thus Lewis XIV. through a mafterly train of politics (for, in his wars to fupport his grandfon, as we have already obferved, he was almoft ruined) accomplished his favourite project of transferring the kingdom of Spain, with all its rich poffeffions in America and the Indies, from the house of Auftria to that of his own family of Bourbon. In 1734, Philip invaded Naples, and got that kingdom for his fon Don Carlos, the Sicilians readily acknowledging him for their fovereign, through the oppreffion of the Imperialists. After a long and turbulent reign, which was difturbed by the ambition of his wife, Elizabeth of Parma, Philip died in 1746, and was fucceeded by his fon Ferdinand VI. a mild and peaceable prince, who reformed many abufes, and endeavoured to promote the commerce and profperity of his kingdom. In 1759, he died without iffue, through melancholy for the lofs of his wife. Ferdinand was fucceeded by his brother, Charles III. then king of Naples and the two Sicilies, fon to Philip V. by his wife, the princefs of Parma. He was fo warmly attached to the family compact of the house of Bourbon, that, two years after his acceffion, he even hazarded his American dominions to fupport it. War being declared between him and England, the latter took from him the famous port and city of Havannah, in the island of Cuba, and thereby rendered herself entirely mistress of the navigation of the Spanish plate fleets. Notwithstanding the fuccefs of the English, their miniftry thought proper haftily to conclude a peace, in confequence of which Havannah was restored to Spain. In 1775, an expedition was concerted against Algiers by the Spanish miniftry, which had a most unfuccefsful termination. The troops, which amounted to upwards of 24,000, and who were commanded by lieutenant-general conde de O'Reilly, landed about a league and a half to the eastward of the city of Algiers; but were difgracefully beaten back, and obliged to take fhelter on board their fhips, having 27 officers killed, and 191 wounded; and 501 rank and file killed, and 2088 wounded. In the years 1783 and 1784, they alfo renewed their attacks against Algiers by fea, but after spending much ammunition, and lofing many lives, were forced to retire without doing much injury. When the war with Great Britain and her American colonies had fubfiled for fome time, and France had taken part with the latter, the court of Spain was alfo prevailed upon to commence hoftilities against Great Britain. The Spaniards closely befieged Gibraltar, both by fea and land; it having been always a great mortification to them that this fortrefs fhould be poffeffed by the English. The grand attack was on the 13th of September, 1782, under the command of the duke de Crillon, by ten battering fhips, from 600 to 1400 tons burthen, carrying in all 212 brafs guns, entirely new, and difcharging hot of 26 pounds weight. The thowers of hot and fhells which were directed from them, from their land-batteries, and, on the other hand, from the various works of the garrifon, exhibited a feene, of which perhaps neither the pen nor the pencil can furnish a competent idea. It is fuffipient to fay, that four hundred pieces of the heaviest artillery were playing at the fame moment: an inftance which has fcarcely occurred in any fiege fince the invention of thofe wonderful engines of destruc tion. The irrefiftible impreffion of the numerous red-hot balls from the garrifon was foon confpicuous; for, in the afternoon, fmoke was perceived to iffue from the admiral's fhip and another, and by one in the up from each of their fhips as fignals of diftrefs; and thus ended all the hopes of the Spaniards of reducing the fortrefs of Gibraltar. Some trifling operations continued on the fide of the Spaniards till the reforation of peace in 1783. In other enterprifes, however, the Spaniards proved more fuccefsful. The island of Minorca was furrendered to them on the 6th of February, 1782, after having been befieged for 171 days. The garrifon confifted of no more than 2692 men, while the forces of the enemy amounted to 16,000, under the command of the duke de Crillon. The Spanish commander at first attempted to corrupt the governor (general Murray); but this being rejected with indignation, the fiege was commenced in form; and the garrifon would have showed themselves equally invincible with thofe of Gibraltar, had it been poffible to relieve them in the fame manner. The fcurvy foon made its appearance, and reduced them to fuch, a deplorable fituation, that they were at laft obliged to furrender in fpite of every effort of human fortitude or skill; and fo fenfible were both parties that this was the true caufe, that the Spanish general allowed them to march out with their arms fhouldered, drums beating, and colours flying, while the difconfolate British foldiers protested that they furrendered their arms to God, and not to the Spaniards. His late catholic majesty did all he could to oblige his fubjects to defift from their ancient drefs and manners, and carried his endeavours fo far, that it occafioned fuch a dangerous infurrection at Madrid, as obliged him to part with his minifter, the marquis of Squillace; thereby afford ing an inftance of the neceffity that even defpotic