of export are wines, fruits, oil, and cork and other woods; and the imports consist of grain and salted provisions, live stock, dyes and drugs, with the metals, timber, tar, pitch, flax, hemp, silk, &c. The internal trade of the country, which is at the best of times of little importance, suffers much from the want of good roads. Canals are unknown, and the rivers are almost unnavigable from obstruction-circumstances that will continue to act prejudicially to the development of the national resources of the country, for there is no probability of any alteration being effected.

In 1823, Portugal, with the Azores and Madeira, was divided by a law of the Cortes into twelve provinces, containing 26 commarcas or counties, and each subdivided into several julgados or cantons, but subsequent troubles have prevented this arrangement of being carried into effect. The six great provinces, whose names appear on the maps, are not administrative, ecclesiastical or military, but simply geographical or popular divisions, and it is as such only that we give them here with their principal towns, as stated in the following table:

LISBON, the capital of the kingdom, is a large, straggling city, built on several hills and their interjacent valleys, on the right bank of the estuary of the Tagus. The city was almost destroyed by an earthquake in 1775, and has been re-built on a modern plan, the streets running at right angles. The Praço do Rocio, and the Praço do Commercio are two large, handsome squares, the latter having its south side open to the river, and the others occupied by several magnificent public buildings, with a bronze equestrian statue of Joseph I. in the centre. The Praço do Rocio contains the palace and prisons of the Inquisition, now used as offices of the ministry, and a great number of stores and coffee-houses. The older part of the city, that which escaped demolition in 1775, consists of narrow, winding, dirty streets. The public buildings are, in general, common-place, and of the 246 churches only three are deserving of notice: the cathedral or basilica of Santa Maria, San Roque, and the church of the Coração de Jesus, noted for the boldness of its dome. There are three royal palaces, the Ajuda, one of the largest of Europe; the Bemposta, only used for public audiences, and that of Necessidades, where foreign princes are lodged. The residences of the nobility are also splendid; and some of the more wealthy merchants have houses, which in appearance rival those of the higher orders, but the habitations of the poor are most miserable and very filthy. Lisbon has all the usual accommodations in respect of scientific and literary institutions, and a large number of charitable foundations, among which is a hospital free to the invalids of all countries. The climate is remarkably healthy, and Lisbon is the resort of consumptives from more northern latitudes. The markets are profusely supplied, but the consumption of animal food is unusually small, The city is well supplied with water by the aqueduct of Bemfica, or Agoaslivres, upwards of 17 miles in length, and which was completed in 1732, after 19 years' labor. The water, which is brought from Montelavar, is strongly impregnated with carbonate of lime, and is thought to be beneficial to invalids. Within Lisbon a variety of manufactures are maintained..

Fine cloths, some linens, and a considerable quantity of silk goods, are produced. The jewelry, and gold and silver work, is excellent. The foreign trade is large and second to no city of Europe, except London, but of its nature, amount, or value, we have no authentic accounts. Most of the imported articles are re-shipped to the Portuguese colonies, and consequently Portugal must be looked upon rather as an entre-pôt than as a true commercial country.

The Tagus above the city expands into an estuary and forms a most secure and capacious harbor, capable of containing 10,000 sail without danger, but for a space of five miles below contracts its breadth to less than a mile, and the bar at the entrance is dangerous to pass without the aid of a skilful pilot. Between the bar and the city the fort of St. Julian, and the strong castle of Belem, in the river, under the guns of which all vessels must pass, form its principal military defences. The panorama of the harbor is one of the finest objects the eye can survey. The smooth expanse of the water, studded with ships, the vineyards on the surrounding hills, and the city with its hundreds of towers extending two miles along the shore, afford a view that can scarcely be equalled.

In the vicinity of Lisbon there are several places worthy of notice. On the banks of the Tagus, five miles south-west from the centre of the city, is the magnificent church and monastery of Belem, built by King Emanuel in 1499, on the spot whence Vasco de Gama embarked for India. It is a noble Gothic building, and contains the tombs of many members of the royal family. Cintra, 15 miles N. by W. of Lisbon, is celebrated for the convention made there in 1808, by which the French, under Junot, were allowed to evacuate Portugal; and the splendid cathedral of Mofra, and its equally splendid royal palace, are attractive to the tourist.

EVORA, the capital of Alemtejo, is noted for its Roman antiquities, among which is a noble aqueduct, and a temple dedicated to Diana. Population, 9,000. COIMBRA, in Beira, lies on the right bank of the Mondego, built partly on the western slope of a steep rocky hill, and partly on a plain contiguous to the river. This city contains the only university in the kingdom, and is the seat of the general directory of public instruction, and of a considerable inland trade. Population, 15,000. FIGUEIRA is a sea-port at the mouth of the river, and enjoys some trade, and LAMEGO, about five miles from the left bank of the Douro, is memorable as being the place where the Cortes assembled in 1144 to establish the constitution of the kingdom. AVIERO, OVAR, &c., are sea-ports in Beira, and VISEU or Viseo is noted for its great annual fair for jewelry and plate, cloth, and cattle. ALMEIDA, a town near the frontier, 24 miles N. by W. of Ciudad Rodrigo, in Spain, has always been deemed a military fort of the greatest importance.

