rounded with fine country residences. The ancient royal palace, once occupied by the Moorish Kings, is a strange mixture of Moorish and Christian architecture. A charming view of the town and of the sea may be had from the top of a hill crowned with the ruins of a Moorish Castle. On another hill top stands La Penna, once a convent, now a royal residence. In the neighbourhood is a convent called the Cork Convent, the cells being cut in the rock and lined with cork to prevent dampness. The celebrated Convention between the French and English in 1808, by which the former agreed to evacuate Portugal, was concluded here. Lord Byron wrote enthusiastically of the beauties of Cintra, which he called "a new Eden." ROUTE 198. LISBON TO OPORTO. 207 miles; first class, 6,000 reis; second, 4,670 reis (10 hours). HOMAR (9 miles). With a beautiful convent, formerly the head-quarters of the Order of Christ, and said to be the most remarkable in Portugal after that of Batalha. Pombal (105 miles), population 4,500. Some traces of Saracenic architecture, an ancient chapel of the Templars, ruins of an old Roman castle, restored in the Moorish style. The town is surrounded with fertile and wellcultivated lands. Coimbra (135 miles), populaton 16,000. The third city of the kingdom, chief place of the pro vince of Bas Beira, and see of a bishop. It is built in the form of an amphitheatre, on a hill which overlooks the beautiful valley of the Mondego. The principal places worth visiting are the old Cathedral, a true model of the Moorish style; the new Cathedral, the church of St Croix, which contains the tombs of the two first Portuguese kings, Alphonse and Sancho; the convent of Santa Clara, and the monastery of St Francis, and the fine aqueduct which supplies the city. The University of Coimbra, so celebrated in former times, still retains some of its importance. It is governed by a rector, nominated by the king. It comprises five faculties: theology, law, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. The students number 800 to 900. The palace of the University is remarkable for its extent, if not for its magnificence. In one immense court are united the library, the museum, the observatory, halls of science, and examination halls. The museum of natural history, chemistry, and natural philosophy is one of the most complete in exist ence. The botanical garden, charmingly situated, serves for a public promenade; beyond the garden is a fine promenade commanding a splendid view. The Quinta das Lagrimas, where Inez de Castro dwelt, and was assassinated, may be visited. Passing Aveiro (171 miles) and Ovar (184 miles) we reach OPORTO, or PORTO, (Hotel: Lisbonense), (207 miles), population 89,321. This was the capital of Portugal until 1149. It has an academy, six hospitals, four colleges, surgical and naval schools, schools of commerce and philosophy; a public library, and a picture gallery. The city is admirably situated on the declivity of two hills, and extends along the right bank of the Douro, as far as the mouth of that river. Oporto is divided into three quarters. One of these ancient parishes, Sam Martinho de Cedofeita, was built in 559, and is chiefly remarkable for its legendary associations. On the other side of the bridge are the suburbs of Villanova da Gaya, where there are immense wine depots. The old city is very irregular, but the new quarters contain wellbuilt, spacious houses. The principal edifices are--the Cathedral; the Church Dos Clerigos; that of Our Lady of Lapa, wherein is deposited the heart of the Emperor Don Pedro; the bishop's palace; the town-hall; the theatre, very elegant; the recently constructed Exchange; the barracks of St Ovide, with accommodation for 3000 soldiers. The Royal Hospital is the most magnificent construction of the kind in the kingdom. The magnificent gardens belonging to Count Rezende are open to the public on Sundays. Foreigners are admitted to the Assemblea Portuense and the Feitoria Ingleze, first-class clubs, and received with cordial hospitality. The English quarter of the city is very animated. The English ships and counting-houses, besides the extensive wine depots, serve to indicate the preponderance which England possesses over other foreign nations, at Oporto. On the 29th of March, 1809, Marshal Soult took the city by assault, and it was sacked and pillaged. On the 12th of May following, the Duke of Wellington surprised the French and took the city from them. Fronting the cathedral is the church of the convent of SANTA CLARA, which was formerly the Sala delos Embajadores, in which