princes are under, of paying fome attention to the inclinations of their subjects. The government of Spain teftified much uneafinefs at the French revolution, and watched narrowly those who spoke in favour of its principles. The circulation of all public papers and political pamphlets from France was feverely prohibited. The proclamation against tinkers and knive-grinders introducing feditious papers into the kingdom, and the refcript concerning ftrangers, thow all the deformity, but, at the fame time, the old age of defpotifm. If dotage be a fign of decay, thefe fymptoms are very apparent in this government; and a temperate revolution in Spain would be a matter of far more exultation to the philofopher than that of France; for its miferies are far greater Liberty, fcience, and true religion, were confined in France; but in Spain they are trampled under the brutal feet of monks and bigots. A fhort war arofe between the Spaniards and the emperor of Mo rocco. The emperor befieged Ceuta, but peace is fince reftored. It was unjustly furmifed that this war was entered into in order to divert the attention of the people, who might be impreffed with the affairs of France; but the reign of ignorance and bigotry is fo firmly established in Spain, that many years may elapfe before any idea of freedom is formed in that unhappy kingdom. In France the crisis was prepared by innumerable writings; but it is believed that not even a pamphlet exifts in the Spanish language, which displays any juft or liberal notions of government. The fudden difmiffion of count Florida Blanca from the office of prime minifter originated in caufes not difclofed. It is imagined that the court found this ftep neceffary, to appeafe the public murmurs at fame late measures, particularly the edict concerning ftrangers, which contributed to impofe farther fetters upon commerce, and which has fince been repealed, On the 28th of February, 1792, the minifler was re moved, and count d'Aranda, an old ftatefman, a warm friend of the queen and nobility of France, fucceeded to his employments, till fome other arrangement could be formed. It is faid, he abolished the fuperintendent tribunal of police, a kind of civil inquifition; and in other liberal measures appeared to fee the real intereft of monarchs, which is certainly to concede with grace, in order to prevent the despair of the people from recurring to force. His influence, however, was but short; and has been fucceeded by that of the duke d'Alcudia. The irregularities committed in France, the indecent reception of the humane interference of the court of Spain in favour of the king, and the industry of the confederated fovereigns, induced the court of Spain to declare war against France on the 23d of March 1793 The iffue of this war, the treaty of peace concluded by Spain with the French republic on the 23d of July 1795, and the fubfequent hoftilities with England, have already been mentioned in our hiftorical accounts of those countries. Charles IV. king of Spain, born Nov. 11, 1748, afcended the throne Dec. 13, 1788, (upon the death of his father, Charles 111.) and was married to Louifa-Maria-Therefa, princefs of Parma, Sept. 4, 1765, by whom he has iffue, 1. Charlotte, born April 25, 1775. 2, Mary-Louifa, born July 9, 1777. 5. Maria-lfabella, born July 6, 1789. Brothers to the king: 1. Ferdinand, the prefent king of the Two Sicilies, born in 1751, married, in 1768, to the arch-duchefs Mary-Cardire-Louifa, fifter to Jofeph II. late emperor of Germany. 2. Anthony-Pafcal, born Dec. 31, 1755. Containing 32,000 fquare miles, with 72 inhabitants to each. BOUNDARIES.] IT is bounded by Spain on the North and Eaft, and on the South and Weft by the Atlantic Ocean, being the most wefterly kingdom on the continent of Europe. ANCIENT NAMES AND This kingdom was, in the time of the Ro. DIVISIONS, mans, called Lufitania. The etymology of the modern name is uncertain. It most probably is derived from fome noted harbour or port, to which the Gauls (for fo ftrangers are called in the Celtic) reforted. By the form of the country, it is naturally di vided into three parts; the northern, middie, and fouthern provinces. SOIL, AIR, AND PRODUCTIONS.] The foil of Portugal is not in ge. neral equal to that of Spain for fertility, efpecially in corn, which they import from other countries. Their fruits are the fame as in Spain, but not fo highly flavoured. The Portuguese wines, when old and genuine, are esteemed to be very friendly to the human conftitution, and safe to drink *. Portugal contains mines, but they are not worked; a variety of gems, marbles, and mill-ftones, and a fine mine of falt-petre near Lifbon. The cattle and poultry are but indifferent eating. The air, efpecially about Lisbon, is reckoned foft and beneficial to confumptive patients; it is not fo fcorching as that of Spain, but refreshed from the fea-breezes. MOUNTAINS.] The face of Portugal is mountainous, or rather rocky, for the mountains are generally barren: the chief are thofe which di vide Algarve from Alentejo; thofe of Tras os Montes; Arrabida and Montejunto in Eftremadura; Eftrella in Beira; Offa in Alentejo; and Cintra, about five leagues fouth-weft of Lifbon, well known to naviga tors as being the most wefterly