OPORTO lies on the right bank of the Douro, three miles from its mouth. It is a large episcopal city and sea-port town situated on the slopes of two hills. The town is very irregular and straggling, but is considered as the second city in the kingdom, both in industry and commerce. The principal trade consists in wines, both red and white, which are exported to the amount of 50,000 to 70,000 pipes per annum. It has also several manufactures, and ship-building is engaged in to some extent. The river affords a tolerably good harbor, and is lined by a quay along the whole length of the Its mouth is obstructed by rocks and quicksands which render the entrance difficult, but the water is very deep in front of the town. Oporto has four suburbs, 11 campos or squares, 14 hospitals and asylums, 90 churches, besides a fine and spacious cathedral, rebuilt by Henriquez, first

town.

count of Portugal, A. D. 1105, and 17 monasteries now uninhabited. On the south of the river, which is crossed by a bridge of boats, is the VillaNova de Gaya, chiefly inhabited by wine-coopers, and containing the immense vaults or lodges where the wine is kept until it is stored. On a rocky eminence above Villa-Nova is the vast convent and garden of Serra Cruzios, near which the British army crossed the Douro in 1809. The city, including Villa-Nova and all its suburbs, contains between 70,000 and 80,000 inhabitants.

BRAGA is only celebrated for its antiquities. GUIMARAENS is noted for its cutlery, linen, &c.; CALDAS DO GERES, for its mineral baths; and VIANA, a seaport town at the mouth of the Lima, has a flourishing trade, and engages largely in the fishing business.

VILLA REAL is a large, busy, commercial town, and the capital of Trasos-Montes. PESO DA REGOA, near the right bank of the Douro, and south of Villa Real, is noted for its annual wine fair, in February, where business to the amount of about $7,000,000 is transacted. BRAGANÇA is noted

for its silk manufactures, and gives the ducal title, and is a sort of family name to the present royal family. CHAVES, near the northern frontier, has been celebrated for its mineral springs since the time of the Romans, and has a bridge built by them.

FARO, with 8,000, and TAVIRA, with 9,000 inhabitants, both in Algarve, are chiefly employed in the fisheries. SAGRES is a small fortified town near Cape St. Vincent. It was here that the infant Don Henriquez, Duke of Visieu, resided for many years, to prosecute those voyages along the coasts of Africa, which have rendered his name illustrious, as the father of modern maritime discovery.

The foreign possessions of Portugal consist of-Ist. The Azores; 2d. Madeira and Porto Santo; 3d. The Cape de Verde Islands, on the western coast of Africa; 4th. Angola, Mozambico, and other territories in Southern Africa; and 5th. Goa, Diu, and other settlements, in the East Indies.

THE AZORES, OR WESTERN ISLANDS.

THIS remarkable group is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, between 370 and 390 north latitude, and 25° and 31° west longitude. It comprises nine separate islands, named, respectively, Santo Miguel, Terceira, Pico, Fayal, Santo Jorje, Graciosa, Santa Maria, Flores, and Corvo, all of volcanic formation, of a rugged, rocky surface, and producing abundance of wine and fruit. SAN MIGUEL, 50 miles long, and from 6 to 10 miles broad, rises in many parts precipitously from the water, but in other parts its rise is very gradual. The more level parts are studded with hundreds of small hills, many of which are perfect cones, while others are truncated, or terminate in crater-shaped tops. The lower parts of the island only are cultivated, and houses and villages are scattered along the coast, intermingled with vineyards and orange gardens; the latter, a fruit for which the island is widely-celebrated. Ponta Delgada, on the south, is the principal town, and has a population of 16,000. Its harbor is bad, but yet the best of the island. It contains an English church and burial-ground. RIBEIRAGRANDE, on the north side, is also a flourishing town of 12,000 inhabitants. In 1811, a volcanic island rose from the sea, off the west end of Santo Miguel, but disappeared four months after. TERCEIRA is a large, compact island, to the west of San Miguel, and contains the capital of the Azores, Angra, an episcopal city of 13,000 inhabitants. FAYAL Contains the town

of Horta, which possesses the best harbor in the group, and the most frequented after Angra and Ponta Delgada. Population, 10,000. In Pico is the small town of Lagens, noted for its excellent wine. In its vicinity rises the great "Pico," or snow-capped volcanic cone, to the height of 9,000 feet above the level of the sea. The other islands have nothing worthy of notice. The total population is upwards of 200,000; thus distributed :Santo Miguel, 80,000; Terceira, 40,000; Pico, 24,000; Fayal, 22,000; Flores, 14,000; Santo Jorje, 10,000; Graciosa, 7,800; Santa Maria, 5,000; and Corvo, 7,000. These islands are often sought by ships in dis

tress.

MADEIRA AND PORTO SANTO.

