguese have really no important manufactories. Cottons, woollens and linens are made at different places, but the best goods are their cambrics, sheeting and table linens, and sewing threads. Glass, silk, paper, &c., enter into their manufactures, and in the workshops of Lisbon every description of articles is more or less fabricated. The Portuguese are very skilful in gold and silver work, and the taste they display in cabinet work is not mean. Generally speaking, they manufacture most articles of ordinary necessity with more or less skill.

Since the separation of Portugal and Brazil, the commerce of the country has been reduced to a mere fraction of its former amount. Political events have also materially contributed to depress its commerce. The chief articles