part of all Europe. The cape contiguous to it, at the mouth of the Tajo, is called the rock of Cintra, or the rock of Lisbon. WATER AND RIVERS.] Though every brook in Portugal is reckoned a river, yet the chief Portuguese rivers are mentioned in Spain, all of them falling into the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus or Tajo was cele brated for it golden fand. The Minho and Douro are the bounda daries of the province Entre Douro e Minho. Portugal contains feveral roaring lakes and fprings; fome of them are abforbent even of the lighteft fubitances. fuch as wood, cork, and feathers; fome, particularly one about 45 miles from Lifbon, are medicinal and fanative; and fome hot baths are found in the little kingdom, or rather province of Algarve. PROMONTORIES AND BAYS.] The promontories or capes of Portugal are Cape Mondego, near the mouth of the river Mondego; Cape Roxo, at the north entrance of the River Tajo; and Cape Efpithel, at the fouth entrance of the river Tajo; and Cape St. Vincent, on the fouth-weft point of Algarve. The bays are thofe of Cadoan, or St. Ubes, fouth of Lifbon, and Lagos Bay in Algarve. ANIMALS.] The fea-fith, on the coaft of Portugal, are reckoned excellent; on the land, the hogs and kids are tolerable eating. Their mules *The Port-wines are made in the districts round Oporto, which does not produce one half the quantity that is confumed, under that name, in the British dominiena only. The merchants in this city have very spacious wine-vaults, capable of holding 6 or 7000 pipes, and it is faid that 20,000 ale yearly exported from Oporto, are fure, and ferviceable both for draught and carriage; and their horfes, though flight, are lively. NERS, AND CUSTOMS. POPULATION, INHABITANTS, MAN- ? According to the best calculation, Portugal contains about two millions or two millions and a half of inhabitants. The number of Portuguese in all the colonies appertaining to the crown are eftimated at about nine hundred thoufand. By a furvey made in the year 1732, there were in that kingdom 3,344 parishes, and 1,742,230 lay perfons (which is but 522 laity to each parifh on a medium), befides above 300,000 ecclefiaftics of both fexes. The modern Portuguese retain nothing of that adventurous enterprifing fpirit that rendered their forefathers fo illuftrious 300 years ago. They have, ever fince the houfe of Braganza mounted the throne, degenerated in all their virtues; though fome noble exceptions are ftill remaining among them, and no people are fo little obliged as the Portuguese are to the reports of hiftorians and travellers. Their degeneracy is evidently owing to the weakness of their monarchy, which renders them inactive, for fear of difobliging their powerful neighbours; and that inactivity has proved the fource of pride, and other unmanly vices. Treachery has been laid to their charge, as well as ingratitude, and above all, an intemperate paffion for revenge. They are, if poffible, more fuperftitious, and, both in high and common life, affect more ftate, than the Spaniards themfelves. Among the lower people, thieving is commonly practifed; and all ranks are accufed of being unfair in their dealings, efpecially with ftrangers. It is hard, however, to fay what alteration may be made in the character of the Portuguese, by the expulfion of the Jefuits, and diminution of the papal influence among them; but above all, by that fpirit of independency, with regard to commercial affairs, upon Great Britain, which, not much to the honour of their gratitude, though to the intereft of their own country, is now fo much encouraged by their court and miniftry. The Portuguefe are neither fo tall nor fo well made as the Spaniards, whofe habits and cuftoms they imitate; only the quality affect to be more gaily and richly dreffed. The Portuguese ladies are thin, and small of ftature. Their complexion is olive, their eyes black and expreffive, and their features generally regular. They are effeemed to be generous, modeft and witty. They drefs like the Spanish ladies, with much awkwardness and affected gravity, but in general more magnificently; and they are taught by their hufbands to exact from their fervants, a homage, that, in other countries, is paid only to royal perfonages. The furniture of the houfes, efpecially of their grandees, is rich and fuperb to excefs; and they maintain an incredible number of domeftics, as they never difcharge any who furvive after ferving their ancestors. The poorer fort have scarcely any furniture at all; for they, in imitation of the Moors, fit always cross legged on the ground. The Portuguese peafants have never reaped any advantage from the benefits of foreign trade, and of the fine and vaft countries the kings of Portugal poffeffed in Africa or in the Eaft; or of thofe ftill remaining to them in South Ame rica. The only foreign luxury he is yet acquainted with is tobacco; and when his feeble purfe can reach it, he purchases a dried Newfoundland cod-fifh; but this is a regale he dares feldom afpire to. A piece of bread made of Indian corn, and a falted pilchard, or a head of garlic, to give that bread a flavour, compofe his ftanding dish; and if he can get a bit of the hog, the ox, or the calf, he himself fattens, to regale |