MADEIRA, off the northern coast of Africa, lies in latitude 32° 30′ north, and longitude 17° west. It is 35 miles in length, and 10 or 12 broad. Abruptly rising from the Atlantic, it forms a huge mountain mass, interspersed with numerous chasms and precipices, many of which are frightful and inaccessible. Rivulets meander in every direction, and cascades leap from rock to rock, through bushes of rosemary, laurel, and myrtle. Groves of pines and chesnuts stretch along the declivities; the large leaves of the banana wave over the water, and the splendid palm-tree overtops the houses. Coffee trees form hedges and copses, while mimosas and a variety of the most gorgeous palms rise into tall and stately trees, displaying their far glittering blossoms in the most delightful of climates. The uniformity of the temperature is remarkable, seldom ranging to greater extremes than 57° in winter, and 76° in summer; the usual mean being 66° Fahr. But every variety of climate can be enjoyed, with corresponding changes in scene and vegetation, on the acclivities of the Pico Ruivo, which shoots its snowy crown 6,165 feet above the sea level. Madeira has long been the resort of invalids, and especially of consumptive patients. The best season for them is from November to the middle of June. In July, August, and September, the heat is sometimes excessive, and the influence of the scirocco has been known to raise the temperature to 130°, a heat sufficient to melt wax. The winters, too, are sometimes stormy and uncomfortable. The geological structure of the island is also an impassable obstacle to the making of good roads, so that the invalid cannot have the benefit of riding. Funchal, the capital, is a lage town of 25,000 inhabitants, on the south side. The whole population is about 120,000.

PORTO SANTO consists of tertiary sand-stone and lime-stone, alternating with volcanic strata. It is a small island, 35 miles north-east of Madeira. The DEZERTAS lie to the south east-of Madeira, and consist of only some small rocky islets.

Portugal, anciently called LUSITANIA, was taken by the Romans 200 before Christ, previous to which some Phoenician and Carthagenian colonies are supposed to have been planted on its shores. It remained a Roman province to the 5th century, when it was invaded by the Suevi, Viso-goths, &c.

The Moors, in the early part of the 8th century, overrun the country, but the natives soon drove them from the northern and mountainous portions. About this period the name of Lusitania seems to have been changed to that of Portucale, subsequently changed into Portugal from the circumstance of Oporto, the principal of the Christian strongholds, being then called Calle or Porto Calle. In the 11th century Portugal became an earldom under the kingdom of Castille and Leon, and during the 12th was erected into an independent kingdom. Its power now rapidly increased, and by the acqui

sition of Algarve in 1249, it arrived at its present limits. The discoveries which Portugal commenced in the latter part of the 14th century have shed immortal lustre on the Portuguese name. During the 15th century, Madeira, the Canaries and the Azores were discovered and colonized, and in 1498 Vasco de Gama doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and thus opened a new route to India.

In the following century the Portuguese discovered and took possession of Brazil; made immense acquisitions in India and the Persian Gulf, and discovered the Moluccas, by which successful enterprises they monopolized the commerce of the east and a great part of that of the west. But the prosperity of Portugal was short lived. After the disastrous defeat and death of King Sebastian in Africa, in 1598, Philip II. of Spain seized on the kingdom, and retained it as a Spanish province from 1580 to 1640, and when she regained her independence, the greater part of her commerce and of her foreign possessions were in the hands of the Dutch. Regaining most of these, however, her glory was reviving, but the revolution which commenced in France invaded the Portuguese territories, and the whole fabric of her institutions was changed. Brazil was lost to her, and the remaining colonies she still possesses are but the shadow of her once extensive empire. Portugal is virtually under British protection.

THE CONFEDERATION OF SWITZERLAND.

THIS Country lies between the latitudes 45° 50′ and 47° 49′ north, and between the longitudes of 60 and 10° 35′ east, being bounded on the west by the French Republic; on the north by Baden and Wurtemberg; on the east by the Tyrol; and on the south by Austrian and Sardinian Lombardy and the Duchy of Savoy. Its extreme length, from Vattay, in the Canton of Vaud, to Martinsbruck, in the Grisons, is about 208 miles; and its greatest breadth, from Chiasso, in Tessin, to the northern extremity of Schaffhausen, is 156 miles. The superficial area is estimated at 17,208 square miles.

Switzerland is a very high and rugged country, traversed by ramifications from the Alps and Jura mountains. The centre of the Alpine system is Mount St. Gothard. From this point two ranges are given off to the southwest, forming the valley of the Vallais, watered by the Upper Rhone. Another range extends eastward through the Grisons, and forms the watershed between the Upper Rhine and the Swiss affluents of the Po. From these main ranges branches diverge, covering about two-thirds of the country, and forming numerous vallies, drained by an equal number of mountain torrents, all of which are ultimately precipitated either into the Rhine, the Rhone, the Po, or the Danube. The chain of the Jura is entirely separated from the Alps by the Lake of Geneva, the valley of the Rhone, and a long, narrow plain, which stretches eastward for nearly 180 miles, between the lakes of Constance and Geneva, but separated from both by ranges of hills and highlands. The width of this plain nowhere exceeds 20 miles, and its elevation varies from 1,200 to 1,350 feet above the sea-level.

The immense masses of these mountain regions exhibit a perfect chaos, and present on all sides inaccessible rocks and everlasting snows. The in