hall, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS was received with great pomp by Ferdinand and Isabella in April 1493. "When he approached, they stood up, and raising him as he kneeled to kiss their hands, ordered him to be seated in their presence, and to give an account of his voyage. When he had finished his oration, which he delivered with great modesty and simplicity, the king and queen kneeling down offered up thanks to God. Every possible mark of honour that could be suggested by gratitude or admiration was conferred on Columbus. His family was ennobled, and a fleet ordered to be equipped to enable him to continue his voyages of discovery." HE empire of Russia embraces more than half the area of the European continent, and comprehends a still vaster region beyond the limits of Europe. In the direction of north and south, European Russia extends over more than 1700 miles, and its dimensions from east to west are nearly the same. Russia, with the exception of the provinces that border on the Caucasus, is nearly a level region. The slight elevations and gentle slopes of the Ural scarcely interrupt the continuity of the vast plain that stretches over nearly half the circumference of the globe. This immense plain is divisible into three belts-a southern, consisting of steppe or prairie land; a middle belt, of alternate forest, morass and arable land; and a northern region, which embraces only the 202. ST PETERSBURG TO BER LIN, BY WARSAW, 203. ST PETERSBURG ΤΟ STOCKHOLM, BY SEA, 794 ice-covered plains that border the Frozen Ocean. The Ural Mountains constitute a long and narrow mountain system, extending in the direction of the meridian through nearly 18 degrees of latitude. The main crest of the Ural has an average height of from 2000 to 2500 feet. Mount Yaman, which appears to be the highest measured summit, is 5400 feet in height; but in the more northerly portion of the mountains, the height does not exceed 3000 feet, and sinks to less than 1400 feet in the latitude of 57 degrees. On the south-east of the great plain is the lofty region of the Caucasus, crossed by the Pass of Derbend, and the so-called Military Georgian Road. The districts in the south-west of Russia, between the Vistula and the Pruth, are covered by hilly ranges from the Carpathian mountains, which in Poland are known as the Sandomir Mountains. The rivers of European Russia are among the largest that belong to this division of the globe. The entire course of the Volga is within the limits of Russia; the Ural forms part of the border-line between Europe and Asia; the Pruth, which joins the Danube, forms the boundary line of the empire on the side of Turkey; the middle and lower course of the Dniester is through Russian territory, and the Don and the Dnieper are wholly Russian. Upon the side of the Baltic, Russia is watered by the Niemen, the Dvina, and the Neva, upon the last of which the capital is situated; while to the northward the plain is watered by the northern Dvina, the Mezen, and the Petchora. The natural wealth of Russia is considerable, both in the mineral and vegetable kingdoms. The Ural Mountains, which contain almost all the mineral riches of the country, are the principal seat of mining and metallurgic industry. They produce gold, platinum, copper, and iron of excellent quality. Gold, silver, copper, plumbago, &c., are also obtained from the Altai and Nerchinsk mines in Siberia. The general absence of coal in Russia is in some measure compensated for by the immense forests which are found in most parts of the country. Russia is throughout characterised by greater extremes of heat and cold than belong to similar latitudes of western Europe. In general, however, the climates of all the regions are not unfavourable to health, and except in particular districts, where the insalubrity can easily be traced to local causes, disease is by no means prevalent. The total area of the provinces IERZBOLOW is only three quarters of a mile from Eydtkuhnen (see Route 137). It is the first station on the Russian frontier, and passports and luggage are examined there. (There is a buffet at the station.) After leaving Wierzbolow we pass four stations no of importance, and reach KOWNO (53 miles), population 25,000, situated at the confluence of the Vilia and Niemen. It was near this place that the French army crossed the Niemen in 1812, on the march to Moscow. In the market-place is a monument bearing the following inscription "In 1812 Russia was invaded by an army of 700,000 men! only 70,000 re-crossed the frontier." The environs are hilly and clothed |